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Houston Matters

Houston Public Media

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

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All Episodes

49:45

The week in politics (June 4, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/06/04

On Wednesday's show: From the end of the Texas Legislature, to ongoing budget discussions at the City of Houston, we discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup.Also this hour: With Texas Monthly releasing its list of the state’s top barbecue spots, local food writers hone in on Houston and name some of their favorite places here in this month’s installment of The Full Menu.And we learn how history, gender, and faith intersect in Islamic art from the new executive director of

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49:45

Recapping the legislature (June 3, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/06/03

On Tuesday's show: The 89th regular session of the Texas Legislature came to a close on Monday. We recap what passed, what didn’t, the status of legislation on the governor’s desk, and how it all might affect Texans.Also this hour: We visit a recent conference and expo for the robotics and autonomy industries held at the George R. Brown Convention Center.Then, author Bryan Burrough talks about his new book, The Gunfighters, which details the history of legendary gunfighters from the Wild West and

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50:15

Life without FEMA (June 2, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/06/02

On Monday's show: Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has openly speculated about eliminating FEMA. Whether that happens or not, how would Greater Houston handle another hurricane -- or any other disaster -- if FEMA no longer existed or its role were changed?Also this hour: We offer Houstonians a chance to vent about their pet peeves about life in our city.And Jeff Balke updates us on the latest developments in sports.

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50:50

Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (May 30, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/05/30

On Friday's show: Houston Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher joins us to talk about issues in Congress affecting our region and to take listener questions.Also this hour: From a recent study suggesting AI isn’t saving workers a ton of time on the job, to eight Houston-area barbecue restaurants making Texas Monthly's Top 50 list (after Yelp snubbed the city), we discuss The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.And Joshua Zinn chats with Bob Simpson, the retiring founder and artistic director of the

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46:40

Arts orgs cope with lost NEA grants (May 29, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/05/29

On Thursday's show: Another one bites the dust in the decimated Astros pitching rotation. This time it’s Ronel Blanco who’s out for the season and in need of elbow surgery. Is it past time to ask what the Astros are doing to their pitchers’ arms? Jeff Balke of the Bleav in Astros podcast talks it over.Also this hour: The National Endowment for the Arts recently terminated grants to nonprofits nationwide, many of which had already been awarded. Houston arts organizations are among those who have had

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50:00

The week in politics (May 28, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/05/28

On Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest news from the waning days of the Texas Legislature and other developments in politics in our weekly roundup.Also this hour: Real estate in much of Greater Houston has been a seller’s market for a very long time. Not so in Galveston lately. We talk over some recent trends in Galveston real estate with Marissa Luck of the Houston Chronicle and Kimberly Gaido, real estate agent with Sand ‘N Sea Properties in Galveston.And we talk with comedian and Wait

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48:26

Part-time legislature (May 27, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/05/27

On Tuesday's show: The Texas Legislature was busy this weekend, passing bills in what is now the final week of the regular legislative session. Reporter Andrew Schneider walks us through developments in Austin over the last 72 hours.Also this hour: The current session of the Texas Legislature is nearly finished. State lawmakers only meet for 140 days every two years. Is that really enough time to administer state law, and could that ever change?Then, we revisit a question we asked you last year:

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50:23

George Floyd 5th anniversary (May 23, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/05/23

On Friday's show: This coming Sunday will mark five years since the murder of George Floyd sparked demonstrations, calls for a racial reckoning in the United States, and continued demands for police reform. We reflect on the life of the Houston native and what his death brought about -- and what activists believe still needs to be done.Also this hour: The International Space Station is already facing a $1 billion budget shortfall, and the Trump administration plans to cut even more. We learn how

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50:13

Judge Lina Hidalgo (May 22, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/05/22

On Thursday's show: Budget season continues here in Houston. The City Council is contemplating spending $7 billion next fiscal year -- $3 billion of it from coming from the city’s general fund. Council has about a month left to approve a budget, but a key part of it was just locked in, as council members approved a new contract agreement with the union representing Houston police officers. News 88.7’s Dominic Anthony Walsh joins us with details.Also this hour: Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo joins

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49:47

The week in politics (May 21, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/05/21

On Wednesday's show: It’s crunch time for lawmakers at the State Capitol, and Presidential politics reigns, as always, in Washington. And that’s just some of what we’ll walk through -- and seek context and clarity about -- in our weekly political roundup.Also this hour: A mental health professional discusses how to help teens and children dealing with anxiety, depression, and other challenges.And prices are high these day -- and so is the temperature. We get some suggestions on some low-cost or free

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50:12

Future of the lottery (May 20, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/05/20

