Houston Matters

On Friday's show: CenterPoint Energy executives spent much of the latest Public Utility Commission meeting defending their leases of mobile generators, costing more than $800 million, that went unused during and after Hurricane Beryl. And Harris County Commissioners approved a new version of the county's income assistance program. We learn more about both developments.

Also this hour: NASA has a decision to make before the end of the month about when and how to bring two astronauts home who have been aboard the ISS for two months on a journey originally intended to last just a week. We discuss the circumstances surrounding Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams’ mission, the problems detected with the Starliner vehicle that took them up there, and the safety culture at NASA today.

Then, we talk with astronomer Dr. David Levy, who co-discovered Shoemaker-Levy 9, a comet that hit Jupiter in 1994. He’s in town to meet with a local astronomy club.

And from Disney wanting a wrongful death lawsuit thrown out because the plaintiff had Disney+ to a NFL player unveiling a mayonnaise-scented cologne, we break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.

On Thursday's show: After a two-week delay, Houston City Council again postponed an ordinance prohibiting protests within 200 feet of a “targeted dwelling.” The proposal comes in response to months of pro-Palestinian protests, including several that targeted Mayor John Whitmire’s home.

At a press conference on Wednesday, Whitmire added more details to his assertion that the groups consist of "paid protestors" and that "they are being paid by Iran." Reporter Dominic Anthony Walsh explains that story and some other recent developments in city government.

Also this hour: We explore the fentanyl crisis in Houston and learn about steps being taken to train first responders and law enforcement to treat overdoses. 

Then, technically, recreational marijuana is illegal in Texas. Yet, THC products continue to sell, and often tested samples are found to contain THC well over the legal limit. State regulators are short on staff and authority. So, is marijuana essentially legal here? Russell Gold wrote an article on this subject for Texas Monthly and explains what he found.

And Houstonian Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour talks aboAll Eventsut directing episodes of TV shows like the FX series Shogun and the Paramount Plus series Star Trek Discovery.

On Wednesday's show: Former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner will be the Democratic nominee seeking to replace the late Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee in the Texas 18th Congressional district. We discuss that story and the latest developments in local, state, and national politics in our weekly roundup.

Also this hour: Since it's back-to-school week for a lot of area districts, we thought you might see or experience some changing sleep habits in your household as kids and parents get back into the school year routine. So, we welcome your questions about sleep and sleep disorders for sleep expert Dr. Sudha Tallavajhula.

On Tuesday's show: It’s Houston Theater Week. All this week, area performing arts venues are offering discounts on performances as they promote their seasons. We learn more from Dean Gladden from The Alley Theatre and Hillary Hart from Theatre Under the Stars.

Also this hour: A month after Hurricane Beryl rolled through, Patrick Jankowski of The Greater Houston Partnership returns with a clearer sense of the economic impact the storm had.

Then, we revisit a conversation with Dr. Elizabeth McIngvale from the OCD Institute of Texas. She’s co-hosting a new podcast about the rise of anxiety in America, called Anxiety Society.

And we continue our series visiting area museums with a trip to the Lone Star Flight Museum.

On Monday's show: As the new school year begins at HISD and some other Houston-area districts, we check in with Dr. Robert Sanborn, the president and CEO of Children at Risk, to discuss the year ahead for Houston schools along with reports out this week from the child advocacy nonprofit.

Also this hour: A conversation about excessive heat and climate change.

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

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

On Friday's show: The state-appointed board overseeing Houston ISD has approved placing a record $4.4 billion bond proposal on the November ballot. We learn what the money would do. And a new school year begins for the district on Monday. We learn about high employee turnover there.

Also this hour: Health economist Vivian Ho discusses a pair of recent studies she co-authored looking at how high hospital prices are driving up insurance premiums and how increased salaries for nonprofit hospital CEOs may be driving consolidation for health care systems.

Then, from a revised hurricane season storm prediction, to Simone Biles headlining a concert-style athletic performance at Toyota Center this fall, our “non-expert panel” weighs in on The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of it all,

And a new Native American-owned restaurant opens in Kemah. We visit Th_Prsrv and talk with Chef David Skinner.

On Thursday's show: Andrew Schneider discusses questions about housing affordability addressed in the latest Texas Trends Survey from the University of Houston and Texas Southern University.

Also this hour: We consider how non-English speakers get the right information during emergencies like hurricanes.

Then, we examine the correlation between rising temperatures and domestic violence incidents.

And we talk with the filmmaker behind the documentary 1946: The Mistranslation That Shifted the Culture, about how Biblical translations changed culture.

On Wednesday's show: From Vice President Kamala Harris picking a running mate, to the race taking shape to replace the late Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee in Congress, we discuss the latest in local, state, and national politics in our weekly roundup.

Also this hour: We find out what NPR political reporter Elena Moore was doing in Houston last week.

And food writers preview Houston Restaurant Weeks in this month's installment of The Full Menu.

On Tuesday's show: We discuss this week’s intense heat and what it means, in particular, for kids taking part in summer activities, such as high school football training camps.

Also this hour: In his new book, humorist and TV host Mo Rocca highlights individuals achieving big things later in life -- including one late-blooming Houstonian. The frequent Wait, Wait…Don’t Tell Me! panelist and CBS Sunday Morning correspondent shares some of the stories from Roctogenarians: Late in Life Debuts, Comebacks, and Triumphs.

Then, we revisit our 2023 conversation about patient portals in health care and why the people who often need to navigate them most are also the ones who often struggle with them the most.

And our summertime series exploring area museums and attractions takes us to see Mission Control and other exhibits on space exploration history at Space Center Houston.

On Monday's show: We learn more about who's vying to replace the late Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee to represent the 18th Congressional District. And Mayor John Whitmire selects a new HPD chief.

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

And we get an update on sports from Jeff Balke, co-host of the Bleav in Astros podcast.