Houston Matters

On Friday's show: A bill to greatly expand efforts to lure film and TV production to Texas using incentives paid for by sales tax revenues has passed the Texas Senate and now heads to the House for consideration. We learn more about Senate Bill 22 and what it might do for film and TV production in the state. Also this hour: From backlash over this week’s celebrity-studded, all-female, Blue Origin spaceflight, to prospects getting slimmer for a Houston-to-Dallas high-speed rail line, to a human chain moving a bookstore down the street, a single book at a time, we hash out The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week. And we discuss how to best declutter, downsize, and get rid of all the stuff in our lives.

On Thursday's show: In a vote early this morning that followed hours of debate, the Texas House gave initial approval to a billion-dollar private school voucher bill that stands to transform education in Texas in the years to come along with a $7.7 billion public school funding package. Also this hour: We talk with Houstonians supporting women who run for office, regardless of party. And we meet Dr. Jennifer Feltman, an expert on medieval art and architecture, who was one of only a handful of Americans who worked to help restore the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris after it was damaged by fire in 2019. She recently spoke at an event with Archaeology Now Houston.

On Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup. Also this hour: We chat with Houston Chef Michelle Wallace, owner of B'tween Sandwich Co. She was a competitor on Season 21 of Top Chef, where she was named fan favorite. And Houston author Huda Fahmy tells us about her latest graphic novel, Huda F Wants to Know? It's the latest in her series about a young Muslim girl, loosely based on herself, growing up in America. The previous installment, Huda F Cares? was a finalist for the National Book Award.

On Tuesday's show: Texas lawmakers are looking to make changes in how cash bail is set, with an eye on Harris County. But opponents of Senate Bill 9 say it will further clog the county's courts. Neena Satija of the Houston Chronicle explains. Also this hour: After she survived the Boston Marathon bombing, former Houstonian Rebekah Gregory fought to save her badly injured leg. We learn why she eventually chose to let go and have it amputated and about how she rebuilt her life to help others affected by trauma. And we meet Al Cisneros, who is the first Hispanic pilot with the Navy's Blue Angels and is a veteran of more than 150 combat missions during the Vietnam War. He was inducted into the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame last week.

On Monday's show: At least 115 students and recent graduates in Texas have had their legal status changed by the U.S Department of State over the last few weeks, according to data compiled by Inside Higher Ed and Texas Newsroom partners around the state. Those students are among more than 600 people nationwide caught in a recent wave of visa revocations. Also this hour: Meg Tapp from the Garden Club of Houston answers listeners' gardening questions. And Jeff Balke previews the return of the Houston Rockets to the NBA Playoffs and other developments in sports.

On Friday's show: A new poll sheds light on Houston-area voters’ attitudes on the issues facing the city. We learn what voters had to say about their views on where the city is headed, the biggest problems it faces, Mayor John Whitmire’s performance, and some initial polling on the candidates running for the 18th Congressional District, the seat left vacant when Congressman and former Mayor Sylvester Turner died. Also this hour: From the National Weather Service stopping language translations of its products, to revelations about how many school nurses HISD employs, to some exciting news for Texas Roadhouse, our non-experts discuss the The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week. And we visit the Car-Toon Festival, which celebrates custom cars and the city's car culture.

On Thursday's show: We get updates on recent developments at Houston City Hall, including concerns about the fate of the redesign of 11th Street in The Heights as Mayor John Whitmire's administration reviews it. And we learn about reactions to the direction the mayor has gone with street projects over the last 15 months. Also this hour: Members of the group WindSync discuss their Onstage Offstage Chamber Music Festival, featuring contemporary solo works and a performance with the Houston Youth Symphony’s Coda music program. And we learn how economic and cultural shifts are impacting Houston area coffee shops.

