Hello Houston

On today’s Hello Houston, we talk again with Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare, who joins us to give us an update on the investigation into last month’s fatal shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo by federal immigration agents.

Then, we’re joined by Jay Hickman, John Swasey, and Kyle Jones, hosts of the Houston-based comedy podcast, Bottom of the Barrel, who tell us about their upcoming third season which will launch with an episode dedicated to the history of Houston.

In the second hour, in recognition of Houston’s 190th birthday this Sunday, August 30, we hear the newest installment of Texperts, in which University of Houston political science professor and Party Politics co-host Brandon Rottinghaus explores the history and symbolism behind Houston’s official city seal and flag with vexillologist Charles Spain. 

Plus, our hosts and listeners share the latest things that have been taking over all their free time as part of our regular Thursday feature, Current Obsessions. Share your Current Obsessions with us anytime by emailing us at [email protected].

And, as always, our hosts Tessa Barrera and Ernie Manouse talk about today’s top stories at the top of each hour, including a federal judge striking down a Texas law aimed at restricting drag performances, Meta agreeing to implement protections for kids on its social media platforms as part of a settlement, the city of Houston agreeing to not absorb the Woodlands, and more.

On today’s Hello Houston, with major tech companies like Apple and Tesla investing heavily in new manufacturing facilities across the Houston area, we discuss what this could mean for jobs, tech investment, and the region’s economy with Houston Business Journal reporter Jishnu Nair.

Then, we learn all about Reel Girls HTX, an all-women fishing group focused on building sisterhood, sharing skills, and making the water more welcoming for anglers of all experience levels, with its founder Keyahra Hayes, and members Nahzarah and Sedaja.

In the second hour, Houston area attorney Charles D. Adams, who represents the family of John Mendoza Jr., discusses the charges against former Brazoria County deputy Kevin Tippit and the newly released body camera footage in the fatal shooting of the 18-year-old Texas State University student.

Plus, we turn to music and hear Hello Houston producer William Menjivar talk with Madison Sutton, founder and artistic director of Houston Music Classifieds, who explains how the Solar Flare Music Festival is putting a spotlight on local music artists.

And, as always, our hosts Tessa Barrera and Ernie Manouse discuss today’s top stories at the top of each hour, including the passing of singer-songwriter Dolly Parton and HPD Police Chief Noe Diaz not showing up for what was meant to be his first public accounting of the department’s cooperation with ICE, which they discuss with Houston Public Media reporter Dominic Anthony Walsh.

On today’s Hello Houston, Houston ISD Superintendent Mike Miles joins us to discuss the school district’s new school year, the major changes that are already underway, and the current concerns and criticisms surrounding the district.

Next, Chef Paul Friedman, owner and executive chef of The Chef’s Table, and his son Kyle Friedman, the contractor and designer who helped bring the River Oaks location to life, discuss their restaurant’s involvement in Houston Restaurant Weeks.

In the second hour of the show, our hosts Tessa Barrera and Ernie Manouse discuss some of today’s top stories, including more details released on the arrest of La Marque’s mayor for indecent exposure and the Supreme Court giving President Trump a win on his executive order aimed at restricting mail-in voting.

Then, we’re joined by Maisha Colter, CEO of Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse (AVDA), and Board of Directors member Katie Tsuru, who both tell us about the non-profit’s mission to end family violence by advocating for victims while also promoting accountability for abusers. 

And finally, we talk with storm chaser Reed Timmer and director Ken Cole, who both discuss the new documentary Never Stop Chasing, which explores Timmer’s decades-long career chasing some of the most extreme weather on the planet and what keeps pulling him back into chasing storms.

On today’s Hello Houston, Elissa Freiha, founder of Womena, a platform dedicated to amplifying the voices of women across the Arab world, joins us to share her thoughts on the potential impact of conflict across the Middle East on women and families.

Next, we turn to sports and talk with Prairie View A&M’s head football coach Tremaine Jackson, who tells us about the inaugural Chancellor’s Cup, which brings together two Texas A&M University System schools for the first time in football, and the season ahead.

