Tag Archives: Texas

Whooping cough hits a new high

Thanks, anti-vaxxers! Couldn’t have done this without you. More than 3,500 cases of pertussis, or whooping cough, cases have been reported in Texas so far this year, already reaching a 11-year high even though two more highly infectious months are … Continue reading

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Trump Justice Department joins lawsuit against California redistricting

I suppose this was inevitable. The Justice Department on Thursday sued to block new congressional district boundaries approved by California voters last week, joining a court battle that could help determine which party wins control of the U.S. House in 2026. The complaint … Continue reading

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Ron Nirenberg to run for Bexar County Judge

Noted for the record. San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg has filed paperwork to run for Bexar County Judge, all but confirming the nature of a “big announcement” he plans to make this Saturday. Speculation has swirled in recent weeks that Nirenberg will challenge … Continue reading

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Tesla robotaxis are coming to Houston

Eventually. Real Soon Now. When Elon gets around to it. Tesla plans to bring its driverless robotaxi service to Houston, following CEO Elon Musk’s announcement that safety drivers will be phased out in Austin by the end of 2025. Musk … Continue reading

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So now what for the hemp business?

I can think of one thing they should do. As part of the spending deal to end the government shutdown, federal lawmakers approved a provision cracking down on hemp products containing THC, restoring a ban Texas Republicans sought to impose … Continue reading

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Mike Collier to run for Lite Guv as an independent

What are you doing, Mike? Mike Collier, a two-time Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor, announced on Thursday that he is again running to be the state’s second-in-command — but this time as an independent. Collier, an accountant and auditor, lost … Continue reading

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Paxton sues Harris County over immigrant legal services

This fucking guy, I swear. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing Harris County for allocating county funds to programs that help undocumented people get access to legal support. The county, home to Houston, created the Immigrant Legal Services Fund … Continue reading

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Texas sues Roblox

This is a new one on me. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing the online gaming platform Roblox for allegedly exposing children to sexually explicit content and exploitation, the latest in a flurry of lawsuits from his office aimed … Continue reading

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Chris Bell to run for Governor

From the inbox: Chris Bell, former U.S. Congressman, launched his Texas Gubernatorial campaign Monday, November 10, 2025, at the Texas Capitol in Austin. Bell enters the Texas Governor’s race with years of public service experience and a successful record of … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2026 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Paxton and Jolt sue each other

Dude’s definitely running to win a primary. He’s thirstier than a marathon runner in Arizona. Jolt Initiative, a nonprofit that aims to increase civic participation among Latinos, is suing Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to block his efforts to shut … Continue reading

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Two lawsuits filed against Camp Mystic

This is going to be rough. The families of six campers and two counselors who died in the July floods at Camp Mystic in Hunt, west of Kerrville, filed two separate lawsuits suing the the camp and members of the … Continue reading

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A backdoor THC ban

Oops. Or maybe this was the plan all along. The Texas hemp industry, fresh from fending off an all-out ban by the state Legislature, is facing another extinction-level event — this time from Congress. The U.S. Senate on Monday night … Continue reading

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Paxton sues Galveston ISD over Ten Commandments display

We need some real guidance here. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the Galveston Independent School District on Friday for not following a new state law requiring schools to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms while the legislation is challenged in … Continue reading

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Rep. Al Green to run in the new CD18

As expected. U.S. Rep. Al Green announced Friday that he plans to run in the redrawn 18th Congressional District, setting up a competitive primary between the longtime Houston Democrat and whichever candidate wins the upcoming special election runoff to decide … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2026 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The Loving County Election 2022 rerun

Loving County wraps up one of its ongoing story lines. It might have been the longest election campaign for the shortest office term in recent Texas history. Loving County Justice of the Peace Angela Medlin, County/District Clerk Mozelle Carr and Commissioner … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2022, Election 2025, Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Paxton targeted for mortgage fraud

Nothing is likely to ever come out of this, but pass the popcorn anyway. The Trump administration has used allegations of mortgage fraud as a cudgel against the president’s political enemies in New York and California. Now, a small-town official … Continue reading

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Another story about Taylor Rehmet

This one has more numbers in it. Despite the district’s solid-red reputation, Democrat Taylor Rehmet won the most votes in a Tuesday special election for vacant Senate District 9. The district, represented by Kelly Hancock since 2013, encompasses northern Tarrant … Continue reading