On Wednesday's show: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is officially running against U.S. Sen. John Cornyn next year. Also, Gov. Greg Abbott has called a special election in November for the 18th Congressional District, leaving some Houston residents without a representative in Congress for another seven months. And Fort Bend County Democrats are calling for County Judge KP George to resign after his arrest. We discuss those and other developments in politics in our weekly roundup. Also this hour: We revisit a 2019 conversation with Houston-area pilot Lynn Rippelmeyer, who made history in 1977 as part of the first all-female crew to fly for an airline. And we learn about Flex, a new play about a team of high school girls basketball players in 1997 in rural Arkansas, which is on stage at now at The Ensemble Theatre.

On Tuesday's show: So close…and yet so far. The Houston Cougars fell two points short of a men's college basketball national championship Monday night, falling 65-63 to the Florida Gators. In a near-reversal of Saturday's come-from-behind win in their Final Four matchup against Duke, this time it was the Coogs who led most of the way. They built a 12-point second-half lead only to see the Gators charge back to take a last-minute lead and hang on. Kris Gardner of Houston Roundball Review recaps the game for us. And Houston Public Media's Mark Norris describes the atmosphere as University of Houston fans descended on the Alamodome. Among the fans in attendance was sportscaster and UH alum Jim Nantz. We revisit our 2023 conversation with him about how his alma mater shaped his career. Then, to keep the basketball theme going, we hear from Cynthia Cooper, retired star of the WNBA's now-defunct Houston Comets and herself a former college basketball coach. Plus, we talk with attendees of a recent conference dedicated to helping women start and further their careers in STEM industries. And we hear from political activist Nadya Tolokonnikova, the creator of Pussy Riot, the feminist protest and art movement, who’s speaking at an event at the University of Houston on April 17.

On Monday's show: The University of Houston's men's basketball team will play tonight for the national title against Florida after a stunning comeback victory against Duke Saturday in the men's Final Four. Jeff Balke previews the game. Also this hour: The year's first widely recognized hurricane season forecast says we could see a busier than normal 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, with as many as 17 named storms and nine hurricanes. Meteorologist Justin Ballard of the Houston Chronicle interprets what the forecast means for Greater Houston. Then, we offer Houstonians a chance to vent about their pet peeves about life in our city.

On Friday's show: A number of fascinating and controversial bills are getting hearings these days in Austin over abortion, religion in schools, and high speed rail. We discuss them all. First, we examine a bill that would directly impact a long-debated proposed high speed rail line between Houston and Dallas. Then, we learn about legislation that would offer doctors and nurses guidance on when they could, in the rarest circumstances, provide an abortion in Texas. And this week’s “non-expert” panel weighs in on bills in Austin that would bring religion more directly into Texas public schools as they break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week. And producer Brenda Valdivia completes her quest to create the ultimate Houston sandwich.

On Thursday's show: Houston Mayor John Whitmire clashed with the city's chief financial officer, Controller Chris Hollins, during the city council meeting this week after the controller's office presented an explosive report on overtime expenditures by the police, fire, and solid waste departments. We learn more and get an update on other developments affecting the city from News 88.7 reporter Dominic Anthony Walsh. Also this hour: Houston native Debbie Allen talks about an effort to help people understand what it’s like to live with diabetes. Then, we talk with Cary Darling, entertainment editor for the Houston Chronicle, about Goldstone, the film he's presenting for the Movies Houstonians Love series at the MFAH. And we learn about Black Restaurant Week, which is marking its tenth year highlighting Black-owned restaurants across the city.

On Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup. Also this hour: Food writers talk about some of their favorite places to take kids to eat (and play) in the latest edition of The Full Menu. And blues singer ZZ Ward talks about her music ahead of an April 6 concert in Houston.

