Tag Archives: Houston

Will Metro take over B-Cycle?

Posted on January 22, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

I like the idea and hope Metro can really run with it. The Houston area’s biggest bus operator is considering getting in the bike business, infusing up to $500,000 into the city’s network of docked two-wheelers. Under the proposal, scheduled for a vote … Continue reading →

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

COVID rates tick down again in Houston

Posted on January 22, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Always a good headline to read. COVID-19 data from the Texas Medical Center this week suggests the current wave may be subsiding, though experts urge caution as a new, highly infectious variant continues to circulate. The average number of daily … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on COVID rates tick down again in Houston

A new Adickes statue is on the way

Posted on January 22, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Been too long since there was some Giant Presidential Head news. Where to start with all the David Adickes sculptures dotting Houston landscape? Perhaps his 44 gigantic heads paying homage to our U.S. presidents (still no Trump)? His giant cello … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on A new Adickes statue is on the way

The Chron drops a big Hotze story

Posted on January 20, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Despite the headline, I didn’t find a whole lot of new details of interest here. Most of the new stuff consists of the various unhinged things that Hotze has been saying about elections and how everyone is covering up massive … Continue reading →

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

Why are people mad about R’Bonney Gabriel?

Posted on January 20, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t know why this story fascinates me so much, but it does. Please indulge me just a little longer. Just days after Houston native R’Bonney Gabriel was crowned the 71st Miss Universe at the first Filipina American winner, the Miss … Continue reading →

Posted in Society and cultcha | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Hydrogen hub Houston?

Posted on January 19, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

It could happen. Houston-area leaders seeking to make the city one of the nation’s designated hydrogen hubs have received a push from the U.S. Energy Department. The department’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations received 79 “concept papers” from groups seeking … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Hydrogen hub Houston?

So how much money does Whitmire have available for his mayoral campaign?

Posted on January 18, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

It’s already a lot, and it could be a whole lot more. State Sen. John Whitmire is kicking off his mayoral campaign with a $10 million war chest, most of it drawn from the money he has amassed over decades … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

HCC redistricting update

Posted on January 18, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

I got this email from HCC Trustee Reagan Flowers, which has prompted me to remind you that HCC redistricting is also happening, and per the Redistricting Info page, there are community events going on right now to help you understand … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Precinct analysis: Inside and out of the city

Posted on January 17, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Most years we don’t get the data to differentiate between votes cast by residents of Houston and votes cast by Harris County non-Houston residents. There needs to be a citywide referendum of the ballot in order to get at this … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2022 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

I-45 construction never stops

Posted on January 17, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

It just keeps moving on. Though attention remains on rebuilding Interstate 45 through northern parts of Houston, state highway officials also are planning for the next round of road work. The Texas Department of Transportation has scheduled two public meetings, … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

So what’s the deal with that I-45 deal?

Posted on January 16, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Still to be determined. Houston, Harris County and the Texas Department of Transportation have an agreed path forward for rebuilding Interstate 45, and a lot of steps to get there. Details big and small remain works in progress and a … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on So what’s the deal with that I-45 deal?

R’Bonney Gabriel wins Miss Universe

Posted on January 16, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

I know, I know, not my usual beat, but it’s a followup on a previous post, so here we are. R’Bonney Gabriel, the first Filipina Texan to win Miss Texas USA and Miss USA, has a new title: Miss Universe. The 28-year-old … Continue reading →

Posted in Society and cultcha | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

No more library fines in Houston

Posted on January 15, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Good news for some of you, I’m sure. Houston Public Library patrons no longer will have to pay overdue fees and will have a month-long amnesty period to get past fines canceled. City Council on Wednesday unanimously approved the library’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on No more library fines in Houston

The Lege does its housekeeping

Posted on January 12, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

In the Senate, they drew their lots to see who would have to run again in 2024. It was the luck of the draw for Texas senators on Wednesday as they drew lots to decide which half of them would … Continue reading →

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

More on the Winter Street Studios fire

Posted on January 12, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron profiles two artists that were affected by the recent fire at the Winter Street Studios. At Winter Street Studios, red caution tape draped an X pattern over an entrance to the building, a workspace for Houston area artists. … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on More on the Winter Street Studios fire

Is trap-neuter-return illegal?

