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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

49:50

Closing HISD schools (Feb. 27, 2026)

Houston Matters ·

2026/02/27

On Friday's show: We learn about HISD's plans to close some of its schools, after a vote on the matter takes place.Also this hour: We discuss the homeschooling experience in Houston with Tess Harris, a former home school student and member of the Coalition for Responsible Home Education, and Amber Swirsky, a homeschool teacher, mother of five, and owner of The Homeschool Store.Then, we break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.And we chat with Rich Levy, executive director of Inprint

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49:17

Prayer in Texas schools (Feb. 26, 2026)

Houston Matters ·

2026/02/26

On Thursday's show: Apple plans to build its Mac mini computers right here in Houston, and Wall Street Journal reporter Rolfe Winkler got an exclusive inside look. We talk with him about what is driving this move and what it means for the city.Also this hour: The deadline is next week for Texas public school boards to vote on whether or not to adopt a voluntary period for prayer and reading of religious texts during the school day. We discuss the law behind this, SB 11, and concerns over how it will

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50:00

The week in politics (Feb. 25, 2026)

Houston Matters ·

2026/02/25

On Wednesday's show: We recap last night’s State of the Union address and discuss other developments in politics in our weekly roundup.Also this hour: Do you grunt when you get up after sitting too long? Do you feel achy after sleeping? Nearly a quarter of all U.S. adults suffer from chronic pain. We discuss how to manage it, and when it is a good idea to see a doctor or a specialist.And Houston-based singer and musician Kyle Cousins joins us and performs in studio. He’s one of a number of area

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49:39

Preserving Houston landmarks (Feb. 24, 2026)

Houston Matters ·

2026/02/24

On Tuesday's show: Texas rewards school districts for preparing students for life after graduation, tying college and career readiness to more school funding and higher performance ratings. But a new report shows many college prep classes are failing to live up to their promise. We talk with the researcher behind the findings.Also this hour: Amid concern about the fate of the former Garden Oaks Theater, we discuss historic preservation in Houston.Then, we talk with an area immigration attorney about

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49:30

Tariff reversal and Houston (Feb. 23, 2026)

Houston Matters ·

2026/02/23

On Monday's show: We discuss how the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to strike down many of President Trump’s tariffs might affect Greater Houston.Also this hour: We learn about Blackball, an exhibit exploring baseball in Houston Freedmen’s Town, from teams that barnstormed in sandlots, to players and teams in the Negro Leagues, to the eventual integration of Major League Baseball. And we learn about some of the notable Black baseball players from Houston's history from the president of the Negro

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49:27

Dow Chemical and water pollution (Feb. 20, 2026)

Houston Matters ·

2026/02/20

On Friday's show: Texas is suing Dow Chemical Co., citing hundreds of water pollution violations at the company's facility in Seadrift along the coast south of Victoria. Dylan Baddour of Inside Climate News explains the lawsuit and how it could actually end up shielding Dow from tougher penalties.Also this hour: The nonprofit Sierra Club recently released its legislative scorecard for last year, measuring how well or how poorly state lawmakers supported various environmental needs, at least

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49:15

Effects of living in space (Feb. 19, 2026)

Houston Matters ·

2026/02/19

On Thursday's show: AI-focused data centers have increased the demand for memory chips that drive many electronics consumers use. And that is driving up prices we pay to get them. Technology columnist Dwight Silverman explains, and he offers advice for how to spot AI being used in campaign ads or social media posts.Also this hour: As Johnson Space Center continues preparations for the next Artemis mission and America’s return to the moon, it reminds us that NASA’s long-term vision includes using the

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50:00

The week in politics (Feb. 18, 2026)

Houston Matters ·

2026/02/18

On Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup.Also this hour: We learn about a new initiative from the University of Houston-Downtown, which will guarantee admission for HISD graduates with a GPA of 2.5 or higher.And we preview a concert on Friday featuring the string quartet Brooklyn Rider, performing a work that explores the complex relationship between Mexican painters Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. It’s in conjunction with an exhibit about Kahlo on

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50:00

Primary voting begins (Feb. 17, 2026)

Houston Matters ·

2026/02/17

On Tuesday's show: Early voting begins today for the 2026 Texas primaries as Democrats and Republicans decide the candidates who'll be on the ballot for the November general election. Reporter Andrew Schneider tells us what we need to know about the races and voting.Also this hour: It's no secret restaurants face a variety of challenges today. So, what do they need that they're not getting? We get some insight from two local restauranteurs.Then, in testimony last week, Instagram’s CEO dismissed the

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49:55

New flood maps (Feb. 16, 2026)

Houston Matters ·

2026/02/16

On Monday's show: FEMA has released new draft flood maps for the Houston area. We discuss their implications with Jim Blackburn from Rice University’s SSPEED Center.Also this hour: Veterinarian Dr. Lori Teller answers listener questions about their pets.And, as Spring Training begins, we preview the Astros season.Watch

