Another Hump Day Wrangle

Elections were conducted yesterday (besides MLB's Hall of Fame, that is) and the results were announced in a reasonably timely fashion.

Mary Nan Huffman wins District G special election https://t.co/fyOYFD7fMU via @houstonchron #HouNews #HouCouncil

— Forever in debt to your priceless advice. (@PDiddie) January 26, 2022

José “Chito” Vela beat out six competitors Tuesday in the special election to replace Greg Casar on the Austin City Council. | @AKMcGlinchy https://t.co/lzgnnQqI7w

— KUT Austin (@KUT) January 26, 2022

In other politics news ...

A dark-money group formed by twice-failed San Antonio mayoral candidate Greg Brockhouse spent money in support of Congressman Henry Cuellar, whose Laredo home & office were raided by the FBI this week

Via ⁦@ExpressNews⁩/⁦@bchasnoff⁩
https://t.co/RCwN5BlpI0

— Joshua Fechter 📝 (@JoshuaFechter) January 22, 2022

Cuellar also defiantly stated he would continue his re-election bid and said he expected to win the primary.  If he defeats his two progressive challengers, Jessica Cisneros and Tannya Benavides, he will face Ted Cruz acolyte Casandra Garcia in the fall.

.⁦@KenPaxtonTX⁩ raised a hefty $2.8 million since July. But where most of the $ came from is a mystery.

Paxton has only named who gave his campaign about $650k of the total, despite a deadline last week that required full disclosure. #txlege https://t.co/EnM4euwvoX

— Allie Morris 🌟 (@MorrisReports) January 26, 2022

"So much to talk about!" Trump says of his Saturday rally in Texas, a cause for both optimism and anxiety for GOP consultants across the state, w/ just over a month until the primary

— Patrick Svitek (@PatrickSvitek) January 24, 2022

If your weekend plans include Conroe, better rethink that.  Unless you're the FBI and plan on arresting some scofflaws.

The latest in Texas politics from cartoonist Ben Sargent. https://t.co/3jzW4kB23N

— Texas Observer (@TexasObserver) January 24, 2022

These two images highlight perfectly how the opposition to mail balloting is really just opposition to certain people voting. pic.twitter.com/Xg0VypEjmY

— Michael Li 李之樸 (@mcpli) January 25, 2022

On more positive notes:

Looks like my candidacy for Texas Railroad Commissioner has just made the headlineshttps://t.co/42L7jpMsO6

— Hunter wayne crow (@timelordcrow) January 25, 2022

So proud of my Dad! #hounews #evictioncrisis #harriscounty https://t.co/j4x8xq3awu

— www.needabortion.org (@CarolineDuble) January 25, 2022

These are all incredibly good questions to ask John Whitmire at upcoming fora and debates. He never shows up in the most pivotal fights then says things like the stuff quoted here.#TXLege https://t.co/1p0VLrgcPl

— ((( Daniel J Cohen ))) (@mrdancohen) January 25, 2022

File this under "Things we already knew." 😏#txlege https://t.co/hJ97QAdiZj

— Texas Organizing Project (@OrganizeTexas) January 24, 2022

"Expansion plan to take world's biggest #BatteryStorage project to 3GWh capacity"

✔️For use as a substitute for #PeakerPlants
✔️To help create and maintain stable #ElectricGrid #TXLege
https://t.co/5aQnyhoMoR

— @CCLHouston (@CCLHouston) January 26, 2022

Vistra Energy, a Texas-headquartered integrated utility and power generation company, said it wants to add another 350MW/1,400MWh BESS to the Moss Landing Energy Storage Facility in California’s Monterey Bay.

Vistra said that as Moss Landing -- itself built on the site of an existing gas power plant owned by Vistra subsidiary Dynegy -- already has development permitting in place, and has existing grid interconnection and infrastructure, it can move quickly on the proposed Phase III.

