Houston Matters

On Monday's show: Gov. Greg Abbott announced last week that nearly $12 billion in Medicaid funding for Texas hospitals will be restored, ending a standoff with the federal government that began last December. We learn what the standoff was about, how it was resolved, and what it means for Houston hospitals and patients.

Also this hour: Houston is often referred to as the energy capital of the world. But what role can the city play in the future of nuclear energy? That's the subject of a meeting here this week organized by the Texas Nuclear Alliance.

Then, veterinarian Dr. Renee Poche of the Houston Humane Society answers questions about pets.

And the major professional sports leagues and unions are concerned about threats to athletes associated with betting. We discuss that -- and the final week of the Astros’ regular season.

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On Friday's show: Gas prices have been climbing for months, but it's diesel that is setting records. The average price hit $6.31 a gallon this week, the highest level on record and nearly 70 percent higher than a year ago. We take a closer look at some of the reasons why.

Also this hour: Jobs, housing, schools, health care, business -- it all continues to expand on Greater Houston’s west side. We examine why Katy, Richmond, Fulshear, and other western communities keep growing.

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

And we preview this weekend’s BIPOC Book Fest, celebrating underrepresented writers.

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On Thursday's show: In what's being called the largest deregulation in the history the country's power industry, the Trump administration is repealing limits on greenhouse gas emissions from the nation's fossil fuel-fired power plants.

Also this hour: Today is Constitution Day, and we want your ideas for a 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. What would you add to the nation’s most important legal document if you could? Let us know at [email protected].

Then, we revisit a conversation with retired NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore discussing his career, including the nine months he spent on the International Space Station when his mission was originally only supposed to last eight days.

And we visit King Music Fest, a recent celebration of Elvis Presley in Pearland.

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On Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup.

Also this hour: Houston filmmaker Alexandria Stapleton talks about her new documentary about the life and career of Houston-native WNBA star Brittney Griner.

And Houston native Diane Ravitch was once a firm proponent of standardized testing and school choice, and she was a key figure in President George W. Bush’s No Child Left Behind policies -- until she changed her mind. We find out why, which she addresses in her book, An Education.

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On Tuesday's show: A candidate’s post of a photo featuring University of Texas students celebrating an upset win over Ohio State set off a public rift among Texas Republicans over the last few days. A member of the Houston Chronicle editorial board says condemnation of GOP railroad commissioner candidate Bo French's comments is not enough.

Also this hour: The murder trial of Lindsay Clancy ended in a mistrial only last week, just weeks after the 25th anniversary of Andrea Yates killing her five children at their Houston home. While there are differences in those cases, how much has our understanding of -- and attitudes about -- postpartum depression and psychosis changed in that time? And what resources are available to new parents in Greater Houston in the weeks or months following childbirth?

Then, an expert answers questions about basic home maintenance.

And a dialect coach explains how he taught actors to nail the the Newfoundland accent for Stages Houston's production of Come from Away.

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On Monday's show: The Texas Supreme Court blocked Galveston County from using a new precinct map in the November election. And Fort Bend County approved its budget and a lower tax rate amid a heated meeting as Democrats returned to court last week. We get updates on both stories from Houston Public Media reporters. 

Also this hour: On the anniversary of Francis Scott Key writing the words that would become the lyrics of The Star-Spangled Banner, we ask what words you would want included, what themes, concepts, characters, places and events you’d add to an anthem about Houston?

Then, we get some advice on gardening in Houston.

And we recap the Texans' season-opening loss to the Bills and check in on the Astros.

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On Friday's show: We look back at Sept. 11, 2001, 25 years later as we hear from Houstonians who were in New York the morning of the terrorist attacks there, in Washington, and in Shanksville, Penn. And we hear from different generations of Houstonians about how they remember the day and how it has affected them and their respective generations differently.

And, from President Trump saying he’d give each American $5,000 if the GOP retains control of Congress, to ABC refusing to air Jimmy Kimmel’s interview with James Talarico, we break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.

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On Thursday's show: Texas Comptroller Don Huffines has requested legislators double the money behind the state’s private school voucher program to $2 billion. More than 100,000 students sit on the waitlist, but critics argue there is little evidence vouchers are delivering on their promises to justify expanding the program.

Also this hour: We consider why the federal minimum wage hasn’t been raised in 17 years.

Then, as the Taliban retook Afghanistan in 2021, The New York Times scrambled to evacuate people that worked for its bureau there and their families. They ended up here in Houston. Why, how, and what happened next is the subject of the new book, The Last Free Women. We talk with the co-authors, Rebecca Blumenstein and Diana Kapp, ahead of an event at Brazos Bookstore Friday.

And, this weekend, Performing Arts Houston will present a concert at Jones Hall featuring the complete piano etudes of Philip Glass. Among the performers is Jiani Wu, an HSPVA alum and a current Rice University piano student, who performs and talks about Glass' music.

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On Wednesday's show: From this week’s GOP mid-term convention in Dallas, to the New Hampshire primary and other stories, we discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup.

Also this hour: We consider the challenges and importance of communicating with the public about science and scientific research as Rice University launches a new center dedicated to that mission.

And we revisit a 2025 conversation with chef, food writer, and filmmaker Adán Medrano about his work honoring the plant-based cooking traditions of Texas-Mexicans.

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On Tuesday's show: After years of scarcity, there is now a much greater selection of homes for sale in the Houston market. Despite that, Houston Chronicle reporter Marissa Luck talks to us about why there still aren't many good bargains out there. And we take the pulse of the Houston real estate market with Theresa Hill, chair of the Houston Association of Realtors.

For years during the pandemic, Houston homebuyers were told there just weren’t enough homes on the market to bring down prices. Now, buyers have a much bigger selection of homes to choose from – but they still aren’t finding major discounts.

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

And we learn about Slime in the Ice Machine, a new video game featuring Houston as its setting.

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