Houston Matters

On Friday's show: We discuss the long-term effects of COVID-19 five years after the beginning of the pandemic. Also this hour: Hockey Day in Houston is on Saturday, and we'll talk with one of the organizers of that as well as a former player. Then, our non-expert panel discusses the good, the bad, and the ugly of the week's news. And Laura Walker previews a new comedy whodunnit by a local playwright.

On Thursday's show: At-Large City Council Member Letitia Plummer talks about efforts to address cancer concerns in Houston's Fifth Ward. Also this hour: David Brancaccio from the Marketplace Morning Report joins us to talk about reporting from the Houston Rodeo. Then, we consider parallels between Elon Musk heading up DOGE (The Department of Government Efficiency) and Houstonian Jesse Jones' non-elected role in alleviating the Great Depression. And we learn all about the new edition of the Official Guide to Texas State Parks & Historic Sites.

On Wednesday's show: The Texas House is debating private school vouchers while the U.S. House votes on a budget. We discuss those and other developments in politics in our weekly roundup. Also this hour: CERAWeek, one of the most important annual conferences for the energy industry, is happening now in Houston, bringing in executives, foreign ministers, top officials, and more than 10,000 participants to discuss energy strategies in a time of climate change and political upheaval. We learn how Houston is more than just the host of this major event. And what constitutes the perfect Houston sandwich? Where do you go for the Bayou City’s best bread, meats, cheeses, veggies, and sauces? We begin a month-long quest to create the ultimate Houston sandwich.

On Tuesday's show: A new statewide health care poll finds nearly two thirds of Texans are skipping or postponing care because it costs too much. We discuss that and other findings from the Episcopal Health Foundation’s annual poll on health care access and affordability. Also this hour: Does Houston get snubbed? We certainly host our share of big events, but when it comes to popular culture -- films, television, concerts -- why is Houston sometimes bypassed? We revisit our conversation about that subject from last year. Then, author Clint Smith talks about how Hurricane Katrina forced him to relocate from his home in New Orleans to Houston and how that experience shaped him as a writer. And he talks about his award-winning book, How the Word Is Passed, which examined historical sites across the country and how they do -- and often do not -- reckon with our nation's history of slavery. Smith speaks in Houston March 18 at a fundraising event for The Jung Center of Houston. And we talk with comedian Russell Howard ahead of his March 18 show in Houston.

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: Ahead of an appearance at Space Center Houston to premiere his film The Moonwalkers, we discuss all things space with actor, producer, director, and aerospace advocate Tom Hanks. Also this hour: We get some updates on developments in the city of Houston, including Mayor John Whitmire's plans for a hiring freeze as the city faces a more than $330 million budget deficit and plans for a 700,000-square foot expansion of the George R. Brown Convention Center. Then, Meg Tapp from The Garden Club of Houston answers gardening questions, which you can send yours to talk@houstonmatters.org. And we get an update on Houston sports Jeff Balke, co-host of the Bleav in Astros podcast. 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: We preview the Theater District Open House, which returns on March 10 for the first time since 2019. The event is an opportunity for arts enthusiasts to learn more about the city's theaters and arts organizations and to preview their upcoming seasons. Also this hour: From layoffs at Sesame Street, to Lt. Governor Dan Patrick wanting to rename the New York strip, we discuss The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week. Then, a new documentary short highlights the resilience of Houston's Asian-American community during a period of anti-immigrant fervor. We talk with actor Nik Dodani, the director of Houston Rising. And we visit the final event of Doomsday Wrestling, a comedy wrestling show which held its last matches recently after the death of its creator.

On Thursday's show: Local leaders share their memories of working with Sylvester Turner, who passed away at age 70. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo reflects on navigating several crises in the region, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, alongside the former mayor. And Rep. Lizzie Fletcher talks about his leadership and his brief term serving alongside her in Congress. Also this hour: We learn about FLATS, a roaming photography exhibit that's held in homes around Houston that also operates a community darkroom and photo lab. Then, food writers talk about some of their favorite places to grab a quick breakfast in Houston in this month's installment of The Full Menu. And we meet a competitive sign spinner who's participating in the 18th annual World Sign-Spinning Championship in Las Vegas. VIDEO: Competitive Sign Spinning: It's a Real Thing. 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 Wednesday's show: We reflect on the life and legacy of former Houston Mayor and Congressman Sylvester Turner, who passed away at age 70. We also get reactions to President Trump’s address before a joint session of Congress and discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup. And we talk with Houston musician Ben Chavez about his concept album Last Day, County Fair. It draws inspiration from his own life, following a young man coming to terms with his queer identity in a town where he feels misunderstood. He performs music from the album on March 6 and 7 at the Wortham Center.

On Tuesday's show: Stormy weather is headed our way this morning. We get the latest details from Houston Chronicle meteorologist Justin Ballard. Also this hour: While DEI programs may be on the decline, that doesn’t mean businesses aren't interested in a diverse workforce. We consider how they can accomplish that. And a pair of lunar landers from Texas are in space right now. One landed on the moon over the weekend, and a second is slated to land Thursday. That one, called Athena, is from the Houston-based aerospace company Intuitive Machines, which welcomed longtime NASA chief flight director Gene Kranz to its mission control last weekend. We revisit our 2023 conversation with him about the lessons he learned from the Apollo missions.

On Monday's show: Following Friday's "economic blackout," we consider whether boycotts of this nature work as intended. Also this hour: We offer Houstonians a chance to vent about their pet peeves about life in our city. And we talk about the Houston Rockets as they're set to face one of the best, and one of the worst, teams in their conference this week.

