Houston Matters

On Friday's show: Meteorologist Eric Berger of Space City Weather tells us about some potential rain in the region next week and what might become of a tropical disturbance that is likely to develop in the Gulf of Mexico in the coming days.Also this hour: Sony Pictures is buying Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas. And competitive eater Joey Chestnut is out of the Nathan’s hot dog eating contest this July 4th. We discuss those and other stories in the news on this week’s edition of The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.Then, we revisit our tour of some of the items from The Kinsey African American Art & History Collection that are on display at Holocaust Museum Houston through June 23.And, ahead of Father’s Day Sunday, we revisit Joshua Zinn’s 2023 conversation with Isobella Jade, Houston-based author of a book about connecting to her late father through the few objects he left behind in his car after his death.

On Thursday's show: With Houston City Council finally approving the city's budget, we talk with Sallie Alcorn, At-Large Council Member Position 5 and the chair of the Budget and Fiscal Affairs Committee.Also this hour: We examine how commercial real estate is doing in Houston.Then, we consider ways that downtown Houston could be changed and revitalized, inviting input from listeners.And we learn about the Houston Show Choir, one of the oldest performing arts groups in the city.

On Wednesday's show: Houston City Council is taking on the city's next budget, and Hunter Biden was convicted on felony gun charges. We discuss those and other developments in local, state, and national politics in our weekly roundup.Also this hour: Today is the 100th anniversary of the birth of late President and longtime Houstonian George H.W. Bush. We listen back to Craig Cohen’s 2015 conversation with biographer Jon Meacham about Bush, based on Meacham’s book Destiny and Power. Meacham has a new book out about Bush to mark the centennial. It’s titled The Call to Serve and features some never-before-published photos celebrating the 41st President.And we talk with Varsha Bajaj, the New York Times bestselling author of the middle grade novel Thirst and numerous children's books. She’s back with her latest book, A Garland of Henna, and she’ll be in Houston for an event at Blue Willow Bookshop on Saturday.

On Tuesday's show: The Annie E. Casey Foundation’s annual Kids Count report is out, and it doesn’t have very flattering things to say about child wellbeing in Texas. We discuss whether the report jibes with what Bob Sanborn of Children at Risk sees locally and statewide.Also this hour: Just in time for summer, dermatologist Dr. Oyetewa Oyerinde answers questions about skin care. She's the director of the Skin of Color Clinic at Baylor College of Medicine.And film critic Joe Leydon reflects on the classic Hitchcock film Dial M for Murder, and we talk with an actor from an adaptation of the story on stage now at The Alley Theatre.

On Monday's show: HISD Superintendent Mike Miles is set to meet with Houston City Council for the first time. We learn more from Houston Public Media reporter Colleen DeGuzman.Plus, ERCOT says Texas could face rolling blackouts in August as energy demand peaks throughout the state.And we learn how recent storms and flooding have damaged the oyster business in Galveston Bay.Also this hour: We find out why home insurance rates in Texas have gotten so high over the past five years and how a disaster-prone area like Houston contributes to those increases.Then, Meg Tapp from the Garden Club of Houston answers questions about gardening.And we discuss how drug policies in sports may need to evolve as the law and the medical world’s views on some drugs change with Jeff Balke.

On Friday's show: From budget talks, to delays on the firefighters' contract, to the Montrose TIRZ project, we discuss the latest from the City of Houston with HPM's Tom Perumean.Also this hour: Former Houston Comets star and basketball hall of famer Sheryl Swoopes talks about her memories of winning the WNBA's first four championships, what it was like beginning her professional career just weeks after giving birth to her son, and about her hopes of bringing a WNBA team back to Houston -- whether it's called the Comets or not.Then, our non-experts weigh in on The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.And we learn about EarShot Readings, a program offering young and upcoming composers the opportunity to get their pieces performed and recorded under the mentorship of established composers. That has been happening this week in Houston, and ROCO will host a showcase of some of their work today at 11 a.m. at Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts.

