Houston Matters

On Monday's show: A report from the Texas Department of State Health Services finds greater-than-expected numbers of Houston adults developed certain types of cancer between the year 2000 and 2016 in the north Houston neighborhoods of Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens. We learn more. Also this hour: Houstonians share some of their memories from watching the moon landing 50 years ago. Then, as daylight hours shorten, some healt... Read more

On Friday's Houston Matters: The Greater Houston Partnership provides its economic forecast for 2020: Also this hour: Local food writers discuss their favorite new restaurants of 2019 in the second part of a special, year-end edition of The Full Menu: Then, we break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week's news: And we learn about a new play at The Catastrophic Theatre called Baby Screams Miracle. It’s describe... Read more

On Thursday's Houston Matters: The results are in from a state-ordered study of this year’s STAAR exams. We learn what the study found about the effectiveness of the test in measuring student knowledge: Also this hour: Local food writers discuss their favorite new restaurants that opened this year, in the first part of a two-part installment of The Full Menu: Then, SpaceX mission manager Andrew Rader tells us how humankind&#... Read more

On Wednesday's Houston Matters: Early voting is under way for the Dec. 14 runoff election in the city of Houston. Among the races being decided is the one for Houston mayor. Incumbent Mayor Sylvester Turner is on the ballot against challenger Tony Buzbee. During the lead-up to the general election, we spoke with both Turner and Buzbee, and today we hear some highlights: Also this hour: Houston Public Media’s Catherine Lu tal... Read more

On Tuesday's Houston Matters: A third tower fell early Monday morning at the Port Neches chemical plant where two explosions and a fire injured three people last week. The Houston-owned facility has been out of compliance with federal clean air laws for years. We learn more about the plant’s history: Also this hour: How will the impending state takeover of the HISD board work? How does the state choose who will replace the b... Read more

On Monday's Houston Matters: A city council election is raising questions about how Texas law restores the rights of convicted felons and how the state fits in with a national trend to destigmatize involvement in the criminal justice system. We get the latest on the runoff race for Houston City Council District B: Also this hour: Sunday was World AIDS Day, and we learn about the latest efforts to treat – and possibly even pr... Read more

On Tuesday's Houston Matters: The next 48-72 hours will be among the heaviest travel days of the year -- both through the air and on the road. So, we remind air travelers what you can and can't bring to the airport, among other travel tips. And local law enforcement officers answer questions about the right and wrong way to drive on Greater Houston's road and highways -- think of it as a refresher course on... Read more

On Monday's Houston Matters: The Trump administration is scaling back chemical plant safety measures put in place after a Texas fertilizer plant explosion in 2013 that killed 15 people. We learn more: Also this hour: News 88.7's Elizabeth Trovall tells us about a deported father fighting for custody of his three children who are in the foster care system in Texas: Then, in our nation's current political divide, we di... Read more

On Friday's Houston Matters: In the runoff to fill the Houston City Council District B seat, questions remain about whether one of the candidates -- who has a felony conviction -- is eligible. News 88.7's Jen Rice explains what's going on and why the runoff for that race is being delayed: Also this hour: In this month's edition of The Bigger Picture, Joshua Zinn discusses the movie Harriet, about escaped slave tu... Read more

On Monday's Houston Matters: In the struggle to fix special education in Texas, the state’s charter schools still lag behind. We discuss the latest in an investigative series from News 88.7’s Laura Isensee and the Houston Chronicle on the state of special education in Texas public schools: Also this hour: A recent survey examines the attitudes and experiences of residents of Houston’s Third Ward. It finds that people there a... Read more

On Thursday's Houston Matters: For more than a decade, Texas illegally denied special education to tens of thousands of children with disabilities — services that are their right under federal law. State lawmakers took action, and federal monitors stepped in. But the crisis isn’t over for many families. We learn more about the findings of an investigation from Houston Public Media and the Houston Chronicle: Also this hour: S... Read more

On Tuesday's Houston Matters: The Houston Federation of Teachers is taking issue with plans for a state takeover the HISD board. We learn why: Also this hour: The Supreme Court hears arguments today on three cases related to DACA to determine if Pres. Trump ending the program is unconstitutional. While a decision isn't expected until next year, Rice University's Tony Payan walks us through what specifically will be d... Read more

On Monday's Houston Matters: As the nation celebrates Veterans Day, the head of a local nonprofit answers questions about benefits for former service members struggling to settle back into civilian life: Also this hour: Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher talks with News 88.7’s Gail Delaughter about a number of issues of interest to Houstonians, including why it’s so difficult to navigate funding for flood recovery: Plus, veterina... Read more

On Friday's Houston Matters: We learn more about plans for a state takeover of the HISD board. Also this hour: Cycling fatalities are not just a problem in the city's urban core. BikeHouston executive director Clark Martinson tells us more. Then, we break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week's news. And religious historian Karen Armstrong discusses changes in how believers of many faiths approach and inte... Read more

On Thursday's Houston Matters: We learn why some Harris County election results took longer than expected to come back: Also this hour: Rice University researcher Jim Blackburn wants to create a flood warning system that, during heavy rain, would shut down affected freeways before they flood: Plus, therapist and author Lori Gottlieb talks about what drove her to see a therapist herself -- and how that changed how she sees he... Read more

On Wednesday's Houston Matters: We bring you full results and analysis from election day with News 88.7's Jen Rice: Then, local experts further break down the election results in our weekly Political Roundup: Plus, local food writers discuss their favorite hidden gems around town in the latest installment of The Full Menu: And mezzo-soprano and HGO Studio alumna Joyce DiDonato discusses her opera career and her new conce... Read more

On Tuesday's Houston Matters: Voters go to the polls on Election Day 2019. News 88.7's Florian Martin reports live from a polling place: Also this hour: The Memorial Park Golf Course fully reopened Monday having completed renovations. It’s slated to be the new home to the Houston Open -- a stop on the PGA Tour. We learn more about the project and it's economic impact: Then, the BBC program World Questions is taping i... Read more

On Monday's Houston Matters: We learn more about the race for city controller and what the position is responsible for: Also this hour: Listeners share their Houston pet peeves: And we get an update on Houston sports:

On Friday's show: We learn the about the findings in a preliminary report about the fire at the ITC chemical facility earlier this year. Also this hour: Former Ambassador Susan Rice discusses her memoir, Tough Love, ahead of an event in Houston. We break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week's news. And fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi talks with Houston Public Media's Ernie Manouse.