Tag Archives: Houston

“No-knock” and marijuana policy referenda likely to be on Houston’s ballot

Posted on August 9, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Of interest. Houston voters could decide this fall whether to amend the city charter to deprioritize enforcement of low-level marijuana offenses and ban police from carrying out no-knock warrants after activists submitted nearly 40,000 petition signatures to City Hall. The … Continue reading →

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Still more HISD AI obsession

Posted on August 6, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

I dunno, man. I’m so tired of this. Houston ISD announced Friday that it will use an artificial intelligence platform developed by Alpha School at Clemente Martinez and Gregg elementary schools during the school year that begins Aug. 10. The state’s largest … Continue reading →

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Houston sued for HPD detaining an immigrant for ICE

Posted on August 5, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Not a surprise. A Honduran citizen allegedly detained by Houston police for more than two hours during a traffic stop before later being deported has sued the city over its policy governing how officers interact with federal immigration agents. The filing … Continue reading →

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Metro contemplates doing something with the Inner Katy Line

Posted on August 1, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Not clear what, which is par for the course with this version of Metro. Metro officials are recommending a new approach to improving transit along the Interstate 10 corridor after the estimated cost of the Inner Katy Bus Rapid Transit … Continue reading →

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City’s minority business contracting program ruled unconstitutional

Posted on July 31, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

This is bullshit. A federal judge has ruled Houston’s minority-owned business contracting program unconstitutional and blocked the city from “using racial preferences” in awarding public contracts as affirmative action programs come under fire nationwide. A white couple from Spring sued the city in … Continue reading →

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More robotaxi safety issues

Posted on July 30, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Austin has had quite the experience. Federal safety regulators are demanding answers from Waymo, Tesla, Zoox and other autonomous-vehicle developers after documenting a pattern of driverless vehicles interfering with first responders. Last week, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ordered … Continue reading →

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One witness to Lorenzo Salgado Araujo’s killing to be released from detention

Posted on July 29, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

A good start. A federal judge on Monday ordered the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to release from their custody one of the witnesses to a federal immigration agent’s fatal shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo. Jose Trinidad Rojas Pliego must … Continue reading →

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On Whitmire and ICE

Posted on July 28, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Here we go again. For the second time in four months, Mayor John Whitmire is facing intense criticism over his handling of federal immigration enforcement, an issue he has spent much of his first term trying to keep out of … Continue reading →

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Who wants to fight cancer?

Posted on July 28, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Not Greg Abbott. Texas spent billions recruiting scientists from around the world to turn the state into a cancer-research powerhouse. Now, nearly six months after Gov. Greg Abbott restricted public institutions’ use of the H-1B visa program, cancer advocates and … Continue reading →

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July 2026 campaign finance reports – City of Houston

Posted on July 27, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

The big news on the Houston municipal offices campaign finance front is that the city has a brand new reporting system, one in which you now get a permalink to the candidates’ reports. You’ll see those below. It’s faster than … Continue reading →

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TEA isn’t done with HISD and its special ed changes

Posted on July 27, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Gonna keep escalating, I guess. The Texas Education Agency has ordered Houston ISD’s state conservators to review its plans for 5,000 special education students, highlighting tensions over the treatment of students with disabilities in the state’s largest district. The district … Continue reading →

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Lorenzo Salgado Araujo’s van did not contain drugs

Posted on July 26, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

ICE lies about everything. A substance found in Lorenzo Salgado Araujo‘s van last week was not methamphetamine, multiple officials said Friday afternoon. U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia said she could confirm “the substance found in Lorenzo Salgado’s van was not a … Continue reading →

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More funds to pay back that loan

Posted on July 25, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Hrmph. Candidates seeking office at Houston City Hall will now face no limits on using campaign funds to repay themselves for loans they make to their own campaign accounts. The change was initiated by Council Member Edward Pollard, who has … Continue reading →

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Witnesses to Lorenzo Salgado Araujo’s killing document ICE lies

Posted on July 23, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Fuck ICE. Two passengers in a van when an immigration agent fatally shot 52-year-old Lorenzo Salgado Araujo earlier this month said that two unmarked vehicles struck them from behind and the side before they stopped, according to their written statements … Continue reading →

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Hollins complains about lack of response in Brown investigation

Posted on July 22, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

City drama. Houston Controller Chris Hollins is accusing Mayor John Whitmire’s administration of refusing to provide records for an investigation into one of the mayor’s advisor, while the city’s top lawyer said the administration intends to cooperate. The dispute unfolded … Continue reading →

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Protect Victor Salgado

Posted on July 21, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

This should be obvious. The attorney representing the brother of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo is asking a federal judge to seal her client’s court case and release him from immigration detention, saying he could face retaliation as a key witness in … Continue reading →

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How was the FIFA World Cup for Houston’s restaurants?