On Thursday's show: Union Pacific began soil testing near the company’s contaminated railyard in Houston’s Fifth Ward this week under the oversight of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. News 88.7's Lucio Vasquez explains what that could mean for residents, who blame the company for contaminating the area with cancer-causing chemicals.Also this hour: On the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasions of Europe during World War II, Houstonian Jim Trippon shares the story of his father, John, who helped capture Nazi field headquarters in France. Then, we learn how a religious reawakening has led Rice University ecologist Timothy Morton to re-examine how he (and the rest of us) talk about both faith and science. That's the subject of his new book, Hell: In Search of a Christian Ecology.And a new HBO documentary series called Ren Faire takes a closer look at the culture and behind-the-scenes drama of the Texas Renaissance Festival north of Houston.

On Wednesday's show: From President Biden’s border plans, to implications following Mexico’s elections, and Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee's pancreatic cancer diagnosis, we discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup.Also this hour: With the summer weather heating up, food writers talk about some of their favorite places to go for frozen treats in the city in this month's installment of The Full Menu.And we learn how Saint Arnold Brewing Company is celebrating its 30th anniversary.

On Tuesday's show: HPD uses plenty of technology in its work, including plate-scanning cameras, body cams, and gunfire-detection application ShotSpotter, the latter being one piece of crime-fighting technology Mayor John Whitmire says he wants to scrap. We discuss the pros and cons of the technology HPD employs with Dr. Everette Penn, a local criminology professor.Also this hour: Sleep expert Dr. Sudha Tallavajhula answers your questions about sleep and sleep disorders, which you can send to talk@houstonmatters.org.And Houston-based singer/songwriter Catterina performs a Skyline Sessions concert.

On Monday's show: HISD plans to ask voters to consider a $4.4 billion bond, which would be the largest in state history. We learn more about it from HPM's Erica Smith.Also this hour: We offer Houstonians their monthly opportunity to vent about their pet peeves.And we get an update on Houston sports from Jeff Balke.

On Friday's show: After another round of storms rolled through the area, we briefly talk weather with Space City Weather's Eric Berger.Next, Mayor Whitmire wants to end the city's ShotSpotter contract. We discuss why with Houston Chronicle reporter Yilun Cheng.Also this hour: Our non-experts break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the weekThen, we preview an upcoming Houston Chamber Choir concert featuring music by Dave Brubeck.And we learn about Taurean "Tory" Bush's efforts to release a graphic novel while serving time in prison

Houston Matters begins at 9 a.m. CT on 88.7FM or listen online. Join the discussion at 713-440-8870, talk@houstonmatters.org or @HoustonMatters.On Thursday's show: News broke yesterday that ConocoPhillips plans to buy Marathon Oil in an all-stock deal valued around $17.1 billion. We learn more about the deal and what it could mean for Houston and for energy prices.Also this hour: Atlantic hurricane season officially begins Saturday. Matt Rosencrans, lead hurricane season forecaster at NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, walks us through what to expect in terms of major storms over the next several months.Then: We discuss how the latest Planet of the Apes film, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, explores legacy and how history is remembered, which is the subject of this month’s installment of our film segment, The Bigger Picture.And we reflect on the life of Sam Houston, namely the final few years of it, which he spent in self-imposed exile in the pines of East Texas. It's the subject of Ron Rozelle’s book Exil

On Wednesday's show: Storms on Tuesday brought wind, rain, and hail, and left some streets flooded and power out -- again. So, naturally, there’s more rain coming. Houston Chronicle meteorologist Justin Ballard tells us what to expect the rest of this week. Also this hour: We discuss results from the primary election runoffs and other developments in politics in our weekly roundup.Then, there are some things Houstonians deal with today that will probably always be a challenge -- public safety, mobility, flood risk, and more. But how will they change long term? We contemplate what challenges our city will face in 2044.And we meet the new artistic director for Stages Houston.

On Tuesday's show: We learn about the recent storm’s impact on tree cover from Barry Ward of Trees for Houston.Also this hour: We preview a busy month ahead for the U.S. Supreme Court with Charles “Rocky” Rhodes of South Texas College of Law Houston.Then, Kevin Kwan, author of Crazy Rich Asians and a native Houstonian, talks about his latest book, Lies and Weddings.And we visit Camp for All near Brenham, where kids with disabilities, health conditions, and other challenges can have a traditional summer camp experience.

