Houston Matters

On Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup, this week with the help of Beth Simas and Jeronimo Cortina of the University of Houston.

Also this hour: Fifty years ago today, tennis star Billie Jean King struck a blow for women’s equality in sports, defeating her male counterpart, Bobby Riggs, in the so-called “Battle of the Sexes” at the Astrodome. Houston tennis great Zina Garrison reflects on the significance of the match, which will be commemorated at an event tonight at The MATCH.

And The Catastrophic Theatre is restaging its 2013 production of Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot with the same cast from back then, including our own producer, Troy Schulze.

On Tuesday's show: The energy transition -- we see incremental changes here and there in our daily lives, like more electric cars on the road. But is that transition happening fast enough for us to meet our climate change goals? We learn what a new report has to say.

Also this hour: Former U.S. Senator Russ Feingold discusses efforts to establish a constitutional convention, why we should pay attention to that movement, and how, if it succeeds, it could lead to radical changes in our system of government. Feingold is the co-author of a new book called The Constitution in Jeopardy, which he'll discuss at Brazos Bookstore on Friday.

Then, perhaps you’ve heard of "quiet quitting" – the trend of some employees doing just the absolute bare minimum required to keep their job. Well, there’s an employer trend out there called "quiet cutting" – it involves moving employees around into new roles or hours in the hopes they’ll eventually quit so you don’t have to pay severance. It’s rife with ethical and sometimes legal ramifications as we learn from a local HR expert.

And French artist Laure Prouvost talks about her new exhibition at the Moody Center for the Arts at Rice University, featuring surrealist installations that evoke the natural world and the environmental challenges we place on it.

On Monday's show: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s expected back at work today after the Texas Senate acquitted him on all impeachment charges over the weekend.  We get some reaction and takeaways from the impeachment trial.

And we learn why Katy ISD is removing more books from its libraries, including one from Dr. Seuss. And we learn about an upcoming Katy Pride event planned in response to some of the Katy board’s recent actions.

Also this hour: A federal judge has ruled that a revised version of DACA is illegal. We discuss the ruling and get a general update on immigration issues facing Texas and Greater Houston.

Then, veterinarian Dr. Lori Teller answers your pet care questions.

And we get an update on sports from Jeff Balke.

On Friday's show: Houston Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher discusses issues affecting Greater Houston and answers listener questions.

Also this hour: We break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.

And we hear an excerpt from this weekend's edition of I See U with Eddie Robinson, which delves into some aspects of Houston's music history.

On Thursday's show: We discuss an uptick in high-speed car chases involving HPD officers that have left bystanders injured, according to an investigation by the Houston Chronicle. Two reporters involved in the investigation give us details.

And the August report on Houston’s housing market showed an interesting trend of housing prices rising as sales remain down.

Also this hour: We talk about the problem of litter in Houston, both on the streets and in our bayous and waterways.

Then, we reflect on the stories of women in space with journalist Loren Grush, author of The Six: The Untold Story of America's First Women Astronauts.

And we hear the latest installment of the News 88.7 series Hot Stops, examining the dangers of extreme heat at Houston-area bus stops.

On Wednesday's show: We discuss the budget battle in Congress, Ken Paxton's ongoing impeachment trial, and all the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup.

Also this hour: Writer and satirist Andy Borowitz talks about how Americans went from ridiculing ignorance in our politicians to accepting it and then celebrating it in some instances. His book, Profiles in Ignorance: How America's Politicians Got Dumb and Dumber takes on that subject, which he'll discuss at an event with The Progressive Forum on Sept. 21.

And Robert Edsel, founder and chair of the Monuments Men and Women Foundation, explains how to detect stolen antiquities.

On Tuesday's show: Federal funding for the Ike Dike project is among the casualties of the latest budget battle in Congress. We ask Jim Blackburn of Rice University's SSPEED Center what this all means for coastal flood mitigation projects.

Also this hour: This won’t be the last oppressive summer in Houston. We'll have to either deal with it – or leave. We discuss how to adapt to the Bayou City’s changing climate in the coming years.

Then, dermatologist Dr. Oyetawa Oyerinde of Baylor College of Medicine answers questions about skin issues.

And we listen back to two interviews with pioneering female astronauts Mae Jemison and Peggy Whitson.

On Monday's show: The second week of is getting underway of the Texas Senate impeachment trial of suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton. We recap what happened in the first week and look ahead to what to expect in the coming days.

Also this hour: We remember CB radio. The citizens band radio service first established in 1958 is still in use 65 years later. Of course, its true heyday was in the 1970s. We discuss what a Texas Monthly article from back then called “the great American addiction" with Robert Johnson from Houston’s Cool Wave CB Shop.

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

And we recap the Texans' season opener against the Ravens and get the latest on the Astros from Jeff Balke.

On Friday's show: After a crucial vote, there may be some major changes coming to Houston ISD, including a longer school year.

And we learn how a recent anti-gang initiative resulted in 36 arrests.

Also this hour: History is rife with technological advancements -- and the unintended consequences they create. We consider recent examples of how technology may help but also hinder us as we learn about efforts to teach the next generation of engineers here in Houston the importance of ethical development of technology.

Then, Neil Armstrong’s former home is for sale, and The Great Wall of China becomes the latest historic structure to be defaced. This week’s group of “non-experts” discusses those stories on The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.

And singer/songwriter Joshua Radin talks about his post-high school gap year backpacking trip through Europe that came about 18 years late and inspired music on his new album. He performs at The Heights Theater this weekend.

On Thursday's show: The Texas Department of Criminal Justice issued an immediate lockdown at all Texas prisons this week to address a rise in violence and drugs amongst inmates. Just this year, the TDCJ says there have been 16 inmate-on-inmate homicides. We learn more about the situation.

Also this hour: We revisit the story of the 1900 Galveston hurricane as this week marks the anniversary of the devastating storm.

And we learn about the different kinds of bats that live in Greater Houston as the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center prepares to host a pair of bat-related events Sept. 22 and 23.

Then, we reflect on the 80th anniversary of the deadliest single fire in Houston history, which took place on this date in 1943 at the Gulf Hotel downtown. The fire claimed 55 lives and injured many more. Tom McDonald, a former fire fighter and president of the Houston Fire Museum, tells us what happened.

And News 88.7’s Katie Watkins and Sara Willa Ernst bring us the first installment of their new series Hot Stops, which examines how bus stops get dangerously hot.