Houston Matters

On Thursday's show: An announced rollback of mRNA vaccine development and funding comes as Texas is among the states seeing the largest rise in COVID cases this summer. Infectious disease specialist Catherine Troisi offers her take on what the rollback means.

Also this hour: A Grand Parkway expansion project is just the latest sign of ongoing growth in Greater Houston’s north and west sides. We discuss the project and what is behind the growth.

Then, theater productions involve a lot more than actors stepping out on stage and reciting lines. We learn how the crew behind the scenes at the Alley Theatre design and creates sets, costumes, wigs, and props for every production.

And six Houston writers will be honored at the Master Wordsmith Awards on Thursday night at Kindred Stories -- not just for what they’ve written but also for how their words have helped heal, connect, and inspire.

On Wednesday's show: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton want the state’s Supreme Court to order Democrats who broke quorum during the special session to be thrown out of office. Can they do that? We talk through the Texas redistricting fight and discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup.

Also this hour: Houston Restaurant Weeks is underway during the month of August raising funds for the Houston Food Bank. In this month's installment of The Full Menu, food writers talk about what dishes local restaurants are offering this year and what they're looking forward to sampling.

And, 80 years after the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, we talk with an area psychologist and author whose dad took part in the Manhattan Project that developed the bomb. Dr. Leslie Shover talks about her debut novel, Fission: A Novel of Atomic Heartbreak, which is based on anecdotes from her parents during that time.

On Tuesday's show: Texas Republican leaders are issuing threats while Texas House Democrats remain out of state in an effort to block new district maps the GOP says will help them gain seats in Congress. The Democrats say they are racially motivated. We hear from one of those Democrats, Houston-area State Rep. Gene Wu, chairman of the Texas House Democratic Caucus.

Also this hour: We examine the growing use of telemedicine among Houston-area doctors. Sometimes it’s practical and beneficial for patients. Sometimes, it’s not.

Then, we revisit our 2023 conversation about patient portals in health care and why the people who often need to navigate them most are also the ones who often struggle with them the most.

And we learn how a local nonprofit called Prevention Zone tries to help disrupt the school-to-prison pipeline, serve kids of incarcerated parents, and reduce recidivism rates.

On Monday's show: Dozens of Texas House Democrats have left the state, breaking quorum in an effort to block a Republican plan to redraw district maps at President Trump’s direction. We get the latest from Houston Public Media’s Andrew Schneider.

Also this hour. We learn why the Houston Federation of Teachers is suing HISD over how the district plans to hand out raises.

Then, we offer Houstonians a chance to vent about their pet peeves about life in our city.

And we discuss the return of Carlos Correa to the Astros and other developments in sports.

On Friday's show: This week, experts from across Texas testified at a hearing on disaster preparedness and flooding in the wake of the deadly Central Texas floods. Among those who testified were representatives from Rice University's SSPEED Center, whose Jim Blackburn discusses how what happened in Central Texas relates to past storms here.

Also this hour: A recent report from Bankrate ranked Texas near the bottom when it comes to the best states to retire. Why? And how does Houston stack up? We consider the pros and cons of retiring here.

Then, from what used to be Houston’s own Shipley’s Do-Nuts being sold to a California company, to an ad campaign’s play on words that has some worried about eugenics, this week’s non-expert panel weighs in on The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.

And Hank, Peggy, and Bobby are back as King of the Hill returns after 15 years. Its showrunner Saladin Patterson talks about bringing back the beloved animated series and its depiction of small-town Texas life.

On Thursday's show: Actor William Shatner talks with us ahead of an appearance in Houston tonight at House of Blues where he'll share stories from his career following a screening of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.

Also this hour: The Trump administration this week announced plans to walk back a 2009 EPA finding that has since been the scientific and legal foundation behind regulation of greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act. We discuss the legal and practical implications of such a rule change on climate policy and industry here in the Houston area.

Then, we learn how zoning shapes cities from Sara Bronin, who grew up in Houston -- a city famous for having no zoning. That's the subject of her book, Key to the City.

And we visit the Genuine Cup, a soccer tournament happening this week in Houston for athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities on teams from all over the world.

On Wednesday's show: While a couple candidates appear to have a little bit of an early lead in the special election for the 18th Congressional District, many of the district’s voters don’t really know -- or have an opinion about -- who’s running, according to new polling data. We discuss that, the special session in Austin, and other developments in politics in our weekly roundup.

Also this hour: On this date 60 years ago, the legislation creating Medicare and Medicaid was signed into law. We reflect on the history, impact, and future of those federal programs and what they mean to Houstonians.

And the Houston Shakespeare Festival returns this week with productions of As You Like It and Henry V. We talk with the band of brothers…and sisters who are behind it.

On Tuesday's show: The White House is proposing an end to federal funding for legal aid nonprofits that help low-income Americans obtain assistance with all manner of legal matters. We learn more from R.A. Schuetz of the Houston Chronicle.

Also this hour: We mark the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act and recall its roots here in Houston with Lex Frieden, a local disabilities advocate who was instrumental in creating the law and getting it passed.

Then, we learn about the rise of sensory-friendly events around town, as local businesses and organizations create events for individuals who struggle with bright lights, loud noises, or overstimulation from crowds.

And we take you to an exhibit at the Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts in Spring called “Art Unleashed,” which, unlike most exhibits and most museums, actually encourages you to reach out and touch the pieces of art on display.

On Monday's show: Houston-area Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher explains why she's opposed to the legislature’s plan to redraw the state’s congressional districts. State lawmakers gathered at the University of Houston on Saturday to hear public testimony on the matter.

Also this hour: We learn about the latest developments in consumer technology with the help of columnist Dwight Silverman.

And we get an update on Houston sports.

On Friday's show: We talk with Wilmer Chavarria, a naturalized U.S. citizen and school superintendent from Vermont, who was detained for several hours by Customs and Border Protection agents this week at Houston's Bush Airport on his way back from visiting family in Nicaragua. He tells us what happened and explains how the experience has changed the way he views international travel.

Also this hour: Jamie Bryant, the new CEO of the Houston Housing Authority discusses efforts to improve the agency and help more people afford rent.

And we visit a recent Drum Corps International event here in Houston.