Houston Matters

On Thursday's show: We broadcast live from the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo where we talk about the annual celebration of western culture with Chris Boleman, the event's president and CEO. We also discuss the future of water in Texas and how the need for it will affect the state's agriculture.

Also this hour: We go shopping for Western wear inside the exhibitor hall at NRG Center. And we take an inside look at the annual calf scramble.

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On Wednesday's show: We examine how the races turned out in the Texas primary election and discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup.

Also this hour: In this month’s installment of The Full Menu, food writers discuss some of their favorite restaurants around Houston to take a date or have a date night with a significant other.

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On Tuesday's show: We have the latest news on voter turnout during primary election day.

Also this hour: Houston didn't make the headlines like Minneapolis or Los Angeles for aggressive immigration enforcement this past year, but it felt the impact. More than one in seven Houston-area residents personally know someone who was detained and potentially deported in 2025. We discuss new surveys from Rice University's Kinder Institute on how Houstonians' attitudes toward immigration enforcement are shifting.

Then, retired astronaut Butch Wilmore joins us to talk about his career, including the nine months he spent on the ISS when his mission was originally only supposed to last eight days.

Then, we discuss why the Trump administration wants to extend the Texas border wall through Big Bend National Park.

And we learn about a Texas Tech University archaeology team’s recent discovery of a long-lost Spanish mission site, which sheds new light on missionary life in Texas during the 1700s.

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On Monday's show: Sunday’s mass shooting in Austin may have been an act of terrorism and a response to the U.S. and Israel’s military action in Iran, which has led that country to attack several Middle East neighbors. We discuss that and other reverberations from this weekend’s violence and implications in politics and on the oil and gas industry.

Harris County commissioners recently voted to strip the county treasurer’s office of key functions and to pursue dissolving the office altogether. The move was made amidst legal troubles for County Treasurer Carla Wyatt. We get  the details from reporter Sarah Grunau.

Also this hour: It’s the first Monday of the month. That’s when we set aside time to sweat the small stuff in another round of Houstonian pet peeves. Send yours now to [email protected].

And we discuss the Astros at spring training, how the automated ball strike challenge system is going so far, and preview the World Baseball Classic as some of the tournament’s games will be played at Daikin Park starting next week.

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On Friday's show: We learn about HISD's plans to close some of its schools, after a vote on the matter takes place.

Also this hour: We discuss the homeschooling experience in Houston with Tess Harris, a former home school student and member of the Coalition for Responsible Home Education, and Amber Swirsky, a homeschool teacher, mother of five, and owner of The Homeschool Store.

Then, we break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.

And we chat with Rich Levy, executive director of Inprint Houston, who’s presenting the next film in the Movies Houstonians Love series at the MFAH. We talk about the movie he wants you to see, Wim Wenders’ 2023 film, Perfect Days, and about his 30+ years at Inprint ahead of his retirement.

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On Thursday's show: Apple plans to build its Mac mini computers right here in Houston, and Wall Street Journal reporter Rolfe Winkler got an exclusive inside look. We talk with him about what is driving this move and what it means for the city.

Also this hour: The deadline is next week for Texas public school boards to vote on whether or not to adopt a voluntary period for prayer and reading of religious texts during the school day. We discuss the law behind this, SB 11, and concerns over how it will be implemented.

Then, we learn about CanCare, a local cancer support organization that pairs patients with survivors.

And we reflect on the history of the Julia Ideson Library, which is celebrating its centennial with a performance of new music from ROCO on Feb. 28.

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On Wednesday's show: We recap last night’s State of the Union address and discuss other developments in politics in our weekly roundup.

Also this hour: Do you grunt when you get up after sitting too long? Do you feel achy after sleeping? Nearly a quarter of all U.S. adults suffer from chronic pain. We discuss how to manage it, and when it is a good idea to see a doctor or a specialist.

And Houston-based singer and musician Kyle Cousins joins us and performs in studio. He’s one of a number of area musicians who will be showcased in a concert Thursday that wraps up this year’s ReelAbilities Houston Film and Arts Festival.

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On Tuesday's show: Texas rewards school districts for preparing students for life after graduation, tying college and career readiness to more school funding and higher performance ratings. But a new report shows many college prep classes are failing to live up to their promise. We talk with the researcher behind the findings.

Also this hour: Amid concern about the fate of the former Garden Oaks Theater, we discuss historic preservation in Houston.

Then, we talk with an area immigration attorney about Houstonians pursuing dual citizenship.

And we preview Truth Be Told, a dance production Feb. 26-27 from Urban Souls Dance Company honoring the stories, ancestors, and cultural legacies that shape the Black experience.

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On Monday's show: We discuss how the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to strike down many of President Trump’s tariffs might affect Greater Houston.

Also this hour: We learn about Blackball, an exhibit exploring baseball in Houston Freedmen’s Town, from teams that barnstormed in sandlots, to players and teams in the Negro Leagues, to the eventual integration of Major League Baseball. And we learn about some of the notable Black baseball players from Houston's history from the president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.

Then, from the rollout of school vouchers, to districts voting on prayer in school, to plans to close some HISD campuses, there is a lot going on these days in K-12 education. We bring together a panel of education reporters to discuss those and other subjects in the news.

And we recap the Winter Olympics with Houston Chronicle sports editor Reid Laymance.

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On Friday's show: Texas is suing Dow Chemical Co., citing hundreds of water pollution violations at the company's facility in Seadrift along the coast south of Victoria. Dylan Baddour of Inside Climate News explains the lawsuit and how it could actually end up shielding Dow from tougher penalties.

Also this hour: The nonprofit Sierra Club recently released its legislative scorecard for last year, measuring how well or how poorly state lawmakers supported various environmental needs, at least according to the organization’s own measurements. We discuss the ratings and whether such assessments ever move the needle on the state's environmental concerns.

Then, we break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.

And a new documentary called The Inquisitor explores the life and career of the late Texas Congresswoman Barbara Jordan. The film airs Feb. 23 at 9 p.m. on Houston Public Media, TV 8. In conjunction, we reflect on Jordan's contributions to the political landscape.

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