Houston Matters

On Monday's show: A decision will be made in the coming weeks over controversial proposed Bible-infused curricula for elementary students in Texas public schools. We learn why, ahead of the Jewish new year, a local Jewish organization is joining growing calls for the state board of education to reject the plan.

MORE: Submit public comments on the curricula

Also this hour: Storms aren't the only threat to the sustainability of the Texas power grid. We learn about the demand for energy from data farms mining cryptocurrency and what steps could be taken to deal with that.

Then, we welcome your dog and cat care questions for veterinarian Dr. Lori Teller.

And Jeff Balke previews the Astros playoff series against the Detroit Tigers.

On Friday's show: Hurricane Helene is causing dramatic storm surge, flooding, wind damage, and widespread power outages across the southeastern United State. We ask Houston’s own meteorologist Matt Lanza from Space City Weather and The Eyewall about the latest and what this storm could have done to us had it come to Houston.

And we learn about the indictment of Fort Bend County Judge KP George.

Also this hour: We still have the shell of the Astrodome, but does Houston need a new "big honkin' thing" -- some sort of significant landmark to help define us?

And, from some Houstonians appearing on a list of the nation's top philanthropic couples, to the Astros taking the hard way to a fourth-straight division title, we discuss The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of this week's news.

On Thursday's show: Former Houston officer Gerald Goines has been found guilty of felony murder for his role in a botched drug raid on Harding Street in 2019. We check in with reporter Lucio Vasquez, who's been covering the trial.

Also this hour: We get an update on rumors of efforts to bring an NHL team to Houston.

Then, in this month's installment of The Bigger Picture, we discuss a new film called My Old Ass and what it has to say about growing up and getting older.

And we visit an art exhibit by John Slaby called Adam and Eve and the iPhone, illustrating the impact smartphones have had on our lives.

On Wednesday's show: From allegations around Fort Bend County Judge KP George, to Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff's fundraising swing through Texas and the latest on the presidential race, we discuss recent developments in politics in our weekly roundup.

Also this hour: Houston is a very noisy place. There's thumping bass from nightclubs, drag racers peeling down the highway, planes zooming overhead, honking horns, leaf blowers, and construction sites. Yeesh. So, how bad is noise pollution here -- and what can we do about it?

And we visit the Moon Festival at the Chinese Community Center to learn how the local organization celebrated the harvest festival and its significance in Chinese culture.

On Tuesday's show: A workers' strike is looming at the Port of Houston. We consider the ramifications it could have on shipping and elsewhere.

Also this hour: As we get closer to the election, we consider how to know what polls to trust.

Then, space writer Eric Berger discusses his new book, Reentry, which tells the story of how SpaceX developed its Falcon 9 rocket and how that changed space travel forever.

And we revisit a conversation about faith and science with Rice University English professor Timothy Morton, who explains why he thinks the two have more in common than some realize.

On Monday's show: We talk with reporter Natalie Weber about a developing story in Fort Bend County involving potential criminal activity among elected officials, including County Judge KP George.

Also this hour: We discuss how environmental regulations affect Houston neighborhoods and whether they are enough to protect us from harmful effects.

Then, columnist Dwight Silverman discusses recent developments in consumer technology.

And we talk about the weekend for the Houston Texans and Houston Astros with Jeff Balke.

On Friday's show: Houston City Council member Mario Castillo discusses the city’s budget and whether it will follow Harris County’s lead and approve a property tax increase.

Also this hour: A gun reform initiative is using AI to generate voicemails from people killed by gun violence. We discuss the ethical questions using such technology raises.

Then, our non-experts discuss The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week, including a winning lottery ticket going unclaimed and a Houston woman pleading guilty to fraudulently obtaining more than $600,000 in disaster relief from FEMA.

And we talk with comedian and actor David Cross, who's known for his stand up comedy, television roles in Mr. Show and Arrested Development, and numerous films. He brings his The End of the Beginning of the End Tour to White Oak Music Hall on Sept. 24.

On Thursday's show: We get some updates on several stories happening in Fort Bend County, including Fort Bend ISD considering a formalized agreement with the nonprofit Friends of the Sugar Land 95 to access more funding for a memorial project, and a Sugar Land temple is increasing its security measures after backlash over a new religious statue.

Also this hour: Polls show Americans are still mostly opposed to the idea of financial reparations for the descendants of slaves. With that in mind, we hear two differing viewpoints on that subject. Former Houstonian Joel Edward Goza explains why he changed his thinking about reparations and now thinks they are necessary for the country to move forward. He outlines why in his new book, Rebirth of a Nation: Reparations and Remaking America. Then, Reginald Bell, a professor at Prairie View A&M University, explains why he thinks reparations are a bad idea, which he outlined in a 2020 academic paper.

Then, Texas Woman's University is the nation's largest university system focused primarily on women and touts an estimated 8,000 nursing alumni working in the Houston area today. We meet Dr. Monica Williams, the inaugural president of the TWU Houston campus, located in the Texas Medical Center.

And we remember Tito Jackson of the Jackson 5, who died Monday. We hear some of what he had to say during a 2022 interview on I See U. And then we talk with Houston Chronicle music writer Joey Guerra about the musician’s career and whether the Jackson 5’s place in music history has become muted in comparison to the solo careers of siblings Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson.

On Wednesday's show: We discuss Mayor John Whitmire’s State of the City address. Then we learn about a lawsuit against a fertility clinic over in vitro fertilization.

Also this hour: From the mayor's State of the City address, to a growing field in the race for Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, we discuss developments in local, state, and national politics, in our weekly roundup.

We discuss the SCOPE Act, a new law that went into effect this month aimed at preventing Texas children from accessing certain content on social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook. With that Meta’s announcement that its establishing a more restricted version of Instagram for younger users, we discuss how to best protect kids on social media.

And, ahead of an event with Performing Arts Houston on Thursday, we revisit a 2019 conversation with Jenna Bush Hager and her sister Barbara Pierce Bush. They’re the daughters of former President George W. Bush and the granddaughters of Houston’s own late former President George H.W. Bush.

On Tuesday's show: The Energy Transfer pipeline fire in La Porte near Deer Park has continued burning this morning, though it’s diminished. We get the very latest on the situation and discuss how it might be affecting air quality.

And Houston Chronicle reporters outline a stark decline in high-speed police chases over the last year since HPD changed its policy on them.

Also this hour: We learn about the University of Houston’s role in an effort to develop better, longer-lasting batteries, which is a crucial step towards a cleaner energy future.

Then, we visit Brays Bayou to discuss maintaining and restoring vulnerable native plants there.

And we learn about a new satire called The Hispanic/Latino/Latina/Latinx/Latine Vote, from Houston native playwright Bernardo Cubría, which is making its world premiere at Stages through Oct. 6.