Tag Archives: coronavirus

As the COVID mutates

Posted on February 10, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Just another reminder that we need to continue trying not to spread the virus while we wait for everyone to get vaccinated. A more contagious variant of the coronavirus first found in Britain is spreading rapidly in the United States, … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

RIP, Rep. Ron Wright

Posted on February 9, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Condolences to his friends and family. U.S. Rep. Ron Wright, an Arlington Republican, has died. His campaign staff announced the news Monday. Wright had lived for years with cancer and was diagnosed with COVID-19 in January. He was 67. “His … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2021 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Vaccines at the stadia

Posted on February 9, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Good. Everyone has a role to play in getting us all vaccinated. The NFL is telling the federal government it will make the remaining of the league’s 30 stadiums available as COVID-19 vaccination sites, joining the seven facilities already administering … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Let me Google that vaccine locator for you

Posted on February 8, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Good. In the coming weeks, Google will begin implementing a vaccine locator service on its platforms for Texans to use, including appointment details, clinic hours and more. The rollout comes as part of a $150 million plan announced by Google … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math, The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Women’s NCAA tournament to be entirely held in San Antonio

Posted on February 8, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Similar to what the men are doing, in a warmer location. The full 2021 NCAA Division I women’s basketball tournament will be held in San Antonio, the NCAA confirmed Friday, marking the biggest event in the city since the COVID-19 … Continue reading →

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How Greg Abbott wants to restrict voting

Posted on February 6, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

More from that Trib story following the State of the State address. As part of his State of the State speech, Abbott designated five emergency items, or items that lawmakers can vote on within the first 60 days of session. … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Getting the kids caught up at school

Posted on February 6, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Gonna be a big job, and hopefully we can do it in earnest beginning in August. With students finally settling into a pandemic-altered routine and widespread vaccine access on the horizon, Texas education leaders are turning to their next great … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Bringing vaccines to your local pharmacy

Posted on February 6, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Makes a lot of sense. Retail pharmacies will bring more COVID-19 vaccines to Houston and across the country following a boost by the Biden administration to increase distribution to the public. CVS Health will roll out 38,000 COVID-19 vaccines to … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

What should the Governor’s powers be in a future emergency?

Posted on February 5, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

He admits there could maybe be some limits, but as is often the case has no great idea what they might be. Gov. Greg Abbott said Tuesday he is open to reconsidering his executive powers during state emergencies, a point … Continue reading →

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

The other obstacle to getting people vaccinated

Posted on February 5, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Some people just don’t want it. Millions of Texans do not want to be vaccinated against COVID-19, according to a new University of Houston survey. While 38 percent of those surveyed said they will be vaccinated when it becomes available … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Rodeo cancelled again

Posted on February 4, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Bummer. RodeoHouston is hanging up the cowboy hat for 2021. No mutton busting. No fried Twinkies. No bed salesmen in NRG Center. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo made the announcement Wednesday morning, which includes all competitions, concerts and entertainment, … Continue reading →

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“Nobody is getting enough”

Posted on February 4, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Pretty much says it all. As Texans scramble for appointments for the COVID-19 vaccine, federal data helps explain why: Relative to its population, the Lone Star State ranks near the bottom in the country in number of doses received. Texas … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Why isn’t COVID an emergency item?

Posted on February 3, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Ask Greg Abbott. Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday unveiled a legislative agenda centered on the state’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and a series of more politically charged issues such as police funding and “election integrity.” In his biennial State … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

The second shot portal

Posted on February 2, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

People are going to need this, too. Houston officials plan to launch a website this week that will let people schedule appointments for their second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Health Director Stephen Williams on Monday said officials plan to … Continue reading →

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More vaccines coming

Posted on February 1, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Still not enough, but getting better. Texas this week expects to receive more than half a million first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine from the federal government, state health officials announced Friday. The 520,425 doses will be shipped to 344 … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

District court judges to be removed from the felony bail lawsuit case

Posted on January 30, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Hopefully, this brings us a step closer to settling the case. Harris County’s 23 felony judges are no longer being sued over uneven bail practices that plaintiffs say discriminate against poor defendants. The civil rights lawsuit against the county and … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

The Texas 2036 poll

Posted on January 29, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Texa 2036 is a new (to me, anyway) organization with a mission “to enable Texans to make policy decisions through accessible data, long-term planning and statewide engagement”. Mostly, they seem like good-government-through-good-data types who favor things like public education and … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

That new Harris County vaccine signup page sure is popular

Posted on January 28, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

If you didn’t get through on Day One, keep trying. More than 49,000 people have managed to get onto Harris County’s new COVID-19 vaccination wait list Tuesday despite technical issues that diminished access for some to the county’s website. Harris … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , | 18 Comments

Will Spring Training start on time?

