Monthly Archives: June 2026

Benjamin Flores update

Posted on June 30, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Some good news. Benjamin Flores, the Democratic nominee for Texas land commissioner, said Friday that he is in remission, two weeks after his campaign revealed he had been diagnosed with leukemia. Flores provided the update on his health while addressing … Continue reading →

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You can’t sing that in The Woodlands!

Posted on June 30, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Hilarious, and ridiculous. Leaders at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion rejected a township official’s proposal to try to censor profane and sexually explicit performances, citing free speech in a statement that was echoed by the township’s attorney on Thursday. Township … Continue reading →

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Why would any non-returning Democratic House member pay the stupid fine?

Posted on June 30, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

I mean, it’s not like this will affect their credit score. A total of 17 Democrats in the Texas House — including three now running for statewide office — are holding out on paying fines chamber leadership imposed over last … Continue reading →

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The public ed angle

Posted on June 29, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Gina Hinojosa is finding some new supporters with a tried and true issue. Gina Hinojosa’s recent campaign swing felt more like a public vent session than a conventional political tour. A teacher at her Richardson stop detailed his frustrations with … Continue reading →

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Judge blocks DHS from using citizenship database to purge voters

Posted on June 29, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

One of many lawsuits over many attempts by the Trump administration to put a big thumb on the scale. A federal judge on Monday blocked the Trump administration’s overhaul of an immigration verification system to check voter eligibility across the … Continue reading →

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The legal fights over flying taxis

Posted on June 29, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

There’s a lot going on. Two California companies at the front of the global race to bring battery-powered air taxis to the public are trying to trip each other up in court. While Joby Aviation and Archer Aviation are based within an … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for June 28

Posted on June 28, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

“Our entirely predictable Social Security “crisis,” to put it bluntly, is a political choice made by a pay-to-play government that under President Donald Trump has become baldly transactional. Congress could close the gap tomorrow if lawmakers would get their priorities … Continue reading →

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So we’re just mandating Christianity now

Posted on June 28, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Please tell me there are lawsuits in the works for this. The State Board of Education gave the final greenlight to Bible-infused school standards on Friday after months of intense debate, enshrining Christianity as part of classroom instruction for all 5.5 million students … Continue reading →

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SCOTx temporarily blocks Harris County Immigrant Legal Services Fund

Posted on June 28, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Ugh. The Texas Supreme Court temporarily blocked Harris County’s $1.3 million immigration assistance program on Friday due to “serious doubt about the constitutionality” of the initiative. In November 2025, Attorney General Ken Paxton sued Harris County, alleging that it illegally spent public funds on … Continue reading →

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The Civic Art Map

Posted on June 28, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

I love this. The Houston Arts Alliance has launched an online map helping people find and view hundreds of public artworks across the city. The Civic Art Map website launched last week, offering a searchable, regularly updated database that currently has 873 artworks created … Continue reading →

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HISD accepts state’s bribe to adopt Bluebonnet curriculum

Posted on June 27, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Absolutely infuriating. Houston ISD’s state-appointed board of managers voted unanimously Thursday to adopt the state-developed Bluebonnet curriculum, which has drawn controversy for its inclusion of Bible teachings but could bring the district millions in new state funding. The move to … Continue reading →

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Paxton “wins” another rigged lawsuit

Posted on June 27, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Other words that could be used to describe this include “corrupt”, “travesty”, and “impeachable”. A federal judge in Texas blocked a Biden administration rule on Monday that allowed immigration judges to indefinitely close a deportation case against immigrants on the … Continue reading →

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Gracie the Giraffe has been found

Posted on June 27, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

I’m sure you’re as relieved as she is. After two weeks evading authorities, Gracie the Giraffe has finally been found — and for real this time — according to Real County Sheriff Nathan T. Johnson. “Gracie the wondering [sic] Giraffe … Continue reading →

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The rules don’t apply to Mike Miles

Posted on June 26, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

He’s just special. Houston ISD waited nearly a full school year to seek a state waiver, allowing appointed Superintendent Mike Miles to lead the district for 11 months without a required superintendent certification, state records show, even after the district’s … Continue reading →

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How temporary was that appointment?

