Houston Matters

On Friday's show: Former HPD officer Gerald Goines on Thursday had an apparent medical episode in his chair during closing remarks of the sentencing phase of his murder trial. As a result, the proceedings were delayed for the day. Lucio Vasquez updates us on the situation and the trial.Also this hour: Actor George Takei of Star Trek fame talks about his career and the concert in Houston on Saturday he's involved in where he'll tell his family's story of forced internment during World War II.Then, from the River Oaks Theatre reopening this week after a two-year hiatus, to the biggest ranch in Texas going up for sale, we break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.And we learn about a new six-part documentary series on PBS called Chasing the Tide, which chronicles a couple's 21-day trek along the Texas Gulf Coast. We talk with Jay Kleberg, who tells us more about his journey wife his wife, Chrissy, and the discoveries they made along the way. The six episodes air on Houston Public Media TV 8 each Sat

On Thursday's show: A third of Harris County residents have faced a hate crime, but most of them don’t report it, according to a new study from Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research. We find out why and dive a little deeper into the study's findings.Also this hour: A new book examines whether a particular golf ball was ever on the moon with astronaut Alan Shepard, who famously hit a couple of golf balls on the lunar surface. But, more importantly, it tells the story of the friendship between Shepard and his barber, Carlos Villagomez, to whom he gave the golf ball after returning to earth.Then, with the world's largest steam locomotive, Big Boy No. 4014, on public display in Houston Oct. 6-7, we learn a little about Houston’s train history.And we learn about the reopening of the River Oaks Theatre this week.

On Wednesday's show: We get reaction to the vice presidential debate and discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup.Also this hour: In this month's installment of The Full Menu, Houston food writers talk about their favorite food trucks, pop-ups, and farmers market vendors that have expanded to brick-and-mortar stores.And, with the Astros back in the playoffs, we revisit the long-lost story behind their famous rainbow uniforms.

On Tuesday's show: It may be weeks before we fully know how much damage Helene caused in the southeastern United States, but we have an idea, because Houston has had its own history with previously unprecedented storms. We discuss how Houstonians can help and ponder the lessons Houston can learn from this disaster with Angela Blanchard, chief recovery and resilience officer for the City of Houston, who’s been through her share of storms and disaster recovery efforts.Also this hour: A new book from legal scholar, architect, and Houston native Sara C. Bronin examines what she considers a force for good: zoning. You know, something Houston doesn’t have. In Key to the City: How Zoning Shapes Our World, she discusses how the process of developing fair and appropriate zoning can be used to properly plan development of a city.Then, we remember two major figures in the sports world who died Monday: former Houston Rockets star Dikembe Mutombo and baseball great Pete Rose. We consider how their respective post playing

On Monday's show: A decision will be made in the coming weeks over controversial proposed Bible-infused curricula for elementary students in Texas public schools. We learn why, ahead of the Jewish new year, a local Jewish organization is joining growing calls for the state board of education to reject the plan.MORE: Submit public comments on the curriculaAlso this hour: Storms aren't the only threat to the sustainability of the Texas power grid. We learn about the demand for energy from data farms mining cryptocurrency and what steps could be taken to deal with that.Then, we welcome your dog and cat care questions for veterinarian Dr. Lori Teller.And Jeff Balke previews the Astros playoff series against the Detroit Tigers.

On Friday's show: Hurricane Helene is causing dramatic storm surge, flooding, wind damage, and widespread power outages across the southeastern United State. We ask Houston’s own meteorologist Matt Lanza from Space City Weather and The Eyewall about the latest and what this storm could have done to us had it come to Houston.And we learn about the indictment of Fort Bend County Judge KP George.Also this hour: We still have the shell of the Astrodome, but does Houston need a new "big honkin' thing" -- some sort of significant landmark to help define us?And, from some Houstonians appearing on a list of the nation's top philanthropic couples, to the Astros taking the hard way to a fourth-straight division title, we discuss The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of this week's news.

On Thursday's show: Former Houston officer Gerald Goines has been found guilty of felony murder for his role in a botched drug raid on Harding Street in 2019. We check in with reporter Lucio Vasquez, who's been covering the trial.Also this hour: We get an update on rumors of efforts to bring an NHL team to Houston.Then, in this month's installment of The Bigger Picture, we discuss a new film called My Old Ass and what it has to say about growing up and getting older.And we visit an art exhibit by John Slaby called Adam and Eve and the iPhone, illustrating the impact smartphones have had on our lives.