On Friday's show: An official with CenterPoint Energy talks about the past eight days’ worth of repairs and electricity restoration, how mobile generation was used through the storm and recovery, and what’s left to do where.Also this hour: A live music program launches at an area hospital. We learn what Musicians on Call seeks to do for patients, families, and caregivers.Then, our non-experts break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.And, with Back to the Future stars Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd scheduled to speak this weekend at Comicpalooza (in a session moderated by Houston Public Media's Ernie Manouse), we revisit a 2015 conversation marking the film's 30th anniversary where we invited listeners to speculate on what Houston would be like 30 years in the future.

On Thursday's show: One week after deadly storms struck parts of Greater Houston and knocked out power for thousands, we take stock of the recovery effort so far.Also this hour: Former Houston Chronicle reporter Mike Hixenbaugh talks about increased political battles in public education, which is the subject of his new book: They Came for the Schools. Then, ahead of this weekend’s Comicpalooza, we hear from a star of the comic book world who’s appearing there: writer and illustrator Chip Zdarsky. He’s written for popular DC and Marvel comics, including Batman, Spider-Man, and Daredevil.And, ahead of a concert next week celebrating the music of Joe Sample, we revisit a 2013 conversation with the late Houston jazz musician.

On Wednesday's show: We get an update on cleanup efforts across Greater Houston from last Thursday's severe storms.Also this hour: Is Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton auditioning to be the U.S. Attorney General, should former President Trump win in November? We discuss that, the latest in the former’ President’s hush money trial in New York, and other developments in our regular Wednesday’s political roundup.Then, with Compicpalooza this weekend featuring some stars of various iterations of Star Trek, we revisit our 2019 conversation with Ben Harrison and Adam Pranica, the hosts of the Maximum Fun comedy podcast The Greatest Generation.And we talk with author and historian Tristan Smith about his latest book, A History Lover’s Guide to Galveston.

On Tuesday's show: We discuss this week’s heat and what it means for Houstonians still without power following Thursday’s severe storms. Space City Weather meteorologist Eric Berger brings us the latest. And we get some advice from the Texas Department of Insurance on what to do if your home was damaged during last week’s storm.Also this hour: We find out what the annual Houston Area Survey from Rice University's Kinder Institute for Urban Research has to tell us about Houstonians' opinions on a wide range of subjects.Then, we learn why two Houston-based artists are showcasing the shared experiences of Asian American and Black communities.And we talk with Houstonians Bradford Thomason and Brett Whitcomb, co-directors of Butterfly in the Sky, a documentary about the PBS series Reading Rainbow.

On Monday's show: Some 200,000+ CenterPoint customers are still without power following Thursday’s dramatic storm. We discuss the restoration efforts and other looming energy grid threats this week.Also, we preview a town hall discussion tonight between HISD Superintendent Mike Miles and four graduating seniors from high schools impacted by his new policies. Asher Lehrer-Small, who covers K-12 education for Houston Landing, will be moderating the discussion, and he joins us to preview it.Event Info: Doors open at 6 p.m. with the town hall beginning at 7 p.m. The conversation is a general admission, pay-what-you-can, ticketed event, with a suggested cost of $5. Tickets are available at thehobbycenter.org.We also talk with University of Houston Energy Fellow Ed Hirs about the process of restoring power after Thursday night's severe weather left many Houstonians without.Also this hour: Adam Higginbotham, the New York Times bestselling author of Midnight in Chernobyl, discusses, his book, Challenger, which offers

On Friday's show: A major storm system tore through the region last night, causing significant damage and leading to at least four fatalities from powerful winds and possible tornadic activity. We get the latest from our reporters in the field and Space City Weather's Eric Berger.Then: A judge ordered a new election for a seat decided in 2022. The Fifth Circuit heard Galveston County's defense of its redistricting plan. And House Speaker Dade Phelan has 11 days to convince GOP voters in a primary runoff to let him run again. We discuss recent election-related developments with News 88.7's politics and government reporter Andrew Schneider.Also this hour: Ernie Manouse chats with Martha Davis, the longtime lead singer for the American new wave band The Motels, whose ‘80’s hits, including Suddenly Last Summer and Only the Lonely were part of the soundtrack of many a Gen Xers’ youth. Davis and The Motels perform in Katy on Saturday night.And we talk about Houston's Salvadoran community and its food ahead of event