Posted on June 26, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Probably for a court to decide. Fort Bend interim County Judge Daniel Wong said Thursday he will remain in office despite the county attorney’s conclusion that he no longer has the legal authority to serve. Wong rejected calls to step … Continue reading →

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Camp Mystic files for bankruptcy

Posted on June 26, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Not sure what this means, there’s not a lot of information out there about this yet. Camp Mystic summer camp has filed for bankruptcy after 25 young girls, two counselors and a camp director were killed in July 4 flash … Continue reading →

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Surely the TDP convention will have better vibes than the Republican one

Posted on June 25, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

This is not a high bar to clear. After a contentious primary, Texas Democrats will host their state convention in Corpus Christi this week and look to rally the party behind their ticket ahead of what they hope will be … Continue reading →

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Lawsuit filed over Tesla crash

Posted on June 25, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

As expected. The family of the 76-year-old Katy woman who was killed when a Tesla Model 3 crashed into a home Friday has filed a lawsuit against Tesla and the driver of the vehicle. Jennifer and Justin Barbour filed the … Continue reading →

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NHL to expand, to Houston or Austin

Posted on June 25, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Here we go. Houston billionaire Dan Friedkin and the NHL are exploring bringing a second hockey team to Texas, the parties confirmed Tuesday. Pursuit Sports, the company dedicated to The Friedkin Group’s professional sports properties, is beginning the process with … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of June 22

Posted on June 25, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance wishes everyone a tolerable summer as it brings you this week’s roundup. Off the Kuff contemplates the plight of the unhappy Republican and what they might do about it. SocraticGadfly talks about all the loopholes in … Continue reading →

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UT/Texas Politics Project: Paxton 43, Talarico 42

Posted on June 24, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

This is the first post-runoff poll from an outfit that had also polled before the GOP Senate candidate was known. Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico are neck and neck in the race for U.S. Senate, according to a new … Continue reading →

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NHTSA investigating Tesla crash

Posted on June 24, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Good. In the days after a driver crashed their Tesla into a Katy home, fatally striking a 76-year-old woman, a federal agency launched an investigation into Tesla, and Elon Musk cast doubt on his company’s driver assistance technology playing a … Continue reading →

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Here comes Mobileye

Posted on June 24, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

New robotaxi company set to drop soon. Mobileye has pitched itself as an autonomous vehicle technology supplier. Now it wants the operator label, too. The Intel subsidiary and publicly traded company said Tuesday it plans to launch a robotaxi service … Continue reading →

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The data center tango

Posted on June 23, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Did not expect this collab, but I’m here for it. The Democrat running for Texas agriculture commissioner won a boost from an unexpected source last week: The Republican he’s trying to replace. Sid Miller, the outgoing commissioner, appeared at a … Continue reading →

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HISD parents ask for pause on special ed changes

Posted on June 23, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Good luck. A group of Houston ISD families is asking the state-appointed board of managers to pause the district’s overhaul of special education, citing concerns about transparency and the board’s own policy. The changes, called the Special Education Success Program, would move … Continue reading →

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Fatal Tesla autopilot crash

Posted on June 23, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

This happened on Friday night. A 76-year-old woman was killed after a Tesla crashed through a home in the Katy area on Friday evening, authorities say. According to the Harris County Precinct 5 Constable’s Office, the Tesla crashed into a … Continue reading →

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What Swing Left is up to

Posted on June 22, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Very interesting. Swing Left has launched a new program in battleground House districts across the country that relies on time-intensive, person-to-person conversations with Republicans in hopes of building relationships that eventually persuade them to back Democratic candidates. Its leaders are … Continue reading →

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Cyberattack exposes hunting and fishing license data

Posted on June 22, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Oops. A cyber attack has exposed the personal information of more than 3 million Texans. Texas Parks and Wildlife said Saturday that a vendor that handles the sale of state hunting and fishing licenses was the victim of a data … Continue reading →

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Another Waymo recall

Posted on June 22, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Oops. Waymo has recalled its fleet of nearly 4,000 robotaxis to restrict them from driving on highways while it figures out how to make the vehicles behave around construction zones. The recall comes after Waymo identified at least 13 instances … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for June 21

Posted on June 21, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

“Folks: Don’t do this. Don’t use “AI” for your business correspondence, especially to creatives. Ever.” “Diatoms—a variety of tiny, single-celled algae that first emerged during the age of the dinosaurs—are a key component of the modern brewing industry, and a … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged | 1 Comment

Time for another screwworm roundup

Posted on June 21, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

We’ll start with a bit of positive news. Several drugs to treat animals during the Texas screwworm outbreak have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, including a generic medication for household pets such as dogs and cats. Dr. … Continue reading →

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Do the people who deal with the Railroad Commission care who’s on it?

Posted on June 21, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

History suggests the answer is no, not really. But maybe this time will be different. There’s gotta be a line somewhere. Right? After a Republican primary that focused on fighting Sharia law and diversity policies, the general election for a … Continue reading →

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New robotaxi service coming to Houston next year

Posted on June 21, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Maybe you’ve already seen their vehicles around. More autonomous vehicles are expected to hit the roads in Houston next year. Ridesharing giant Uber announced that it plans to roll out its premium robotaxi service in the Bayou City in mid-2027. … Continue reading →

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More indie stuff

Posted on June 20, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

There may be some downballot candidates on your ballot this year. Now that the Republican and Democratic primary runoffs are over, independent candidates are scrambling to qualify for the November ballot in Texas. Instead of paying a filing fee or … Continue reading →

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