Posted on July 20, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

It was okay. Kind of depended on where they are. For months, Houston restaurant owners prepared for a World Cup windfall, with some people comparing the tournament’s expected economic impact to hosting seven Super Bowls. Now, with Houston’s seven World Cup games … Continue reading →

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Mexico begins taking legal actions related to ICE

Posted on July 19, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

We’ll see if this comes to anything. Mexico formally requested that U.S. state attorneys general criminally investigate cases of migrants who have died in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody or during raids, the Mexican government said Tuesday. The request follows … Continue reading →

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Rainbow Pride banners

Posted on July 18, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Our crosswalk replacements. Where Montrose’s rainbow crosswalks once stood, new rainbow banners will serve as indicators of LGBTQ+ pride. In October, the city removed the neighborhood’s iconic rainbow crosswalks to comply with Gov. Greg Abbott’s directive to remove “non-standard surface … Continue reading →

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Another ICE roundup

Posted on July 17, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Houston vowed to curb ICE cooperation. Police still waited hours for agents. Houston police officers have spent hours at a time on traffic stops involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement since President Donald Trump took office last year – nearly six times longer, on average, … Continue reading →

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Camp Mystic moves lawsuits against it to federal court

Posted on July 17, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Interesting. Camp Mystic’s owners have successfully moved a wrongful death lawsuit filed by six families from Texas state court to federal court, arguing the case is tied to the camp’s ongoing bankruptcy. The move adds another layer of uncertainty to five … Continue reading →

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Still waiting on the Rangers (who are now finally coming)

Posted on July 16, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

They don’t seem to be keen to get involved in the investigation of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo’s death at the hands of ICE. The Texas Rangers have denied a request by Houston-area Democrats to investigate the deadly shooting of Lorenzo Salgado … Continue reading →

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An ICE pause?

Posted on July 15, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Maybe. Don’t fall for any hype. The Trump administration has ordered Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to halt most vehicle stops while carrying out operations across the country, according to people familiar with the matter who were not authorized to … Continue reading →

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HISD seems determined to ignore TEA on special ed

Posted on July 15, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

I dunno, man. Before Houston ISD can consolidate its special education services, it has to review thousands of students’ individualized education programs and meet with their families. That’s the explicit order from the Texas Education Agency, which investigated the district’s … Continue reading →

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We have some video of ICE and Loranzo Salgado Araujo

Posted on July 14, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

The NYT pieced together what we currently have. Shortly before 7 a.m. on Tuesday, immigration officers were trailing a white work van in the Magnolia Park neighborhood of Houston. Minutes later, the driver had been fatally shot in his abdomen. … Continue reading →

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Half Price Books to return to Montrose

Posted on July 13, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

And there was much rejoicing. Five years after Half Price Books left Montrose, the booksellers purchased the former Soundwaves building and plans to return in 2027. Soundwaves announced it was closing its last remaining location that sat off 3509 Montrose … Continue reading →

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Where are the Rangers?

Posted on July 12, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

No one will say just yet. When a federal immigration officer shot and killed a 23-year-old on South Padre Island last year, the Department of Homeland Security asked the Texas Rangers to investigate. But as calls grow for an independent … Continue reading →

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TEA rejects HISD’s proposed special ed changes

Posted on July 12, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Good. Especially good for the affected students and parents. A Texas Education Agency investigation found Houston ISD violated federal requirements for students with disabilities, forcing the district to review thousands of students’ individualized education plans before it overhauls special education. … Continue reading →

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Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was not ICE’s target

Posted on July 11, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Unbelievable. The 52-year-old Houston man fatally shot by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent earlier this week was not the target of the agency’s operation, said U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia, D-Houston, who has called for release of any video … Continue reading →

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Lorenzo Salgado Araujo roundup

Posted on July 10, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

For 35 years, a Mexican father built homes in Houston. Then a morning drive ended in tragedy. For the last 35 years, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo’s day began the same way: He woke up at 5 a.m., kissed his wife goodbye, … Continue reading →

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ICE kills Houston man

Posted on July 9, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Bad. Very bad. An Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent fatally shot a Houston man after he tried to run over a federal officer conducting a vehicle stop Tuesday morning, according to an agency statement issued hours after the incident. Federal … Continue reading →

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More on Mike Miles’ AI obsession

Posted on July 7, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

There’s so much wrong with this, I’ll limit myself to my three main complaints. While many school districts across the country are reducing screen time for students, Houston ISD is going in the opposite direction with its educational technology, prompting … Continue reading →

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The rainbow crosswalk replacements

Posted on July 4, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

It’s something. Forced to remove rainbow crosswalks under a state edict to erase “political” messages from their streets, some Texas cities are finding new and colorful ways to celebrate Pride and their LGBTQ+ communities. In El Paso, street lamps have … Continue reading →

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An update on Hotze and Aguirre

Posted on July 1, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

When I looked up the SCOTx order on the Harris County Immigrant Legal Defense Fund matter, I came across two rulings on another matter of great interest. That would be the matter of the criminal trial of former HPD Captain … Continue reading →

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