In the second hour, University of Houston Energy Fellow Ed Hirs joins us to help us separate fact from fiction on how data centers work, including their water, electricity, and land use, how they could impact local communities, and whether they could affect residential electricity bills.

And finally, Dr. Irene Stafford, a physician with UTHealth Houston, joins us to tell us how college students can stay healthy as they head back to class and what health resources are available to them while they’re in school.

Plus, our hosts Tessa Barrera and Michael Adkison talk about today’s top stories at the top of each hour, including the University of Houston removing 133 courses from its core curriculum to comply with SB 37, NASA potentially beginning development of its lunar base, the mayor of La Marque being released on bond after being arrested for alleged indecent exposure, and more.

On today’s Hello Houston, we talk with U.S. Representative Al Green, currently serving Texas’s 9th congressional district, who  discusses his goals and priorities before he leaves the Capitol in January and the annual Slavery Remembrance Legislative Update Breakfast that he’s hosting tomorrow, August 22.

Then, Dr. Shonnie Murrell, Governor of the Recording Academy’s Texas and Oklahoma Chapters and leader of the band Funk Potion #9, tells us about her work advocating for artists, mentoring young people through Grammy U, and her upcoming new R&B album.

In the second hour, former superintendent of Big Bend National Park and chairman of Keep Big Bend Wild, Bob Krumenaker, discusses how the organization is fighting border wall construction in that area, what’s at stake for the famous Texas national park, and what happens next now that construction has been paused.

Plus, we do our regular Friday feature "Last Minute Plans," in which our hosts share a comprehensive rundown of events going down in the Houston area this weekend, while they, and Hello Houston listeners, share their own plans for the weekend.

And, as always, our hosts Ernie Manouse and Tessa Barrera discuss today’s top stories at the top of each hour, including Minnesota officials suing Gov. Abbott to force the extradition of an ICE agent arrested in Texas, a Deer Park police officer suspended after misusing the department’s Flock cameras, the attorney of a Texas teen convicted of a fatal stabbing asking for a new trial, and more.

On today’s Hello Houston, we’re joined by Harris County Attorney Abbie Kamin, who discusses the county’s legal battles over mail-in voting and federal funding, what they could mean for both the county and voters, and what happens next.

Next, we turn to education and talk with Reid Turner, the lead agriculture teacher at Worthing High School in Sunnyside, who tells us about how their agriculture program is teaching students how to grow food, raise animals, and tackle the challenges of living in a food desert.

In the second hour, journalist and Pulitzer Prize-winning national security reporter Thomas Ricks, who’s written extensively about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, talks to us about what he’s seeing as a troubling connection between the conduct of American forces during the Iraq War and how immigration enforcement is currently being carried out on U.S. streets.

And finally, our hosts and listeners share the latest things that have been taking over all their free time as part of our regular Thursday feature, Current Obsessions. Share your Current Obsessions with us anytime by emailing us at [email protected].

And, as always, our hosts Ernie Manouse and Tessa Barrera discuss today’s top stories at the top of each hour, including James Talarico spending more than $25 million on television advertising, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick saying he’ll lower school ratings if graphic books aren’t removed, Houston City Council approving a "right to air conditioning" ordinance, and more.

On today’s Hello Houston, we discuss why many of the biggest cities in Texas are currently facing mounting budget deficits with Joshua Fechter, an urban affairs reporter for The Texas Tribune, who’s recently reported on this matter.

Then, Tracy Hester, co-director of the University of Houston Law Center’s Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Law Center, educates us on solar radiation management (SRM), a theoretical way to slow global warming by reflecting a small amount of sunlight back into space.

In the second hour of the show, we discuss mail-in ballots and other current questions about voting access across Texas ahead of the midterm elections in November with Jen Rice, who reports on threats to democracy in states across the country for Democracy Docket.

Plus, Chris Williams, the chef and owner of the Houston-area restaurant Lucille’s, talks to us about working with the non-profit Street Art for Mankind to complete a mural honoring the legacy of famed Houston artist John Biggers. 

