

On Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest in local, state, and national politics with Brandon Rottinghaus and Jeronimo Cortina, the hosts of Houston Public Media’s Party Politics. 
Also this hour: Reporters Savanna Strott and David Leffler from Public Health Watch join us to discuss ongoing concerns over benzene levels in Channelview.
MORE: Jan. 12 Public Meeting on Benzene Pollution
And last year, the Texas Legislature passed a much larger budget of incentives to support television and film production in the state. We learn how that money has affected what's being filmed here.

The week in politics (Jan. 10, 2024)

Houston Matters is a radio program airing weekdays at 9 am on Houston Public Media News 88.7 FM in Houston. During each hour, we&#8217;ll investigate the issues and ideas, people and places that make Houston&#8230;well&#8230;Houston! We&#8217;ll talk about current events, politics, education, health care, the environment, business, transportation, arts and culture, literature, sports and leisure. But we also hope that what we do each day on Houston Matters serves as the beginning of a conversation &#8212; one we hope you&#8217;ll continue here, at home, at work, with family, with friends and neighbors. We hope to introduce Houstonians to one another, to celebrate our diversity, and to engage one another through stories and conversations that demonstrate depth and context. Just the sort of thing you count on from public media.

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On Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup.
Also this hour: With HISD in the early stages of a state takeover, we learn about a Texas school district preparing to transition out of it. The superintendent of Marlin ISD near Waco shares lessons from that district's seven years under state control.
And we preview the Moody Center’s Spring Fling concert at Rice this weekend. It features a country singer and an R&B; duo and is being billed as an "alternative to the crush and expense of the Houston Rodeo."

Lessons from another school takeover (Feb. 28, 2024)



On Tuesday's show: We learn about a conference on crime and public safety in Houston tomorrow.
Also this hour: Duncan Klussmann, the former superintendent of Spring Branch ISD, explains the problems he has with how that school district is handling its current financial issues, which is a subject he outlined in a recent opinion piece in the Houston Chronicle.
Then, we revisit the case of Texas death row inmate Ivan Cantu, who is scheduled to be executed this week. A true crime podcast investigation into his story, new evidence, witnesses recanting, and former jurors coming forward with concerns about his conviction have led some high-profile activists to take up his cause.
And we visit the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern, where a new installation called Haha Real fuses animation and video game graphics with traditional art and an immersive soundscape by a Houston-born musician. And the whole thing is inspired by the classic children’s story The Velveteen Rabbit.

Spring Branch ISD's financial woes (Feb. 27, 2024)



On Monday's show: We get an update on the Houston Avenue street project saga.
Also this hour: With the annual Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo getting under way, we talk about the history of the trail rides that lead up to each year’s event with the head of the committee who organizes them and with photographer Ray Viator, who has a new book documenting them called All Trails Lead to Houston: Riding to the Rodeo.
Then, columnist Dwight Silverman discusses some recent developments in consumer technology.
And we get an update on Houston sports.

History of the rodeo trail rides (Feb. 26, 2024)



On Friday's show: An unmanned spacecraft built by a Houston company has landed on the moon, making it the first commercial landing on the lunar surface and the first American spacecraft to make a soft landing there since the Apollo program ended in the 1970s. We learn about the landing and what the Odysseus lander will do during its mission.
Also this hour: Saturday is Hockey Day in Houston. An event at Saint Arnold Brewery is designed to promote hockey at all levels in the Houston area. We reflect on some of Houston's hockey history with a former player from the Houston Aeros, we discuss where and how hockey is being played in Greater Houston, and we get the latest on more serious talks about bringing an NHL team here.
Then, we meet some of the local artists creating installations for the Houston location of Meow Wolf.
And, from the Houston-filmed movie Reality Bites turning 30 years old, to John Oliver making Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas a unique offer, we discuss The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.

Houston returns to the moon (Feb. 23, 2024)



On Thursday's show: Spring Branch ISD will no longer employee librarians, beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, a district spokesperson confirmed to Houston Landing. We learn about the budget constraints behind this move and how the district plans to keep libraries running at its campuses.
Also this hour: The new film The Taste of Things explores love between a chef and his personal cook. We discuss the movie and meet one of Houston's own restaurateur couples on this month’s installment of The Bigger Picture.
Then, we hear an excerpt of a conversation with author and anti-racism activist Ibram X. Kendi from this week's edition of I See U with Eddie Robinson.
And we talk with filmmaker and Houston native Alex Stapleton, who’s directed an episode of God Save Texas, a series of three documentaries that just premiered at Sundance and that's based on a book of the same name by Lawrence Wright. Stapleton’s contribution is called “The Price of Oil,” and it explores how the oil industry has been a defining economic force in Houston, and specifically on Black people, including multiple generations of Stapleton’s family.

The week in politics (Jan. 10, 2024)

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