Houston Matters

On Thursday's show: Marijuana enforcement and no-knock warrants will be on the ballot for Houston voters in November. And airport workers are getting a raise. Houston Public Media's Dominic Anthony Walsh has been following those developments and breaks them down for us.Also this hour: As Johnson Space Center continues preparations for the next Artemis mission and America's return to the moon, it reminds us that NASA's long-term vision includes using the moon as a stepping-stone for future missions to Mars. But there is a lot to consider about what human beings spending extended time on the moon or Mars will mean. We revisit a February conversation with Rice University biology professor Scott Solomon, author of Becoming Martian: How Living in Space Will Change Our Bodies and Minds.Then, we consider how alcohol consumption habits are changing and what that might mean for the health of younger Houstonians.And we learn about a documentary in production about soccer in Houston.Watch

On Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup.Also this hour: We preview a special screening on Aug. 27 at the River Oaks Theatre of the classic film Casablanca, with the man presenting it, longtime Houston-area film critic Joe Leydon.And we learn about the world premiere of a blend of original music, dance, and electronics from NobleMotion Dance called CHANT.Watch

On Tuesday's show: President Donald Trump has signed an executive order calling on federal health officials to scale back vaccine recommendations and to split the MMR vaccine into individual shots for measles, mumps, and rubella. We get reaction from a local epidemiologist. And jalapeños are being recalled in 27 states, including Texas, after they were linked to a nationwide outbreak of salmonella. This comes after recalls of lettuce tied to outbreaks of Cyclospora. We get the latest on both outbreaks and learn more about the illnesses caused by them.Also this hour: We keep hearing what the latest polling has to tell us about the possible outcome of the Texas race for U.S. Senate. But how much can you take from polls? We revisit a conversation with Anthony Salvanto, the executive director of elections and surveys for CBS News, about how much to trust them and how to separate the useful ones from the less serious. He's the author of a book on that subject called Where Did You Get This Number?Then, we learn how extreme heat affects our electronic devices and how that might be a growing problem as the climate warms.And we talk over some of interesting places to explore in Greater Houston off the beaten path.Watch

On Monday's show: Students at HISD go back to class today, with many students at other districts around Greater Houston beginning a new school year this week as well. We discuss the first day of school and other education developments with Houston Public Media's Bianca Seward.Also this hour: HISD made significant changes to how it will handle special education in the new school year. And they weren't exactly popular moves. We take a closer look at how the changes might affect parents and students.Then, we visit local gardener Erandi Treviño of Verandi Secret Garden to learn how to transition your yard to native plants to save water, reduce upkeep, and help local wildlife.And Jonathan Alexander of the Houston Chronicle talks about the Texans' offseason, personnel changes, training camp, and preparation for preseason play, which begins Aug. 13 against the Chargers.Watch

On Friday's show: We get updates from Houston Public Media reporters on several stories from Fort Bend County, Galveston County, and Harris County.Also this hour: Classes begin for HISD students on Monday. Kids returning to class means another year of close contact, germs getting passed around, and a variety of other health-related questions and considerations. We talk through them with pediatrician Dr. Desiree Evans from Texas Children's.Then, we break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.And we meet the director and one of the actors from the regional premiere of the newly revised West End production of Mean Girls: The Musical, on stage at Queensberry Theatre through Aug. 16.Watch

On Thursday's show: We learn why Moody's has upgraded the City of Houston's credit rating and what it means for the city and the rest of us.Also this hour: AI is finding its way into the classroom more and more. We discuss what that looks like and how educators from grade school to college hope to handle it responsibly.Then, we hear from Joseph Williams, lead singer of the rock band Toto, ahead of the band's concert in The Woodlands on Friday. We discuss the group's enduring hits, like Africa, Hold the Line, and Rosanna, along with Williams' solo efforts, which include the singing voice of Simba in the original The Lion King and working with his dad, John Williams, on three Star Wars films.And we visit The Chess Refinery, a gathering space for chess players in Katy.Watch

On Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup.Also this hour: We get to know the new host of Reading Rainbow, librarian and literacy advocate Mychal Threets.And comedian Maddy Kelly explains how her failed attempts to act dramatically on stage turned into a career in comedy and a recent appearance on The Tonight Show. Kelly performs in Houston Friday and Saturday at The Riot Comedy Club.Watch

On Tuesday's show: We learn why some local restaurants are choosing to do their own versions of Houston Restaurant Weeks, which is underway during the month of August and runs through Sept. 7. The event raises funds for the Houston Food Bank.Also this hour: In this month's installment of The Full Menu, food writers talk about what local restaurants that are participating in HRW are offering on their menus this year and what they're looking forward to sampling.Then, we learn about The Magnolia Fund, described as the "real estate investment fund for the rest of us." It takes small investments and groups them together to fund bigger projects as a way for neighbors to invest in their own communities.And superheroes can do more than save the day. They can also inspire a love of reading. We meet the Houston couple behind Adroit Comics, a family-owned comic book company using original stories to help students build literacy skills.Watch

On Monday's show: Nearly one in five traffic deaths in Texas happen in the 13 counties the Houston-Galveston Area Council covers. We learn about an upcoming public meeting the agency is hosting on how to improve those numbers.Also this hour: We offer listeners a chance to vent their pet peeves about life in our city.And we discuss what the Astros might do before today's trade deadline and how they're positioned for the final two months of the season.Watch

On Friday's show: Starting today, Texas is banning hemp products containing certain intoxicating cannabinoids. We find out what will still be legal, what will not, and how it's affecting businesses.Also this hour: We learn what a recent investigation by the Texas Observer tells us about when and why school districts across the state choose to have students ages 10-12 arrested for on-campus incidents and discuss how school leaders make those decisions.Then, we break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.And Houston singer/songwriter Kam Franklin performs live in studio.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TfaXAf-JcE&t=445s

On Thursday's show: A longstanding city of Houston program requiring some government contracts to be awarded to minority-owned businesses was ruled unconstitutional by a federal judge. We learn why and discuss the ramifications of the decision.Also this hour: Free speech doesn't mean freedom from consequences. Negative backlash, a boycott, a lost job -- lots can happen when you express yourself in a way others don't like on social media. We discuss what is a fair and appropriate response and what is going too far.Then, we preview the next installment of the podcast After the Flood.Plus, we learn about the documentary Los Tejanos: A 500-Year History, which chronicles five centuries of Mexican American history in Texas. A free screening of the film will be held Aug. 1 at 7 p.m. at the Wilhelmina Cullen Robertson Auditorium on the campus of the University of Houston-Downtown.And, with another new Spider-Man movie coming out, we talk about the big business of movies based on comic books.Watch

On Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup.Also this hour: We recall the influence the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee had on Houston and the city's desegregation strategies more than half a century ago ahead of a panel discussion and screening of the 1998 documentary The Strange Demise of Jim Crow Thursday at 7 p.m. at The Menil Collection.And we mark a key anniversary in the history of spaceflight -- the official establishment of NASA -- by learning what researchers found when they digitized audio recordings from NASA's Mission Control during the Apollo years.Watch

On Tuesday's show: This week could be the hottest stretch of the summer in Houston, with several triple-digit days in a row possible. We learn more from meteorologist Justin Ballard of the Houston Chronicle. And, amid that brutal heat, residents of Corpus Christi got some good news about their water crisis.Also this hour: Recent efforts to inject religion into Texas public schools might be leading some Houstonians to seek out secular alternatives. We talk it over.Then, we preview this year's Houston Shakespeare Festival.And we visit Creatorspace, a makerspace in League City where all kinds of practical, physical production takes place, like welding, laser cutting, electronics, woodworking, pottery, sewing, and jewelry-making.Watch