And, as always, our hosts Ernie Manouse and Tessa Barrera talk about today's top stories at the top of each hour, including ABC suing the FCC for allegedly violating the network’s First Amendment rights, Gov. Abbott calling for a ban on school districts employing anyone with an H-1B visa, and the city of Houston asking a federal court to reconsider its ruling on the city's minority-owned business program.

On today’s Hello Houston, Dr. Zuri Dale, Assistant Vice President of Research and Innovation Initiatives at Texas Southern University, explains how the drug-resistant fungus Candida auris spreads, why there are so many cases in Texas, and how we can prevent it.

Then, we discuss indoor plant care with Jemine Oakes, owner of the local plant shop, The Flora Culture, who shares tips and discusses the growing trend of biophilic design.

In the show’s second hour, we turn to healthcare and receive an update on the latest advances in melanoma research and therapies with Dr. Michael Davies, chair of the Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology at MD Anderson.

Plus, Houston-based sculptor Bridgette Mongeon discusses her book Alice and the Hidden 150, which features hints to help people uncover all 150 secrets hidden in her Alice in Wonderland-inspired sculpture Move One Place On, located in Evelyn’s Park in Bellaire.

And, as always, our hosts Ernie Manouse and Tessa Barrera discuss today’s top stories at the top of each hour, including TEA Commissioner Mike Morath saying the HISD takeover could be ending soon, high temperatures in Houston this week, which they discuss with KTRK broadcast meteorologist Elyse Smith, and the Trump Administration pausing border wall construction in Big Bend National Park.

On today’s Hello Houston, we talk with Dr. Stacy Norton, an obstetrician and gynecologist with Houston Methodist Willowbrook, who discusses colon cancer risks, the warning signs to watch out for, and the importance of early detection, especially for women.  

Next, Dr. Sally-Ann Ashton, the inaugural director of the University of Houston-Downtown's Center for Crime, Urban Research and Education, tells us how the center is bringing researchers, students, and law enforcement together to better understand what drives crime and how to prevent it.

In the second hour of the show, John McClain, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame who's also been covering the NFL in Houston for 50 years, joins us to share his thoughts on what we can expect from the Houston Texans’ upcoming new season.

Also, we discuss the future of nuclear energy with Ramanan Krishnamoorti, Vice President of Energy and Innovation at the University of Houston, who also explains what advancements have been made to make nuclear energy safer and more reliable. 

Plus, Ernie Manouse and Hello Houston’s new permanent co-host, Tessa Barrera, talk about today’s stories at the top of each hour, including Dallas Fort Worth International Airport canceling plans to install a facility for Islamic prayer and Caitlyn Jenner supporting two former NBA players who are planning to enter the WNBA’s draft.

On today’s Hello Houston, we discuss how widespread Flock cameras are becoming in the state of Texas and the debate surrounding their use with Sam Shaw, a government and growth reporter at The Waco Bridge, who's been reporting on their expansion.

Then, Briana Byrd, a Houston entrepreneur and owner of Taaffe Vintage Furniture, joins us to share DIY restoration tips, how we can avoid common mistakes, and how we can give old furniture a beautiful second life.

In the second hour of the show, we’re joined by River Oaks Theatre artistic director Rob Saucedo, who talks to us about his new graphic novel, Curse of the Where Wolf, and the werewolf movie screenings that he’s hosting at the theater this month to celebrate the graphic novel’s release.

Also, we wrap up this week by welcoming Hello Houston's new permanent co-host, Tessa Barrera, during our regular Friday feature, Last Minute Plans. She will officially be starting on Monday, August 17.

Plus, Ernie Manouse and guest host Rebekah Dahl discuss today’s top stories at the top of each hour, including Governor Abbott calling for tougher penalties for Texas teachers who engage in inappropriate relationships with students and four HISD schools receiving F ratings a year after there were no failing campuses, which they discuss with Houston Public Media reporter Bianca Seward.