Houston Matters

On Friday's show: After elections this week, we take a closer look at the shifting politics of school boards with the help of Houston Chronicle reporter Elizabeth Sander, who has been covering the politics of suburban school districts over the last year. Also this hour: New data suggests Houston isn't facing the effects of inflation as badly as other cities, but that’s cold comfort for Houstonians still struggling financially. We discuss what studies sometimes miss about Houston's economy. Then, from shutdown-prompted cancellations at Houston airports, to Tom Brady investing in a Texas company that cloned his late pit bull, our non-experts weigh in on The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week. And we check in with musician Rhett Miller, the longtime lead singer of the alt-country/rock band The Old 97s, fresh off a pair of performances at McGonigel's Mucky Duck. Watch

On Thursday's show: Houston City Council is considering a measure that would effectively prohibit homeless people from sidewalks in a sprawling area around a new homeless services center in the East Downtown neighborhood. The addition of a new zone to the so-called civility ordinance across the Greater East End would mark the third expansion of the rule over the past year. We get the latest details from Houston Public Media's Dominic Anthony Walsh. Also this hour: Attorney and law professor Joyce Vance talks about the erosion of democratic norms and how citizens can push back on that, which is the subject of her book, Giving Up Is Unforgivable: A Manual For Keeping A Democracy. Vance will speak at a Houston event on Nov. 13. Then, we talk with comedian Steve Hofstetter ahead of his appearance Friday at The Secret Group. And we meet the new director of Houston Grand Opera,James Gaffigan. Watch

On Wednesday's show: On Election Day, Democrats won high-profile races in Virginia, New Jersey, and New York, while back here in Houston, closely watched races for Congress and Houston City Council are headed to runoffs. We discuss election results and the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup. Also this hour: Dining out has been getting more expensive. So, we turn to our gaggle of foodies and seek their suggestions for the best low-cost eating options around town on this month’s edition of The Full Menu. And gifted and talented programs in Texas schools can take many forms. An education expert explains how those programs have evolved to embrace more than just academic prowess. Watch

On Tuesday's show: HISD Superintendent Mike Miles joins us to discuss issues facing the state's largest school district, from addressing food insecurity among students as SNAP benefits end amid the federal government shutdown, to kids reading books in HISD elementary schools. Also this hour: We talk with the co-authors of Frontera: A Journey Across the US-Mexico Border, a coffee table book designed to cut through the stereotypes and political rhetoric about the border by offering a close-up view of the communities along its entire length, from Texas to California. Watch

On Monday's show: We learn about renewed efforts in Texas to mine for minerals and metals needed for renewable energy, microchips, or military technology. Also this hour: We offer Houstonians a chance to vent about their pet peeves about life in our city. And we discuss the latest developments in Houston sports with Jeff Balke. Watch

On Friday's show: Houston has seen explosive growth over the past decade, primarily in flood plains. Houston Chronicle reporter Yilun Cheng explains some potential connections between development in the flood plain and donations to political campaigns. Also this hour: We meet Marine Corps veteran Steve Jimenez, who found relief from depression, anxiety, and a general lack of purpose after leaving the military in beekeeping. He founded Hives for Heroes, an organization to help his fellow veterans get into beekeeping. Jimenez is among several veterans involved in agriculture featured in an upcoming episode of the PBS series After Action. Then, from a mixed bag for Houston in Wallet Hub’s rankings of the country's best Halloween experiences, to fluctuating candy costs this Halloween, we break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week. And we learn how Sugar Land is celebrating Día de los Muertos. Watch

On Thursday's show: We learn about a controversy brewing in Fort Bend County as some county leaders circumnavigate the authority of the country attorney. Also this hour: A recent policy brief from the Sandra Day O'Connor Institute for American Democracy suggests teachers across the country are largely uncomfortable teaching civics in their classes, citing challenges like insufficient training, concerns about stirring controversy, and a lack of instructional guidance from school districts and states. Is civics actually that much harder to teach these days because of things like polarized politics? Then, he was one of the greatest rebounders in NBA history. Yet somehow, the name of former Houston Rocket Moses Malone doesn’t come up as often as Bird, Magic, or Jordan. We talk with author Paul Knepper about his new book, Moses Malone: The Life of a Basketball Prophet. And we talk about what we remember and what we miss about the AstroWorld theme park, which shut down on this day 20 years ago today. Watch

On Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup. Also this hour: Houston Chronicle reporter Andrea Ball joins us to discuss the ripple effects of one of Houston’s largest megachurches rewriting its rulebook, shifting decision-making power from the pews to the boardroom. Then, Michael Hagerty talks with a pair of local artists about how they transform objects and aspects of their everyday life into approachable, relatable photography, video, and sculpture reflecting truths about modern family life.