Vistra CEO Curt Morgan described Moss Landing yesterday as “a shining example of the pivot of our generation fleet toward carbon-free technologies”.

Segue-ing to the environmental takes.

Last February, the city of Dallas finally hauled away the six-story Shingle Mountain. Almost exactly a year later, industry is returning to one of the lots where it lived— next door to the homeowner who spent years fighting to get the city's attention. https://t.co/ooabcRCFYA

— D Magazine (@DMagazine) January 25, 2022

#BREAKING: A new report by @CommissionShift, 45% of @txrrc's budget is spent on plugging #TXOrphanWells. With the #oilandgas industry in decline, the #TXRRC has a never-ending cycle of bailouts for the #oilandgas industry. #txlege
Read more 👀👇https://t.co/Yjm3JYpnuF pic.twitter.com/zOP30O77aZ

— Oliver Bernstein (@oliveroliver) January 25, 2022

A couple of labor notes:

ExxonMobil has locked out @steelworkers from Local 13-243 in Beaumont for more than 8 months! Help @HoustonDSA support these workers and stop Exxon’s #UnionBusting.

Meeting tomorrow, Wed 1/26 @ 6pm #1u https://t.co/3cl2PfTCpy

— RoB (@xroblockx) January 25, 2022

On Tuesday, a federal judge in Fort Worth granted BNSF -- one of the nation's largest freight companies -- a temporary restraining order blocking nearly 17,000 employees from striking over the company's new attendance policy. https://t.co/Xk0pKEaaFM

— WFAA (@wfaa) January 26, 2022

The Gulf Coast AFL-CIO mourns the passing of Ceole Speight. She will be missed but not forgotten. pic.twitter.com/jlDVSFNKNr

— Gulf Coast AFL-CIO | Pass the PRO Act! (@gcaflcio) January 25, 2022

And the criminal and social justice updates.

Houston cop Christopher Cabrera wasn't rushing to a call or involved in a pursuit when he crashed and killed 75-year-old Charles Payne. New video released by HPD shows just how fast Cabrera was driving when he hit Payne and the aftermath that followed https://t.co/zTARDRig5l

— Jay R. Jordan (@jayrjordan) January 25, 2022

NEW: Austin officials have released a consultant's 179-page report about policing with striking assessments about APD, including that "'stop and frisk' is employed aggressively in Austin" and that officers "frequently escalated citizen encounters." More to come as we unpack this.

— Tony Plohetski (@tplohetski) January 25, 2022

Texas Medicaid rolls grew by more than 1 million people during the pandemic https://t.co/vH8wlqcCQJ #txlege

— James Michael Russell (@jamesfortexas) January 25, 2022

Melissa Lucio, a mother of 14 from Harlingen, is one of five women and the only Latina on Texas death row. If her execution is allowed to proceed, it will be the first time since 2014 that any woman has been put to death in Texas. https://t.co/Xb4NQIsfv5

— Texas Observer (@TexasObserver) January 26, 2022

Texas

Top 1% income threshold: $594,313
Top 5% income threshold: $237,383 https://t.co/x4EVQD0NZx

— Forever in debt to your priceless advice. (@PDiddie) January 26, 2022

Want #MedicareForAll but not sure where to start? There's movement in Harris County to build pressure on elected officials. The local @dsam4a coalition's first meeting is coming up on January 26. Read more to learn how to get involved. #hounews https://t.co/gm7AMqavWn

— Unconventional Journalist 🐙 (@samthemullet) January 23, 2022

And the news from the lighter side, not all of it good.

