Houston Matters

On Friday's show: Some cold weather is headed to Greater Houston late Sunday night into early Monday. We get details from Houston Chronicle meteorologist Justin Ballard.

Also this hour: We welcome your questions about sleep and sleep disorders for Houston sleep expert Dr. Sudha Tallavajhula.

And we reflect on The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of 2024.

On Thursday's show: A Houston Army veteran is the suspect in a bloody New Year's Day attack in New Orleans that killed at least 15 people and injured 30 more. We get the latest updates on this evolving story.

Also this hour: As 2025 begins, we take a look at the year ahead and how Houstonians could be affected by far-reaching proposed changes in economic and immigration policy of the incoming Trump administration.

And we learn about a new opera adaption of West Side Story from Houston Grand Opera.

On Friday's show: Since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976, Texas has led the nation in the number of executions carried out. But in recent years, those numbers have dwindled. We learn what a new report from the Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty shows about trends surrounding capital punishment in Texas.

And News 88.7’s Patricia Ortiz shares the story of a family separated at the border and why at least two American citizens are, for the moment, on the other side.

Also this hour: We reflect on the 25th anniversary of the Y2K scare and what lessons we learned from an apocalyptic scare that wasn't.

Then, from news that heat-related illnesses are rising in Harris County, to Charlotte’s NBA team stepping into a proverbial “Hornets” nest with a PR gaffe involving a kid and a PlayStation 5, we discuss The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.

And Houstonians share some of the holiday songs that are meaningful to them as we revisit a 2020 edition of our Houston Matters Mixtape.

On Thursday's show: The death of a teen killed while crossing train tracks on his way to Milby High School has reignited calls for accountability and oversight of Union Pacific. The country’s largest rail company has now announced it will limit train operations near the school during traditional drop off and pickup hours.

Also this hour: In this month's installment of The Bigger Picture, we reflect on Christmas movies over the years and what they say about America at the time they came out.

And we ride The Polar Express train ride in Galveston.

On Wednesday's show: We reflect on the wild, intriguing year in politics that was 2024 in our weekly roundup.

Also this hour: The holidays bring families across the country together, and loved ones who haven’t been able to spend time together can catch up and create new memories. But in those moments, that also means warning signs of neglect or changes in health in our elders can become more evident. So, how can you and your family watch out for signs of physical or cognitive decline while still respecting the people you care about?

And it’s the time of year when many Houstonians make, eat, and share tamales. We talk about the many different types of tamales and the role they play in many holiday traditions.

On Tuesday's show: Two teenagers were killed and four others were injured over the weekend when someone reportedly shot a pistol into a crowd at a pop-up party in northeast Houston. We discuss what are essentially unsanctioned clubs operating in abandoned or unused buildings with Houston City Council Member Mario Castillo, who represents District H where this incident occurred.

Also this hour: Living in a big, busy metropolitan area like Greater Houston is bound to test your patience. How can we all do better at being more patient with everything and everyone around us?

And we revisit a conversation with Peter Sagal, host of NPR's Wait, Wait…Don’t Tell Me!

On Monday's show: Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo fired back at Houston Mayor John Whitmire over comments about her mental health and political future. We recap what they’ve each said in recent days and why.

Also this hour: After the shooting of a health care company executive in New York, Americans have shared many examples over the last week of health insurance claim denials. We learn about what leads to those denials, how the claims process works, and what resources exist for Houstonians to navigate that world.

Then, we catch up with comedian and Houston native Sheng Wang ahead of a Dec. 28 performance at Bayou Music Center.

And we get an update on Houston sports from Jeff Balke.

On Friday's show: Houston is home to a lot of above-ground pipelines. So, you might be surprised by how limited regulations are surrounding their protection. Alison Young of Houston Landing discusses how September’s deadly Energy Transfer accident and fire in Deer Park was only the most high-profile of accidents involving vehicles crashing into pipelines.

Also this hour: With the holiday shopping season in full force, has consumerism become too rampant these days? We talk it over and explore how we can avoid letting consumerism get the better of us during the holidays.

Then, from Beyoncé's Grammy-nominated album Cowboy Carter inspiring a new history class at UH, to Cruise possibly getting out of the driverless car game in Houston, our non-experts discuss The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.

And a new production at Stages Houston takes on the story of Pinocchio with a modern twist.

On Thursday's show: What will 2025 hold for Houston's economy? Patrick Jankowski of the Greater Houston Partnership shares his annual economic outlook.

Also this hour: We get the latest on efforts to address the problem of children having to cross railroad tracks to get to school after an HISD student was killed doing so this week.

Then, the Bayou City’s vibrant restaurant scene has built up over the years in no small part due to the rise of a generation of talented area chefs. Many of them have spent years in kitchens developing their craft and learning it at area schools, including the recently closed culinary school at The Art Institute of Houston. We revisit a conversation with one of the school’s alumni, Chef Ryan Lachaine, the co-owner and executive chef of Riel.

And with the news earlier this week that renowned poet Nikki Giovanni has died, we revisit a 2022 conversation with her when she was serving as a writer in residence at Prairie View A&M University.

On Wednesday's show: From the news that Tilman Fertitta could become the next ambassador to Italy, to a judge throwing out The Onion’s purchase of Infowars, we discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup.

Also this hour: The social media landscape has been changing lately as folks shift to and from X, BlueSky, Mastodon, Threads, and so on. Have we reached social media platform overload? How do the messages we receive vary in subject matter, tone, and intention, depending on the platform we use? And is any of this good for us? We talk it over.

And it’s a time of year when people are making and eating more pies than they might the rest of the year. Chef Carl Walker of Brennan's of Houston walks us through how to make a perfect pie crust and explains how serving in the Marine Corps turned him into a baking enthusiast.