Town Square with Ernie Manouse airs at 3 p.m. CT. Tune in on 88.7FM, listen online or subscribe to the podcast. Join the discussion at 888-486-9677, [email protected] or @townsquaretalk.

On August 25, 2017, Hurricane Harvey roared into the Texas coast as a Category 4 hurricane and then turned into a catastrophic flooding disaster for Houston and other parts of the state's coastline. It hit the Houston area – bringing with it the highest sustained winds at 130 miles per hour and almost 50 inches of rain.

Five years later, what do we remember about the storm and the aftermath? 

Are we better prepared the next time a historic hurricane hits Houston and Harris County?

In talking with two former Harris County leaders, we discuss the challenges that were faced, the lessons learned, and the importance of being transparent when communicating with the public. 

But how do weather and disaster relief organizations get the necessary information out, but also keep their involvement structured during chaos?

To answer that question, we hear from two local heroes who delivered meals throughout Southeast Texas to those who were displaced, first responders, and the National Guard.

Also, we take calls from listeners to share what they remember most about weathering Hurricane Harvey and their personal stories.

Guests:

Ed Emmett

Francisco Sanchez

Jonathan Beitler 

Melissa Holder

Town Square with Ernie Manouse is a gathering space for the community to come together and discuss the day’s most important and pressing issues.

We also offer a free podcast here, on iTunes, and other apps.

Town Square with Ernie Manouse airs at 3 p.m. CT. Tune in on 88.7FM, listen online or subscribe to the podcast. Join the discussion at 888-486-9677, [email protected] or @townsquaretalk.

Now that the CDC has revised its COVID-19 guidance to help the public better protect themselves and understand their risk, there’s still concern for what this means for the health and safety of kids as school begins. School medical officials ensure there are ways schools and students can prevent the spread of COVID-19. 

Wellness visits and up-to-date immunizations are also important for our kids as they head back to school.   Many children missed these necessary check-ups during the pandemic.

Today, we talk with experts from the National Association of School Nurses,  UTHealth Houston, along with authorities from the Galveston County Health District and the Houston Health Department on what they’re doing to keep students safe, healthy, and stopping the spread of major diseases.

Also, we take calls from our listeners to address questions and concerns when it comes to sending kids back to school.

Guests:

Dr. Phillip Keiser

Dr. Janeana White

Donna Mazyck

Dr. Luis Ostrosky

Town Square with Ernie Manouse is a gathering space for the community to come together and discuss the day’s most important and pressing issues.

We also offer a free podcast here, on iTunes, and other apps.

Town Square with Ernie Manouse airs at 3 p.m. CT. Tune in on 88.7FM, listen online or subscribe to the podcast. Join the discussion at 888-486-9677, [email protected] or @townsquaretalk.

Mean Girls the musical hits the stage in Houston.  The show features a book by nine-time Emmy Award winner Tina Fey, music by three-time Emmy Award winner Jeff Richmond, and  lyrics by two-time Tony Award nominee Nell Benjamin. Tony Award winner Casey Nicholaw directs and choreographs.

Cast member April Josephine, who plays Mrs. Heron, Ms. Norbury, and Mrs. George, talks with us about her experience touring with this production, the nuance of her roles, and what audiences can expect. 

Josephine is not only an actress, but also works as an arts educator.  She shares why the arts and theatre is so important in providing an open, safe space for students to discuss hard topics.

Also, as students head back to school, we talk with a school psychologist, about “mean girl” behavior, what causes it, and how we can prevent it.  Plus, what parents, students, and school staff can do about bullying, and cyberbullying.

If you or someone you know is being bullied, contemplating suicide, or in crisis, call 988, or log on to 988LifeLine.org. 

“Mean Girls”, the musical comedy based on the hit film, runs August 17 – 21, 2022, at the Hobby Center in Houston.  For more information, log on to www.TheHobbyCenter.org. 

Guests:

April Josephine

Dr. Laurie McGarry Klose

Town Square with Ernie Manouse is a gathering space for the community to come together and discuss the day’s most important and pressing issues.

We also offer a free podcast here, on iTunes, and other apps.

Town Square with Ernie Manouse airs at 3 p.m. CT. Tune in on 88.7FM, listen online or subscribe to the podcast. Join the discussion at 888-486-9677, [email protected] or @townsquaretalk.

In this episode of Town Square, we focus on grief and healing, as we continue to learn what really happened during the Uvalde Elementary school mass shooting. 

Although, parents of the victims are trying to handle everything with dignity, they are are still angry and don't understand how the police could have not had a plan to act sooner.

If the police would have acted sooner, would there have been a much better outcome?

We speak to Alfred Garza III, a parent who lost his 10-year-old daughter in the shooting, and describes what it was like when police arrived on the scene. 

Also, we talk to local and Texas state government officials about how important it is to keep discussing the issue of accountability in Texas. Why does it seem that the state can't get the simplest information put out to the public on what really happened that day on May 24 at Robb Elementary School?

What's clear is that there's a need to focus on mental health and gun control at the same time, not separately.

Is there hope for a national ban on assault weapons and better background checks? 

Our experts join us for a better understanding of where we are at understanding Uvalde.

Guests:

Dr. Jeff Temple

Brian Lopez

Alfred Garza III

Democratic Texas State Senator Roland Gutierrez

Democratic Representative Al Green

Town Square with Ernie Manouse is a gathering space for the community to come together and discuss the day’s most important and pressing issues.

We also offer a free podcast here, on iTunes, and other apps.

Town Square with Ernie Manouse airs at 3 p.m. CT. Tune in on 88.7FM, listen online or subscribe to the podcast. Join the discussion at 888-486-9677, [email protected] or @townsquaretalk.

In this episode of Town Square, we focus on grief and healing, as we continue to learn what really happened during the Uvalde mass shooting at Robb Elementary School and what's next. 

Although, parents of the victims are trying to handle everything with dignity, they are are still angry and don't understand how the police could have not had a plan to act sooner. According to the Texas Tribune, Uvalde parents are now choosing private or online education because of what happened.

If the police would have acted sooner, would there have been a much better outcome?

What is the current situation with Chief Pete Arredondo and Uvalde CISD?

We speak to Alfred Garza III, a parent who lost his 10-year-old daughter in the shooting and describes what it was like when police arrived on the scene. 

Also, we talk to Texas government officials for a better view of where we are in understanding what happened in Uvalde, as they explain why there's a need to focus on mental health and gun control at the same time, not separately.

Guests:

Dr. Jeff Temple

Brian Lopez

Alfred Garza III

Democratic Texas State Senator Roland Gutierrez

Democratic Representative Al Green

Town Square with Ernie Manouse is a gathering space for the community to come together and discuss the day’s most important and pressing issues.

We also offer a free podcast here, on iTunes, and other apps.

Town Square with Ernie Manouse airs at 3 p.m. CT. Tune in on 88.7FM, listen online or subscribe to the podcast. Join the discussion at 888-486-9677, [email protected] or @townsquaretalk.

We've seen Sharon Gless act in Cagney & Lacey, Queer as Folk, Burn Notice, and countless other shows and movies. Now, she opens up completely in Apparently There Were Complaints, a hilarious, deeply personal memoir that talks about her 50-year career in Hollywood.

Fans say the role Gless played as policewoman Christine Cagney in the hit television series Cagney & Lacey (1981-1988) was a perfect display of women working in a male-dominated environment, but who were relatable as real women.

Some may also remember Gless and her Cagney & Lacey co-star Tyne Daly for their 1999 special performance of  You're Nothing Without Me from the musical comedy, City of Angels. 

In this episode of Town Square, Gless, a two-time Emmy and two-time Golden Globe Award winner, shares a relatable, heart-felt understanding of how some of her iconic roles have left a lasting impression on society and American culture — giving our audience a behind-the-scenes glimpse into her life on and off camera.

Town Square with Ernie Manouse is a gathering space for the community to come together and discuss the day’s most important and pressing issues.

 We also offer a free podcast here, on iTunes, and other apps.

Town Square with Ernie Manouse airs at 3 p.m. CT. Tune in on 88.7FM, listen online or subscribe to the podcast. Join the discussion at 888-486-9677, [email protected] or @townsquaretalk.

