Tag Archives: Greg Abbott

What if it were Ed?

Posted on May 7, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

The question to ask yourself in reading this story about Republicans bitching and moaning about Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo is “How different would things actually be if Ed Emmett were still County Judge?” By the time Harris County Judge … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 21 Comments

State Supreme Court is skeptical of stay-at-home orders

Posted on May 7, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

They’re not ready to act yet, though. In turning down a case challenging Gov. Greg Abbott’s order allowing certain Texas businesses to reopen, the Texas Supreme Court hinted Tuesday that it is sympathetic to constitutionality concerns raised by coronavirus restrictions. … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

More reopening

Posted on May 6, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

It’s going great so far, right? Gov. Greg Abbott will allow hair salons in Texas to reopen Friday and gyms on May 18, moving more quickly than expected to further restart the Texas economy during the coronavirus pandemic. The businesses … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 34 Comments

How about that other coronavirus hot spot?

Posted on May 6, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

You know, prisons? For more than fifty years, Palestine, Texas, has been known as a prison town. Most of the time, that hasn’t been a problem. True, it was a bit controversial in the 1960s when the Texas corrections department … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Federal response to coronavirus spike in Panhandle

Posted on May 5, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Variations on the theme. A federal strike force is headed to Amarillo in response to a surge of coronavirus cases tied to meatpacking plants in the area. Amarillo Mayor Ginger Nelson announced on Saturday that a team of federal officials … Continue reading →

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

One good thing that may come out of all this

Posted on May 5, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

We may get to keep booze to go sales. On Twitter Tuesday, Gov. Greg Abbott suggested to-go alcohol sales should be made available in Texas past the coronavirus pandemic. Texas restaurants will be allowed to open for dine-in Friday under … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

How to become a coronavirus hotspot

Posted on May 4, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

It can happen to you, wherever you are. Barely a week ago, rural Lamar County in Texas could make a pretty good argument for reopening on Friday. Less than a dozen of the 50,000 residents of the area, which is … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Well, they do serve food

Posted on May 3, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Presented (mostly) without comment: A strip club in Houston has won a temporary order from federal court Friday night allowing it to resume business after a confrontation with police over the governor’s order to allow certain types of businesses to … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Day One of reopening

Posted on May 2, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Just a reminder, this is where we started. Texas reported 50 more COVID-19 deaths on Thursday, the most in any one day since the state reported its first deaths in mid-March. The state also reported it had added more than … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Ready or not, here we reopen

Posted on May 1, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Who cares what the data says? As he moves to reopen the state Friday amid the coronavirus pandemic, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has cited data and science as his guiding lights. But Texas has yet to meet most of the … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Ready or not, here we reopen

Democracy Toolbox (PPP): Biden 47, Trump 46

Posted on April 30, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: A new Texas poll shows former Vice President Joe Biden up by one percentage point over President Donald Trump and also provides insights into Texans’ concerns about voting during the COVID-19 outbreak. The poll was commissioned by … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020, The making of the President | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 19 Comments

Reopening roundup redux

Posted on April 30, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

More news about that thing that Greg Abbott is making us do. Health experts give Abbott’s plan to reopen Texas mixed reviews, warn state should revive stay-at-home order if surge emerges: Diana Cervantes, director of the epidemiology program at the … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Reopening roundup

Posted on April 29, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Judge Hidalgo adjusts to the new status that has ben imposed on us from Austin. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo on Tuesday announced plans to significantly expand novel coronavirus case tracing, and maintain reserve hospital capacity, to prepare for a … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 28 Comments

The fight over sick leave has to be at the state level

Posted on April 29, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

I get this, but it’s not going to work. The coronavirus outbreak is sparking a debate over paid sick leave in Houston, the largest U.S. city without a law requiring businesses to provide paid time off for workers who fall … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston, That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

How partisan is concern about coronavirus?

Posted on April 28, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

On the one hand: Texas’ economy is taking a catastrophic hit — and hundreds of thousands of Texans are out of work — as officials shutter businesses and limit some establishment’s operations to stop the spread of the new coronavirus. But while Texans’ optimism … Continue reading →

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

And so reopening begins

Posted on April 28, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

I have questions. Gov. Greg Abbott said Monday that he will let the state’s stay-at-home order expire Thursday as scheduled and allow businesses to begin reopening in phases the next day, the latest ramp-up in his push to restart the … Continue reading →

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

Hotze goes crying to the Supreme Court

Posted on April 28, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

This effing guy, I swear. Houston conservative activist Steve Hotze on Monday filed a petition with the Texas Supreme Court seeking an emergency ruling on Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo’s mask order, which took effect this morning. Hotze originally filed … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Greg Abbott’s grand plan is coming

