Houston Matters

On Friday's show: An energy industry watcher explains how the war with Iran is reshaping the oil industry and its impact on Houston.

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

And, before they pilot billion-dollar spacecraft, NASA's astronauts first have to learn to fly something much more down to earth. We visit LIFT Academy, the flight school in Galveston that is teaching them how.

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On Thursday's show: We learn how the city is preparing to help residents as Houston and the Southeast Texas region face dangerously high heat over the next few days. And we find out whether the FIFA World Cup matches in Houston provided the boost in demand many hotels and renters expected.

Also this hour: Pediatrician Dr. Seema Jilani of Texas Children's Hospital talks about her work traveling the globe to care for patients in some of the world’s most vulnerable places devastated by war and conflict. She recently served as a consultant on the HBO MAX series, The Pitt.

And with the intensifying heat of late July, we provide some ideas for air-conditioned things to do in the summertime.

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On Wednesday's show: From the Arizona primaries, to a new tariff on Canadian goods, to the latest from the campaign trail, we discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup.

Also this hour: Comedian Dulcé Sloan, who's a frequent panelist on NPR's Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!, talks with us ahead of some standup gigs at Punch Line HTX Thursday through Saturday.

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On Tuesday's show: Meteorologist Justin Ballard of the Houston Chronicle gives us the latest on Tropical Storm Bertha, which has formed in the Gulf southwest of Florida, and how it might affect Greater Houston in the coming days.

Also this hour: Is Greater Houston a good place to raise a family? What could make it better? We discuss how do define what makes a neighborhood family-friendly, where and why some parts of Greater Houston may fall short, and where and why others may be great for families.

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On Monday's show: We get an update on several stories in Fort Bend County, including how drama over the leadership of the county might affect the tax rate there and how developers are facing hurdles in their attempt to purchase land adjacent to the Sugar Land 95 burial site. And we get details on a new study that found the W.A. Parish coal plant in Fort Bend County is the largest producer of cloud-forming particles in the greater Houston region.

Also this hour: Veterinarian Dr. Lori Teller answers listener questions about pet care. You can submit yours now to [email protected].

And we preview the second half of the Astros' season.

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On Friday's show: We get the latest on dramatic flooding in the Texas Hill Country. And Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare discusses his office’s efforts to investigate last week’s shooting death of Houstonian Lorenzo Salgado Araujo by an ICE agent.

Also this hour: We conclude our weeklong series examining the state of several areas of life in Greater Houston by discussing the state of our region's arts and culture scene.

Then, we break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.

And we reflect on parallels between last week’s ICE shooting and a death at the hands of law enforcement in the 1970s that transformed the Houston Police Department and led to what became known as The Chicano Squad.

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On Thursday's show: We recap calls for and efforts to investigate last week’s shooting by an ICE agent in Magnolia Park.

Also this hour: We continue our weeklong series examining the state of several areas of life in Greater Houston by discussing the state of transportation in the region.

Then, we visit a "death cafe" -- a Houston-area discussion group that gathers to talk about issues related to death.

And we preview the next installment of the podcast After the Flood.

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

Also this hour: We continue our weeklong series examining the state of several areas of life in Greater Houston by discussing the state of the environment.

And more and more people these days own dogs who serve as service animals or emotional support animals. But where can they venture in Houston and where can't they? And are there limits some area businesses can set?

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On Tuesday's show: We get the latest on rainy weather in the forecast and the potential for flooding. And we learn about a TEA investigation of HISD's plans to consolidate some special education services in the district.

Also this hour: We continue our weeklong series examining the state of several areas of life in Greater Houston by discussing the state of politics here.

Then, we reflect on the role religion has played in shaping the state of Texas over its history with Joseph Locke, author of One State Under God: A History of Religion in Texas. Locke will discuss the book on July 16 at Brazos Bookstore.

And retired astronaut Anna Lee Fisher talks about time with NASA. She was in the first astronaut class that included women, and she was the first mother to go to space. Her experience is chronicled in the first part of a new PBS documentary series Once Upon a Time in Space, which airs tonight at 8 on Houston Public Media, TV 8.

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On Monday's show: Last week’s shooting by ICE agents of a Houstonian who had entered the country illegally more than 30 years ago raised, to some, questions about why he had only in recent years sought legal status.

Also this hour: We begin a week-long series examining the state of Greater Houston, starting today with a look at Houstonians’ health.

Plus: We welcome your gardening questions.

And we assess the Houston Astros at the All-Star break.

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