The mission of actor Sean Penn’s Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE) non-profit organization is to build systems that better prepare communities for crisis and prevent the effects of devastation on the most vulnerable populations.

CORE wants to ensure the work they do has a long-lasting impact in disaster areas both here and abroad.

When crisis happens in Ukraine and other areas of the globe, how do humanitarian organizations like CORE get aid to people who need it most?  

How do groups get into a country if there’s fighting?

It takes work and a bit of negotiation with government entities.

Today, we talk to CORE’s co-founder and CEO about the organization’s current work and how we all can help.  Also, a political expert explains how government and humanitarian groups work together.

Guests:

Ann Lee

Dr. Richard Stoll, Ph.D.

Town Square with Ernie Manouse is a gathering space for the community to come together and discuss the day’s most important and pressing issues.

Audio from today's show will be available after 5 p.m. CT. We also offer a free podcast here, on iTunes, and other apps.

Town Square with Ernie Manouse airs at 3 p.m. CT. Tune in on 88.7FM, listen online or subscribe to the podcast. Join the discussion at 888-486-9677, [email protected] or @townsquaretalk.

Combining stories from her life, Emmy Award-winning journalist and New York Times bestselling author of Once I Was You, Maria Hinojosa, talked with us about her life growing up as an immigrant in America.  The adapted version of the book for young readers, Once I Was You: Finding My Voice and Passing the Mic will be released August 30, 2022.

In our conversation with Hinojosa, the Pulitzer Prize-winning host of Latino USA shares why she decided to re-craft her memoir for children, what she thinks about immigration issues at the southern border, and why we need to find some commonality to save our democracy.

"There’s no threat to the US with immigrants coming from the border. We need to reframe the conversation", says Hinojosa.

As a journalist, what does she think about the importance of diversity in the newsroom and reporting?

Plus, what is the distinction between the terms Latin-X, Latino and Hispanic?

Host Ernie Manouse discusses all of this and more with Hinojosa and takes calls from our listeners.

Town Square with Ernie Manouse is a gathering space for the community to come together and discuss the day’s most important and pressing issues.

We also offer a free podcast here, on iTunes, and other apps.

Town Square with Ernie Manouse airs at 3 p.m. CT. Tune in on 88.7FM, listen online or subscribe to the podcast. Join the discussion at 888-486-9677, [email protected] or @townsquaretalk.

What was the actual motivation behind the FBI’s search of former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida Monday?  

What are the next steps after the FBI raid?

The answers to these questions remain to be discovered, especially since this is the first time in history that federal agents have had to search a previous President's home under an investigation into potentially classified documents being stored at their private residence.

The situation also brings up discussion on what types of classified documents should not have left the White House. Plus, how will this play out politically?

Our legal and political experts break down the latest details, along with thoughts and reactions from our listeners.

Guests:

The Honorable Vanessa Gilmore

Brandon Rottinghaus

Danny Cevallos

Town Square with Ernie Manouse is a gathering space for the community to come together and discuss the day’s most important and pressing issues.

We also offer a free podcast here, on iTunes, and other apps.

Town Square with Ernie Manouse airs at 3 p.m. CT. Tune in on 88.7FM, listen online or subscribe to the podcast. Join the discussion at 888-486-9677, [email protected] or @townsquaretalk.

The world of social media influencers has become a phenomenon. But many still wonder what it really means to be an influencer and what the steps are to becoming one.

While some of us mainly use social media as a tool to just connect with family and friends, there are also ways to make lots of money.

But what's the difference between a mega influencer, nano influencer, and micro-influencer?

Our guests today not only talk about how they each became social media influencers and what it means to be one, they also talk about how it gave them confidence to pursue their passions, while influencing others to do the same.

We also talk with a marketing expert about how social media influencers affect the buying impact on consumers — shaping trends and purchase patterns.

Guests:

Dr. Jenna Drenten

Holly Tuggy

Harper Watters

Town Square with Ernie Manouse is a gathering space for the community to come together and discuss the day’s most important and pressing issues.

We also offer a free podcast here, on iTunes, and other apps.