Houston Matters

On Friday's show: We discuss how the new Trump administration and new policies on immigration enforcement might affect children and families, especially here in Houston. Also this hour: After this week's snow, should we consider investing in other infrastructure to better handle future winter weather? Or is that the wisest approach for events that aren’t supposed to occur very often here? Then, from a "once in a generation" snow storm, to a Trump Burger location coming to Houston, we break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week. And we talk with Marty York, one of the actors who was in the 1993 movie The Sandlot as its anniversary tour comes to town Saturday night.

On Thursday's show: We learn about proposed state budgets being presented at the legislature. Also this hour: Pres. Donald Trump signed an executive order this week to keep TikTok operating in the United States for 75 days. The debate over the platform has underscored a disconnect between the people who use it and the people who develop policy about it. Is it all about speech versus safety or is there something else at play here? Then, the new film The Brutalist follows an architect who emigrates to the United States and faces both challenges and opportunities in a new country that’s not always very welcoming. On this month’s edition of The Bigger Picture, we talk about the film and then meet a local success story from Houston’s immigrant community. And, ahead of a show tonight at Cullen Performance Hall, Drew Lynch talks about overcoming a stutter by taking up standup comedy.

On Wednesday's show: Roads remain icy, and extreme cold continues across Greater Houston. On the second day of the winter storm. We bring you the latest forecast, road conditions, and an update on Houston airports. We also discuss how our elected leadership has handled this week’s storm and recap a busy first 48 hours for the new Trump White House in this week’s political roundup.

On Tuesday's show: Snow is falling and piling up around Greater Houston, and as long as the power stays on and you can stay inside it is indeed a winter wonderland in the Bayou City. We talk with a meteorologist to find out how much snow we may still get, how long it will be here, and what you should and should not do in the meantime. We also check in on road conditions with TxDOT, find out when Houston’s airports hope to re-open, and discuss how to make sure your pets safely enjoy the snow.

On Friday's show: Wintry weather may be headed our way early next week. Just exactly what, how much, and when is still a bit up in the air. We learn the latest from meteorologist Eric Berger from Space City Weather. And we learn about security measures planned for this weekend's Chevron Houston Marathon. Also this hour: With a new session of the Texas Legislature underway, what might happen to improve the state's power grid? Then, from the possibility of wintery weather next week, to potential renovations at NRG Center including an NHL regulation ice rink, we discuss The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.

On Thursday's show: As the legislature kicks off this week, we get a sense of what some of the City of Houston's priorities are to achieve with lawmakers from reporter Dominic Anthony Walsh. Also this hour: Gov. Greg Abbott recently appointed Justice Jimmy Blacklock to serve as the new chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court. We learn what we should know about the conservative ally of the governor from Charles “Rocky” Rhodes of South Texas College of Law Houston. Then we learn how a local business is working to help people who’ve begun gender-affirming care to adjust to their physical changes and navigate the medical system. And the classical world has long been dominated by male composers. We chat with conductor and pianist Mary Box, executive director of Montrose Project, which is dedicated to helping increase the visibility of orchestral music composed by women.

On Wednesday's show: We recap the start of the Texas Legislative session, discuss Trump cabinet confirmation hearings, and other developments in political in our regular Wednesday roundup. Also this hour: The COVID 19 pandemic revealed the size of America's digital divide -- the gap between people who can access and use digital technology and those who can't. In the years since, have we managed to bridge that gap in Houston? And we revisit a recent conversation about a new book examining 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. A discussion of the book and a screening of a related documentary will be held on Saturday at the Lone Star Flight Museum.

On Tuesday's show: As the Texas Legislature gavels back into session today, News 88.7's Natalie Weber tells us what legislation elected officials in Fort Bend County are hoping to get passed. Also this hour: Singer/songwriter Ani DiFranco made a name for herself doing things her own way -- launching her own music label, producing and mixing her own music, and championing messages and causes that weren't always popular or conventional when she was making a name for herself in the 1990s. So, it's fitting that a new documentary screening in Houston tonight is called 1-800-ON-HER-OWN. DiFranco talks about the documentary, her musical journey, and about not doing everything on her own anymore ahead of a concert at House of Blues on Friday. Then, we reflect on the life and career of one-time Lt. Gov. Bill Hobby, the namesake of the University of Houston’s Hobby School of Public Affairs. We talk with authors Don Carleton and Erin Purdy about their biography, Bill Hobby: A Life in Journalism and Public Service. And here in Space City we know well that discovery comes not just from sending astronauts into space but by developing ever-more powerful telescopes. Case in point: images from the James Webb Space Telescope now offer us a look at some individual stars in a galaxy more than six billion light years from Earth. That’s billion with a B! We learn more and revisit a 2022 conversation with one of the folks behind the Webb Telescope at NASA.

On Monday's show: The 89th regular session of the Texas Legislature begins tomorrow. We preview some of the issues and bills that will take center stage. Also this hour: The AOL/Time Warner merger 25 years ago was huge news then. And it didn’t work. We discuss mergers past and present in the Houston area and why some work and some don’t. Then, Meg Tapp from the Garden Club of Houston answers listeners' gardening questions. And Jeff Balke recaps the Texans' playoff game against the Chargers.

