Houston Matters

On Monday's show: We discuss environmental concerns raised by chemical leaks, fires, and other accidents following last week’s deadly leak at the Pemex chemical plant in Deer Park.

Also this hour: Meg Tapp from the Garden Club of Houston answers listeners' gardening questions.

And we discuss Sunday's Texans game against the Patriots with Houston Chronicle reporter Jonathan Alexander.

On Friday's show: The U.S. Supreme Court’s latest term started this week. So far, highlights seem to be about what the High Court is not considering and speculation over what it might have to do if next month’s election results are disputed. We talk it over with a constitutional law expert.

Also this hour: From questions still swirling around that blue alert that woke up Texas to teachers in Spring ISD being accused of giving children sleeping aid patches, our panel of non-experts mull over The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week's news.

And we celebrate the joys of pinball machines and arcade games ahead of the Houston Arcade Expo this weekend. 

On Thursday's show: We meet Bryan Brown, the new president of the Energy Corridor District.

Also this hour: We talk with Frank Lorenzo, the former CEO of Continental Airlines, which was based in Houston, about his new memoir. It's called Flying for Peanuts: Tough Deals, Steep Bargains, and Revolution in the Skies.

And we tour the latest renovations at Jones Hall.

On Wednesday's show: We talk to meteorologist Eric Berger of Space City Weather as Hurricane Milton approaches Florida.

And former Houston police officer Gerald Goines has been sentenced to 60 years in prison after being convicted on two counts of felony murder for his role in the Harding Street drug raid in 2019. Reporter Lucio Vasquez gives us the details.

Also this hour: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup.

Then, we meet Houstonian Marcus Bridgewater, the personality behind Garden Marcus on social media. He discusses his passion for plants and his new book, Seasons of Growth.

And, from the 1970s to the early 2000s, some radio stations were doing things a little bit differently -- including here in Houston. The documentary Runaway Radio tells the story of KLOL-FM, an iconic rock station and a different time in radio. Ahead of an Oct. 28 screening at the River Oaks Theatre, we revisit our conversation from March about the film.

On Tuesday's show: Have budget cuts affecting how kids get to and from school at Cy-Fair ISD contributed to recent accidents?

Also this hour: We talk with Dean Gladden, the managing director of The Alley Theatre, who has just announced he’s retiring in June.

Then, we talk with some people who participated in last week’s Week Without Driving challenge and learn what it says about mobility in the Houston area.

Plus, Chef Chris Shepherd tells us about his love for the animated film Ratatouille, which he’s selected for the next screening in the Movies Houstonians Love series at the MFAH.

And Brenda Valdivia reports on last weekend’s Southern Smoke Festival, proceeds from which benefit food and beverage workers nationwide.

On Monday's show: In the aftermath of Helene's destruction in the southeast, we get an update on efforts to improve Houston's flood resiliency from Dr. Tina Petersen, executive director of the Harris County Flood control District.

Also this hour: We offer Houstonians their monthly opportunity to vent about their pet peeves.

And we consider how next year's Astros team might look different after their early playoff exit and recap the Texans game against the Bills with the help of Jeff Balke.

On Friday's show: Former HPD officer Gerald Goines on Thursday had an apparent medical episode in his chair during closing remarks of the sentencing phase of his murder trial. As a result, the proceedings were delayed for the day. Lucio Vasquez updates us on the situation and the trial.

Also this hour: Actor George Takei of Star Trek fame talks about his career and the concert in Houston on Saturday he's involved in where he'll tell his family's story of forced internment during World War II.

Then, from the River Oaks Theatre reopening this week after a two-year hiatus, to the biggest ranch in Texas going up for sale, we break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.

And we learn about a new six-part documentary series on PBS called Chasing the Tide, which chronicles a couple's 21-day trek along the Texas Gulf Coast. We talk with Jay Kleberg, who tells us more about his journey wife his wife, Chrissy, and the discoveries they made along the way. The six episodes air on Houston Public Media TV 8 each Saturday afternoon at 2:30 from Oct. 12 through Nov. 16.

On Thursday's show: A third of Harris County residents have faced a hate crime, but most of them don’t report it, according to a new study from Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research. We find out why and dive a little deeper into the study's findings.

Also this hour: A new book examines 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.

Then, with the world's largest steam locomotive, Big Boy No. 4014, on public display in Houston Oct. 6-7, we learn a little about Houston’s train history.

And we learn about the reopening of the River Oaks Theatre this week.

On Wednesday's show: We get reaction to the vice presidential debate and 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 talk about their favorite food trucks, pop-ups, and farmers market vendors that have expanded to brick-and-mortar stores.

And, with the Astros back in the playoffs, we revisit the long-lost story behind their famous rainbow uniforms.

On Tuesday's show: It may be weeks before we fully know how much damage Helene caused in the southeastern United States, but we have an idea, because Houston has had its own history with previously unprecedented storms. We discuss how Houstonians can help and ponder the lessons Houston can learn from this disaster with Angela Blanchard, chief recovery and resilience officer for the City of Houston, who’s been through her share of storms and disaster recovery efforts.

Also this hour: A new book from legal scholar, architect, and Houston native Sara C. Bronin examines what she considers a force for good: zoning. You know, something Houston doesn’t have. In Key to the City: How Zoning Shapes Our World, she discusses how the process of developing fair and appropriate zoning can be used to properly plan development of a city.

Then, we remember two major figures in the sports world who died Monday: former Houston Rockets star Dikembe Mutombo and baseball great Pete Rose. We consider how their respective post playing career paths diverged.

And Houston native Sergio Lira talks about co-founding Luz Films, a production company with the goal of telling stories from a Latino perspective. And he tells us about one of the first projects the company spawned: a film called In the Summers, which won the Grandy Jury Prize for drama at this year's Sundance Film Festival.