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Fifth Circuit allows drag ban enforcement

I’m not quite sure how to interpret this. Texas can enforce a 2023 law that restricts some public drag shows, a federal appeals court ruled Thursday. Senate Bill 12 prohibits drag performers from dancing suggestively or wearing certain prosthetics on public … Continue reading

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A bit more election miscellany

Pondering the County Attorney situation. Despite technically resigning, [Harris County Attorney Christian] Menefee has remained the acting county attorney throughout the campaign period. It’s not clear if he will remain in the position as he prepares to campaign for a … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2025, Election 2026 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Terry Virts to run in CD09

All right. Terry Virts, the former Air Force pilot and retired astronaut, ended his bid Thursday for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate and announced that he would enter the race for a newly drawn congressional district in the Houston … Continue reading

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Who wants to Save College Sports?

If you’ve watched any college football this year, you’ve seen some version of this ad, probably a million times: I have wondered on more than one occasion what this is all about and whether I should in fact support this … Continue reading

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Tuesday was a good day for school boards

I refer you once again to Franklin Strong and his much-valued Book-Loving Texans’ Guide to the school board elections. There weren’t that many school board races on the ballot in November – May is a more common month for these … Continue reading

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Finally, a real story about Taylor Rehmet

Amazing what a little overperforming versus expectations can do. For months, the special election to succeed Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock in a red-leaning North Texas Senate seat revolved around the two Republicans in the race. But once the early voting … Continue reading

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More on the November election

Here’s a Chron story from the weekend that annoyed me a little. Early voting in Harris County wrapped up Friday with some of the lowest voting turnouts in recent years for Texas’ most populous county. but still higher than in … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2025 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Fifth Circuit to hear Ten Commandments case in January

Get ready. The U. S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals says it will hear appeals in January in the legal fights in Texas and Louisiana over whether public schools must display copies of the Ten Commandments. Oral arguments for the … Continue reading

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November 2025 election results: Local and state

Quick hits here, as I was up past my bedtime… All 17 constitutional amendments were on the path to passing. Most of them merited a No vote, but once these things get on the ballot they usually pass. Some Democratic … Continue reading

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Second lawsuit filed over Texas app age verification law

Noted for the record. A coalition of major technology companies has filed a federal lawsuit against Texas over its new App Store Accountability Act, arguing that the measure violates the First Amendment by imposing sweeping age-verification and parental consent requirements. … Continue reading

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Where the rainbow crosswalk ends

This is deeply stupid and deadly serious at the same time. At the intersection of North Main Avenue and West Evergreen Street just north of downtown San Antonio, semi-faded rainbows connect each street corner in place of standard, white crosswalks. … Continue reading

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

Election Day for November 2025 is tomorrow

From the inbox: The Harris County Clerk’s Office (HCCO) reminds registered voters that Election Day is Tuesday, November 4, 2025, the final opportunity to cast a ballot in this election. Races and Measures Include 17 proposed amendments to the Texas … Continue reading

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NY court dismisses Paxton stunt lawsuit

Good. A New York judge dismissed a legal challenge Friday from Texas seeking to enforce a more than $100,000 civil judgment against a doctor accused of prescribing abortion pills to a Dallas-area woman in an early test of the state’s … Continue reading

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SOS responds to “closed primary” lawsuit

Nicely done. Texas’ top election official is opposing a GOP lawsuit that seeks to close the state’s primaries, arguing in new legal filings that a decision to restrict voting to registered party members should be up to lawmakers, not the … Continue reading

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Final November 2025 early voting: A lot of people voted early

And here’s a look at the final early voting totals. Final EV total 2025 = 212,104 Final EV total 2021 = 114,060 Final EV total 2017 = 60,974 A lot of people voted last week! Even I was a little … Continue reading

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“Death Star” lawsuit filed in Dallas

Welp. Two years after state lawmakers passed a sweeping law aimed at preventing Texas cities from adopting progressive policies, that law may finally get its first major test. Three Dallas residents sued the city in Denton County District Court Wednesday … Continue reading

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Time once again to compost those pumpkins

You know what to do. The City of Houston Solid Waste Management Department, in partnership with Council Member Sallie Alcorn, is excited to announce the return of the 5th Annual Pumpkin Compost Drop-Off Program. Don’t toss your pumpkins in the … Continue reading

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