On Tuesday's show: Think your electricity bill has been high lately? You might be surprised by how much some of your fellow Texans say they’re being charged for power, month to month. We examine the findings from a new survey on the financial strain energy bills are putting on Texans. Also this hour: Texas Monthly writer Skip Hollandsworth discusses some noteworthy crimes committed in Texas by women. It’s the subject of his latest book, She Kills. Then, Houston native Diane Ravitch was once a firm proponent of standardized testing and school choice, and she was a key figure in President George W. Bush's No Child Left Behind policies -- until she changed her mind. We find out why, which she addresses in her book, An Education. And we meet the team behind lo-fi puppets + stuff, who make puppets and practice the art of puppetry in various forms. Watch

On Monday's show: The Trump administration recently announced it would quadruple Argentine beef imports to lower grocery prices, drawing sharp criticism from U.S. cattle producers and Texas Ag Commissioner Sid Miller. But he is pushing an alternative proposal. We learn the details. And we how Texas flagged more than 2,000 "potential noncitizens" on its voter rolls. Also this hour: We discuss some opportunities and challenges facing Houston's rapidly changing East End neighborhood. Then, we discuss the latest developments in consumer technology with columnist Dwight Silverman. And we talk over a former UH basketball player’s role in a growing sports betting scandal and what it says about mordern sports and sports betting with Jeff Balke, co-host of the Bleav in Astros podcast.

On Friday's show: We get an update on controversial plans to close a two-block section of Polk Street as a part of the $2 billion expansion of the George R. Brown Convention Center. Also this hour: Children's author Kate DiCamillo talks about how teachers reading to her in school helped shape her into a two-time Newbery Medal winner. DiCamillo, the author of titles like Because of Winn-Dixie and The Tale of Despereaux, will be in Houston for an event with Inprint on Sunday to discuss her latest book, Lost Evangeline. Then, we break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week. And it's been 50 years since Houston Grand Opera first presented the American opera Porgy and Bess, which won the organization a Tony and a Grammy Award. As the Gershwins' folk opera returns to the stage, we reflect on its legacy. Watch

On Thursday's show: As the federal government shutdown hits its third week, one looming effect is the possibility that SNAP benefits could stop in November. With millions of Americans at risk of going hungry, we talk with Brian Greene, CEO of Houston Food Bank about how his organization is bracing for a surge in need. Also this hour: We learn how some unlikely partnerships are helping conserve fisheries along the Gulf Coast. That story is the subject of a new book, called Sea Change, co-authored by Amanda Leland, executive director of the Environmental Defense Fund. She discusses the book at Brazos Bookstore on Thursday evening. Then, we get an update on the health of another body of water: Buffalo Bayou. Plus, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein presents a scientist whose ambitions get beyond his control. Does Houston have its own Frankenstein's monster of sorts? Joshua Zinn ponders that question on this month’s edition of The Bigger Picture. And, with Halloween season in full swing, we visit an area haunted house. Watch

On Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup. Also this hour: We learn about fentanyl and other substance use trends in the county from Harris County Public Health. And a new play at The Ensemble Theatre called Of a Darker Hue presents ghost stories of a different sort, transforming the stage into a ritual space of memory, mystery, and survival. Watch

On Tuesday's show: Over the weekend, the New York Times ran a profile on Houston Mayor John Whitmire, highlighting his approach to dealing with President Donald Trump. In the article, Whitmire, a Democrat, suggested his city is in less turmoil than other Democrat-led municipalities because he keeps his head down and avoids confrontations with the Republican president. We talk with J. David Goodman, the Houston bureau chief for the Times who wrote the story. Also this hour: We talk with Houston Chronicle columnist Lisa Falkenberg about a recent column in which she reported on HISD early elementary school teachers having to sneak books into the hands of their students because the lesson plans they’re required to follow don’t leave time for reading actual books. And we hear a response from Superintendent Mike Miles to her article. Then, a documentary screening this week at the River Oaks Theatre called The Librarians digs into how the books students have access to in public schools has become politicized. We talk with director Kim A. Snyder. And we visit one of Houston’s most anticipated food events, the Southern Smoke Festival, where chefs, bartenders, and food lovers come together not just to eat and drink, but to give back. Watch

