On Wednesday's Houston Matters: Local leaders and businesses are pushing back against Gov. Greg Abbott’s new executive order banning COVID-19 vaccine mandates — this time banning any entity in Texas, including private businesses, from requiring vaccinations from employees or customers.

Also this hour: We discuss the latest news in our weekly political roundup.

Then, we discuss the future of downtown with Bob Eury, the outgoing president of the downtown revitalization organization Central Houston.

And Catherine Lu talks with former Houston Poet Laureate Deborah D.E.E.P. Mouton, who was just named a resident artist for the American Lyric Theater in New York City.