On Tuesday's show: We learn about the progress of some bills regarding bail reform being considered in the waning days of the Texas Legislature.Also this hour: We discuss the complicated, cloudy future of the Texas Lottery, which has been under fire over a scheme that essentially allowed gamblers to purchase every single lottery combination possible and guarantee a jackpot win. Then, ahead of an event at Brazos Bookstore on May 27, author and poet Ocean Vuong shares lessons from working in fast

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50:30

What Houstonians think (May 19, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/05/19

On Monday's show: What do Houstonians think about life here -- the economy, their life experiences, beliefs, and attitudes? We discuss the findings of the annual Houston Area Survey with Rice University sociologists. Also this hour: Veterinarian Dr. Lori Teller talks about issues affecting pet health.And Jeff Balke updates us on the latest developments in sports

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49:52

Lessons from the derecho (May 16, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/05/16

On Friday's show: A year ago today, the Houston derecho moved through southeast Texas, spawning four tornadoes and creating intense winds that caused widespread damage in Houston, especially downtown where windows were blown out of many high-rise buildings. Ultimately, seven people in Greater Houston lost their lives. We reflect on what happened, why it affected downtown so greatly, and what scientists have learned from studying the event.Also this hour: The nonprofit news organization Houston

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49:47

Fighting childhood cancer (May 15, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/05/15

On Thursday's show: We learn about a $150 million donation that will create the Kinder Children’s Cancer Center, a new initiative to fight childhood cancer at MD Anderson Cancer Center and Texas Children's Hospital. The gift is one of the largest such donations in the history of the Texas Medical Center and one of the largest ever given to a pediatric hospital in the country.Also this hour: Comedian Ramy Youssef performs Friday night at House of Blues, and he has a new animated series on Amazon

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51:05

Navigating city and county budgets (May 14, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/05/14

On Wednesday’s show: Houston City Council members have begun budget hearings this week as the city faces economic uncertainty amid a budget shortfall. But some of that shortfall could be remedied if some proceeds from toll roads are shifted from Harris County to the city, as a bill in the legislature would do. But the county has its own budget concerns.We get some insight on crafting a budget for both the city and the county in uncertain financial times -- all while navigating the intertwining

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50:28

Legislature takes aim at renewables (May 13, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/05/13

On Tuesday's show: We learn about a pair of bills some say might kill the renewable energy boom in the state and about this week’s heat, which may be the year’s first real test of the Texas electric grid.Also this hour: We learn about the fate of the Texas Renaissance Festival after a judge ordered the event's owners to sell their property and assets after siding with a prospective buyer who sued after a $60 million deal fell through in 2023.Then, on the anniversary of the famed Battle of the Sexes

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50:27

Weather service staffing (May 12, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/05/12

On Monday's show: Three Houston-area members of Congress are asking why the National Weather Service's office in the region has nearly a dozen vacancies ahead of hurricane season.Also this hour: On this date in 1941, the Z3, the world’s first programmable and fully automatic computer, was first presented. With that anniversary in mind, we revisit the ethics of artificial intelligence at the same time Texas lawmakers are considering a bill to address AI-altered audio and video in political ads.Then,

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49:57

Hopes for the new pope (May 9, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/05/09

On Friday's show: Pope Leo XIV celebrated the first mass of his papacy this morning. And while his election is being celebrated by Catholics worldwide, he also faces some criticism from earlier in his ministry. We learn what survivors of clergy sexual abuse here in Houston want to see and hear from the new pope.Also this hour: So far, space tourism appears to be only for celebrities and the uber-rich. While its purported long-term goal is to make spaceflight more accessible, is it also making such

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49:43

Houston’s trash problem (May 8, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/05/08

On Thursday's show: We talk about Houston's growing problems with trash, including how the city is quickly running out of landfill space, with Elena Bruess of Houston Landing.Also this hour: We learn about a new law creating a Texas version of DOGE.Then, we welcome your questions about our varied and fascinating insect world for entomologist Erin Mills of the Houston Botanic Garden.And issues of loneliness, hidden trauma, and breaking free of comfort zones all come to bear in Primary Trust, a

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50:15

The week in politics (May 7, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/05/07

On Wednesday's show: We discuss Houston Mayor John Whitmire’s proposed city budget, the latest developments from the Texas Legislature, and President Donald Trump’s meeting with Canada’s new Prime Minister Mark Carney, along with other developments in our political roundup.Also this hour: In this month’s installment of The Full Menu, food writers discuss some of their favorite restaurants to get vegetarian and vegan food around the city.And we learn about Bajo Terapia (In Therapy), a new play about

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