Houston Matters

On Friday's show: With the state's newly redrawn congressional maps, does the creation of several predominantly Hispanic districts help those areas or disenfranchise them? Gabby Birenbaum of the Texas Tribune tells us more.

Also this hour: Sitar maestro Purbayan Chatterjee joins us and performs in studio ahead of a concert Saturday at the University of Houston.

Then, from military helicopters flying over Houston as part of a training exercise, to a Houston-based company that owns strip clubs across the nation facing bribery charges over an alleged scheme to avoid paying taxes, we break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.

And we reflect on the iconic Houston music station KLOL with the director of a documentary about it called Runaway Radio.

On Thursday's show: From ABC pulling Jimmy Kimmel off the air, to firings and reviews of Texas public school teachers and staff, what some have said about the shooting of Charlie Kirk has come back to bite them. But is it all legal? A constitutional law professor explains the nuances.

Also this hour: We explore how a new law is affecting what public school nurses can and cannot do for sick students.

Then, are some public schools too intent on finding that next "star principal" to lead them?

And we reflect on the legacy of Rice University's Shepherd School of Music as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.

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On Wednesday's show: We get insight on the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup. Then, we take a nature walk along the Bayou Greenways. And an event this week allows community members to share how Houston’s Fifth Ward shaped their lives.

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On Tuesday's show: In the years 2022 to 2024, the percentage of children without health insurance made its highest increase in almost a decade, according to a Georgetown University report. And Texas continues to have the highest percentage of uninsured children in the nation. We discuss what this means for the state with Elena Marks of Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy.

Also this hour: So far this year, it has been an awfully quiet hurricane season. We explore why as we chat with Houston Chronicle meteorologist Justin Ballard.

Then, singer-songwriter Rodney Crowell joins us in studio to perform and discuss his new album, Airline Highway. Crowell will appear at an in-store event at Cactus Music today at 5:30.

And we preview the 2025 Gay Softball World Series, which takes place in Houston Sept. 21-27. We discuss what the tournament means for the city, for the athletes taking part, and for their fans.

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On Monday's show: We preview this week's vote on the Harris County budget. The budget process this year has often been contentious as tensions rise over funding cuts.

Also this hour: Dr. Peter Hotez of Baylor College of Medicine discusses his book, Science Under Siege, which examines growing opposition to science and the threat it poses.

Then, veterinarian Dr. Lori Teller answers listeners’ questions about their pets.

And Jeff Balke previews a season-defining week ahead for the Astros and the Monday Night Football matchup between the Texans and the Buccaneers. 

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On Friday's show: Eight years after Harvey’s devastating flooding, Houston continues to develop in floodplains. A recent Houston Chronicle report analyzed who is benefitting and who is not.

Also this hour: From Houston supplanting Philadelphia as America’s poorest large city, to Carnival Cruise Line and Van Leeuwen Ice Cream unveiling sunscreen-flavored ice cream, this week’s panel of non-experts weighs in on The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.

And, ahead of a live performance on Saturday night, we dive into the rhythms, steps, and stories that bring flamenco music to life in Houston.

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On Thursday's show: We get updates on several stories from reporter Dominic Anthony Walsh, including striking hotel workers at the Hilton Americas-Houston, the results of the latest homeless count, and the ongoing saga over City of Houston employees who took an early retirement to save the city money still waiting to receive their buyout payments. 

Also this hour: Everything is bigger in Texas, but is that always a good thing -- especially when it comes to governing and serving a state that is huge in terms of both area and population?

Then, we hear from author and archivist J.D. Doyle, the creator of Queer Music Heritage, an historic collection of Houston LGBTQ+ music.

And producer Brenda Valdivia speaks with some Houstonians putting up a ghost bike roadside memorial and learns about the cyclist they’re remembering and the sometimes-deadly interactions between cyclists and drivers on Houston roads.

On Wednesday's show: Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo walked out of a budget meeting, while Texas A&M plans to audit its classes after a professor is fired amid conservative backlash over teaching gender identity in class. We get context and clarity on those and other developments in politics in our weekly roundup.

Also this hour: We learn about efforts by law enforcement to keep reckless drivers in check.

And this month, Houston blues acts battle for a shot to represent the city at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis. We learn more and bring you a special live, in-studio performance by the first woman to win the competition, Houston native Diunna Greenleaf, and her band, Blue Mercy.

On Tuesday's show: We learn how Texas and other states are facing off in the fight over access to abortion pills. New York's attorney general says she will intervene in a legal fight related to the Texas ban on those pills. Texas Tribune reporter Alex Nguyen explains what's going on.

Also this hour: We learn what lessons the deadly crowd rush at the 2021 Astroworld festival can teach us. That event is highlighted in Edward Segal’s newly published Crisis Casebook.

Then, we consider what it costs to become a U.S. citizen in both time and money as we talk with immigration attorney Ruby Powers and Cesar Espinoza of FIEL Houston.

And David Sarkozi of the Texas Ornithological Society talks about his new guidebook, Birds of Texas.

On Monday's show: Houston-based oil and gas giant ConocoPhillips announced last week that it is cutting about 3,000 jobs -- as much as a quarter of its global workforce. The company says rising costs and a push for efficiency are behind the move, which comes despite the company posting nearly $2 billion in profits last quarter. We talk over what the news means for Houston.

Also this hour: On the 125th anniversary of the deadliest natural disaster in American history, the 1900 Galveston hurricane, we reflect on that disaster led to the construction of the Galveston seawall and how it protects the island from storm surge more than a century later. Over the weekend, the seawall was awarded the world record for longest continuous walkway. 

Then, Meg Tapp from the Garden Club of Houston answers listeners' gardening questions.

And the Texans dropped their season opener to the Rams on Sunday. We recap the game with Jeff Balke, co-host of the Bleav in Astros podcast.