Houston Matters

On Thursday's show: We learn what is taking place at the annual NRA Convention April 16-19 at the George R. Brown Convention Center.

Also this hour: We take a closer look at how and why segregation has become a permanent feature in our cities and how the promise of the 1940s through the 60s in Houston actually were periods that allowed racism to persist behind an illusion of progress. Those are subjects addressed in the book, Houston and the Permanence of Segregation. We talk with its author David Ponton III.

And we learn about Black Cinema Club HTX, which is working to make the city a hub for Black cinema. The organization's founders tell us about their efforts to make Houston the next Atlanta for film and about their anniversary film festival this weekend.

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On Wednesday's show: From the latest on the war with Iran, to sexual misconduct scandals and resignations, to President Trump clashing with Pope Leo XIV, we discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup.

Also this hour: What if the story of Eden isn’t just about the past but about the African-American experience today? We talk with artist Clarence Heyward about his new exhibit at the Houston Museum of African American Culture, which reimagines paradise, exile, and hope through a powerful modern lens.

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On Tuesday's show: Fort Bend County’s new chief executive was sworn in Monday. We learn more about County Judge Daniel Wong, a former Sugar Land city council member who was appointed to the position after K.P. George was removed from office last week.

And we learn about some of the reaction to Houston City Council’s passage of a revised HPD policy for interacting with ICE.

Also this hour: Houston’s social scene quite often revolves around alcohol. But what if connection didn’t require a drink? We learn how one Houston woman turned her personal journey to sobriety into a growing movement to create alcohol-free spaces and community, called Sober Girl Houston, as more Americans rethink their relationship with drinking.

And we revisit the story of The Melody Maids, a group of singing teenage girls from southeast Texas that traveled the world performing for troops from World War II to Vietnam. A new documentary tells their story, and it will be shown April 15 at the River Oaks Theatre.

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On Monday's show: We discuss what we learned from the Artemis II mission, what's ahead for future Artemis missions, and how the mission moved us closer to establishing more permanent operations on the moon — and potentially going to Mars someday.

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On Friday's show: We preview this evening's planned re-entry and splashdown of the Artemis II astronauts. Houston Public Media will offer live coverage of the crew's splashdown beginning around 6:45 p.m. on News 88.7 and on YouTube.

Also this hour: We find out how the water crisis in Corpus Christi has led many municipalities in the region to rush to pump water from aquifers in order to try and avert their own disasters.

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On Thursday's show: Houston City Council has approved a proposal to limit Houston police officers' cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. Councilmember Alejandra Salinas joins us to discuss the details and why she supported the measure.

Also this hour: From changing trends to pleasing customers and thin profit margins, running a restaurant has never been easy. But is it even harder these days with on-again/off-again tariffs and rising costs? We talk it over with some folks in the business.

On Wednesday's show: Just hours before a deadline President Trump had set for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face widespread destruction, the United States and Iran reached a ceasefire agreement, set to begin immediately and lasting two weeks. We consider what might happen next and examine what the president has been saying and doing regarding Iran as we discuss the latest developments in politics.

Also this hour: We learn about Camp Kangaroo, which helps children who are grieving the loss of a loved one.

And Captain John Dyer, a longtime Houston military and commercial pilot, shares stories from his time in the cockpit. He's among those being inducted into the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame at an event Friday at the Lone Star Flight Museum.

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On Tuesday's show: Artemis II astronauts had an historic day Monday, conducting their lunar fly-by and traveling farther from earth than any other humans. We learn more about what they achieved.

And we learn about HISD's plans to expand Superintendent Mike Miles' New Education System to nine more campuses.

Also this hour: A handful of local breweries have closed across Houston in recent years. What are some of the market factors that are causing that? Has the craft beer bubble burst? Are people drinking other things these days -- or not drinking at all? We talk it over.

And how much impact does a father figure really have? An upcoming exhibit at The Health Museum is turning to Houstonians to explore the answer.

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On Monday's show: After nearly 50 years in publication, the Fort Bend Star is closing down. This is the second community newspaper in recent weeks in Greater Houston to announce it was ceasing operations after The Leader ended publication in March after more than 70 years. Meanwhile, a company purchased the magazine Houstonia and laid off numerous editorial positions. We discuss these stories and what they mean for local journalism in the region.

Also this hour: We offer listeners a chance to vent about their pet peeves about life in our city.

And we get an update on Houston sports from Jeff Balke, co-host of the Bleav in Astros podcast.

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On Friday's show: We get the latest on the Artemis II mission as it continues into its second full day.

Also this hour: From the recent death of a man law enforcement believed was connected to the murders of several Houston-area women, to the indictment this week of his longtime friend for his alleged involvement, we make sense of a flood of new developments in some murder cases that have sat unsolved for decades and are considered part of the so-called "Texas Killing Fields."

Then, from a hoax involving the death of a 193-year-old tortoise, to the case of 400,000 stolen KitKat bars, we consider The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.

And we pay a visit to the sprawling complex of commerce that is the Traders Village flea market.

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