On Wednesday's show: From allegations around Fort Bend County Judge KP George, to Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff's fundraising swing through Texas and the latest on the presidential race, we discuss recent developments in politics in our weekly roundup.Also this hour: Houston is a very noisy place. There's thumping bass from nightclubs, drag racers peeling down the highway, planes zooming overhead, honking horns, leaf blowers, and construction sites. Yeesh. So, how bad is noise pollution here -- and what can we do about it?And we visit the Moon Festival at the Chinese Community Center to learn how the local organization celebrated the harvest festival and its significance in Chinese culture.

On Tuesday's show: A workers' strike is looming at the Port of Houston. We consider the ramifications it could have on shipping and elsewhere.Also this hour: As we get closer to the election, we consider how to know what polls to trust.Then, space writer Eric Berger discusses his new book, Reentry, which tells the story of how SpaceX developed its Falcon 9 rocket and how that changed space travel forever.And we revisit a conversation about faith and science with Rice University English professor Timothy Morton, who explains why he thinks the two have more in common than some realize.

On Monday's show: We talk with reporter Natalie Weber about a developing story in Fort Bend County involving potential criminal activity among elected officials, including County Judge KP George.Also this hour: We discuss how environmental regulations affect Houston neighborhoods and whether they are enough to protect us from harmful effects.Then, columnist Dwight Silverman discusses recent developments in consumer technology.And we talk about the weekend for the Houston Texans and Houston Astros with Jeff Balke.

On Friday's show: Houston City Councilmember Mario Castillo discusses the city’s budget and whether it will follow Harris County’s lead and approve a property tax increase.Also this hour: A gun reform initiative is using AI to generate voicemails from people killed by gun violence. We discuss the ethical questions using such technology raises.Then, our non-experts discuss The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week, including a winning lottery ticket going unclaimed and a Houston woman pleading guilty to fraudulently obtaining more than $600,000 in disaster relief from FEMA.And we talk with comedian and actor David Cross, who's known for his stand up comedy, television roles in Mr. Show and Arrested Development, and numerous films. He brings his The End of the Beginning of the End Tour to White Oak Music Hall on Sept. 24.

On Thursday's show: We get some updates on several stories happening in Fort Bend County, including Fort Bend ISD considering a formalized agreement with the nonprofit Friends of the Sugar Land 95 to access more funding for a memorial project, and a Sugar Land temple is increasing its security measures after backlash over a new religious statue.Also this hour: Polls show Americans are still mostly opposed to the idea of financial reparations for the descendants of slaves. With that in mind, we hear two differing viewpoints on that subject. Former Houstonian Joel Edward Goza explains why he changed his thinking about reparations and now thinks they are necessary for the country to move forward. He outlines why in his new book, Rebirth of a Nation: Reparations and Remaking America. Then, Reginald Bell, a professor at Prairie View A&M University, explains why he thinks reparations are a bad idea, which he outlined in a 2020 academic paper.Then, Texas Woman's University is the nation's largest university syst

On Wednesday's show: We discuss Mayor John Whitmire’s State of the City address. Then we learn about a lawsuit against a fertility clinic over in vitro fertilization.Also this hour: From the mayor's State of the City address, to a growing field in the race for Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, we discuss developments in local, state, and national politics, in our weekly roundup.We discuss the SCOPE Act, a new law that went into effect this month aimed at preventing Texas children from accessing certain content on social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook. With that Meta’s announcement that its establishing a more restricted version of Instagram for younger users, we discuss how to best protect kids on social media.And, ahead of an event with Performing Arts Houston on Thursday, we revisit a 2019 conversation with Jenna Bush Hager and her sister Barbara Pierce Bush. They’re the daughters of former President George W. Bush and the granddaughters of Houston’s own late former President Georg

On Tuesday's show: The Energy Transfer pipeline fire in La Porte near Deer Park has continued burning this morning, though it’s diminished. We get the very latest on the situation and discuss how it might be affecting air quality.And Houston Chronicle reporters outline a stark decline in high-speed police chases over the last year since HPD changed its policy on them.Also this hour: We learn about the University of Houston’s role in an effort to develop better, longer-lasting batteries, which is a crucial step towards a cleaner energy future.Then, we visit Brays Bayou to discuss maintaining and restoring vulnerable native plants there.And we learn about a new satire called The Hispanic/Latino/Latina/Latinx/Latine Vote, from Houston native playwright Bernardo Cubría, which is making its world premiere at Stages through Oct. 6.

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 Monday's show: Fall is supposed to begin on Sunday, but it sure doesn’t feel like it here. We learn why from Houston Chronicle meteorologist Justin Ballard.Also this hour: Author Mary Ellen Curtin reflects on the life and legacy of Barbara Jordan, the Houston native who was the first Black woman from the South to serve in Congress. Jordan is the subject of Curtin's new biography, She Changed the Nation.Then, we chat with Here & Now host Peter O’Dowd, who’s broadcasting from Houston Public Media next week.Plus, we get an update on some projects to desalinate water in Texas.And we recap Texans' win over the Bears in their home opener last night and get an update on the Astros from Bleav in Astros podcast co-host Jeff Balke.Audio from today's show will be available after 11 a.m. CT. We also offer a free podcast here, on iTunes, Stitcher and other apps.

On Friday's show: Houston's suburbs continue to boom while the population of the city itself has remained flat in recent years, according to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau. We take a closer look at what the numbers have to tell us about our region's growth.Also this hour: An area drive-in theater rolls its final credits. Our panel of “non-experts” weighs in on that story and The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.Then Houston-area film critic Joe Leydon remembers his favorite James Earl Jones films.And Prairie View A&M alum J.O. Malone, who founded Houston's National Black Film Festival, is trying his hand at supporting Black entrepreneurs with his venture BLCK Market.

On Thursday's show: The City of Houston appears likely to hike its tax rate, as it faces a budget shortfall and unexpected costs from multiple disasters. We learn more and find out what the increase might cost the average homeowner. And the council has delayed its push to require developers to build sidewalks or pay a fee for new construction.Also this hour: On the anniversary of President John F. Kennedy’s “moon shot” speech at Rice University, in which he challenged America’s scientific community to get to the moon and back, we ask you: what’s the next big “moon shot” that Greater Houston can achieve? What’s the one big challenge we should marshal our will, time, and resources to meeting? We welcome your suggestions at talk@houstonmatters.org.Then we learn about an area nonprofit that helps fund medical and mental health care services for Houston’s restaurant and bar workers. It’s called I’ll Have What She’s Having, and it’s holding a Rock & Roll Picnic on Sunday at the Last Concert Amphitheatre featuri

On Tuesday's show: We get the latest on what has become Hurricane Francine as the storm approaches the Louisiana coast and find out how related conditions might affect Galveston and the Greater Houston area.Also this hour: We recap the presidential debate and discuss other developments in local, state, and national politics in our weekly roundup.And we consider the future of physical retail space in Houston — where it works, where it doesn’t, and why.

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 Tuesday's show: As Tropical Storm Francine continues to travel up the Gulf Coast, we share the latest information on the storm, and what impact -- if any -- it might have on the Houston area.And, as we keep an eye on the storm, cleanup still continues from the last one. We get an update on the second round of Beryl debris removal.Also this hour: According to analysis of Census Bureau data, 21 percent of Houston’s population that's age 65 and older still works. That’s 192,000 Houstonians. Some choose to work longer, but others have no choice. We discuss how some seniors come to the conclusion about whether to retire and when.Then we check in with Houston First CEO Michael Heckman about efforts to promote Houston’s tourism and convention business. And we seek out any developments surrounding the operation of the George R. Brown Convention Center, Jones Hall, and the

On Monday's show: A disorganized system brewing in the Gulf of Mexico is on track to be named Tropical Storm Francine on Monday, according to the National Weather Service. Potential Tropical Cyclone Six is traveling up the gulf coast with maximum sustained winds at 50 miles per hour. The system could track just south of Houston by Wednesday. Meteorologist Eric Berger with Space City Weather updates us on the latest forecast.Then, we review how METRO’s priorities have changed in the months since a new board chair took over and what it means as the transit authority plans next year’s budget.Also this hour: Local restaurateurs discuss the economic impact climate change has on restaurants and chefs, ahead of a roundtable discussion on that subject organized by the James Beard Foundation on Wednesday.Then, Meg Tapp from the Garden Club of Houston answers questions about gardening.And we get an update on Houston sports from Jeff Balke.