Houston Matters

On Tuesday's show: We learn about a pair of bills some say might kill the renewable energy boom in the state and about this week’s heat, which may be the year’s first real test of the Texas electric grid.

Also this hour: We learn about the fate of the Texas Renaissance Festival after a judge ordered the event's owners to sell their property and assets after siding with a prospective buyer who sued after a $60 million deal fell through in 2023.

Then, on the anniversary of the famed Battle of the Sexes tennis match at the Astrodome, we revisit a 2023 conversation with Houston tennis star Zina Garrison about the legacy of that historic match, how women’s tennis has changed in the five decades since, and her longtime friendship with the match's victor, Billie Jean King.

And we learn about a play addressing the mental health of Black men, called The Black Man, with actor Andre Pitre and actress and writer Charnele Brown.

On Monday's show: Three Houston-area members of Congress are asking why the National Weather Service's office in the region has nearly a dozen vacancies ahead of hurricane season.

Also this hour: On this date in 1941, the Z3, the world’s first programmable and fully automatic computer, was first presented. With that anniversary in mind, we revisit the ethics of artificial intelligence at the same time Texas lawmakers are considering a bill to address AI-altered audio and video in political ads.

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

And Jeff Balke updates us on the latest developments in sports, including death threats again pitcher Lance McCullers, Jr. and his family after a rough outing.

On Friday's show: Pope Leo XIV celebrated the first mass of his papacy this morning. And while his election is being celebrated by Catholics worldwide, he also faces some criticism from earlier in his ministry. We learn what survivors of clergy sexual abuse here in Houston want to see and hear from the new pope.

Also this hour: So far, space tourism appears to be only for celebrities and the uber-rich. While its purported long-term goal is to make spaceflight more accessible, is it also making such travel seem less meaningful to the public? In the process, are we losing respect for what real space exploration can be and do?

Then, from the mayor unveiling his proposed budget, to Yelp snubbing Houston barbecue, we break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.

And we preview the final concert of the season from the Apollo Chamber Players, which features world premieres by Houston composers.

On Thursday's show: We talk about Houston's growing problems with trash, including how the city is quickly running out of landfill space, with Elena Bruess of Houston Landing.

Also this hour: We learn about a new law creating a Texas version of DOGE.

Then, we welcome your questions about our varied and fascinating insect world for entomologist Erin Mills of the Houston Botanic Garden.

And issues of loneliness, hidden trauma, and breaking free of comfort zones all come to bear in Primary Trust, a Pulitzer Prize-winning play at The Alley Theatre through May 25.

On Wednesday's show: We discuss Houston Mayor John Whitmire’s proposed city budget, the latest developments from the Texas Legislature, and President Donald Trump’s meeting with Canada’s new Prime Minister Mark Carney, along with other developments in our  political roundup.

Also this hour: In this month’s installment of The Full Menu, food writers discuss some of their favorite restaurants to get vegetarian and vegan food around the city.

And we learn about Bajo Terapia (In Therapy), a new play about three couples in therapy, which is on stage May 8-11 at the MATCH.

On Tuesday's show: Wet weather continues across Greater Houston the next couple of days. We find out what may be in store from Eric Berger of Space Center Weather walks us through the forecast.

And is the tide turning in local school board battles over library books and gender identity policies? We get an update on some changes to the makeup of the school boards at Katy ISD and Fort Bend ISD and what that might mean for those districts.

Also this hour: The Trump administration wants to incentivize Americans to have more children due to falling birth rates. So, how do rates in our region compare nationally, and what are the factors causing them to drop?

Then, we examine how tariffs are affecting local businesses and communities with ties to China.

And, with hurricane season about to start, we go shopping for an emergency kit.

On Monday's show: Houston Mayor John Whitmire says he’ll unveil his proposed budget, and even as it includes a new deal with the police union giving officers more money, it’ll be a balanced budget. We get reaction to that police officers union agreement.

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

And Jeff Balke recaps the Rockets' Game 7 loss to Golden State in the NBA Playoffs and reflects on the accomplishments of the season.

On Friday's show: Two bills related to abortion passed the Texas Senate this week. One seeks to clarify when doctors can perform abortions if medically necessary under the state’s near-total ban. The other would allow anyone who mails or delivers abortion pills to someone in Texas to be sued for $100,000. Both bills must now clear the Texas House. Eleanor Klibanoff of The Texas Tribune provides details on both measures.

Also this hour: A recent report ranked Houston as one of the unhappiest cities in America. Really? Whether you agree with that or not, we try to prove them wrong by having listeners and some guests share what they're happy about. Share yours now at [email protected].

Then, from the USDA halting a new rule requiring poultry companies to keep levels of salmonella bacteria under a certain level, to a company using what's essentially an AI-powered mood ring to build emotional trust in relationships, we break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.

And we talk with the outgoing Houston Poet Laureate, Aris Kian, and her successor, Reyes Ramirez.

On Thursday's show: Despite federal and state regulations, hospitals in Texas are failing to provide real transparency in pricing for medical services they provide. We discuss a new report from health economist Vivian Ho.

And we remember our colleague, longtime Texas radio newsman Matt Thomas, who died on Wednesday after a brief illness.

Also this hour: We talk about efforts to deal with what’s known as the “corridor of cruelty,” an area in Houston that has become a dumping ground for abandoned stray dogs and cats.

Then, with Cinco de Mayo coming up next week, we revisit a 2024 conversation about how many holidays get co-opted, and how we can turn cultural appropriation into appreciation. (But also drink. And sell mattresses).

And Kenny Wayne Shepherd became a star blues guitarist as a teenager, drawing comparisons to another three-named performer, the legendary Stevie Ray Vaughn. We learn why Shepherd's choice to go by three names had nothing to do with emulating Vaughn and discuss the lessons he's learned from touring with another blues legend, 91-year-old Bobby Rush ahead of their Sunday concert at House of Blues.

On Wednesday's show: This week marks President Donald Trump's 100th day in office. We reflect on everything that's happened so far and discuss the latest developments in local, state, and national politics in our weekly roundup.

Also this hour: Corinna Lain, a legal scholar and former prosecutor, has done extensive research on how the use of lethal injection became widespread in this country. We examine what studies on the bodies of the executed can tell us about capital punishment and other revelations from her resulting book, Secrets of the Killing State.

And we reflect on the fall of Saigon, 50 years ago today through the eyes of Roy Vu, the child of Vietnamese immigrants to Houston.