Houston Matters

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.

On Friday's show: Houston is home to a lot of above-ground pipelines. So, you might be surprised by how limited regulations are surrounding their protection. Alison Young of Houston Landing discusses how September’s deadly Energy Transfer accident and fire in Deer Park was only the most high-profile of accidents involving vehicles crashing into pipelines. Also this hour: With the holiday shopping season in full force, has consumerism become too rampant these days? We talk it over and explore how we can avoid letting consumerism get the better of us during the holidays. Then, from Beyoncé's Grammy-nominated album Cowboy Carter inspiring a new history class at UH, to Cruise possibly getting out of the driverless car game in Houston, our non-experts discuss The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week. And a new production at Stages Houston takes on the story of Pinocchio with a modern twist.

On Thursday's show: What will 2025 hold for Houston's economy? Patrick Jankowski of the Greater Houston Partnership shares his annual economic outlook. Also this hour: We get the latest on efforts to address the problem of children having to cross railroad tracks to get to school after an HISD student was killed doing so this week. Then, the Bayou City’s vibrant restaurant scene has built up over the years in no small part due to the rise of a generation of talented area chefs. Many of them have spent years in kitchens developing their craft and learning it at area schools, including the recently closed culinary school at The Art Institute of Houston. We revisit a conversation with one of the school’s alumni, Chef Ryan Lachaine, the co-owner and executive chef of Riel. And with the news earlier this week that renowned poet Nikki Giovanni has died, we revisit a 2022 conversation with her when she was serving as a writer in residence at Prairie View A&M University.

On Wednesday's show: From the news that Tilman Fertitta could become the next ambassador to Italy, to a judge throwing out The Onion’s purchase of Infowars, we discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup. Also this hour: The social media landscape has been changing lately as folks shift to and from X, BlueSky, Mastodon, Threads, and so on. Have we reached social media platform overload? How do the messages we receive vary in subject matter, tone, and intention, depending on the platform we use? And is any of this good for us? We talk it over. And it’s a time of year when people are making and eating more pies than they might the rest of the year. Chef Carl Walker of Brennan's of Houston walks us through how to make a perfect pie crust and explains how serving in the Marine Corps turned him into a baking enthusiast.

On Tuesday's show: Houston City Council is considering potential regulations for short-term rentals like Airbnb and Vrbo. News 88.7 reporter Dominic Anthony Walsh explains what they're discussing. Also this hour: The Texans’ Aziz Al-Shaair has been suspended three games for his blow to the head of sliding quarterback Trevor Lawrence. It came the same week a new study was released finding longer ice hockey careers may increase the risks of developing CTE. Some point to the need for better athletic equipment (improvements in helmets, for instance) as a way to reduce those risks. Others believe the more equipment, the more likely athletes are to hit harder. We discuss that debate and whether better protective equipment, better rules, or changes in attitudes towards contact sports can really yield fewer injuries. Then, the family of Austin Tice, a Houston journalist and U.S. Marine Corps veteran kidnapped in Syria more than a dozen years ago, is making a fresh push with the Biden administration to secure his freedom. The Tices planned to go to the White House on Friday to meet with the National Security Council. In light of developments in Syria and how they might affect this story, we revisit a 2014 conversation with Tice’s parents, Marc and Debra. And Americana singer Robert Earl Keen brings his annual Christmas show to House of Blues on Dec. 19. We listen back to a 2014 conversation with him about his holiday shows and his foray into bluegrass.

On Monday's show: A year-long saga involving a former Superintendent at Fort Bend ISD appears headed to court. We learn why Dr. Christie Whitbeck is suing members of the district board. Also this hour: We discuss the growing challenge -- and expense -- of getting homeowners insurance in Greater Houston. Then Carol Burton from Urban Harvest answers questions about gardening. And we discuss the Rockets' recent struggles on the road and get an update on Houston sports from Jeff Balke, how writes for Houston Press and co-hosts the Bleav in Astros podcast.

On Friday's show: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said he'll press for a statewide ban on sales of all consumable THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) products in the 2025 legislative session. We learn more about what Patrick has deemed one of his top priorities for the regular session. Also this hour: How challenging is it to live in a big, noisy city when you're dealing with hearing loss? Then, from the return of Enron (sort of), to more driverless cars hitting Houston streets, our non-experts discuss The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week. And Dickens on the Strand, Galveston Island’s annual Victorian-themed holiday street festival, returns this weekend. We revisit a conversation from last year about the festival’s history and chat with the great-great-great grandson of Charles Dickens.

On Thursday's show: We get updates on some stories related to Houston city government, including the city retaining the ability to invest public funds in Israeli bonds after the city council did not take up an amendment to change the city's investment policy. Also this hour: TxDOT wants to continue to oversee its own compliance with environmental policy, and critics say this gives them unchecked authority to approve unpopular projects. We get some perspective on the matter. Then, we visit an exhibit on the Karankawa tribe in Texas. At the request of the tribe, the artifacts in the exhibit are not actual historical items -- they are recreations. What are the pros and cons of developing exhibits using such recreated artifacts? And we talk with artist Vincent Valdez, who's doing a takeover of the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston where his collection of paintings about American history will be on display.

