Tag Archives: Greg Abbott

Uvalde updates

Posted on July 7, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Too much news, so time for a news dump. Uvalde shooting victims aren’t getting compensated from state fund as intended, officials say. State Sen. Roland Gutierrez and Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin said Monday that families of the Uvalde shooting victims … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Beto will work to repeal Texas’ abortion ban

Posted on June 30, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

He can’t succeed, not at this time and not in the near future, but aim big and make it clear what the stakes are. In the days after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Democrats at rallies and protests … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2022 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Beto will work to repeal Texas’ abortion ban

The empty “mental health” promise

Posted on June 28, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

What’s going on in Uvalde these days. Days after the May 24 shooting, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott promised an “abundance of mental health services” to help “anyone in the community who needs it … the totality of anyone who lives … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The empty “mental health” promise

A big part of the Cornyn gun bill will do nothing in Texas

Posted on June 26, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Just a reminder. The bipartisan gun bill that is on a fast track through Congress and backed by U.S. Sen. John Cornyn includes new state grants to incentivize red flag laws, which allow judges to temporarily seize firearms from people … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on A big part of the Cornyn gun bill will do nothing in Texas

Is there one last twist in the West 11th Street saga?

Posted on June 25, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

This was posted as an update to the change.org petition in support of the West 11th Street project: The opposition to making 11th street safer is asking TXDOT to stop the project-we need your help! The group that has organized … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

We’re still not going to get a special session for gun safety legislation

Posted on June 24, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

But I still appreciate the effort. Someone has to do it. With Texas schools restarting classes in less than two months, Texas Senate Democrats renewed calls Monday for Gov. Greg Abbott to bring lawmakers back to Austin this summer to … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on We’re still not going to get a special session for gun safety legislation

Uvalde versus DPS

Posted on June 23, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Someone’s not happy. Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin on Tuesday accused state authorities of selectively releasing information about last month’s school shooting to scapegoat local law enforcement and intentionally leaving out details about the state’s response to the massacre. New details … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment, Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Uvalde versus DPS

Where are we with the Paxton whistleblower lawsuit?

Posted on June 22, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

We are in the familiar position of waiting for the drawn-out appeals process to conclude. Pull up a chair and make yourself comfortable. The appeals process has grown a bit longer in state Attorney General Ken Paxton’s effort to dismiss a whistleblower lawsuit by … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

DPS pins the blame on Arredondo

Posted on June 22, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Look out for that bus! Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw told a state Senate committee Tuesday that the law enforcement response to the Uvalde school shooting was an “abject failure” and police could have stopped the shooter at … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment, That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Of course we don’t do nearly enough for mental health

Posted on June 22, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Because Republicans rush to talk about “mental health” every time there’s another mass shooting, it’s important to remember that their response to meeting the demand for mental health, in schools and elsewhere, has been completely inadequate. Tucker’s was the kind … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

What were Uvalde police actually doing at Robb Elementary?

Posted on June 21, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

I’ll say it again: The more we learn about the law enforcement response to the Uvalde massacre, the worse it looks. Surveillance footage shows that police never tried to open a door to two classrooms at Robb Elementary School in … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

There’s a lot of resistance to releasing information about Uvalde

Posted on June 18, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Wow. The City of Uvalde and its police department are working with a private law firm to prevent the release of nearly any record related to the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in which 19 children and two teachers … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on There’s a lot of resistance to releasing information about Uvalde

Biden signs executive order to protect trans kids

Posted on June 17, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Good. President Joe Biden signed an executive order Wednesday to enhance protections for transgender children and take steps to ban conversion therapy as efforts continue in Texas and other states to restrict gender-affirming medical care. The executive order calls on … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Biden signs executive order to protect trans kids

Quinnipiac: Abbott 48, Beto 43

Posted on June 16, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

A lot closer than their previous poll, from December. In the race for Texas governor, 48 percent of voters support Republican incumbent Greg Abbott, while 43 percent support Democratic challenger Beto O’Rourke, according to a Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pea-ack) University poll of … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2022 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

What was DPS doing during the Uvalde massacre?

Posted on June 15, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Not much, it would seem. As many as 13 troopers with the Texas Department of Public Safety waited in a hallway at one point during a gunman’s rampage that killed 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Restraining order given in latest lawsuit to stop DFPS investigations

Posted on June 11, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Good. An Austin judge has temporarily stopped the state from investigating many parents who provide gender-affirming care to their transgender children. The state has ruled out allegations of child abuse against one family under investigation, but at least eight more … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Restraining order given in latest lawsuit to stop DFPS investigations

Uvalde’s police chief speaks

Posted on June 11, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

I’ll reserve judgment for now. Only a locked classroom door stood between Pete Arredondo and a chance to bring down the gunman. It was sturdily built with a steel jamb, impossible to kick in. He wanted a key. One goddamn … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Uvalde’s police chief speaks

