Houston Matters

On Friday's show: Two bills related to abortion passed the Texas Senate this week. One seeks to clarify when doctors can perform abortions if medically necessary under the state’s near-total ban. The other would allow anyone who mails or delivers abortion pills to someone in Texas to be sued for $100,000. Both bills must now clear the Texas House. Eleanor Klibanoff of The Texas Tribune provides details on both measures. Also this hour: A recent report ranked Houston as one of the unhappiest cities in America. Really? Whether you agree with that or not, we try to prove them wrong by having listeners and some guests share what they're happy about. Share yours now at talk@houstonmatters.org. Then, from the USDA halting a new rule requiring poultry companies to keep levels of salmonella bacteria under a certain level, to a company using what's essentially an AI-powered mood ring to build emotional trust in relationships, we break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week. And we talk with the outgoing Houston Poet Laureate, Aris Kian, and her successor, Reyes Ramirez.

On Thursday's show: Despite federal and state regulations, hospitals in Texas are failing to provide real transparency in pricing for medical services they provide. We discuss a new report from health economist Vivian Ho. And we remember our colleague, longtime Texas radio newsman Matt Thomas, who died on Wednesday after a brief illness. Also this hour: We talk about efforts to deal with what’s known as the “corridor of cruelty,” an area in Houston that has become a dumping ground for abandoned stray dogs and cats. Then, with Cinco de Mayo coming up next week, we revisit a 2024 conversation about how many holidays get co-opted, and how we can turn cultural appropriation into appreciation. (But also drink. And sell mattresses). And Kenny Wayne Shepherd became a star blues guitarist as a teenager, drawing comparisons to another three-named performer, the legendary Stevie Ray Vaughn. We learn why Shepherd's choice to go by three names had nothing to do with emulating Vaughn and discuss the lessons he's learned from touring with another blues legend, 91-year-old Bobby Rush ahead of their Sunday concert at House of Blues.

On Wednesday's show: This week marks President Donald Trump's 100th day in office. We reflect on everything that's happened so far and discuss the latest developments in local, state, and national politics in our weekly roundup. Also this hour: Corinna Lain, a legal scholar and former prosecutor, has done extensive research on how the use of lethal injection became widespread in this country. We examine what studies on the bodies of the executed can tell us about capital punishment and other revelations from her resulting book, Secrets of the Killing State. And we reflect on the fall of Saigon, 50 years ago today through the eyes of Roy Vu, the child of Vietnamese immigrants to Houston.

On Tuesday's show: Last week, two economists spoke out about the impact of Trump economic policy on Houston. One said to expect a recession by the summer. But the other offered a much sunnier forecast. Could they both be right? Or both be wrong? Do economists really know what they're talking about? We talk it over. Also this hour: Many industries face an uncertain future with the back-and-forth on tariffs. What about the energy industry in Houston? And how is the Texas Legislature playing a role in all of this? Houston Chronicle columnist Chris Tomlinson shares some of his thoughts on the subject. Then, we learn about Free for All: The Public Library, a new documentary chronicling the evolution of the American public library, from the original “Free Library Movement” in the late 19th century to the present, when many libraries find themselves caught in the crosshairs of the culture wars and struggling to survive amid budget cuts and closures. Director Dawn Logsdon talks about her film, which airs tonight at 9 on Houston Public Media, TV 8. And Texas poet Ebony Stewart discusses her newest collection called “WASH.”

On Monday's show: Depending on where you live in Greater Houston, you may be closing in on an election day. We provide a rundown on some of the municipal election decisions being made today in Fort Bend County. And we get an update on Texas public school funding from the Texas Legislature. Also this hour: We discuss “tough on crime” policies that are so tough they’ve caught just about everyone off guard. Then, do we really need all this smart technology? Just how connected should your fridge really be? We discuss what gadgetry may really go too far and other developments in consumer technology with columnist Dwight Silverman. And Jeff Balke updates us on the Rockets playoff series against the Golden State Warriors and other news in Houston sports.

On Friday's show: We dig deeper on the Texas Education Agency's grades for Texas schools for the 2022-2023 school year, which were just released after a 19-month legal battle between the TEA and districts that sought to prevent their release. The agency gave HISD a C grade for that period. Also this hour: A local union wants to see an increase in the minimum wage for Houston hotel and airport workers, arguing they’re not seeing the benefits of the area’s growing number of visitors. We learn more about what they want and how it could impact that industry. Then, from bobblehead hoarding at a recent Astros game, to a driverless car that stopped driving, and (at least according to its passengers) wouldn’t let them out, we ask our non-expert panel to weigh in on The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week. And we talk with composer Missy Mazzoli about her opera adaptation of the Lars von Trier film Breaking the Waves, which explores heavy topics through a contemporary lens. The production is on stage at Houston Grand Opera thought May 4.

On Thursday's show: A group of Harris County Democratic Party officials are criticizing Houston Mayor John Whitmire over his participation in a fundraiser for U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw, a Republican. In a recent City Council meeting, the mayor also inflated the number of accused murderers on Houston streets as lawmakers consider bond reform. And Houston Public Works expects to raise water bills to fund a $4.2 billion overhaul of the East Water Purification Plant. Reporter Dominic Anthony Walsh updates us on those developments in city government. Also this hour: Independent bookstores across the city are taking part in the second annual Houston Bookstore Crawl. (It’s like a pub crawl, but with far better results for your brain cells!) We learn why indie bookstores are thriving right now. Then, this month’s edition of The Bigger Picture draws from the new film Sinners to explore the history of blues and dance halls in Houston. And James Baker turns 95 on Monday. We revisit a 2015 conversation about the Houston native's career in politics.

On Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup. This week, Brandon Rottinghaus and Jeronimo Cortina of Party Politics offer their insights on stories from the local, state, and national level. Also this hour: Today is the 40th anniversary of New Coke, the change in flavor of Coca-Cola, which was one of the most infamous corporate marketing blunders of the 20th century. But hey, we all make mistakes. We revisit a 2024 conversation about some of Greater Houston's biggest mistakes. Then, Aris Kian, 2023-2025 Houston Poet Laureate, talks about her work and reads her poem Angels Fly to My Place for Dinner. And we talk with opera star Christine Goerke ahead of her performance Thursday at an event benefitting the University of Houston's Moores School of Music.

On Tuesday's show: A challenge on religious grounds to a requirement that health insurance providers cover HIV prevention medications was heard at the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday. Legal expert Seth Chandler explains the case, which stemmed from Texas. Also this hour: Houston has higher rates of sexually transmitted infections compared to the rest of Texas, according to Harris County Public Health. We discuss how local public health professionals are fighting STIs and misinformation. Then, on this Earth Day, we revisit a 2022 conversation with Rice University historian Douglas Brinkley about how one book sparked the great environmental awakening of the 1960s and 70s. And we talk with musician and Houston native David Ramirez, who’s performing Wednesday at The Heights Theater.

On Monday's show: With the passing of Pope Francis, we talk about his time in the role and the legacy he leaves behind. Then, we discuss SB3, a bill designed to ban THC in Texas, and what comes next after it passed the Texas Senate. Also this hour: On this day in 1836, Texas forces won the Battle of San Jacinto, concluding the Texas Revolution. We revisit a conversation about the original Texans who sought independence from Mexico and sparked the revolution. And we revisit a conversation about the Turtle Bayou Resolutions and how they set the stage for the revolution in the first place. Then, veterinarian Dr. Lori Teller answers questions about pet health. And we get an update on the Rockets loss in Game 1 of the NBA Playoffs and other developments in sports from Jeff Balke.

On Friday's show: A bill to greatly expand efforts to lure film and TV production to Texas using incentives paid for by sales tax revenues has passed the Texas Senate and now heads to the House for consideration. We learn more about Senate Bill 22 and what it might do for film and TV production in the state. Also this hour: From backlash over this week’s celebrity-studded, all-female, Blue Origin spaceflight, to prospects getting slimmer for a Houston-to-Dallas high-speed rail line, to a human chain moving a bookstore down the street, a single book at a time, we hash out The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week. And we discuss how to best declutter, downsize, and get rid of all the stuff in our lives.

On Thursday's show: In a vote early this morning that followed hours of debate, the Texas House gave initial approval to a billion-dollar private school voucher bill that stands to transform education in Texas in the years to come along with a $7.7 billion public school funding package. Also this hour: We talk with Houstonians supporting women who run for office, regardless of party. And we meet Dr. Jennifer Feltman, an expert on medieval art and architecture, who was one of only a handful of Americans who worked to help restore the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris after it was damaged by fire in 2019. She recently spoke at an event with Archaeology Now Houston.

On Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup. Also this hour: We chat with Houston Chef Michelle Wallace, owner of B'tween Sandwich Co. She was a competitor on Season 21 of Top Chef, where she was named fan favorite. And Houston author Huda Fahmy tells us about her latest graphic novel, Huda F Wants to Know? It's the latest in her series about a young Muslim girl, loosely based on herself, growing up in America. The previous installment, Huda F Cares? was a finalist for the National Book Award.

On Tuesday's show: Texas lawmakers are looking to make changes in how cash bail is set, with an eye on Harris County. But opponents of Senate Bill 9 say it will further clog the county's courts. Neena Satija of the Houston Chronicle explains. Also this hour: After she survived the Boston Marathon bombing, former Houstonian Rebekah Gregory fought to save her badly injured leg. We learn why she eventually chose to let go and have it amputated and about how she rebuilt her life to help others affected by trauma. And we meet Al Cisneros, who is the first Hispanic pilot with the Navy's Blue Angels and is a veteran of more than 150 combat missions during the Vietnam War. He was inducted into the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame last week.

On Monday's show: At least 115 students and recent graduates in Texas have had their legal status changed by the U.S Department of State over the last few weeks, according to data compiled by Inside Higher Ed and Texas Newsroom partners around the state. Those students are among more than 600 people nationwide caught in a recent wave of visa revocations. Also this hour: Meg Tapp from the Garden Club of Houston answers listeners' gardening questions. And Jeff Balke previews the return of the Houston Rockets to the NBA Playoffs and other developments in sports.

On Friday's show: A new poll sheds light on Houston-area voters’ attitudes on the issues facing the city. We learn what voters had to say about their views on where the city is headed, the biggest problems it faces, Mayor John Whitmire’s performance, and some initial polling on the candidates running for the 18th Congressional District, the seat left vacant when Congressman and former Mayor Sylvester Turner died. Also this hour: From the National Weather Service stopping language translations of its products, to revelations about how many school nurses HISD employs, to some exciting news for Texas Roadhouse, our non-experts discuss the The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week. And we visit the Car-Toon Festival, which celebrates custom cars and the city's car culture.

On Thursday's show: We get updates on recent developments at Houston City Hall, including concerns about the fate of the redesign of 11th Street in The Heights as Mayor John Whitmire's administration reviews it. And we learn about reactions to the direction the mayor has gone with street projects over the last 15 months. Also this hour: Members of the group WindSync discuss their Onstage Offstage Chamber Music Festival, featuring contemporary solo works and a performance with the Houston Youth Symphony’s Coda music program. And we learn how economic and cultural shifts are impacting Houston area coffee shops.

On Wednesday's show: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is officially running against U.S. Sen. John Cornyn next year. Also, Gov. Greg Abbott has called a special election in November for the 18th Congressional District, leaving some Houston residents without a representative in Congress for another seven months. And Fort Bend County Democrats are calling for County Judge KP George to resign after his arrest. We discuss those and other developments in politics in our weekly roundup. Also this hour: We revisit a 2019 conversation with Houston-area pilot Lynn Rippelmeyer, who made history in 1977 as part of the first all-female crew to fly for an airline. And we learn about Flex, a new play about a team of high school girls basketball players in 1997 in rural Arkansas, which is on stage at now at The Ensemble Theatre.

On Tuesday's show: So close…and yet so far. The Houston Cougars fell two points short of a men's college basketball national championship Monday night, falling 65-63 to the Florida Gators. In a near-reversal of Saturday's come-from-behind win in their Final Four matchup against Duke, this time it was the Coogs who led most of the way. They built a 12-point second-half lead only to see the Gators charge back to take a last-minute lead and hang on. Kris Gardner of Houston Roundball Review recaps the game for us. And Houston Public Media's Mark Norris describes the atmosphere as University of Houston fans descended on the Alamodome. Among the fans in attendance was sportscaster and UH alum Jim Nantz. We revisit our 2023 conversation with him about how his alma mater shaped his career. Then, to keep the basketball theme going, we hear from Cynthia Cooper, retired star of the WNBA's now-defunct Houston Comets and herself a former college basketball coach. Plus, we talk with attendees of a recent conference dedicated to helping women start and further their careers in STEM industries. And we hear from political activist Nadya Tolokonnikova, the creator of Pussy Riot, the feminist protest and art movement, who’s speaking at an event at the University of Houston on April 17.

On Monday's show: The University of Houston's men's basketball team will play tonight for the national title against Florida after a stunning comeback victory against Duke Saturday in the men's Final Four. Jeff Balke previews the game. Also this hour: The year's first widely recognized hurricane season forecast says we could see a busier than normal 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, with as many as 17 named storms and nine hurricanes. Meteorologist Justin Ballard of the Houston Chronicle interprets what the forecast means for Greater Houston. Then, we offer Houstonians a chance to vent about their pet peeves about life in our city.