On Tuesday's show: While some things about the City of Houston's financial situation have improved over the last year, the city still faces some significant financial challenges, according to its latest financial report. Analysts from the Baker Institute for Public Policy at Rice University reviewed that report and share what they found. Also this hour: Matt Lanza from Space City Weather talks about a growing trend in weather forecasting: too much hype. Then, investigative reporter Lise Olsen talks about her book, The Scientist and the Serial Killer. It details how scientists have used new technology and methods to identify the remains of most of the long-unidentified victims of Houston serial killer Dean Corll. And an upcoming concert from Houston’s Mercury Chamber Orchestra combines the upbeat rhythms of Venezuelan Joropo music and the classical style of Bach.

On Monday's show: A bipartisan bill to create a grant program for safer railroad crossings is headed to the Texas House after the Senate recently passed it unanimously. Senate Bill 1555 was filed after the death of Sergio Rodriguez, a 15-year-old Houston ISD student who was struck by a train while walking to Milby High School. We learn more about the bill from one of its co-authors, Sen. Carol Alvarado, a Houston Democrat who's also a Milby graduate. Also this hour: We explore how changing Medicaid and SNAP policy may impact Houstonians. Then, we learn about a local pilot program providing resources and education about endometriosis. And from UH making the Final Four, to the Astros’ season-opening series against the Mets, we recap developments in sports with the help of Jeff Balke.

On Friday's show: Even on rainy days like this, it doesn’t take much to remember the extreme heat and occasional drought we suffer through in Houston summers. We learn what those ever-hotter summers may do to our water supply and what’s being done to prepare for potential shortages in Texas and Greater Houston. Also this hour: From a protest over the removal of bike lane dividers, to an area school district trying out some Bible-infused curriculum, we discuss The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week. And we learn about Resilient Grace, a Houston apparel brand that aims to educate customers about Black history through T-shirts.

On Thursday's show: There’s potential for some heavy rainfall, maybe even a bit of flooding, over the next 36 hours. We look at the forecast with Houston Chronicle meteorologist Justin Ballard. And we preview the new Astros season, which begins tonight against the Mets. Also this hour: We talk over Houston’s credit landscape, saving for retirement, and other financial planning concerns with the help of certified financial planner Juan Hernandez Ariano from WealthCreate Financial. Then, on this month’s edition of The Bigger Picture, the new film Black Bag leads to discussion with a husband and wife about the joys and challenges of spouses working in the same industry. And Houston-raised jazz pianist and composer Jason Moran talks about his love of the music of Duke Ellington ahead of a concert Friday night with DACAMERA concert celebrating Ellington’s life and music.

On Wednesday's show: We discuss the White House security breach and other developments in national, state, and local politics in our weekly roundup. Also this hour: Elizabeth Gonzalez Brock, the board chair of METRO, joins us to outline her organization's new transit initiative, METRONow, and to discuss other issues related to public transportation in the region. And we continue our quest to craft the ultimate Houston sandwich by going in search of Houston’s best veggies and condiments.

On Tuesday's show: We learn how potential cuts to FEMA funding might affect Houston's ability to respond to and recover from natural disasters. Also this hour: Longtime Houston activist Lex Frieden reflects on what it took to get the Americans with Disabilities Act passed and signed into law in 1990. That story is the subject of an episode of American Experience called Change, Not Charity: The Americans with Disabilities Act, which airs tonight at 8 on Houston Public Media, TV 8. And we learn about the new teacher evaluation system HISD will have next school year. Some like it, and some hate it (just like just about everything these days).

On Monday's show: State government can move fast or slow. Consider the speed with which the Texas Senate passed a bill calling for public schools to display the Ten Commandments, and how, so far, Gov. Greg Abbott seems to be slow playing what should be a simple call for a special election in a Houston-area Congressional district. News 88.7's Andrew Schneider updates us on both stories. Also this hour: We discuss the latest developments in residential real estate here in Greater Houston, which has long been a seller’s market. Then, columnist Dwight Silverman talks about some recent developments in consumer technology. And Jeff Balke tells us about the UH Cougars men's basketball team making its sixth straight appearance in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament and updates us on Houston sports.