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.

NPR is reporting that Russian forces are still meeting Ukrainian resistance, and have only made "moderate progress" toward some cities in the past 24 hours.

However, a direct Russian strike has reportedly devastated a maternity hospital in Mariupol.

Are cease-fires being violated?

Where do humanitarian routes actually lead?

What’s going on in Chernobyl?

And how are other countries continuing to respond to the crisis?

Today, we follow the latest developments and headlines in regards to Ukraine.

We also look at the crisis from the viewpoints of social media, cybersecurity, and cyberwarfare.

Guests:

Dr. Chris Bronk

Ronan O'Malley

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.

Evolving gender roles.

The impact of the #MeToo movement.

Fighting for pay equity.

These are just some of the issues facing women on this International Women’s Day, when many women still find themselves needing to prove what it means to be an empowered woman globally and locally in 2022.

But with issues like these, how do we overcome gender bias in our communities, our families, and in our schools? 

Many believe it starts with young girls: teaching them what it means to be a woman in this day and age, and the importance of education – although girls in some countries aren't allowed to go to school.

In developing the Keeping Girls in School Act, UNICEF USA placed emphasis on gender equity and girls’ empowerment through equal access to education when it was reported that remote learning tended to be less accessible to girls than boys. Additionally, the organization found that some fathers even discouraged their daughters from using the internet during COVID-19.

In this episode, our experts discuss how we all can #BreakTheBias collectively, and they field listeners' questions on the gender pay gap and other concerns. But first in the show, we get an understanding of  Biden’s ban on Russian oil imports and how that might impact Houston.  

Guests:

Ed Hirs

Rachel Wisthuff

Elizabeth Gregory

Director of the University of Houston Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies Program and the University of Houston Institute for Research on Women, Gender & Sexuality

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.

NPR reports that more than 1.5 million people are fleeing Ukraine, creating Europe's fastest-growing refugee crisis since World War Two.

Today, we bring you the personal story of Houstonian who had been working in Ukraine but fled the country last month – and is now back home in Texas.

What did she experience while in Ukraine? What did she go through in order to get out of the country?

Want to support the people in Ukraine? Here's a list of charities via NPR. 

We also have an update on COVID, in light of the CDC’s recent loosening of mask guidelines.

Some of Texas' largest public school districts, including HISD, have also dropped their mask mandates for students, teachers and other staff as cases of COVID in the state continue to decrease.

Is the pandemic finally on its way out? 

Guests:

Dr. James McDeavitt

Lindsey Murff

Ambassador Michael Pelletier

UH will address the Impact of the Russian-Ukraine Conflict with a panel discussion featuring experts in History, Political Science and Foreign Affairs, Thursday, March 10, 6pm at UH Honors College Commons located in the MD Anderson Library, Room 212.

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.

In a major local milestone, the Houston Livestock Show Rodeo is back for the first time since the pandemic.

We're broadcasting live from NRG Stadium to hear about this year's sports, concerts, food, and more, as well as about the challenges of coming back from the pandemic.

The Houston Rodeo is about a lot of things - scholarships, education, volunteers, and its importance to the area’s economy and to the sport of rodeo.

Besides the rodeo sports, people also come to the Houston Rodeo for the food. There's the amazing BBQ, the over-the-top concessions, and even fine dining.

And what event traditionally brings in the largest concert audience? It's Go Tejano Day!

In trying to capture all the excitement of everything that’s happening, our host, Ernie Manouse, gets a real taste of the rodeo by sampling some of the new food offerings. 

From Tejano Day ...to bull riding …to concerts and exhibits, we talk with the people in charge of making it all happen.

Guests:

Chris Boleman

Adrian Izaguirre

Katelyn Scates

Bryce Redo

Jason Fletcher

Brooks Bradford, Jr.

Jason Kane

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.

Screenings.

Healthy eating and exercise.

Gender bias in medicine.

When it comes to women's health, these are just some of the leading health concerns impacting women.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, women who are caregivers for children, adults, or people with chronic illnesses or disabilities have a greater risk for poor physical and mental health, including depression and anxiety. 

How can women better focus on their own overall health, while having so much responsibility caring for others?

This year's national theme for Women's History Month is “Providing Healing, Promoting Hope.” 

In this episode, we talk about the ceaseless work of female caregivers and frontline workers, and the need for self-care. Our guest is Dr. Frene' LaCour-Chestnut of the Women's Fund, who addresses various health conditions affecting women and fields questions from listeners.

Plus, the U.N. says 1 million refugees have left Ukraine in the last 7 days. We talk about this escalating crisis and learn more about the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on the U.S. with Congressman Marc Veasey, a member of the House Armed Services Committee.

Guests:

U.S. Congressman Marc Veasey, 33rd District of Texas

Dr. Frene'  LaCour-Chestnut

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.

Today, we celebrate National Read Across American Day, where the national theme for 2022 is Create & Celebrate a Nation of Diverse Readers.

Were you a bookworm growing up?

Did you find a love of reading as an adult?

What kind of impact has it made on your life?

Many people feel books can shape who we are today. They can open our eyes to the world.

For the first time, National Education Association is hosting a special Read Across America event focused on young adult readers. The YA Author Chat is tonight at 6pm CT on Facebook.

But lately, there's been an issue about representation in books and recent challenges to reading materials in schools, where Katy ISD students organized to distribute books about racism, LGBTQ+ issues on their own.

We discuss those issues, and listeners call in to share stories of books that changed their lives.

Plus, at the top of the show, a political expert provides an update on developments in the Ukraine crisis.

Guests:

Dr. Richard Stoll

Becky Pringle

Cameron Samuels

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.

With the 2022 primary election underway as the first major election under Texas’ new voting law, the law itself seems to be one of the strictest election laws in the nation. Republicans are arguing it’s necessary to ensure election integrity. Democrats are countering that the law amounts to voter suppression.

In this special episode of “Town Square,” political consultants Dallas Jones and Gary Polland of Houston Public Media’s Red, White and Blue discuss their thoughts and insights on the current political climate and how things could look for the November election. 

Plus, we check in with our reporters live from the polls and "another torrent of problems at Harris County polling sites."

We also hear from Annise Parker, former Mayor of Houston, who describes her personal experience with voter suppression, and how she thinks it's affecting this year's primary. In her case, this includes confusing ID requirements, which have been reported to disproportionately impact communities of color and transgender individuals.

Listen in as our callers share their experiences at the polls and get their questions answered by our experts.

Guests:

Gary Polland and Dallas Jones

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.

From Germany arming Ukraine with weapons, to the unprecedented sanctions on Russia, developments and impacts of Russia’s attacks on Ukraine continue.

In addition to wondering what's happening with African students and other people trying to leave Ukraine, there are Texans who have relatives in Ukraine that are preparing for war and want to know how to provide the most support possible.

Today, we talk with a member of the Ukrainian American Society of Texas not only to understand what their organization is about and what it's doing to aid the people of Ukraine but also to learn how Americans can help.

And, there's more focus on Texas, as the state is set for the nation's first 2022 primary election. Elections official say Harris County is changing how they allocate voting machines to avoid the hours-long lines seen in the March 2020 primary.

However, many questions and concerns still arise. For example, those who are independent voters want to know if they can vote for a Republican candidate now, but vote Democratic in November. 

Can you vote with an expired drivers license?

And what if you are registered in one city in Texas, but are currently residing or traveling through another city in Texas. Can you still vote in any polling place throughout Texas?

Chrystya Geremesz 

Isabel Longoria

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.

Russian forces are advancing toward the Ukrainian capital city of Kyiv.

Russian President Vladimir Putin called on Ukraine’s military to end its resistance and cooperate with Russia’s military.

But Ukrainians guarding a Black Sea island issued a defiant response when Russia demanded surrender. Some 13 guards were killed defending the island.

Meanwhile, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is driving up oil prices.

Those are some of the latest headlines from NPR and Houston Public Media.

Today, we continue to examine and to try to understand what is happening in Ukraine and its impact here in Houston and abroad – from its effect on global energy prices and military families to implications of this conflict for nuclear proliferation, and ways to help the people of Ukraine.

Guests:

Gabriel Collins

William French

Zachary Zwald

Ronan O’Malley

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.

Ukrainian Americans in the Houston area are watching the Russian invasion closely. Many of the estimated 5,000 Ukrainians here have relatives back home, in danger.  

We know a lot of this can be confusing and difficult to comprehend, but even if we think we don't have a direct connection to Ukraine, the invasion will still affect us.

Today, we look at the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict from a humanitarian, economic, and political perspective.  Also, News 88.7 reporter Andrew Schneider brings us his exclusive conversation with a former US Army captain recently located in the Donbas region in south-eastern Ukraine.

Richard J. Stoll, Ph.D.

Vitalii Tarasiuk

Mark Kilbane

Andrew Schneider, Houston Public Media

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.