What are some new ways we could deal with excess rain water in Greater Houston after we have severe weather? For one, Harris County is studying the possibility of using high-powered pumps to move excess water into aquifers – or even old oil wells.

The water would be preserved for later if – and when – the city faces another drought. Other municipalities in other states do similar things – so why not here? On this edition of Houston Matters, we talk it over with Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Jack Cagle, whose office is spearheading the local study, and Russ Poppe, executive director of the Harris County Flood Control District.

Also this hour…

The Way Home

Earlier this month, Mayor Sylvester Turner launched an initiative that encourages giving to organizations that assist the homeless – instead of giving to panhandlers. With downtown Houston as a backdrop, the mayor unveiled a billboard for a campaign called “Meaningful Change – Not Spare Change.” As News 88.7’s Florian Martin reported, the mayor said while Houstonians are very philanthropic and want to give to panhandlers, this makes it harder for homeless organizations to get them off the street permanently.

“The focus is to redirect our giving in such a way that can be much more long-lasting,” Turner said. “And then we’re just not enablers.” He said people should donate to The Way Home, an initiative to end homelessness in Greater Houston. But what exactly is The Way Home – and how is it different than efforts in the past to address homelessness in the area? As we learn from Eva Thibaudeau and Sara Brown from the Coalition for the Homeless, the program is a collaboration between more than 100 nonprofits in the region who offer some sort of service to homeless individuals.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of the News

A lot can happen in a week. Some of it good. Some of it bad. Some of it downright ugly. When faced with intriguing developments in the week’s news, we turn to our rotating panel of “non-experts” to parse The Good, The Bad and The Ugly of it all. This week, our panel weighs in on Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick threatening to hold a special session if he doesn’t get what he wants, and which burger franchise is the nation’s best.

On today’s panel: Natalie Arceneaux, host of Your Business with C+A on KNTH 1070 AM, Marcus Davis, owner of The Breakfast Klub restaurant, and Joe Holley, Native Texan columnist for the Houston Chronicle.

Actress Kate Shindle of Fun Home

The musical Fun Home won five Tony Awards in 2015, including best musical. Now it’s on tour at Houston’s Theatre Under the Stars May 16-28, 2017. Fun Home is an in-depth look at how families operate and relate. It’s based on a graphic novel memoir called Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by cartoonist Alison Bechdel.

Houston Public Media’s Ernie Manouse talks with lead actress Kate Shindle, who is currently president of the Actors’ Equity Association and was Miss America in 1998.

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