Sad news out of Austin this morning. Longtime bakery Texas French Bread appears to have burned down. This building once held the long-lamented Rome Inn, a spot at which icons like Stevie Ray Vaughan, Rusty Weir, the Fabulous Thunderbirds and many other icons played. https://t.co/MU161385kI

— Traces of Texas (@TracesofTexas) January 25, 2022

Elton John has contracted COVID-19 and is postponing two farewell concert dates in Dallas. John, who is vaccinated and boosted, “is experiencing only mild symptoms” and is looking forward to returning to the stage “shortly," according to a statement. https://t.co/M7JJ9NApJN

— The Associated Press (@AP) January 25, 2022

Houstonians are invited to a free event celebrating Memorial Park’s Land Bridge and Prairie project on Saturday, Feb. 5 from 10 AM-3PM. Attendees will get to walk through and explore one of the four tunnels before they open to vehicular traffic. #khou11 pic.twitter.com/NNY3E3TrFh

— The Bishop (@BillBishopKHOU) January 24, 2022

Austin DSA member Alice Embree's new memoir "Voice Lessons" reflects on decades of involvement in the activist left and offers lessons for a new generation of radicals.

Read our review of "Voice Lessons" here:https://t.co/OADBAasydX pic.twitter.com/5Hu7mjxWHN

— Austin DSA (@austin_DSA) January 24, 2022

Embree still writes for the Rag Blog.

Scattershots on Taco Tuesday

No particular organization here.

"Print it on something that Texas does have: guns or giant toast."https://t.co/MNB0qacjFd

— Chron (@chron) January 24, 2022

Ben Sargent, The Austin American Statesman (2013) pic.twitter.com/8NGIfXYzS5

— Editorial & Political Cartoons (@EandPCartoons) January 21, 2022

.@FoxNews host Tucker Carlson:
“We’ve asked Texas Gov. Greg Abbott many times to come on this show to explain to us why he hasn’t called the National Guard to seal the Texas border and protect us from this invasion." https://t.co/fS7jLaGAJV @chron #mapoli #nhpolitics #txlege 1/2 https://t.co/MAyEsZ0zQU

— Trump's election fraud hoax undermines democracy (@RWwatchMA) January 24, 2022

The MSM & Republicans got the facts wrong on the “migrant surge” at our border in 2021. 2021 migration was down, including unauthorized immigration. Oops. @GregAbbott_TX #txlege #laborshortage https://t.co/DMwD8WDk37

— Rebecca Bernhardt (@rbxela) January 24, 2022

1. In May, Texas Republicans enacted a draconian abortion ban and a system of vigilante justice to enforce it.

In response, numerous large corporations wrote these Texas Republicans substantial checks.

Follow along if interested. https://t.co/7CxOFQC6UQ

— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) January 24, 2022

On average the men in this video still know more about women’s bodies than the assholes in the #txlege https://t.co/6UYfxBC7MJ

— Resistopus 🐙 (@Resistopus) January 21, 2022

Latino leaders plan lawsuit and citizen drive to change ‘gross’ underrepresentation in Houston City Council https://t.co/hNwiNn9dNQ

— Houston Chronicle (@HoustonChron) January 24, 2022

Texas redistricting back in court: Federal court to hear bid Tuesday to block GOP-drawn map that splits Tarrant County voters of color, ⁦@samisparber⁩ reports. #txlege #redistricting #TexasElections #2022Ection #Campaign2022 #Texas #gerrymandering https://t.co/FVAhMB9KFk pic.twitter.com/AhE8mPLRrL

— John Gravois (@Grav1) January 24, 2022

Texas Supreme Court to hear state’s bid to toss political map challenge, but not until after primary https://t.co/rCMXfMlpOg

— harvey kronberg (@HKronberg) January 22, 2022

Dan Crenshaw's district was redrawn to protect him—but it might instead have created a problem for the rising GOP star. https://t.co/NEzaWvWFEL

— Texas Monthly (@TexasMonthly) January 19, 2022

All 3 of the @DanPatrick-backed Senate candidates that @libre_action endorsed Fri. say they’re rejecting the group’s support:
- @PeteFlores_TX: https://t.co/wE9aivyFbu
- @mayes_middleton: https://t.co/EyTS2gt1OE
- @TanParkerTX: https://t.co/bnPFVRJz7d #SD24 #SD11 #SD12 #txlege

