Houston Matters

On Tuesday's show: Snow is falling and piling up around Greater Houston, and as long as the power stays on and you can stay inside it is indeed a winter wonderland in the Bayou City. We talk with a meteorologist to find out how much snow we may still get, how long it will be here, and what you should and should not do in the meantime.

We also check in on road conditions with TxDOT, find out when Houston’s airports hope to re-open, and discuss how to make sure your pets safely enjoy the snow.

On Friday's show: Wintry weather may be headed our way early next week. Just exactly what, how much, and when is still a bit up in the air. We learn the latest from meteorologist Eric Berger from Space City Weather.

And we learn about security measures planned for this weekend's Chevron Houston Marathon.

Also this hour: With a new session of the Texas Legislature underway, what might happen to improve the state's power grid?

Then, from the possibility of wintery weather next week, to potential renovations at NRG Center including an NHL regulation ice rink, we discuss The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.

On Thursday's show: As the legislature kicks off this week, we get a sense of what some of the City of Houston's priorities are to achieve with lawmakers from reporter Dominic Anthony Walsh.

Also this hour: Gov. Greg Abbott recently appointed Justice Jimmy Blacklock to serve as the new chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court. We learn what we should know about the conservative ally of the governor from Charles “Rocky” Rhodes of South Texas College of Law Houston.

Then we learn how a local business is working to help people who’ve begun gender-affirming care to adjust to their physical changes and navigate the medical system.

And the classical world has long been dominated by male composers. We chat with conductor and pianist Mary Box, executive director of Montrose Project, which is dedicated to helping increase the visibility of orchestral music composed by women.

On Wednesday's show: We recap the start of the Texas Legislative session, discuss Trump cabinet confirmation hearings, and other developments in political in our regular Wednesday roundup.

Also this hour: The COVID 19 pandemic revealed the size of America's digital divide -- the gap between people who can access and use digital technology and those who can't. In the years since, have we managed to bridge that gap in Houston?

And we revisit a recent conversation about a new book examining whether a particular golf ball was ever on the moon with astronaut Alan Shepard, who famously hit a couple of golf balls on the lunar surface. But, more importantly, it tells the story of the friendship between Shepard and his barber, Carlos Villagomez, to whom he gave the golf ball after returning to earth. A discussion of the book and a screening of a related documentary will be held on Saturday at the Lone Star Flight Museum.

On Tuesday's show: As the Texas Legislature gavels back into session today, News 88.7's Natalie Weber tells us what legislation elected officials in Fort Bend County are hoping to get passed.

Also this hour: Singer/songwriter Ani DiFranco made a name for herself doing things her own way -- launching her own music label, producing and mixing her own music, and championing messages and causes that weren't always popular or conventional when she was making a name for herself in the 1990s. So, it's fitting that a new documentary screening in Houston tonight is called 1-800-ON-HER-OWN. DiFranco talks about the documentary, her musical journey, and about not doing everything on her own anymore ahead of a concert at House of Blues on Friday.

Then, we reflect on the life and career of one-time Lt. Gov. Bill Hobby, the namesake of the University of Houston’s Hobby School of Public Affairs. We talk with authors Don Carleton and Erin Purdy about their biography, Bill Hobby: A Life in Journalism and Public Service.

And here in Space City we know well that discovery comes not just from sending astronauts into space but by developing ever-more powerful telescopes. Case in point: images from the James Webb Space Telescope now offer us a look at some individual stars in a galaxy more than six billion light years from Earth. That’s billion with a B! We learn more and revisit a 2022 conversation with one of the folks behind the Webb Telescope at NASA.

On Monday's show: The 89th regular session of the Texas Legislature begins tomorrow. We preview some of the issues and bills that will take center stage.

Also this hour: The AOL/Time Warner merger 25 years ago was huge news then. And it didn’t work. We discuss mergers past and present in the Houston area and why some work and some don’t.

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

And Jeff Balke recaps the Texans' playoff game against the Chargers.

On Friday's show: The Houston Chronicle reported this that Gov. Greg Abbott is exploring a plan to buy Houston’s excess water and send it to communities in West Texas that are facing dwindling aquifers after years of largely unrestricted drilling there. We discuss the idea and how it might affect the watersheds here.

Also this hour: Screenings of the new documentary My Mama Joe, Hope & Help will take place tonight and Saturday at The DeLuxe Theater. The film tells the story of a Houston community leader who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s dementia and experienced disparities in the health care system. We talk with her son, who directed the film about his mother and her struggles.

Then, from President-elect Donald Trump saying he plans to rename the Gulf of Mexico, to Longhorns fans being concerned about the "Cruz Curse" affecting the outcome of the Cotton Bowl, our non-experts discuss The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week's news.

And we get to know jazz singer Vanisha Gould ahead of her performances this weekend at Houston's Eldorado Ballroom.

On Wednesday's show: With Donald Trump's second inauguration less than two weeks away and another session of the Texas Legislature just days away, we preview the early days of the second Trump administration and the 89th Texas Legislature as we discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup.

Also this hour: In this month's installment of The Full Menu, Houston food writers discuss their favorite places to get crawfish and other Cajun and Creole dishes.

And we revisit the story of the time Russian leader Boris Yeltsin visited a Houston grocery store and the role it played in in ending communism.

On Tuesday's show: Inauguration Day is less than two weeks away, and with the incoming administration of Donald Trump come more questions about changes to immigration policy and possible deportations. We get some perspective on how Houstonians are preparing for an uncertain future.

Also this hour: We discuss how to make arts and culture venues more accessible for the disabled.

Then, our own Craig Cohen is the featured guest in the MFAH’s next installment of Movies Houstonians Love. He’s presenting a film he's probably seen a few too many times -- The Muppet Movie, which will screen this Saturday at 7 p.m.

And Houston is one of six cities that will have a team in a new women's indoor professional volleyball league that begins play this week.

On Monday's show: Houstonians woke up to freezing temperatures this morning but little to no precipitation. Eric Berger of Space City Weather tells us how the winter weather played out across the region.

Also this hour: We learn how poverty is affecting many in Greater Houston these days from Catholic Charities of the Houston-Galveston Archdiocese.

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

And we recap the Texans game against the Titans to wrap up the regular season and preview the first round of the playoffs.