Posted on January 28, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Maybe, maybe not. Less than a month before pitchers and catchers are set to report, the Cactus League released a letter it sent to Major League Baseball in which it called for spring training to be delayed, a move it … Continue reading →

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No Hall of Famers this year

Posted on January 27, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Better luck next year. On Tuesday, the Baseball Writers Association of America revealed the 2021 Hall of Fame voting results. No players appeared on at least 75 percent of this year’s ballots, meaning no one will earn induction through the … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The COVID vaccine wait list

Posted on January 26, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Good idea, and about time. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced Monday afternoon a new COVID-19 vaccine waitlist, in an effort to ensure those who are high priority don’t get overlooked and make for a smoother process. Hidalgo explained the … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 23 Comments

Of course some anti-vaxx groups got PPP funds

Posted on January 24, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Completely on brand. Texas-based anti-vaccine organization Informed Consent Action Network was among five anti-vaccine groups that collectively received more than $850,000 in federal loans from the Paycheck Protection Program, the Washington Post reported Monday. The organization received $166,000 in May 2020, … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Finally, a bit of good COVID news

Posted on January 24, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Naturally, it comes from the wastewater. Researchers who study sewage to monitor the pandemic are detecting less virus in Houston than they have in months, a positive signal that could indicate a forthcoming drop in new COVID-19 cases, doctors said. … Continue reading →

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Nowhere to go but up with COVID vaccines

Posted on January 23, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Starting from scratch. Newly sworn in President Joe Biden and his advisers are inheriting no coronavirus vaccine distribution plan to speak of from the Trump administration, sources tell CNN, posing a significant challenge for the new White House. The Biden … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Bail reform plaintiffs want Paxton booted from case

Posted on January 22, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

I for one am a fan of kicking out Ken Paxton in any context. In a strategic move that could speed up their case against Harris County, the plaintiffs challenging felony bail practices are hoping to kick two dozen players … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

More bike riders, more bike fatalities

Posted on January 22, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

We should try to do something about this. The COVID pandemic sparked a surge in bike sales and bike riding across the Houston region at a time when pedaling — and driving — area streets is deadlier than ever. A … Continue reading →

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

Census apportionment shenanigans to be officially curtailed

Posted on January 21, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

As it should be. The Trump administration’s protracted efforts to keep some immigrants from being counted when congressional seats are divvied up after the 2020 census ended with the former president’s departure from the White House, but President Joe Biden’s … Continue reading →

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Our petty Governor

Posted on January 21, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Sheesh. Gov. Greg Abbott met with hospital executives in Houston on Tuesday to discuss the state’s coronavirus vaccine rollout, while appearing to snub city and county officials who are overseeing a bulk of the distribution. The Republican governor said the … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

On capping restaurant delivery app fees

Posted on January 21, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Fine by me, but I’ll bet more than fifteen percent of my most recent delivery tab that this does not go anywhere. High delivery fees by third-party apps, such as DoorDash and Uber Eats, are often cited by restaurant operators … Continue reading →

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

More vaccination hubs

Posted on January 20, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Keep ’em coming. State health officials Saturday announced 79 hub providers that are expected to receive allotments of COVID-19 vaccines this week, including newly designated hubs in some suburbs of Houston. The hub providers include two in Galveston County, one … Continue reading →

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SCOTUS rejects TDP petition on vote by mail

Posted on January 18, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Back to the lower court, I think. The U.S. Supreme Court turned away a Democratic bid to force universal vote-by-mail in Texas, leaving intact a state law that lets people cast no-excuse absentee ballots only if they are 65 or … Continue reading →

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Drinks to go on the legislative menu

Posted on January 18, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Looks likely to succeed. As the 87th legislature kicks into high gear in Austin tomorrow, a new bill introduced in both the Texas House and Senate is aiming to make to-go alcohol from restaurants and bars permanent. Venues in Texas … Continue reading →

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

Vax and the cities

Posted on January 17, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Makes sense. A group of mayors representing some of the United States’ most populous cities — including Austin, San Antonio and Houston — is asking President-elect Joe Biden to give them direct access to coronavirus vaccines. In a Wednesday letter, … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

And we already have our first COVID cases from the Lege

Posted on January 16, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Surely not the last. A Texas House member tested positive for the coronavirus after being on the chamber floor for three straight days, giving lawmakers an early indication of the dangers of governing during the pandemic. State Rep. Joe Deshotel, … Continue reading →

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