— Patrick Svitek (@PatrickSvitek) January 24, 2022

We undoubtedly need more journalism, but beware billionaires bearing gifts. The road to Hell is paved with good intentions. https://t.co/lh1ZgQkqOq @HoustonChron #txlege

— ChrisTomlinson (@cltomlinson) January 21, 2022

houston #1 in eviction filings last week pic.twitter.com/DEWt2SsGPU

— Jen Rice (@jen_rice_) January 24, 2022

Oyster fisheries are shut down all along TX coast. Healthy freshwater inflows from TX rivers are key to their survival.

TX theoretically has a great process to protect flows (2007's SB 3), but 10 yrs on its implementation is in shambles:https://t.co/xtDLkNbRhw#txwater #txlege https://t.co/ofRhC96ca7 pic.twitter.com/L03wqGgraz

— Texas Living Waters (@txwater) January 24, 2022

Taylor then asked how much she could purchase him for. The mother tried to laugh off the comment thinking she was joking, however, Taylor told her she had $250,000 in the car and would pay that much for him.

The mother said no amount of money would do. https://t.co/oq7y4XqzvS

— MySA (@mySA) January 24, 2022

.@TFN calls for removal of ‘conspiracy theorist’ from social studies review#txlege #txed #education https://t.co/eh7fkHZbib

— San Antonio Review (@SanAntoReview) January 25, 2022

Today begins Texas Holocaust Remembrance Week. The week was established to teach students across TX about the Holocaust and inspire in them a sense of responsibility to recognize and uphold human value. Visit @THGAAC’s site: https://t.co/GDkJgMeXF9 to learn more. pic.twitter.com/PCHbp035el

— Texas Education Agency (@teainfo) January 24, 2022

According to a report released on Monday Around 30 oil and gas facilities across the #Permian Basin in #Texas and #NeMexico spewed large amounts of methane for three years, emitting the equivalent climate pollution from half a million cars.https://t.co/yfZPXUnVZf via @YahooNews

— Maurice Shaw, Retweets do not mean endorsement. (@mauriceshaw) January 24, 2022

Saturday's South Oak Cliff Day Parade was a celebration to remember! More than 20 schools marched through the streets of downtown Dallas in honor of our State Champions, @SOCGoldenBearFB!
@Johnson4Dallas even surprised the team with a key to the city. pic.twitter.com/7MnhTKGU4C

— Dallas ISD (@dallasschools) January 25, 2022

“The Mexican American Experience in Texas: Citizenship, Segregation, and the Struggle for Equality” examines centuries of law and social structure that excluded Mexican Americans from mainstream society. https://t.co/YcplxT4bgw

— Texas Standard (@TexasStandard) January 24, 2022

How a Texas songbird and its endangered status became the center of a fight over the Hill Country https://t.co/KCqNRE04zA

— Texas Tribune (@TexasTribune) January 23, 2022

Gilley’s nightclub returns for one night in Galveston https://t.co/Ou6fIHIPTg

— Houston Chronicle (@HoustonChron) January 24, 2022

Aerial view of IAH in 1969 ✈️ #TBT pic.twitter.com/PQ3aidWm6l

— Houston Bush Airport (@iah) January 20, 2022

The Monday Morning Wrangle from Far Left Texas

COVID first.

Houston is poised to officially hit 400,000 COVID cases Monday, about a month after the city crossed the 300,000-case mark. https://t.co/eVOiOfdEdq

— Houston Chronicle (@HoustonChron) January 24, 2022

Stace at Dos Centavos rounds up another week in coronavirus news.  The Dallas Observer points out that medical labs are also facing staff shortages. And Your Local Epidemiologist explains what antigen tests are all about.