Posted on January 11, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

A question that could affect a lot of cities, including Houston. Trap, neuter, return programs are popular across Texas as a way to control feral cat populations. But one local official is now posing a thorny question: Are they legal? … Continue reading →

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

HISD asked to hold off on redistricting

Posted on January 8, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

There are still concerns about the proposed map. Community members and advocates are asking the Houston ISD board to redraw its redistricting plans to keep communities in southwest Houston together so that the votes of Latinos and immigrants are not … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023, School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on HISD asked to hold off on redistricting

A walk through four districts, part 2: Now with pictures

Posted on January 7, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

In yesterday’s post I described my weird idea to take a stroll into four Congressional districts, something I decided I could do after taking a close look at the new map in Houston. On Wednesday, a bit more than a … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2022, Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The road construction chaos that we know of for 2023

Posted on January 7, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Forewarned, forearmed, etc. A new year will mean major developments for some of the biggest highway projects in the region, but drivers should not expect them to be finished until 2024. The largest projects by the Texas Department of Transportation … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The road construction chaos that we know of for 2023

A walk through four districts, part 1

Posted on January 6, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

As you know, I draft stuff before I publish it. Sometimes, things I draft that aren’t particularly time-sensitive can get lost in the shuffle when there’s a lot of news of interest. Those things may get taken from the pile … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2022 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

New year, new omicron variant

Posted on January 6, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Stay safe out there. A new omicron COVID-19 variant is spreading fast across the United States and beginning to make inroads in Houston, where the positivity rate continues to rise. The new strain, XBB.1.5, was first detected on the east … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on New year, new omicron variant

The bats survived another freeze

Posted on January 6, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

A bit of good news. On the fourth day of Christmas, Houston got 600 bats back. As the sun set on Waugh Bridge over Buffalo Bayou Wednesday, the Houston Humane Society released hundreds of Mexican free-tailed bats that had been in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The first two candidates for City Controller

Posted on January 5, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Two term-limited Council members are the first to toss their hats into the ring. Houston City Council members Dave Martin and Michael Kubosh on Tuesday confirmed their plans to run for city controller in November. As the city’s independently elected … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Katy ISD challenged over at large districts

Posted on January 4, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

This was from before Christmas but I didn’t have a chance to write about it until now. The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund sent a letter Tuesday to Katy ISD accusing the district of disenfranchising Black and Latino voters … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Mayor Turner’s final year

Posted on January 3, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

The big local political story, besides whatever violence the Legislature commits to Houston and/or Harris County, will be the 2023 Mayor’s race. The incumbent still has a full year to go, though, and he has his plans for what he … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The ribbon is finally cut on the White Oak bike trail extension

Posted on December 31, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

I’d been waiting for this. Hike and bike trail connectivity has just gotten better in the Houston Heights area now that work on a new connector is complete. The City of Houston held a ribbon cutting [last] Tuesday to celebrate … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

You are now free to busk in Houston

Posted on December 28, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Houston’s anti-busking law has been struck down in federal court. An obscure, decades-old ordinance that restricted where buskers — musicians who performs in public places — can play for tips in Houston has been deemed unconstitutional and struck down by … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on You are now free to busk in Houston

It’s time to recycle your Christmas tree

Posted on December 27, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

If you’re in the city of Houston and you want your tree to get mulched, here’s how to do it. Houston’s Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) encourages residents to recycle live Christmas trees after the holidays. The holiday season is … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on It’s time to recycle your Christmas tree

The Winter Street Studios fire

Posted on December 24, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

This is so awful. A fire that broke out Tuesday morning at Winter Street Studios has damaged countless works of art and left many Houston artists without workspaces or gallery space. The fire, which began around 6:30 a.m., is being investigated as arson, … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

It’s winter surge time again

Posted on December 22, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, though I think you already suspected this. COVID-19 cases are rising across Texas two weeks after the Thanksgiving holiday, echoing last year’s surge of the omicron variant. There are more than 18,000 positive … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on It’s winter surge time again

New Land Commissioner, same screw job for Houston and Harris County

Posted on December 21, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

I didn’t expect any different. I’m still mad about it. When akewayLakeway Republican Dawn Buckingham jumps from the Texas Senate to the helm of the state General Land Office next month, she will inherit control of the state’s Hurricane Harvey recovery, a slow-moving multibillion-dollar … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on New Land Commissioner, same screw job for Houston and Harris County

Agreement reached on I-45 expansion plans

Posted on December 20, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

I remain skeptical, but we’ll see. The bottleneck of design differences that has divided officials about remaking Interstate 45 north of downtown Houston is easing, officials said Monday, clearing the way for construction on the $10 billion project, perhaps in … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

We don’t love trash

Posted on December 18, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Especially not in the bayous. On a recent Saturday morning, around 20 volunteers gathered to clean up trash along the Houston Ship Channel. Armed with pickers and trash bags, they started tackling a small “trash beach” across the channel from … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

More information about HISD redistricting, please

Posted on December 17, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

A reasonable ask. Several local nonprofit and advocacy groups penned a letter asking Houston ISD to postpone its decision on how to redraw trustee district boundaries. Initially, the board was set to vote on the plan Thursday, according to a … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023, School days | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on More information about HISD redistricting, please