On Monday's show: Katy ISD is banning the use of AI by elementary school students. The district's board also set limits on AI use by middle and high school students in a decision that stands in sharp contrast to Houston ISD's plans. And we recap a Congressional forum in Houston over ICE tactics.Also this hour: We dig deeper on the rights of renters in Greater Houston.Then, a medical diagnosis kept Houstonian Ginger Kerrick from ever being an astronaut. It didn't, however, stop her from making history at NASA. Her story is among those told in a PBS documentary series called Once Upon a Time in Space, which is airing this month on Houston Public Media, TV 8.And we recap Sunday's Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony, which features more than one former Astros players, and consider which current members of the team could someday join them in the hall.Watch

On Friday's show: An energy industry watcher explains how the war with Iran is reshaping the oil industry and its impact on Houston.Also this hour: We break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.And, before they pilot billion-dollar spacecraft, NASA's astronauts first have to learn to fly something much more down to earth. We visit LIFT Academy, the flight school in Galveston that is teaching them how.Watch

On Thursday's show: We learn how the city is preparing to help residents as Houston and the Southeast Texas region face dangerously high heat over the next few days. And we find out whether the FIFA World Cup matches in Houston provided the boost in demand many hotels and renters expected.Also this hour: Pediatrician Dr. Seema Jilani of Texas Children's Hospital talks about her work traveling the globe to care for patients in some of the world's most vulnerable places devastated by war and conflict. She recently served as a consultant on the HBO MAX series, The Pitt.And with the intensifying heat of late July, we provide some ideas for air-conditioned things to do in the summertime.Watch

On Wednesday's show: From the Arizona primaries, to a new tariff on Canadian goods, to the latest from the campaign trail, we discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup.Also this hour: Comedian Dulcé Sloan, who's a frequent panelist on NPR's Wait Wait…Don't Tell Me!, talks with us ahead of some standup gigs at Punch Line HTX Thursday through Saturday.Watch

On Tuesday's show: Meteorologist Justin Ballard of the Houston Chronicle gives us the latest on Tropical Storm Bertha, which has formed in the Gulf southwest of Florida, and how it might affect Greater Houston in the coming days.Also this hour: Is Greater Houston a good place to raise a family? What could make it better? We discuss how do define what makes a neighborhood family-friendly, where and why some parts of Greater Houston may fall short, and where and why others may be great for families.Watch

On Monday's show: We get an update on several stories in Fort Bend County, including how drama over the leadership of the county might affect the tax rate there and how developers are facing hurdles in their attempt to purchase land adjacent to the Sugar Land 95 burial site. And we get details on a new study that found the W.A. Parish coal plant in Fort Bend County is the largest producer of cloud-forming particles in the greater Houston region.Also this hour: Veterinarian Dr. Lori Teller answers listener questions about pet care. You can submit yours now to talk@houstonmatters.org.And we preview the second half of the Astros' season.Watch

On Friday's show: We get the latest on dramatic flooding in the Texas Hill Country. And Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare discusses his office's efforts to investigate last week's shooting death of Houstonian Lorenzo Salgado Araujo by an ICE agent.Also this hour: We conclude our weeklong series examining the state of several areas of life in Greater Houston by discussing the state of our region's arts and culture scene.Then, we break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.And we reflect on parallels between last week's ICE shooting and a death at the hands of law enforcement in the 1970s that transformed the Houston Police Department and led to what became known as The Chicano Squad.Watch

On Thursday's show: We recap calls for and efforts to investigate last week's shooting by an ICE agent in Magnolia Park.Also this hour: We continue our weeklong series examining the state of several areas of life in Greater Houston by discussing the state of transportation in the region.Then, we visit a "death cafe" -- a Houston-area discussion group that gathers to talk about issues related to death.And we preview the next installment of the podcast After the Flood.Watch

On Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup.Also this hour: We continue our weeklong series examining the state of several areas of life in Greater Houston by discussing the state of the environment.And more and more people these days own dogs who serve as service animals or emotional support animals. But where can they venture in Houston and where can't they? And are there limits some area businesses can set?Watch

On Tuesday's show: We get the latest on rainy weather in the forecast and the potential for flooding. And we learn about a TEA investigation of HISD's plans to consolidate some special education services in the district.Also this hour: We continue our weeklong series examining the state of several areas of life in Greater Houston by discussing the state of politics here.Then, we reflect on the role religion has played in shaping the state of Texas over its history with Joseph Locke, author of One State Under God: A History of Religion in Texas. Locke will discuss the book on July 16 at Brazos Bookstore.And retired astronaut Anna Lee Fisher talks about time with NASA. She was in the first astronaut class that included women, and she was the first mother to go to space. Her experience is chronicled in the first part of a new PBS documentary series Once Upon a Time in Space, which airs tonight at 8 on Houston Public Media, TV 8.Watch

On Monday's show: Last week's shooting by ICE agents of a Houstonian who had entered the country illegally more than 30 years ago raised, to some, questions about why he had only in recent years sought legal status.Also this hour: We begin a week-long series examining the state of Greater Houston, starting today with a look at Houstonians' health.Plus: We welcome your gardening questions.And we assess the Houston Astros at the All-Star break.Watch

On Friday's show: Past officer-involved shootings have led many law enforcement agencies to train officers to de-escalate -- something that seems far less evident from encounters between Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers since the Trump administration's crackdown on undocumented immigrants. So, what happened to the concept of de-escalation? We talk it over with Dr. Everette Penn from the Texas Juvenile Crime Prevention Center.Then, we break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.And we hear from spiritual jazz legend, Kahil El'Zabar ahead of his performance at the Houston Museum of African American Culture as part of the museum's latest exhibition, “Bayou City Stewards: America From Our Perspective." Watchhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5S_4VS_-YnY&t=1688s

On Thursday's show: More than 1,000 protesters gathered on Canal Street Wednesday night demanding answers after 36-year-old Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was fatally shot by an ICE agent in Houston's Magnolia Park neighborhood Tuesday morning.We speak with two elected officials who represent the area: Houston City Council Member Joaquin Martinez and State Senator Carol Alvarado: District 6, about the shooting, the community's response, and what comes next.Also this hour, East End residents discuss how this week's shooting has intensified longstanding frustrations over public safety, policing, and the challenges facing their neighborhood.Then, we examine America's relationship with guns and gun violence with longtime public radio host David Greene, who's screening his new documentary, Louder Than Guns, in Houston tonight.And we preview the latest episode of the podcast, After the Flood, a podcast collaboration of The Texas Newsroom and the PBS series Frontline.Watch

On Wednesday's show: We discuss the shooting of an undocumented immigrant in Magnolia Park. Elected officials and immigrant rights organizations are calling for an independent investigation. And we discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup.Also this hour: We find out what kinds of protections exist for those who work outside in Houston's summer heat.And we learn about Texas Southern University's aviation program with a visit to its hangar at Ellington Field. https://www.youtube.com/live/h7vRgjfkcKI?si=TzGz4-sul6i6QuwB

On Tuesday's show: We learn how a little-known appeals process allowed thousands of wealthy homes to be removed from floodplain maps. Houston Chronicle investigative reporter Yilun Cheng explains how it happened and what it means.And we get details about a lawsuit filed by Daniel Wong, who had been appointed to serve as Fort Bend Couty Judge, the latest development in a battle over who should be the leader of that county.Also this hour: Houston's Venezuelan community is stepping up after that recent devastating earthquake there. We learn more about the effort here to help.Then, we talk with Houstonians from different generations about their experiences here as teenagers.And, 45 years ago today, President Ronald Reagan announced his intention to nominate Sandra Day O'Connor as the first woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. And, while she was the first woman on the High Court, she was not the first to appear on a presidential short list. We revisit a conversation about O'Connor's career with Renee Knake Jefferson, co-author of Shortlisted: Women in the Shadows of the Supreme Court.https://www.youtube.com/live/k8CpBpRp7Kg?si=i8-R3hLAfZqfpDBk

On Monday's show: We learn more about an investigative series from the Houston Chronicle examining how a Houston-based compounding pharmacy is stretching the boundaries of health care regulation and creating potential dangers for patients.Also this hour: We offer listeners a chance to vent their pet peeves about life in our city.And we get an update on the FIFA World Cup matches and, now that Houston has hosted its last match, we reflect on how the city did as a host city.Watch

On Thursday's show: As Houston gears up to mark not just another Fourth of July but also the nation's semiquincentennial, there's no shortage of ways to celebrate -- from fireworks over Buffalo Bayou to a tree-planting event that had to work around a protected bird's nest. We walk through some of the ways people are celebrating across Greater Houston.Also this hour: Sure, Lee Greenwood sang about being proud to be an American. And so we, naturally, discuss what makes you proud to be a Houstonian.Then, we learn how Texas helped shape aviation in America, the subject of an exhibit called Made in Texas at the Lone Star Flight Museum.And we preview the latest episode of the podcast After the Flood, about the aftermath of the July 4 floods in the Texas Hill Country.Watch

On Wednesday's show: From the U.S. Supreme Court upholding birthright citizenship, to other decisions from the High Court, we discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup.Also this hour: Foodies discuss their favorite places for happy hour food and drink in the latest installment of The Full Menu.And, as the nation prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of independence, we consider the nation's story through the lens of several pieces of art on display at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston in conjunction with America 250 festivities.Watch

On Tuesday's show: Could the Corpus Christi water crisis have been averted if Texans were a little more realistic about climate change? We learn how the state may have underestimated the increasing size and scope of droughts.Also this hour: We consider Houston's role in international business and culture and whether that is changing lately.Then, we revisit a conversation from last year with Bryan Burrough, author of The Gunfighters, about the role Texas played in the rise of Old West legends.And we go bird watching in the Bayou City.

On Monday's show: We learn how last week's tire fire in southeast Houston may be affecting air quality. And the Galveston City Council approved zoning exemptions for the Discovery Sands development that has sparked controversy across the island.Also this hour: We discuss how last week's Supreme Court decision allowing the president to end the nation's Temporary Protected Status program might affect families, businesses, and industries across Greater Houston.Then, ahead of America's 250th birthday, we discuss what was happening in 1776 in what became Texas, which was under Spanish rule, and who else inhabited what became Greater Houston.And we dig deeper on news that the NHL might add an expansion team in Houston or Austin.Watch

On Friday's show: HISD's state-appointed board of managers approved Bible-infused curriculum for elementary school students and also voted to adopt a $2 billion operating budget for the 2026-27 school year. We get details on both.And, Fort Bend County government ground to a halt after two Democratic commissioners walked out of a meeting, breaking quorum and leaving county business in limbo. The standoff is the latest escalation in a partisan dispute over who legally leads the county.Also this hour: We mark an anniversary for a few key landmark Supreme Court rulings impacting gay rights: Lawrence v. Texas in 2003, the 2013 striking down of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act, and, in 2015, Obergefell v. Hodges, in which the High Court ruled same-sex couples had a Constitutional right to marriage under the 14th Amendment.Then, our non-experts contemplate The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.And we preview the Ensemble Theatre's production of Get Ready, which explores the impact that shifts in popular music had on Black musicians starting in the 1950s.Watch

On Thursday's show: Houston City Council has approved $18 billion worth of capital projects. We find out what the money will be spent on and how that might affects services, such as solid waste.And we get details on the new $300 million arena complex the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo plans to build, which is intended to “complement, not replace” operations at NRG Park.Also this hour: Sleep expert Dr. Sudha Tallavajhula fields listener questions about sleep and sleep disorders, which you can send now to talk@houstonmatters.org.And we take a closer look at the Texas Newsroom podcast After the Flood, about the people who died last summer when a flood tore through the Texas Hill Country.Watch

On Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup.Also this hour: We ponder the art of crafting a compelling story from the public radio program, The Moth, ahead of its Mainstage coming to Houston this weekend.And filmmaker Karla Murthy, who grew up in Missouri City, talks about her documentary, The Gas Station Attendant, which chronicles her father's struggles to achieve the American dream and her process of coming to terms with his story. The film will be screened June 25 as a part of the series HTX MADE with a related family storytelling workshop on June 27.Watch

On Tuesday's show: A Tesla crashed into a Katy home on Friday, killing a 76-year-old woman. The driver told police the vehicle was in an automated driving mode. While no criminal charges have yet to be filed in the case, a legal expert discusses the liability questions that stem from incidents involving such vehicles.Also this hour: We've heard a lot about the toll large data centers might take on water and energy demand in Texas. But how might they also affect the weather and climate around them -- including here in Houston? Then, experts talk about efforts in Texas to combat the New World screwworm and how to deal with it and other unwanted pests and invasive species in our environment. And, ahead of the Houston Punk Fest June 26-27, we revisit a conversation from 2025 paying homage to the Houston bands that made up the Texas punk rock scene of the '70s and '80s.Watch

On Monday's show: Three years ago, Texas Republican lawmakers approved a state law eliminating Harris County's chief elections official and allowing state officials to intervene and supervise elections here. We learn how the state is using the law to take over elections in some other, much-smaller counties.Also this hour: We hear the story behind the Houston-based nonprofit Love You Adam Foundation and how it is using some new approaches to prevent suicide.Then, an expert from the UTHealth Houston Neurosciences-Headache & Pain Center answers your questions about headaches and migraines.And, after some MLB players wrote Bible verses on the rainbow-themed hats they wore on a recent LGBTQ+ Pride night, we talk about athletes and free speech -- what they can say, do, and even wear on the field.Watch

On Friday's show: Today is Juneteenth, which celebrates the emancipation of enslaved people in this country. And while we tend to think of Galveston when we conjure the holiday's history, a local researcher tells us about what he found that suggests the first festivities happened in Houston.Also this hour: A new book celebrates the stories and legacy of Riverside General, Houston's former Negro hospital. Journalist Carlton Houston talks about his book, The Houston Negro Hospital, and shares his own family's connection to its story.Then, our non-experts break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.And Sunday is Make Music Day, a free celebration of musical performance around the world. We talk with Houston vocalist Dria Thornton about her music and career.Watch

On Thursday's show: Greater Houston may have dodged a bullet in terms of widespread flooding when Tropical Storm Arthur bypassed our region on its way to Louisiana, but it has left with us some extreme heat. We get an update and an explanation from meteorologist Justin Ballard of the Houston Chronicle.And we get details on former Fort Bend County Judge KP George's sentencing for his money laundering conviction.Also this hour: How do we know when an older adult might need help at home, professional care, or a different living arrangement? We discuss the ins and outs of elder care.Then, amid its initial public offering last week, SpaceX set some pretty lofty goals, including future colonization of Mars. Space scientist Scott Soloman of Rice University explains why he thinks those goals are not feasible -- and even unethical.And we visit The Landing at Augusta Woods, a memory care community in Spring that uses faith, music, and repetition to help residents with dementia rediscover their purpose and inspire others.Watch

On Wednesday's show: We get an update on the forecast for rainy weather across the region. And we discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup.Also this hour: How often do you really think about how you're going to get from point A to point B throughout your day? For disability advocate Melissa DiVietri, it's something she has to consider all the time.And we learn about this year's Houston Punk Fest, which takes place June 26-27.Watch

On Tuesday's show: We get an update on the potential for "life-threatening flooding" this week as the Houston area faces sustained heavy rains amid a flood watch. We check in again with meteorologist Eric Berger of Space City Weather for the latest. And we find out how local chefs and restaurants fared in the annual James Beard Awards.Also this hour: We learn how the City of Houston is doing on its efforts to improve its sewer system.Then, scientists last year discovered evidence that could point to ancient life on Mars. We revisit a conversation from last fall about what they found.And we chat with some artists behind six new massive murals in downtown.Watch