Justice Department starts its review of the Uvalde law enforcement response

Posted on June 10, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

We’ll see what they turn up. U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said Wednesday that the Department of Justice’s investigation into the law enforcement response to the elementary school shooting in Uvalde won’t be criminal in nature. Garland described the federal … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

New lawsuit filed to stop DFPS “investigation” of trans kids and their families

Posted on June 9, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: The American Civil Liberties Union, Lambda Legal, and the ACLU of Texas, along with Texas-based law firm Baker Botts LLP, today filed a new lawsuit in Texas state court on behalf of PFLAG National and three Texas … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on New lawsuit filed to stop DFPS “investigation” of trans kids and their families

We’ve seen this movie before

Posted on June 6, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

I appreciate the sentiment, but I know how this ends. Major Republican donors, including some that have contributed to Gov. Greg Abbott’s campaigns, joined other conservative Texans in signing an open letter supporting congressional action to increase gun restrictions in … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on We’ve seen this movie before

If committees are all we’re going to get, then let’s get something from the committees

Posted on June 5, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Not too much to ask, I hope. Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan on Friday announced the creation of a legislative committee to investigate the Uvalde shooting. “The fact we still do not have an accurate picture of what exactly happened … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment, That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The very least Greg Abbott could do

Posted on June 3, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

You can always count on him for that. Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday called on the Texas Legislature to form special committees to make legislative recommendations in response to the Uvalde school shooting. In a letter to House Speaker Dade … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The entire law enforcement response in Uvalde is messed up

Posted on June 2, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

What is going on here? The official response to the mass shooting at an Uvalde elementary school — a response already marred by shifting narratives, finger-pointing and a general lack of timely and accurate information — took a further turn … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

SCOTUS puts Texas’ stupid social media censorship law back on hold

Posted on June 1, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Good. The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday blocked a Texas law that prohibits large social media companies, such as Facebook or Twitter, from banning or removing users’ posts based on political viewpoints. The justices, in a 5-4 vote, granted NetChoice … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

It’s called “talking out of both sides of your mouth”

Posted on June 1, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

It’s an old and effective trick, but that doesn’t mean it has to work. For a moment Friday afternoon, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott was in two places at once. At about 3:30, the National Rifle Association played videotaped remarks from … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Justice Department to review what happened with Uvalde police

Posted on May 30, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Okay. The U.S. Department of Justice will review the law enforcement’s response to the Uvalde school massacre as local police face intense scrutiny for not acting quickly enough to confront the shooter. “The goal of the review is to provide … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Justice Department to review what happened with Uvalde police

Please don’t ever talk to me about “a good guy with a gun” or “hardening the schools” again

Posted on May 28, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

The police were there but did nothing. A gunman who killed 19 children and two teachers at a South Texas elementary school walked unopposed onto school grounds, state law enforcement officials said Thursday — and once he was inside, it … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 24 Comments

Treatments for trans youth at Dallas hospital can continue until April

Posted on May 26, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

More good news. A Dallas County judge has granted a nearly one-year injunction against Children’s Medical Center Dallas that will allow doctors there to continue intake of transgender youth seeking certain medical treatments. Judge Melissa Bellan signed a temporary injunction … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Treatments for trans youth at Dallas hospital can continue until April

Uvalde

Posted on May 26, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t have anything clever or original to say about the horrible tragedy in Uvalde. There’s a vast amount of stories and heartbreaking photos out there, so go and look to the extent that your heart and mental health can … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Florida’s stupid social media censorship law knocked down by appeals court

Posted on May 25, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

With an opinion from a Trump judge, no less. A Florida law intended to punish social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter is an unconstitutional violation of the First Amendment, a federal appeals court ruled Monday, dealing a major … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Republicans threaten businesses over abortion access

Posted on May 24, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

If you didn’t see stuff like this coming, you haven’t been paying attention. With Texas poised to automatically ban abortion if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, some Republicans are already setting their sights on the next target … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Republicans threaten businesses over abortion access

Paxton seeks to intervene in GENECIS case

Posted on May 22, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

This is what I was worried about. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton wants the state to intervene in a court battle over medical care for transgender youth at a Dallas hospital. Paxton filed a petition in a Dallas County court … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

DFPS to resume investigating families of trans kids

Posted on May 21, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Gross and discouraging. The state of Texas will restart its abuse investigations into families with transgender kids after a recent court ruling that lifted a statewide injunction on such probes. In a statement on Thursday, the Texas Department of Family … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on DFPS to resume investigating families of trans kids

Texas asks SCOTUS to not block its stupid social media law

Posted on May 20, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

As you’d expect. The Supreme Court should allow a sweeping Texas law to remain in effect that restricts the ability of Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to moderate their platforms, according to the state’s attorney general. In a filing to the Court … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment