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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

50:10

Keeping tabs on local government (Sept. 26, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/09/26

On Friday's show: We examine the wave of massive data centers expanding across Texas, prompting warnings from experts who say the new water demands could push the state’s already strained supply to the brink.Also this hour: We get a new perspective on local democracy by talking with self-described "local government enthusiast" Emily Hynds about observing every Houston City Council meeting for the last five years and sharing what she sees through her blog, Emily Takes Notes.Then, from Camp Mystic

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50:00

Immigration enforcement in Houston (Sept. 25, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/09/25

On Thursday's show: Following months-long spats about how to bridge a $200 million gap in the county’s budget, the Harris County Commissioners Court has approved a $2.8 billion budget for the 2026 fiscal year. We learn some details. And we get an update on striking hotel workers in Houston.Also this hour: A gunman opened fire at an ICE detention facility in Dallas, killing one detainee and critically wounding two others. No ICE officers were injured. This raises troubling questions about safety for

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50:05

The week in politics (Sept. 24, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/09/24

On Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup.Also this hour: In a time with plentiful commercial real estate vacancies, we learn one way some landlords are making their spaces stand out to potential renters.And we see some amazing work by hairstylists and artists at the Afro Hair Summit Expo.Watch

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51:34

Redesigning Houston roads (Sept. 23, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/09/23

On Tuesday's show: If you could wave a magic wand and change the design of any roadway in Houston, what would you change and why? We welcome your suggestions.Also this hour: We discuss the history of lethal injection, which is the subject of Secrets of the Killing State, a book by legal scholar and former criminal prosecutor Corinna Lain, who will be in Houston for an event at Brazos Bookstore Friday evening at 6:30.And writer Sasha Bonét reflects on how Houston has shaped her and discusses her new

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50:50

Hotel workers strike (Sept. 22, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/09/22

On Monday's show: Striking hotel workers at the downtown Hilton Americas-Houston plan to remain on the picket line through the middle of October, marking the second significant extension of a "historic" labor action initially slated to end Sept. 9. We learn the latest on the dispute over wages.Also this hour: Scientists recently discovered evidence that could point to ancient life on Mars. We dig into what they found.Then, we discuss the latest developments in consumer technology with

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49:45

Congressional maps and the Hispanic vote (Sept. 19,...

Houston Matters ·

2025/09/19

On Friday's show: With the state's newly redrawn congressional maps, does the creation of several predominantly Hispanic districts help those areas or disenfranchise them? Gabby Birenbaum of the Texas Tribune tells us more.Also this hour: Sitar maestro Purbayan Chatterjee joins us and performs in studio ahead of a concert Saturday at the University of Houston.Then, from military helicopters flying over Houston as part of a training exercise, to a Houston-based company that owns strip clubs across

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49:15

First Amendment and Charlie Kirk (Sept. 18, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/09/18

On Thursday's show: From ABC pulling Jimmy Kimmel off the air, to firings and reviews of Texas public school teachers and staff, what some have said about the shooting of Charlie Kirk has come back to bite them. But is it all legal? A constitutional law professor explains the nuances.Also this hour: We explore how a new law is affecting what public school nurses can and cannot do for sick students.Then, are some public schools too intent on finding that next "star principal" to lead them?And we

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50:20

The week in politics (Sept. 17, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/09/17

On Wednesday's show: We get insight on the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup. Then, we take a nature walk along the Bayou Greenways. And an event this week allows community members to share how Houston’s Fifth Ward shaped their lives.Watch

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48:40

Rodney Crowell (Sept. 16, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/09/16

On Tuesday's show: In the years 2022 to 2024, the percentage of children without health insurance made its highest increase in almost a decade, according to a Georgetown University report. And Texas continues to have the highest percentage of uninsured children in the nation. We discuss what this means for the state with Elena Marks of Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy.Also this hour: So far this year, it has been an awfully quiet hurricane season. We explore why as we chat with

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49:35

Science Under Siege (Sept. 15, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/09/14

On Monday's show: We preview this week's vote on the Harris County budget. The budget process this year has often been contentious as tensions rise over funding cuts.Also this hour: Dr. Peter Hotez of Baylor College of Medicine discusses his book, Science Under Siege, which examines growing opposition to science and the threat it poses.Then, veterinarian Dr. Lori Teller answers listeners’ questions about their pets.And Jeff Balke previews a season-defining week ahead for the Astros and the Monday

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50:00

Developing in Houston’s floodplains (Sept. 12, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/09/12

On Friday's show: Eight years after Harvey’s devastating flooding, Houston continues to develop in floodplains. A recent Houston Chronicle report analyzed who is benefitting and who is not.Also this hour: From Houston supplanting Philadelphia as America’s poorest large city, to Carnival Cruise Line and Van Leeuwen Ice Cream unveiling sunscreen-flavored ice cream, this week’s panel of non-experts weighs in on The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.And, ahead of a live performance on Saturday

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50:00

Everything’s bigger in Texas — but is that better?...