On Monday's show: FIEL Houston executive director Cesar Espinoza was removed from the last Houston City Council meeting after he suggested city officials lied about the detention of an autistic 15-year-old boy. Emmanuel Gonzalez Garcia reportedly went missing nearly two weeks ago while selling fruit on the street with his mother. The boy ultimately ended up in federal custody. We discuss that case and what it can tell us about how Houston police officers interact with federal officials, including ICE, as we talk with Matt DeGrood of the Houston Chronicle. Then, Espinoza joins us to share his concerns and why he believes he was removed from Wednesday’s meeting. Also this hour: Today is the anniversary of the Saturday Night Massacre during Watergate. We revisit 2022 conversations about the lasting impact of the scandal and how it influenced film. Then, veterinarian Dr. Lori Teller gives us the lowdown on the dangers of pets getting into Halloween candy as she answers your pet care questions. And Kris Gardner from Houston Roundball Review previews the Rockets season, which tips off Tuesday night on the road against the champion Oklahoma City Thunder. Watch

On Friday's show: From Katy's Pride celebration being moved last-minute when the venue that had agreed to host it bowed to pressure brought by conservative leaders, to some Texas airports deciding not to show a video blaming Democrats for the federal government shutdown, we break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week. And we preview a performance from Mercury Chamber Orchestra of Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons" as one of the most famous pieces in classical music turns 300 years old this year. Watch

On Thursday's show: The timeline is set for how school vouchers will roll out in Texas beginning in February -- except that timing might only benefit parents who could already afford to send their kids to private school. Houston Chronicle reporter Isaac Yu explains why. Also this hour: Artificial intelligence is shaping our future, but could it also reinforce oppression? Ahead of a lecture this afternoon at the University of Houston, Safiya Umoja Noble explores how bias shows up in AI and what it means for marginalized communities. And we talk with members of the Drunk Shakespeare Company, which has set aside its usual celebration of The Bard's works to present a production tailor-made for October: Drunk Dracula. Watch

On Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup. Also this hour: Today is National Grouch Day. Since at least the mid 1970s, the day has celebrated grouches everywhere, including and highlighting Oscar the Grouch of Sesame Street fame. It’s billed as a day to embrace the inner grouch within us all, and maybe find a way to laugh about our sometimes over-the-top grumpiness. But does it seem like grouchiness is having too much of a moment? That too many of us, too often, are too angry, by default? We talk it over. And jazz saxophonist Walter Smith III talks about how growing up in Houston shaped his musical career. He pays homage to his home town in his latest album, wrly titled three of us are from Houston and Reuben is not. He performs from that recording, along with fellow Houston natives Jason Moran and Kendrick Scott, in a concert for DACAMERA Friday night at the Wortham Center.

On Tuesday's show: A strike by hotel workers at Hilton-Americas Houston has ended after 40 days. Late last week, the parties reached a deal to raise wages for housekeepers, stewards, and laundry attendants in a result that could have repercussions for the rest of Houston’s hospitality industry -- and for labor in general. We learn the details of the deal and discuss what it means. Also this hour: A new book called Police Against the Movement explores police violence during the Civil Rights Movement with some focus on how the Houston Police Department tried to undermine activism here at the time. And, every week across Greater Houston, vendors visit festivals and other events to sell their wares. We visit the recent Bayou City Art Festival to talk to vendors about what that life is like. Watch

On Monday's show: One week from today, early voting begins for this fall’s election. A Congressional seat, a city council seat, and 17 state constitutional amendments are up for consideration. Houston Public Media’s Andrew Schneider explains what's on the ballot. Also this hour: Meg Tapp from the Garden Club of Houston answers listeners’ gardening questions. And Jeff Balke, co-host of the Bleav in Astros podcast, discusses what the Astros need to do to return to the postseason next year. Watch