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Houston Matters

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Houston Matters is a radio program airing weekdays at 9 am on Houston Public Media News 88.7 FM in Houston. During each hour, we’ll investigate the issues and ideas, people and places that make Houston…well…Houston! We’ll talk about current events, politics, education, health care, the environment, business, transportation, arts and culture, literature, sports and leisure. But we also hope that what we do each day on Houston Matters serves as the beginning of a conversation — one we hope you’ll continue here, at home, at work, with family, with friends and neighbors. We hope to introduce Houstonians to one another, to celebrate our diversity, and to engage one another through stories and conversations that demonstrate depth and context. Just the sort of thing you count on from public media.

Location:

Houston, TX

Genres:

News

Networks:

Houston PR

Description:

Houston Matters is a radio program airing weekdays at 9 am on Houston Public Media News 88.7 FM in Houston. During each hour, we’ll investigate the issues and ideas, people and places that make Houston…well…Houston! We’ll talk about current events, politics, education, health care, the environment, business, transportation, arts and culture, literature, sports and leisure. But we also hope that what we do each day on Houston Matters serves as the beginning of a conversation — one we hope you’ll continue here, at home, at work, with family, with friends and neighbors. We hope to introduce Houstonians to one another, to celebrate our diversity, and to engage one another through stories and conversations that demonstrate depth and context. Just the sort of thing you count on from public media.

Language:

English

Contact:

713-440-8870


Episodes

Opening Day for the Astros (March 28, 2024)

3/28/2024
On Thursday's show: It’s Opening Day. The Astros begin their 2024 regular season at home this afternoon against the New York Yankees. Are the 'Stros World Series contenders again? We preview the season with Jeff Balke, who co-hosts the Bleav in Astros podcast. Also this hour: The Houston Buffaloes adopting a kid. A Houston outfielder throwing in a ball from the ocean. Astros minor leaguers turning a triple play without ever touching the ball. Those are just some of the Houston stories featured in Tales from the Dugout, a collection of odd stories and anecdotes from the history of Minor League Baseball. We talk with its author, baseball broadcaster Tim Hagerty. Then, in this month's installment of The Bigger Picture, we look at how two recent films tackle tropes about Black characters and culture. And we learn about Drunk Shakespeare, which is just what it sounds like – actors performing Shakespeare’s works while inebriated. (Don’t try this at home, kids).

Duration:00:49:09

The week in politics (March 27, 2024)

3/27/2024
On Wednesday's show: From the deal struck by Attorney General Ken Paxton to avoid a trial and possible conviction for securities fraud, to the latest on former Pres. Trump's legal battles, we discuss recent developments in politics in our weekly roundup. Also this hour: We learn about the concept of greenwashing -- companies misleading the public about what they're doing to protect the environment -- and how to know when companies are doing it. And we hear another conversation from I See U with Eddie Robinson about Black artists in the world of country music as we meet Reyna Roberts.

Duration:00:49:25

Hydrogen’s role in the energy transition (March 26, 2024)

3/26/2024
On Tuesday's show: The energy transition is complicated and will require more than one solution to reduce carbon emissions. The Texas Tribune has published the first article in a series examining the role hydrogen might play in moving that transition forward. Also this hour: Space City is heavily involved in the Artemis missions, getting us back to the moon and then on to Mars. For some, it’s all about preparing for the day we put colonies on one or the other. But Kelly and Zach Weinersmith, the authors of the book A City on Mars, pump the brakes on that idea a bit. MORE: Kelly Weinersmith speaks at Rice Univ. April 2 Then, we meet the founders of a Houston record label aiming to elevate the voices of Black country artists. Their conversation is an excerpt from this week's edition of I See U with Eddie Robinson. And, we learn where and how to get a good view of the total solar eclipse on April 8.

Duration:00:48:38

Guidance for doctors on abortions (March 25, 2024)

3/25/2024
On Monday's show: The Texas Medical Board on Friday published what it sees as guidance for doctors about how to define what constitutes a medical exception under the state’s strict abortion ban. We learn what that guidance entails and some of the legal questions it raises. Also this hour: A recent report from Rice University examines cost and quality at Houston hospitals and found, among other things, there’s a wide range of costs for customers with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas depending on which hospital they go to for care. Then, columnist Dwight Silverman discusses some recent developments in consumer technology. And we discuss the University of Houston's overtime win against Texas A&M in the NCAA tournament. And dramatic off-field developments involving Shohei Ohtani and his now former translator once again raise the specter of how sports and gambling are more intertwined than ever. And will MLB investigate it as aggressively as it did the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal? We talk it over with Jeff Balke, who writes for Houston Press and co-hosts the Bleav in Astros podcast.

