Houston Matters

On Friday's show: We recap last night’s HISD Board of Managers monthly meeting, during which a vote is expected on the "District of Innovation" designation that would lengthen the school year, allow for the hiring of uncertified teachers, and change requirements for school counselors.

Also this hour: What a recent Texas Court of Criminal Appeals decision suggests about the expectations of appellate lawyers and judges, and what criminal defendants should know about the status of appeals they may believe are in progress on their behalf.

Then, from record-setting crowds expected at Houston airports over the holidays, to a ruling upholding the state’s ban on the use of TikTok on government-issued devices, to political phone calls headed your way powered by generative AI, we contemplate The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.

And listeners share the holiday songs that are meaningful to them in the Houston Matters Holiday Mix Tape.

On Thursday's show: Houston City Council has approved nine proposals the city says should bring some relief to residents experiencing high water bills.

Also this hour: Have you been to the pharmacy lately? If it seems like the lines are longer, the pharmacist is busier, and the experience is a bit more complicated than it used to be -- you’re not wrong. We learn what is happening and why.

And we talk with Houston YouTube chef Joshua Weissmann about his work and his new cookbook, Texture Over Taste.

On Wednesday's show: In a recent ruling, the Texas Supreme Court said it’s up to doctors to decide if an abortion is medically necessary under Texas law. Doctors say that exception is too vague.

And Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee announced she is running for her seat in Congress again, after losing the race for Houston mayor. We discuss those and other developments in the news in our weekly political roundup.

Also this hour: Ahead of the anniversary of the last Apollo mission moonwalk, we revisit a conversation with Poppy Northcutt, the first female engineer to work in NASA’s Mission Control during the Apollo program.

And we explore why a new generation has embraced the game of mahjong.

On Tuesday's show: Fort Bend ISD’s board of trustees met last night amid ongoing questions over why it’s sent the district’s superintendent into early retirement. We review what we have – and haven’t learned – since this all became public at last week’s board meeting. 

Also this hour: We’re doomed – but we can be okay with it, says author David Gessner. He shares why in his book, A Traveler’s Guide to the End of the World.

Then, we revisit our 2021 conversation with actor and Houston native Brent Spiner, who’s best known for playing Data on Star Trek: The Next Generation.

And, ahead of the Houston Symphony's annual performance of Handel’s Messiah, we learn how the piece has become a holiday staple even though only one section of this very large work is actually centered on Christmas and the nativity. And the most famous part, the Hallelujah chorus, isn’t even part of that section.

On Monday's show: State Sen. John Whitmire was elected Houston's next mayor over the weekend. We break down all the results from Saturday's runoff election.

Also this hour: A new investigative report from The Texas Observer examines the high human and economic cost of constructing the 288 toll road.

Then, Meg Tapp of The Garden Club of Houston answers your questions.

And we get the latest on Houston sports from Jeff Balke.

On Friday's show: We preview Saturday’s runoff election that will determine who will be the next mayor of Houston. Several city council seats will be decided along with numerous other races.

And we learn about a climate change symposium this week at the University of Houston focused on carbon capture.

Also this hour: We look back at the film Terms of Endearment, released 40 years ago. The Oscar-winning movie was set in Houston and based on a book by Texas novelist Larry McMurtry.

Then, from Texans’ views on electric cars, to the end of the Fairfield Lake State Park saga, we ask our panel of non-experts to weigh in on intriguing developments in the news on this week’s edition of The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.

And we learn how growing up in La Porte shaped J.B. Sauceda into a storyteller who's been named the next host of Texas Country Reporter.

On Thursday's show: What will the job market look like in Houston next year? Patrick Jankowski of the Greater Houston Partnership unveils his jobs forecast for 2024.

Also: A Houston-area chef shares his thoughts on the impact of the culinary arts training he received here.

And we visit a Mexican wrestling event.

On Wednesday's show: We’re just days away from knowing who will become the next mayor of the city of Houston. From the runoff election to special session news and beyond, we seek context and clarity in our weekly political roundup.

Also this hour: In this month's installment of The Full Menu, Houston food writers talk about where to take out-of-town visitors to eat over the holidays.

And we take a tour of downtown to learn the stories behind the city’s skyline.

On Tuesday's show: We learn why superintendent of Fort Bend ISD has abruptly resigned, despite having recently renewed her contract. And Katy ISD is considering taking advantage of a new law and hiring chaplains for school counselor positions.

Also this hour: What a trove of information released by a confidential source reveals about the law enforcement response to the Uvalde school shooting. Reporting from those materials is the basis of a new episode of the PBS series Frontline, called Inside the Uvalde Response, which airs tonight at 9 on Houston Public Media, TV 8.

Then, we learn about an effort to return bison to indigenous lands in Texas.

And we learn why a Houston-area church, in the face of a challenged law targeting drag performances, is teaming up with drag queens for charity.

On Monday's show: The passing of former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor marks a defining milestone in our nation’s history. We discuss her legacy and lasting impact on Texas through the rulings she was involved in.

Also this hour: Listeners share their pet peeves about life in Houston.

And we get an update on Houston sports.