Houston Matters ·

2025/09/11

On Thursday's show: We get updates on several stories from reporter Dominic Anthony Walsh, including striking hotel workers at the Hilton Americas-Houston, the results of the latest homeless count, and the ongoing saga over City of Houston employees who took an early retirement to save the city money still waiting to receive their buyout payments. Also this hour: Everything is bigger in Texas, but is that always a good thing -- especially when it comes to governing and serving a state that is huge

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49:30

The week in politics (Sept. 10, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/09/10

On Wednesday's show: Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo walked out of a budget meeting, while Texas A&M plans to audit its classes after a professor is fired amid conservative backlash over teaching gender identity in class. We get context and clarity on those and other developments in politics in our weekly roundup.Also this hour: We learn about efforts by law enforcement to keep reckless drivers in check.And this month, Houston blues acts battle for a shot to represent the city at the

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49:34

States face off over abortion pills (Sept. 9, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/09/09

On Tuesday's show: We learn how Texas and other states are facing off in the fight over access to abortion pills. New York's attorney general says she will intervene in a legal fight related to the Texas ban on those pills. Texas Tribune reporter Alex Nguyen explains what's going on.Also this hour: We learn what lessons the deadly crowd rush at the 2021 Astroworld festival can teach us. That event is highlighted in Edward Segal’s newly published Crisis Casebook.Then, we consider what it costs to

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49:50

Oil and gas layoffs (Sept. 8, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/09/08

On Monday's show: Houston-based oil and gas giant ConocoPhillips announced last week that it is cutting about 3,000 jobs -- as much as a quarter of its global workforce. The company says rising costs and a push for efficiency are behind the move, which comes despite the company posting nearly $2 billion in profits last quarter. We talk over what the news means for Houston.Also this hour: On the 125th anniversary of the deadliest natural disaster in American history, the 1900 Galveston hurricane, we

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48:18

Special session wrap-up (Sept. 5, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/09/05

On Friday's show: The second special session of the Texas Legislature wrapped up this week, with bills headed to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk related to flood prevention and summer camp safety. We recap what did and did not get done.Also this hour: We talk about the life and legacy of late Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, who's the subject of a new PBS documentary called Becoming Thurgood: America’s Social Architect, which airs Tuesday, Sept. 9, at 9 p.m. on Houston Public Media, TV 8.Then, this

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49:30

Gun culture & self-defense (Sept. 4, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/09/04

On Thursday's show: A 42-year-old Houston man was arrested this week and charged with murder in the shooting death of a boy who was playing a prank by ringing on doorbells and running. We discuss the story with Houston Chronicle writer Leah Binkovitz, who wrote an opinion piece about how the country has changed since she played the same prank as a kid. Also this hour: Two of Space City’s NASA veterans are making sure their former colleagues get recognition they’re due. Larry Bell and Chet Vaughan

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49:50

The week in politics (Sept. 3, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/09/03

On Wednesday's show: We seek insight from area experts on 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 area restaurants that they should have told you about sooner -- the ones that maybe defy any category but deserve a little attention.And Japan Festival Houston returns to Hermann Park this weekend, and the festival’s chairman joins us to share its history and to preview highlights

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49:40

Tariffs and restaurants (Sept. 2, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/09/02

On Tuesday's show: We learn about the FDA’s new COVID vaccine restrictions and who should still get one of the latest vaccines anyway.And as Harris County Commissioners wrestle with an impending budget deficit, a proposed budget would give significant raises to county constables, who want to be paid more than the sheriff. We learn about the role of constables in county law enforcement, which was the subject of a recent Houston Chronicle investigation. Also this hour: We discuss the impact that

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51:40

How Hurricane Katrina changed Houston (Aug. 29, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/08/29

On Friday's show: We learn about Elon Musk's involvement in a $760 million plan to dig tunnels under Houston to help alleviate future flooding. Would it be worth the cost? Investigative reporter Lauren McGaughy from the Texas Newsroom brings us the details.Also this hour: On this date 20 years ago, Hurricane Katrina made landfall on Louisiana causing devastation in that state, including New Orleans. In the days and months after, many evacuees sought refuge in our city, and many made it their new

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