Omicron leads to record-high COVID-19 cases in Texas schools. https://t.co/9vtwbAwXlu

— Texas Tribune (@TexasTribune) January 21, 2022

Frustrated Round Rock Independent School District parents and community members took to the Governor's Mansion Sunday to call on the Texas Education Agency and Governor Greg Abbott to give Texas schools the resources they need to combat COVID-19.https://t.co/C1UtNWAX6A

— CBS Austin (@cbsaustin) January 24, 2022

That will be my segue to the latest Texas education developments.

In just 3 months, 8 North Texas superintendents announce they are leaving, by J. Wallis https://t.co/80wBrVdxOQ When added up—these sups literally have hundreds of years of experience in education @MASBATX @utexascoe #txed @RYHTexas #superintendency @TxTLEEC @LULAC #txlege #CRT pic.twitter.com/pA2RAzgvDL

— Angela Valenzuela, Ph.D. (@vlnzl) January 20, 2022

Good thread here with more on what Scott flags below. https://t.co/1V65slVGx1#txed #txlege https://t.co/6mK7Selxts

— Jennifer Harris (@jwharris) January 21, 2022

There are far too many Texas Republicans -- and one Democrat -- behaving badly for one Wrangle.

UPDATE: In joint statement, Texas' top five newspapers say they're disappointed by Paxton's response, believe the records should be disclosed & hope Travis Co. DA continues to hold the attorney general accountable https://t.co/5R3hgpL7E6

— James Barragán 🌟 (@James_Barragan) January 21, 2022

Don Huffines, Texas GOP candidate for governor, says he won't fire his campaign staffer with white nationalist ties bc he doesn't engage in "cancel culture."

via @emilylhernandez https://t.co/W7SmTGxq50

— Rebekah Allen (@rebekahallen) January 20, 2022

Listerine and sanitizer? This whole Fort Worth-area Texas House race needs a washdown @CaryGMoon @CaryMoon_FW @LauraHillForTX @NathanialSchatz #hd93 #txlege https://t.co/qCFlWR4x8h

— Bud Kennedy / #ReadLocal (@BudKennedy) January 21, 2022

The talk about redistricting is often focused on 2022. But I’d urge people to zoom out a bit. An unprecedented attack is taking place around the country on the political power of communities of color. That’s the story, not the political horse race. 1/ pic.twitter.com/hjQTPEuUz0

— Michael Li 李之樸 (@mcpli) January 19, 2022

.@DanPatrick at @TPPF: "I had a call with Joe Manchin."

It was during quorum break last year, & friend was hosting Manchin in Dallas. I asked how to connect w/ Manchin & 20 min. later, he calls me directly. "I thanked him for being a man at the right time in the right place."

— Patrick Svitek (@PatrickSvitek) January 21, 2022

Imagine being such an ideologue that you feel it necessary to insult and politicize any person’s tragic death. Wu continually proves he is everything that’s wrong @texasdemocrats.

I’m a vaccine advocate, but this is beyond the pale. #txlege pic.twitter.com/BwLXLAXbfR

— Jay Leeson (@jayleeson) January 22, 2022

SocraticGadfly looked at the on-the-ground activities of the even bigger right wingnuts challenging Greg Abbott.  John Coby at Bay Area Houston highlighted the rich businessmen financing Eva Guzman's campaign for attorney general.

The League of Women Voters of Houston says they’ve received a total of 10k voter registration applications from the Texas Secretary of State’s office in the last few days, following all of the public pressure.

— Ashley Lopez (@AshLopezRadio) January 23, 2022

Kuff wasn't impressed by the TXSoS' claim that supply chain issues were the reason they couldn't provide enough voter registration forms.

And more promising developments as the primary season intensifies.

