Houston Matters

On Friday's show: A new report from Air Alliance Houston shows the 12 biggest contributors to air pollution in Harris County.

Also this hour: From high principal turnover numbers at HISD, to the definition of a boneless chicken wing, we contemplate The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.

Plus, the Tony Award-winning musical The Lion King is back in town, on stage through the weekend at The Hobby Center. This summer marks the 30th anniversary of the classic Disney animated film that inspired it. We talk with Darian Sanders, who plays Simba in the production.

And this summer’s Houston Shakespeare Festival is under way, with performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Romeo and Juliet. We learn more from the festival’s artistic director, Jack Young, and actor Michael Sifuentes.

On Thursday's show: We learn about the findings from a new report on HPD's suspended cases controversy. Acting Police Chief Larry Satterwhite presented the report before Houston City Council on Wednesday.

Also this hour: Rohit Chopra, the director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, explains how consumers can protect themselves in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl.

Then, we continue to share examples of some of the summer Olympic sports played in Houston, continuing with a conversation with a pair of Houston sisters about competing together in fencing at several Olympic games. And we learn how Houston became a mecca for competitive air hockey.

And we recently got so much feedback from listeners when we discussed how some people might be considering leaving Houston after Hurricane Beryl, that we share some more of those comments.

On Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup.

Also this hour: We continue to share examples of some of the summer Olympic sports played in Houston, continuing with a conversation about skateboarding here.

And we bring you a Skyline Sessions concert featuring the artist LØLØ.

On Tuesday's show: CenterPoint Energy faced another hearing on Monday related to its response to power outages caused by Hurricane Beryl. We find out what was said before a Texas State Senate special committee and the potential implications.

Also this hour: For more than a decade, Joe Holley has written a column called Native Texan for the Houston Chronicle, which tells the stories of some of the known and unknown legends of Texas. The Pulitzer Prize-winning writer has a new collection of some of those columns called Native Texan: Stories from Deep in the Heart. Holley joins us ahead of an event at Brazos Bookstore tonight.

Then, with the Olympics underway, we continue to share examples of some of the summer Olympic sports played in Houston, continuing with a visit to West Houston Archery.

And we continue our series on museums and other attractions to visit around the area with a trip to the Houston Museum of Natural Science.

On Monday's show: The Houston Fire Department is under new leadership as union members past and present expect to see checks in the mail for back pay this week. We discuss Mayor John Whitmire’s decision to replace Houston’s fire chief with Marty Lancton from the Houston Professional Fire Fighter’s Association.

And we get an update on the status of debris removal efforts and other cleanup three weeks after Hurricane Beryl.

Also this hour: Houston has made some mistakes over the years. We talked about that on the show last week. But what do you think some of Houston’s greatest successes are? Share your thoughts at [email protected].

Then, with the Olympics underway, we share examples of some of the summer Olympic sports played in Houston, starting with a visit to the Houston International Table Tennis Academy in Katy.

And we learn about the many Houstonian athletes who are taking part in the summer games.

On Friday's show: CenterPoint Energy appeared Thursday before the Public Utility Commission and faces a Texas Senate special committee on Monday to answer questions about its response to Hurricane Beryl. Reporter Andrew Schneider explains what the hearings entail.

Also this hour: From exploding soda cans on Southwest Airlines flights, to the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile getting in a bit of a pickle, we break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week's news with our panel of non-experts.

Then, the Paris Olympics get underway today. A number of Houston-area athletes will be taking part, including gymnast Simone Biles, who will be back in the spotlight after stepping back from some events in the Tokyo games in 2021. But don't call it a "comeback." A new book called The Price She Pays explains why and explores the mental health challenges many female athletes face.

And we meet Houstonian Jeffrey Louis, aka "Bboy Jeffro" who's competing in the Olympics in breakdancing.

On Thursday's show: Former HPD Chief Troy Finner is speaking out about a police department scandal ahead of a forthcoming final report about it.

Also this hour: July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, and we discuss the particular issues facing people of color when it comes to mental health and resources available.

Then, this month’s installment of The Bigger Picture dives into conspiracy theories and theorists and the new film Fly Me To The Moon.

And we check in with singer and guitarist Ray Benson of the band Asleep at the Wheel. He has a new single out this week, part of an album out next month that fuses Western swing and reggae.

On Wednesday's show: Has anything interesting happened in politics lately? We can't recall. So, we enlist the help of some local political analysts to discuss the latest developments in the news in our weekly roundup.

Also this hour: While much of the fun things we have to do here in Houston take place indoors in air-conditioning, we have outdoor attractions, too. So, how do they keep things cool during Houston’s hot summer months?

And we visit a sound sculpture from artist Steve Parker called “Invisible Music.”

On Tuesday's show: We’re expecting rain the rest of the week, with some potentially significant downpours and flash flooding possible. But Houston Chronicle meteorologist Justin Ballard is characterizing the forecast as “tricky.” He joins us to explain.

Also this hour: Layoffs, restructuring, and the state takeover of HISD may all be leading to a brain drain of experienced educators. Will Houston’s schools face a big teacher shortage come fall?

Then, writer Jennifer Mathieu talks about her latest novel, Faculty Lounge. The story shows a "different side of school life" through a chain of events that begins when an elderly substitute teacher is found dead in the faculty lounge of a high school. Mathieu, who's a Houston-area teacher, wrote the 2017 novel, Moxie, which was turned into a Netflix movie in 2021.

And we continue our summer series visiting area museums and attractions with a visit to the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum.

On Monday's show: Before President Biden's announcement over the weekend, the last time a sitting U.S. president dropped his re-election bid, he was a Texan. And when Lyndon B. Johnson did so in 1968, it was amid a period of somewhat similar turmoil. We discuss those parallels with Rice University political science professor Bob Stein, who was at the contentious 1968 Democratic National Convention.

Then, former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and our own Andrew Schneider reflect on the life and career of Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, who died Friday.

Also this hour: What are some of the biggest mistakes Houston has made over the years? What in your view is the single biggest whopper of a screwup we’ve made as a city? 

Then, columnist Dwight Silverman discusses recent developments in consumer technology, including last week's Crowdstrike glitch that messed with Houston airports, banks, hospitals, and media.

And we get an update on the Astros from Jeff Balke.