Hello Houston: The Commuter Cut

In today’s edition of “The Commuter Cut,” Rick Sharga, CEO of the CJ Patrick Company, discusses why foreclosures are on the rise in Houston and what this means for homeowners.

Then, Frank and Celeste talk with Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, who joins us to share her thoughts on the county budget and more current issues.

Also, we discuss this weekend’s International Women’s Festival, with founder Adrianna Clawson and Carina Lopez, ...

In today's edition of "The Commuter Cut," Frank and Celeste talk with Kelly Young, the CEO of the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County, who discusses the city's civility ordinances and how they’re affecting the unhoused.

Then, we hear from Barbara Stewart, professor of Retail and Consumer Science at the University of Houston, who discusses the emotional power of branding following the recent uproar over Cracker Barrel...

In today’s edition of “The Commuter Cut,” we hear from Lexi Churchill, a research reporter for the ProPublica–Texas Tribune investigative unit, who discusses a report that found more than 60 instances of nepotism, self-dealing, and outright conflicts of interest at 27 Texas private schools – practices that would break the law in public schools.

Also, Terry Gosliner, Senior Curator of Invertebrate Zoology and Geology at the Californi...

In today's edition of "The Commuter Cut," we discuss the current state of crime here in Houston with criminal justice professors Jay Coons and Dr. Beth Gilmore, who both help us make sense of the numbers and the narratives behind them.

Also, we hear Frank and special guest hosts Chau Nguyen and Doug Miller talk with Dave Vance and Janine Cloud of the Houston-area DNA testing company FamilyTreeDNA, who tell us about some of the amazi...

In today’s edition of “The Commuter Cut,” we hear Frank and special guest hosts Chau Nguyen and Doug Miller talk with former Houston Mayor Bill White, who talks about the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and his role in Houston's response.

Also, we hear their conversation with Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, who joins us to talk about the anniversary of Hurricane Harvey today, and to share his thoughts on what we’ve le...

In today's edition of "The Commuter Cut," Ernie, Frank, and Celeste talk with Texas State Representative Jolanda Jones, who discusses the fight over redistricting at the State Legislature and the Texas House passing the latest redistricting map.

Then, we hear from Tony Award-winner Duncan Sheik, the composer of American Psycho the Musical, which is coming soon to the Hobby Center. Sheik tells us about the musical's latest updates, i...

In today’s edition of “The Commuter Cut,” Houston City Council Member Mario Castillo (District H) discusses the launch of a pilot program to hold public comment sessions in the evening, giving more working residents a chance to speak directly to their local government.

Also, we discuss the latest on the Russia-Ukraine conflict and what happens next with Vitalii Tarasiuk, the Consul General of Ukraine in Houston. Then, our hosts shar...

In today's edition of "The Commuter Cut," Harris County Commissioner for Precinct 4, Lesley Briones, discusses the Harris County budget and how Commissioners are proposing to manage the $48 million budget deficit as we approach the 25-26 fiscal year.

Then, Ernie, Frank, and Celeste talk with State Rep. Penny Morales Shaw, who discusses being one of eight Texas House Democrats who joined together to "Rip the Slip." She also shares he...

In today’s edition of “The Commuter Cut,” our hosts talk with Ronan O'Malley, Chief Program Officer for the World Affairs Council of Greater Houston, who helps break down yesterday’s meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Then, we hear from collectSPACE editor Robert Pearlman, who tells us more about the decision to relocate the Space Shuttle Discovery from the Smithsonian’s National Air a...

In today’s edition of “The Commuter Cut”, we hear Hello Houston’s first simulcast with "Florida Roundup" and their host, Tom Hudson, to discuss school vouchers. "Florida Roundup" airs on WLRN – the NPR station that serves Miami-Dade, Broward, Monroe and Palm Beach County.

Then, we’re joined by Pablo Pinto, Director of the Hobby School's Center for Public Policy, who explains how polls and statistics work. Also, we hear from Jay Brag...

In today's edition of "The Commuter Cut", Ernie and Celeste talk with Dr. Jeff Temple, a professor and psychologist at UTHealth Houston, who addresses gun violence and concerns parents have over a new state law that prohibits students from using their communication devices in schools.

Also, we hear from Mark Jones, a senior research fellow at the Hobby School of Public Affairs, who breaks down a new survey that found Houstonians wan...

In today’s edition of “The Commuter Cut”, Ernie and Celeste talk with Kristen Moreland, the Executive Director of the Gwich’in Steering Committee, who discusses an effort here in Houston to prevent drilling on ecologically rich land in the Arctic.

Also, Kam Franklin, the lead singer of The Suffers, tells us all about her new solo project, and we learn about World Class Meats, a Houston-based premium distributor specializing in exoti...

In today's edition of "The Commuter Cut", Ernie and Celeste talk with Texas House Representative Ann Johnson, who gives us an update on the Texas House Democrats breaking quorum to prevent redrawn state congressional maps from passing.

Then, we hear their conversation with House Representative Dr. Tom Oliverson, the current Chair of the House Republican Caucus and the majority leader of the Texas House, who shares his thoughts on th...

 In today’s edition of “The Commuter Cut”, Ernie and Celeste talk with Dr. Michael Chang, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at UTHealth Houston, who discusses what parents need to know about childhood immunizations and what's required for back-to-school.

Also, we hear from State Senator Molly Cook of Houston, who joins us to share her thoughts on what's happening in the Texas Legislature, and former U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke b...

In today's edition of "The Commuter Cut", Frank and Celeste talk with Leash Yu, a real estate and insurance expert, who shares his thoughts on the rising cost of homeowners' insurance. He also responds to comments from Hello Houston listeners.

Also, we hear from Katherine Schweit, an attorney, author, and former senior FBI official, who joins us to discuss her new book Women Who Talk to the Dead, which tells the true story of the la...

In today’s edition of “The Commuter Cut”, we hear Ernie's conversation with State Representative Gene Wu, who shares his thoughts on being singled out by Governor Greg Abbott as the "ringleader" in having House Democrats leave the state and break quorum.

Then, we’re joined by John Lienhard, founder of the long-running, Houston Public Media-produced radio program The Engines of our Ingenuity, who discusses his involvement with the pr...

In today's edition of "The Commuter Cut", we hear Ernie, Frank, and Celeste’s conversation with former U.S. Representative Colin Allred, who weighs in on the more than 50 Texas House Democrats who have broken quorum by leaving the state to block congressional redistricting.

Then, Dr. Mehul Patel, a pediatrician with Memorial Hermann, shares some helpful tips for parents to get their kids school-ready for the upcoming school year.

Plu...

In today’s edition of “The Commuter Cut”, Ernie, Frank, and Celeste talk with University of Houston Energy Fellow Ed Hirs, who gives us an update on President Trump's tariffs and what we can expect to happen from them.

Then, we hear from Texas Representative Harold V. Dutton Jr., who discusses being one of the Texas House Democrats breaking quorum by leaving the state to block redistricting, and his thoughts on the potential penalti...