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49:32

Lessons from the 2021 winter freeze (Feb. 13, 2026)

Houston Matters ·

2026/02/13

On Friday's show: We learn what Mayor John Whitmire had to say in his second State of the City address yesterday, laying out his vision for the remainder of his term and promising not to increase taxes, despite the city's budget issues.And the Houston Texans will soon have a new headquarters for their business operations, part of a planned 83-acre sports, retail, and entertainment district in the Bridgeland community in Cypress.Also this hour: Five years after the 2021 winter freeze knocked out

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49:11

Academic freedom in higher ed (Feb. 12, 2026)

Houston Matters ·

2026/02/12

On Thursday's show: Last week, the dean of the University of Houston's College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences asked faculty he oversees to sign a document attesting they are not "indoctrinating" their students but are instead teaching them to think critically. One of those professors, Robert Zaretzky, responded with an op-ed in the Houston Chronicle saying he will not sign the document. He joins us to explain why.Also this hour: Houston’s diversity shows up everywhere, including in foster care

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50:00

The week in politics (Feb. 11, 2026)

Houston Matters ·

2026/02/11

On Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup.Also this hour: We visit Fresh Houwse Grocery in Sunnyside, a farmer-owned store in a neighborhood that previously had limited access to fresh food.And Houston author Saadia Faruqi explains why she wanted to use Hurricane Harvey as the backdrop for her latest young adult novel, Some of Us Are Brave, and how her own experiences during the 2017 storm continue to influence her writing. Faruqi will appear at a book

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49:47

Neighborhood reputations (Feb. 10, 2026)

Houston Matters ·

2026/02/10

On Tuesday's show: We learn how the end of Affordable Care Act subsidies and changes to Medicare are leaving some Houston-area hospitals feeling squeezed. Also this hour: Ahead of a national energy expo next week in Houston, we learn how deals made there can affect energy policy, companies, and consumers.Then, the Alzheimer's Foundation of America is kicking off an educational tour of the country with a free conference on Wednesday in Houston to help caregivers. We talk with one of the event's

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49:20

School districts and protests (Feb. 9, 2026)

Houston Matters ·

2026/02/09

On Monday's show: The state of Texas is cracking down on teachers and schools that support student protests over immigration enforcement. We talk with an attorney who represents school districts, and she outlines what they legally can and can’t do.Also this hour: We discuss technology in the classroom -- or, rather, the lack of it, and why more teachers are finding students have greater success when there are no screens at all to stare at.Then, Meg Tapp from the Garden Club of Houston answers

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49:50

Crackdown on student protests (Feb. 6, 2026)

Houston Matters ·

2026/02/06

On Friday's show: The Texas Education Agency has warned school districts that facilitating student political walkouts could lead to a state takeover. This comes as the agency unveils a newly created enforcement role focusing on overseeing investigations into alleged misconduct by Texas teachers. We get the latest on this developing story.Also this hour: We discuss how digital maps are increasingly being used to reveal patterns across Greater Houston, from the famed Houston arrow, to the Whataburger

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50:05

Houston’s overtime woes (Feb. 5, 2026)

Houston Matters ·

2026/02/05

On Thursday's show: City of Houston Controller Chris Hollins discusses the city’s deficit spending, due in part to the continuing need to pay overtime to staff police and fire departments.Also this hour: The delay in the Artemis II mission stirs memories of how the Apollo program played out decades ago. We look back on our last missions to the moon.Then, the nonprofit Trees for Houston celebrates the planting of its one millionth tree today. We visit the site of that celebration.And a recent report

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50:24

The week in politics (Feb. 4, 2026)

Houston Matters ·

2026/02/04

On Wednesday's show: In a special election last weekend, a Fort Worth State Senate seat in a conservative district flipped to the Democrats. Is that a one-off, or a sign of things to come? We discuss that story and the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup.Also this hour: Our foodies list their favorite award-winning and award-nominated restaurants around town on this month’s edition of The Full Menu.And we consider the legacy of slavery and racial discrimination in the history of

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50:12

School voucher applications (Feb. 3, 2026)

Houston Matters ·

2026/02/03

On Tuesday's show: The window for families to apply for the state's new school voucher program, officially called Texas Education Freedom Accounts, opens on Wednesday for the 2026-27 school year. We discuss why the state is trying to limit which schools can participate and other questions as the new program begins.Also this hour: How much should you trust the quality of the water coming out the tap? Pedro Alvarez, director of Rice University’s WaTER Institute, explains what we should all know about

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50:00

New Congressman-elect in District 18 (Feb. 2, 2026)

Houston Matters ·

2026/02/02

On Monday's show: The 18th Congressional District has a new Congressman-elect. But how soon will Christian Menefee be sworn in?Also this hour: We offer listeners a chance to vent about their pet peeves about life in our city.And Jonathan Alexander from the Houston Chronicle previews the Super Bowl.Watch

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