On Friday's show: The Houston Chronicle reported this that Gov. Greg Abbott is exploring a plan to buy Houston’s excess water and send it to communities in West Texas that are facing dwindling aquifers after years of largely unrestricted drilling there. We discuss the idea and how it might affect the watersheds here. Also this hour: Screenings of the new documentary My Mama Joe, Hope & Help will take place tonight and Saturday at The DeLuxe Theater. The film tells the story of a Houston community leader who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s dementia and experienced disparities in the health care system. We talk with her son, who directed the film about his mother and her struggles. Then, from President-elect Donald Trump saying he plans to rename the Gulf of Mexico, to Longhorns fans being concerned about the "Cruz Curse" affecting the outcome of the Cotton Bowl, our non-experts discuss The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week's news. And we get to know jazz singer Vanisha Gould ahead of her performances this weekend at Houston's Eldorado Ballroom.

On Wednesday's show: With Donald Trump's second inauguration less than two weeks away and another session of the Texas Legislature just days away, we preview the early days of the second Trump administration and the 89th Texas Legislature as we 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 discuss their favorite places to get crawfish and other Cajun and Creole dishes. And we revisit the story of the time Russian leader Boris Yeltsin visited a Houston grocery store and the role it played in in ending communism.

On Tuesday's show: Inauguration Day is less than two weeks away, and with the incoming administration of Donald Trump come more questions about changes to immigration policy and possible deportations. We get some perspective on how Houstonians are preparing for an uncertain future. Also this hour: We discuss how to make arts and culture venues more accessible for the disabled. Then, our own Craig Cohen is the featured guest in the MFAH’s next installment of Movies Houstonians Love. He’s presenting a film he's probably seen a few too many times -- The Muppet Movie, which will screen this Saturday at 7 p.m. And Houston is one of six cities that will have a team in a new women's indoor professional volleyball league that begins play this week.

On Monday's show: Houstonians woke up to freezing temperatures this morning but little to no precipitation. Eric Berger of Space City Weather tells us how the winter weather played out across the region. Also this hour: We learn how poverty is affecting many in Greater Houston these days from Catholic Charities of the Houston-Galveston Archdiocese. Then, we offer Houstonians a chance to vent about their pet peeves about life in our city. And we recap the Texans game against the Titans to wrap up the regular season and preview the first round of the playoffs.

On Friday's show: Some cold weather is headed to Greater Houston late Sunday night into early Monday. We get details from Houston Chronicle meteorologist Justin Ballard. Also this hour: We welcome your questions about sleep and sleep disorders for Houston sleep expert Dr. Sudha Tallavajhula. And we reflect on The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of 2024.

On Thursday's show: A Houston Army veteran is the suspect in a bloody New Year's Day attack in New Orleans that killed at least 15 people and injured 30 more. We get the latest updates on this evolving story. Also this hour: As 2025 begins, we take a look at the year ahead and how Houstonians could be affected by far-reaching proposed changes in economic and immigration policy of the incoming Trump administration. And we learn about a new opera adaption of West Side Story from Houston Grand Opera.

On Friday's show: Since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976, Texas has led the nation in the number of executions carried out. But in recent years, those numbers have dwindled. We learn what a new report from the Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty shows about trends surrounding capital punishment in Texas. And News 88.7’s Patricia Ortiz shares the story of a family separated at the border and why at least two American citizens are, for the moment, on the other side. Also this hour: We reflect on the 25th anniversary of the Y2K scare and what lessons we learned from an apocalyptic scare that wasn't. Then, from news that heat-related illnesses are rising in Harris County, to Charlotte’s NBA team stepping into a proverbial “Hornets” nest with a PR gaffe involving a kid and a PlayStation 5, we discuss The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week. And Houstonians share some of the holiday songs that are meaningful to them as we revisit a 2020 edition of our Houston Matters Mixtape.

On Thursday's show: The death of a teen killed while crossing train tracks on his way to Milby High School has reignited calls for accountability and oversight of Union Pacific. The country’s largest rail company has now announced it will limit train operations near the school during traditional drop off and pickup hours. Also this hour: In this month's installment of The Bigger Picture, we reflect on Christmas movies over the years and what they say about America at the time they came out. And we ride The Polar Express train ride in Galveston.

On Wednesday's show: We reflect on the wild, intriguing year in politics that was 2024 in our weekly roundup. Also this hour: The holidays bring families across the country together, and loved ones who haven’t been able to spend time together can catch up and create new memories. But in those moments, that also means warning signs of neglect or changes in health in our elders can become more evident. So, how can you and your family watch out for signs of physical or cognitive decline while still respecting the people you care about? And it’s the time of year when many Houstonians make, eat, and share tamales. We talk about the many different types of tamales and the role they play in many holiday traditions.

On Tuesday's show: Two teenagers were killed and four others were injured over the weekend when someone reportedly shot a pistol into a crowd at a pop-up party in northeast Houston. We discuss what are essentially unsanctioned clubs operating in abandoned or unused buildings with Houston City Council Member Mario Castillo, who represents District H where this incident occurred. Also this hour: Living in a big, busy metropolitan area like Greater Houston is bound to test your patience. How can we all do better at being more patient with everything and everyone around us? And we revisit a conversation with Peter Sagal, host of NPR's Wait, Wait…Don’t Tell Me!

On Monday's show: Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo fired back at Houston Mayor John Whitmire over comments about her mental health and political future. We recap what they’ve each said in recent days and why. Also this hour: After the shooting of a health care company executive in New York, Americans have shared many examples over the last week of health insurance claim denials. We learn about what leads to those denials, how the claims process works, and what resources exist for Houstonians to navigate that world. Then, we catch up with comedian and Houston native Sheng Wang ahead of a Dec. 28 performance at Bayou Music Center. And we get an update on Houston sports from Jeff Balke.