“If you want to stop Trump in 2024, you need to stop Paxton in 2022.” https://t.co/N5DKFBTILU

— Texas Observer (@TexasObserver) January 22, 2022

Leftists 4 Office is proud to endorse Delilah Barrios to be the next Governor of Texas. Texas deserves a leader who stands firm in their values and is committed to fighting for all Texans, putting people before a party or corporation. pic.twitter.com/a5Mh7qD4Iu

— Leftists 4 Office (@Leftists4Office) January 19, 2022

Shifting to climate news:

Shell, others join Exxon's coalition supporting Houston carbon capture hub https://t.co/NuyUrzyB6C

— Houston Chronicle (@HoustonChron) January 20, 2022

Carbon capture is a distraction, albeit a convenient one for oil companies who wish to appear as if they are doing something about the climate emergency.

A new report shows that Shell's attempt at capturing carbon is actually putting out the same amount as 1.2 million gas-powered cars.https://t.co/oXJUSoVtJR

— VICE World News (@VICEWorldNews) January 20, 2022

...failing gas wells are blowing out across W Texas, threatening to contaminate the region’s aquifers: “The worst-case scenario is that in the next 25 to 50 years, the Permian Basin is completely uninhabitable.”https://t.co/sildbdRGh2@CBS7News#txwater needs attention #txlege

— Texas Living Waters (@txwater) January 21, 2022

With climate change legislation stalled in Congress, states look to pick up the slack https://t.co/2F1clHKspn @YahooNews

Some #GOP states address #ClimateChange, but not #Texas
We need 2022 #txlege that will #ActOnClimate@CCLHouston @SunriseMvmtHTX @hou_climate @XR_HOUSTON

— Katy TXDs Climate Action (@KatyTXActivists) January 21, 2022

Our coalition of climate activists is as diverse as Texas!

We’re focused on ensuring the clean energy jobs that come to the Lone Star State have family-sustaining wages.

❇️ Get involved by becoming a founding member of the Texas Climate Jobs Project: https://t.co/u846OQDDxM

— Texas Climate Jobs Project (@TXClimateJobs) January 22, 2022

The criminal and social justice headlines.

Thank you to @caitharr for writing about this! When #txlege strips us of our rights, it's up to all of us to take action. This includes the companies that benefit from our labour, our tax dollars, and everything Texas has to offer.

The people of Texas matter. Our rights matter. https://t.co/OC5XBxeNRp

— Janneke Parrish (@JannekeParrish) January 21, 2022

Your regular reminder that police violence happens during traffic stops in Houston far more than in other areas in Texas.

And this can't just be about the officer who arrested her. There's a whole chain of people involved in this harmful situation. https://t.co/UjnWqSwLAO

— Jaison Oliver (@oJaison) January 20, 2022

Here's a great case study illustrating why the #txlege's failure to ban so-called "forensic hypnosis" enables use of junk science that facilitates false convictions. https://t.co/tyx2woYYHD via @MarshallProj

— Grits for Breakfast (@Grits4Breakfast) January 19, 2022

NEW: Eviction filings in many Texas cities are among the highest in the U.S. — but millions of $$$ for struggling renters sat unspent for so long the feds took the money back https://t.co/hv4tR7dkLa @TexasTribune #txlege

— Joshua Fechter 📝 (@JoshuaFechter) January 21, 2022

Participants in the Carne y Arena experience walk through a virtual reality desert, alongside migrants making the journey to the U.S. https://t.co/TRyopV9CBL

— Texas Standard (@TexasStandard) January 22, 2022

And the calm-me-downs to wrap today.

It's almost time for the annual celebration in G-Town. https://t.co/m95nVWjnPt

— Houston Chronicle (@HoustonChron) January 23, 2022

Galveston Restaurant Week returns with fan favorites + seafood staples https://t.co/AsRCCI3UBE

— CultureMap Houston (@culturemap) January 19, 2022

This is how big pine trees grew in Texas before it was logged over. These sawyers are with a pine tree near Diboll, Texas and are getting ready to fell it BY HAND in 1907. Sheesh! Courtesy The History Center in Diboll. More great photos here: https://t.co/wvv87PIhkD pic.twitter.com/NBTE7Pcm28

— Traces of Texas (@TracesofTexas) January 21, 2022