On Wednesday's show: We get reaction to President Joe Biden pardoning his son, President-elect Donald Trump’s plans for the FBI, and other developments in politics in our weekly roundup. Also this hour: In this month's installment of The Full Menu, food writers discuss some of their favorite new restaurants that have opened in the past year. And there are many different ways we all experience the holiday season, depending on what’s going on in our lives. A new play illustrates some of them. We learn about Twelve Ways of Christmas at the Ensemble Theatre.

On Tuesday's show: Everyone wants our money right now. Black Friday gives way to Small Business Saturday, which gives way to Cyber Monday and Giving Tuesday. Barbara Stewart from the University of Houston joins us to examine how those major events in the retail calendar went this year and how Americans' shopping habits are changing of late. Also this hour: The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) provided $1.9 trillion in stimulus for the nation as we tried to dig out from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Among those funds were billions of dollars that assisted municipal governments, colleges and universities, health systems, and other entities. Now that those funds are coming to an end, how will Greater Houston feel the effects? And how might other sources of funding fill in the gap? Then, sex and intimacy are not always easy subjects to talk about. But Emily Jamea happened to grow up in a home where it wasn’t taboo and now works as a sex and relationship therapist here in Houston. She talks about that work and her book, Anatomy of Desire. And, ahead of a performance in Houston next week, we revisit a conversation with musician Ben Folds about bringing piano to the Grunge era in the 90s and working with orchestras today.

On Monday's show: An investigative series from ProPublica called The Life of the Mother examines how abortion bans after the overturn of Roe v. Wade have led to preventable deaths. Also this hour: We offer listeners their monthly chance to vent their pet peeves about life in Greater Houston. You can share yours now at talk@houstonmatters.org. And the Texans held on to beat Jacksonville Sunday, but most people weren't talking about the win. Jeff Balke discusses the controversial hit by Texans defender Azeez Al-Shaair.

On Wednesday's show: President-elect Donald Trump is threatening Canada and Mexico with tariffs, and the State of Texas is identifying property to make available to the incoming Trump administration to use for potential mass deportations. We discuss those and other developments in politics in our weekly roundup. Also this hour: In this month's installment of The Bigger Picture, we examine the themes and questions about religion explored in the film Heretic. And Archaeology Now Houston recently recreated how medieval Europeans many centuries ago would've celebrated the Feast of Saint Martin, or Martinmas, a holiday meal that would've been on par with Thanksgiving in America. We visit their feast, which was held in a historic barn outside Katy.

On Tuesday's show: Once a year, in the days leading up to Thanksgiving, the Houston Matters team gives thanks to you for listening and supporting this program and to each other for the work we’ve done this year. Today, the tradition continues as we revisit interviews and segments from the past year that members of the team found especially enjoyable. That includes conversations with actors George Takei and Joe Pantoliano. Plus, we get a history lesson about Pullman Porters, we learn about a short film that tries to encapsulate all that is Houston in about four minutes, and we head to Crumbville, TX Bakery, a business Project Row Houses helped get started.

On Monday's show: Some 80 million Americans are expected to travel this week. Whether you’re driving or flying in and out of Houston, we have all you need to know before you go as we check in with Jim Szczesniak, director of aviation for the Houston Airport System. Also this hour: On what’s traditionally the biggest travel week of the year, we welcome your questions and comments about the rules of the road for local law enforcement. Whatever you want to know about how we’re actually supposed to drive here in Houston and across Texas is welcome. Then, we discuss tech gift options for the upcoming holiday season in our monthly conversation about consumer technology with columnist Dwight Silverman. And the Texans go from one rivalry to another. On the heels of their shellacking of the Dallas Cowboys, we recap Sunday's game against the Titans with Jeff Balke.

On Friday's show: Mayor John Whitmire has announced a new push "to end homelessness." The plan calls for increased local funding and more collaboration between the city and county. Whitmire also wants to make it illegal to sleep in public spaces. We learn what all the plan entails. Also this hour: From a lawsuit over off-duty officers carrying weapons in some area hospitals, to a new baby elephant at the Houston Zoo, our panel of non-experts contemplate The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week. And Houston native Attica Locke, who's got an extensive resume writing novels and for television, talks about incorporating Houston and East Texas into her writing, including her latest novel, Guide Me Home, the final installment of her Highway 59 trilogy, which centers around a Black Texas Ranger named Darren Mathews. She also discusses what it was like working with her sister, Tembi Locke, in bringing her memoir, From Scratch, to the screen for the Netflix series of the same name.

On Thursday's show: The State Board of Education is poised to vote on optional Bible-infused curriculum for Texas public elementary schools on Friday. We discuss whether it will be approved and whether it's constitutional. Also this hour: We find out how the cruise ship industry is faring along the Gulf Coast. Then, new public artwork on display at Discovery Green is part of Art Lab, a new mentorship program helping Houston-area artists learn how to create and install public art. And we learn about the open mic poetry events from Write About Now, which recently included Houston Matters producer Laura Walker performing some of her work.