On Friday's show: Infectious diseases expert Dr. Peter Hotez discusses the ongoing measles outbreak in Texas. Also this hour: We consider name changes, particularly those related to controversial historical figures, and how much they really matter. Then, we break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week. And the story of former Texas death row inmate John Henry Ramirez is told in the documentary short, I Am Ready, Warden, which is up for an Academy Award this Sunday. The Houston attorney who won his case before the U.S. Supreme Court tells the story of the legal battle for Ramirez’s religious rights.

On Thursday's show: We learn about recent actions taken by Houston City Council, including creation of the Office of Recovery and Resilience and a fund for homelessness. We also discuss a new METRO initiative focused on cleanliness, safety, and ridership. Also this hour: The Houston-Galveston Area Council is seeking comments from the public about where to spend money to improve traffic and safety along the Washington Avenue corridor. A long stretch of the street is seen as part of the city’s “High Injury Network.” In other words, there are not a lot of good, safe pedestrian crossings. We learn more about the project. Then, the classic 1980s teen drama The Breakfast Club turns 40 this month. In the latest installment of The Bigger Picture, we look back at the movie and consider ways education and the high school experience have changed since then. And an ardent fan remembers Selena on the 30th anniversary of her last major concert at the Astrodome in 1995.

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 Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup. Also this hour: We revisit our 2016 conversation with retired U.S. Secret Service agent Clint Hill, who served five U.S. Presidents and was in Dallas when John F. Kennedy was killed in 1963. He’s the agent who famously leapt onto the back of the presidential limousine and shielded First Lady Jackie Kennedy as the car raced to Parkland Hospital. In the conversation, he also recalls what happened the night before here in Houston. Hill died on Friday. And filmmaker and Houston native Li Lu talks about the new film screening series she's launching called HTX MADE, which is hosting its first event Friday -- a screening of the documentary, The Strike. 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 Tuesday's show: Measles alerts have been issued in San Antonio, New Braunfels, and San Marcos as an outbreak spreads across portions of Texas and other states. We talk with epidemiologist Dr. Catherine Troisi of UTHealth about the prospects of cases in Houston and who’s at risk. Also this hour: As more Houston businesses dial back remote and hybrid work, what other benefits might entice good workers to stay? We learn about some of the latest employee benefit trends. Then, we discuss whether school vouchers shifting funds from public schools to private ones might ultimately impact teacher pensions. And we reflect on the music of Houston-based ska band Los Skarnales, who play Friday night at The Heights Theater.

On Monday's show: The Texas House has its own version of a school vouchers bill that would tie the value of education savings accounts to public school funding. We learn how it would work differently than a plan in the Senate and how the two houses might work out conflicts between them. Also this hour: Three years into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, how does it all end, and what does it mean for Houstonians? We ask a pair of local foreign policy experts. Then, Apple has announced plans to build an AI server manufacturing facility here in Houston. Columnist Dwight Silverman explains what the facility will be doing and updates us on other developments in consumer technology. And the Astros got their first look at the automated ball/strike system as Major League Baseball tests out a new challenging system in spring training. Jeff Balke lets us know how it went.

On Friday's show: The union that represents more than 5,200 officers in the Houston Police Department is seeking higher salaries, improved benefits and the recruitment of more officers as it negotiates a new contract with the city. Also this hour: Could converting old office buildings downtown into cohousing living offer an answer for cash-strapped Houstonians? We learn about a recent report examining the concept, and we visit CoHousing Houston, a similar concept being built in Houston's East End. Then, from KFC moving its national headquarters from Kentucky to Texas, to the NFL rescinding Joe Mixon's fine for things he never said criticizing officials, to a kayaker briefly ending up inside a whale's mouth, we discuss The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.

On Thursday's show: The race to be the next top official in Fort Bend County is heating up -- even though the election is almost two years away. Our Fort Bend County bureau reporter Natalie Weber walks us through that and other recent developments in the county. Also this hour: Houston recently hosted the U.S. premiere of The Moonwalkers: A Journey with Tom Hanks, a film about humanity’s past journeys to the moon. We learn about the film and experience, which is ongoing at Space Center Houston. Then, we learn about the world of collecting space memorabilia from Houstonian Robert Pearlman, one of the foremost authorities on space-related collectibles, who runs the website collectSPACE. And we go behind the scenes of this month’s Brickfest Houston, which celebrated all things Lego.

On Wednesday's show: Despite reports citing multiple agency sources, widely expected NASA layoffs did not occur. The agency may still see some "probationary" civil servants let go and that reprieve may still be temporary. We discuss that news and the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup. Also this hour: You hear a lot about lawsuits in the news. Maybe you’ve been party to one or two. But then again, maybe you haven’t. We ask a couple of area lawyers how the process of suing works. And, on the heels of Saturday Night Live’s 50th anniversary celebration this past weekend, we revisit a 2020 conversation with longtime cast member Nora Dunn.

On Tuesday's show: Don’t be fooled by today’s high. Winter isn’t over for the Houston area just yet. Houston Chronicle meteorologist Justin Ballard shares the latest on cold weather headed to Houston in the coming days. And we learn why HISD is joining a nationwide movement among school districts to take legal action against social media companies. Also this hour: Food additives -- dyes in particular -- are coming under a lot of scrutiny these days when it comes to children's nutrition. We consider why and what parents should know. And we talk with prolific voice actor Troy Baker, who was in town recently to take part in the AnimeVerse Fest.

On Monday's show: We learn how hospital facility fees are helping to drive up health care costs from Julian Gill, an investigative reporter with the Houston Chronicle. Also this hour: With rising tensions with Canada recently, we examine Houston's relationship with Canadian industry, notably energy companies. Then, veterinarian Dr. Lori Teller answers questions about pet health. And spring training is beginning for the Astros. We look at the season ahead with Jeff Balke.