Duration:00:49:41

HISD reverses course on principal evaluations (March 22, 2024)

3/22/2024
On Friday's show: In a stunning reversal, mid-year proficiency screenings of Houston ISD principals will not be used to evaluate them this school year. That decision came after protests Thursday the annual State of the District event, hours of public comment from angry parents at last night’s HISD management board meeting, and hours more still of a closed session involving that state-appointed board and Superintendent Mike Miles, who then announced the change just after 2 a.m. Friday. News 88.7 reporter Dominic Anthony Walsh tells us what took place. Also this hour: We hear highlights from this week’s I See U interview with Tiffany Jewell, author of Everything I Learned About Racism I Learned in School. And, from a Katy woman illegally smuggling spider monkeys, to Blue Bell's new flavor inspired by St. Louis (what??), we discuss The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.

Duration:00:49:09

Power and reach of Harris County constables (March 21, 2024)

3/21/2024
On Thursday's show: A new investigation from the Houston Chronicle called Unchecked Forces examines the growing number and power of Harris County constables. We learn what their reporting found and why it matters. Also this hour: We meet Elizabeth Gonzalez Brock, the new board chair for Houston METRO, the agency that oversees public transit in Harris County. She's the first Hispanic woman to serve in that role. We discuss what she's focusing on in that position as METRO aims to increase ridership and improve the customer experience on buses and rail lines. Then, Ernie Manouse chats with Broadway legend Patti LuPone. The three-time Tony Award winner performs tonight at the Hobby Center. And writer Michael Arceneaux talks about writing and working through upheaval and grief -- along with his discontent with the trolls on social media. The Houston native has a new book of essays called I Finally Bought Some Jordans.

Duration:00:48:23

The week in politics (March 20, 2024)

3/20/2024
On Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup. Also this hour: Entomologist Erin Mills of the Houston Botanic Garden joins us to talk about insects and bugs. And, as interest in pickleball grows, so do dedicated courts around Greater Houston.

Duration:00:50:00

Outsourcing jail inmates (March 19, 2024)

3/19/2024
On Tuesday's show: Harris County is paying millions to outsource many of its inmates, sending hundreds of people to privately owned, out-of-state prisons — one of which is accredited by an organization with an “irreconcilable conflict of interest,” according to a congressional investigation. News 88.7's Lucio Vasquez explains how the county is "surrendering control" of its inmates to private prisons with questionable oversight. Also this hour: As the annual CERAWeek conference continues this week in Houston, S&P Global’s Daniel Yergin discusses the role mining may need to play in the global energy transition. Then, we learn how Houston researchers help patients with the rarest diseases find elusive medical answers. Plus: Some signs suggest our region is more consistently embracing renovation over demolition. And the latest installment of the Movies Houstonians Love series at the MFAH takes moviegoers back to the 1904 World’s Fair with Meet Me in St. Louis.

Duration:00:48:22

The state of oil and gas in Houston (March 18, 2024)

3/18/2024
On Monday's show: CERAWeek starts today. We preview the annual energy conference and listen back to a conversation with Stephanie Hertzog, CEO of Houston-based Sodexo Energy & Resources North America, about the role women play in the oil and gas industry’s “great crew change.” Also this hour: It’s Women’s History Month. We revisit our 2022 conversation with NASA's Jennifer Ross-Nazzal, author of the book Making Space for Women. Then, veterinarian Dr. Lori Teller answers your pet care questions. And we learn how the bracket shapes up for the UH Cougars as we preview the NCAA men's and women's basketball tournaments with the help of Jeff Balke.

Duration:00:49:45

Renting in Houston (March 15, 2024)

3/15/2024
On Friday's show: How often do court-appointed defense attorneys in Harris County visit their clients who are facing the death penalty? We learn more about a new report and what it says about the criminal justice system. And we get the latest on some off-and-on stormy weather expected Friday and through the weekend in and around the Houston area. Also this hour: Amid rising prices over the past few years, how are Houston's renters doing? And, from artists dropping out of SXSW in protest of certain event sponsors, to universities once again requiring students to submit SAT and ACT scores for admission, we break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.

Duration:00:48:17

Flood and heat mitigation funding (March 14, 2024)

3/14/2024
On Friday's show: Houston is set to receive $43 million from the Department of Transportation for flood and heat mitigation, pedestrian safety, and green space. We'll learn what those improvements will look like from Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher, and discuss the value of new tree canopies with Barry Ward from Trees for Houston. Also this hour: Ahead of St. Patrick's Day, we revisit a conversation about Irish-Americans in Houston. Then, following a PBS Frontline win at the Academy Awards for 20 Days in Mariupol, we'll listen back to conversations about previous Frontline documentaries with Houston connections. And we meet the founder of Hopera, a company of singers that performs opera at local craft breweries.

Duration:00:49:13

Our future with coronaviruses (March 13, 2024)

3/13/2024
On Wednesday's show: Nancy Sims joins us to discuss local, state, and national politics. Also this hour: It's been four years since the COVID pandemic started--we talk with Dr. Peter Hotez about where we are today and what's in store for the future. Then, Troy Schulze talks with some of the folks behind this year's FotoFest Biennial festival.