Posted on April 23, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Ready or not (spoiler alert: not ready). Gov. Greg Abbott could make an announcement as soon as Friday about reopening a wide range of Texas businesses amid the coronavirus pandemic, including restaurants, hair salons and retail outlets. During a series … Continue reading →

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

Mask up

Posted on April 23, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Time for the next step in virus mitigation. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo on Wednesday ordered residents to cover their faces in public, the latest effort by local governments to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. The new rules, … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 35 Comments

Abortion clinics say “ban’s over, we’re back”

Posted on April 23, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

I’m sure this will be left alone. Texas clinics resumed offering abortions Wednesday after a strict bar on nonessential medical procedures was loosened at midnight. The ban on nearly all abortions in Texas has been the subject of weeks of … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Abortion clinics say “ban’s over, we’re back”

“There are more important things than living”

Posted on April 22, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, everybody. After facing intense criticism for suggesting on Fox News last month that he’d rather perish from the new coronavirus than see instability in the state’s economic system, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said last night that … Continue reading →

Posted in General snarkiness, Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

Fifth Circuit flips off abortion rights again

Posted on April 21, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

I’m so sick of this shit. A federal appeals court has again banned most abortions in Texas amid the coronavirus pandemic, though the ruling will only be in effect for two days. The ruling on Monday by the Fifth Circuit … Continue reading →

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

Are we sure we’re using the right models?

Posted on April 20, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Let’s check our assumptions before we do anything dumb. A widely followed model for projecting Covid-19 deaths in the U.S. is producing results that have been bouncing up and down like an unpredictable fever, and now epidemiologists are criticizing it … Continue reading →

Posted in National news, Technology, science, and math | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Abbott and Paxton continue to play politics with abortion

Posted on April 20, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

This is exactly the problem with that Fifth Circuit ruling. Though Gov. Greg Abbott loosened a ban on nonessential surgeries, he said Friday it would be up to courts to decide if his order restores access to abortions — the … Continue reading →

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

The NBA is still looking for its way back

Posted on April 20, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Nobody really knows what the next couple of months look like. On the eve of what would have been the start of the postseason, NBA commissioner Adam Silver on Friday said he could not predict when, if or how it … Continue reading →

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Hotze sues Abbott and Paxton

Posted on April 19, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Just another day at the office for this guy. A group of conservative activists and pastors that’s challenging Harris County’s stay-at-home order is now also suing Gov. Greg Abbott, claiming his recent executive order to stem the spread of Covid-19 … Continue reading →

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

So this is reopening

Posted on April 18, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

There’s not much to this, is there? Gov. Greg Abbott on Friday announced initial steps to reopen the Texas economy during the coronavirus pandemic, including those that in the next week will loosen surgery restrictions at medical facilities, allow all … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 23 Comments

Fort Bend ISD will remain closed through the end of the school year

Posted on April 17, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

They will not be alone in making this decision. Fort Bend ISD campuses will remain closed for the rest of the school year, Superintendent Charles Dupre said Tuesday, becoming the region’s first traditional district to declare its facilities will not … Continue reading →

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TDP gets initial win in vote by mail lawsuit

Posted on April 16, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

It’s a good start, but we’ve got a long way to go. A state district judge on Wednesday said he will move forward with an order easing restrictions for voting by mail in Texas in light of the new coronavirus … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

More on the potential delay of redistricting

Posted on April 16, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Some further details from the Statesman. On Monday, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross announced that, as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, all Census Bureau field operations would be canceled until June 1, and the agency would not be able to … Continue reading →

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Fifth Circuit allows medical abortions to proceed

Posted on April 15, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Well, this is a pleasant surprise. A federal appeals court on Monday blocked Texas from enforcing a ban on medication-induced abortions as part of the state’s curbs on certain medical procedures during the coronavirus pandemic. As a result of fast-moving … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Coronavirus and redistricting

Posted on April 15, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Big surprise. A delay in census counting because of the coronavirus pandemic could push Texas redistricting into legislative overtime next summer. Trump administration officials on Monday proposed delaying reapportionment counts and the distribution of redistricting data by four months, which … Continue reading →

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

What does “reopening the economy” look like?

Posted on April 14, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

We’ll find out (sort of) later this week. Gov. Greg Abbott said Monday that reopening the Texas economy will be a “slow process” guided by public health concerns as he continued to preview a forthcoming executive order that will detail … Continue reading →

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

And so we go to SCOTUS

Posted on April 13, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Pardon me while I gird my loins for whatever happens next. Texas abortion providers have taken a back-and-forth legal battle with the state of Texas over its temporary ban on the procedure to the U.S. Supreme Court. The groups on … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments