On Thursday's Houston Matters: Former Congressman Patrick Kennedy makes his case for transforming mental health in America. Kennedy, the son of the late Sen. Ted Kennedy and nephew of the late Pres. John F. Kennedy, explains how his own challenges with addiction and bipolar disorder have informed his thinking on the issue. He's the featured speaker at the Menninger Clinic's annual luncheon today.

Also this hour: Fort Bend County commissioners have approved a preliminary plan to allocate more than $157 million in COVID-19 relief funds -- but not without some contention. While the county’s four commissioners voted for the plan to distribute funds from the American Rescue Plan Act that Congress passed in March, Judge KP George voted against it. He tells News 88.7’s Andrew Schneider why.

And we meet Houston's new poet laureate, Emanuelee "Outspoken" Bean.