Duration:00:49:27

Environmental news in Texas (March 12, 2024)

3/12/2024
On Tuesday's show: We talk with Jennifer Hadayia from Air Alliance Houston about a number of developments in environmental news, from highway projects and emissions to new federal standards and lawsuits from the state. Also this hour: Reporter Roxanna Asgarian shares what her book We Were Once a Family reveals about inequities in the child welfare system. Then, allergist Dr. Dat Tran joins us to answer questions about getting allergy relief. And we go behind the scenes of a new concert series at the University of Houston-Downtown.

Duration:00:48:53

The RNC spring meeting (March 11, 2024)

3/11/2024
On Monday's show: NPR's Franco Ordoñez joins us to discuss the Republican National Convention's spring meeting in Houston that took place on Friday. Also this hour: After losing an hour of sleep from Daylight Saving Time, we talk about how to get back on proper rest with sleep expert Kristin Eckel-Mahan. Then, we answer your gardening questions with Meg Tapp from the Garden Club of Houston. And the NFL free agency period starts today. We'll talk with Jeff Balke about what moves the Houston Texans might consider.

Duration:00:48:54

The State of the Union (March 8, 2024)

3/8/2024
On Friday's show: We discuss President Biden's State of the Union address and any implications for Texas with Texas Southern University professor Michael O. Adams. Also this hour: We revisit a conversation with death row exoneree Anthony Charles Graves from I SEE U. Then, the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of the week's news, including an investigation into the Houston Police Department, and a Texas land swap with SpaceX. And Ernie Manouse talks with the local author of a book about Academy Award winner Hattie McDaniel.

Duration:00:49:08

HISD teacher pay (March 7, 2024)

3/7/2024
On Thursday's show: HISD announced it will increase teachers' hourly pay as part of 2024-2025 compensation plan, which would take effect July 1 if approved by the board. However, reporter Dominic Anthony Walsh explains why the plan might not actually be the raise it seems. Also this hour: We discuss how civic engagement has changed over the years – how much harder it is to actually get people from opposite sides of the political spectrum to engage with one another, how social media and cable news bubbles have created entirely separate worlds for the most partisan, and whether there’s a way to put that genie back in the bottle. Then, we discuss how researchers and scientists are contemplating the use of AI, particularly as it starts to fall in the hands of consumers. And, from the 1970s to the early 2000s, some radio stations were doing things a little bit differently – including here in Houston. The new documentary Runaway Radio tells the story of KLOL-FM, an iconic rock station – and a different time in radio.

Duration:00:49:30

Primary election analysis (March 6, 2024)

3/6/2024
On Wednesday's show: We learn the results of primary election day in Texas, and our political analysts discuss what it all means -- along with all the other developments in politics -- in our weekly roundup. Also this hour: Food writers talk about their favorite places to eat in Montrose and Midtown in this month's installment of The Full Menu. And what if Harpo Marx and Salvador Dalí made a screenplay? Well, they did. The movie never got made, but we learn how a graphic novel by a Houston native brings it to life in a colorful way.

Duration:00:47:00

Primary day in Texas (March 5, 2024)

3/5/2024
On Tuesday's show: Today is primary election day in Texas. We check in with the Harris County Clerk and learn how redistricting is causing back-and-forth shifts in political power in Houston's suburbs. Also this hour: Slightly fewer folks have attended the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo so far this year. Is it a temporary hiccup, or is a post-pandemic attendance bump over? We discuss with rodeo president and CEO Chris Boleman. Then: It’s tax season! We find out what’s new this year and welcome your tax questions for CPA Jason Sharp, tax partner with Crowe, LLP. Send your questions now to talk@houstonmatters.org. And we visit Rec Room Arts to learn how what is billed as Houston’s smallest theater brings shows to life in a such a cozy venue.

Duration:00:49:07

Houston pet peeves (March 4, 2024)

3/4/2024
On Monday's show: A federal judge has temporarily blocked a Texas law that would have allowed local police to arrest people suspected of being in the state illegally and created a state deportation force. We learn the latest in the battle over Senate Bill 4. Also this hour: We offer Houstonians their monthly opportunity to vent about their pet peeves. And we talk about the new seasons for the Dash and the Dynamo and some major soccer tournaments with matches in Houston recently.

Duration:00:48:52

Lessons from the lunar lander (March 1, 2024)

3/1/2024
On Friday's show: As the Houston-built Odysseus lunar lander goes dark, we reflect on what went right during the mission, what went wrong, and what it means for future space missions with Eric Berger of Ars Technica. Also this hour: From a big day for renewable energy in Texas, to Houston now being home to the oldest person in America, we break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week. Then, with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo underway, we learn about the history of Black rodeos and Black cowboys in Texas. And we talk about the phenomenon of translating popular movies into musicals as Beetlejuice the Musical comes to The Hobby Center March 5-10.

Duration:00:49:00