Houston Matters

On Wednesday's show: From the latest on the war with Iran, to sexual misconduct scandals and resignations, to President Trump clashing with Pope Leo XIV, we discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup. Also this hour: What if the story of Eden isn’t just about the past but about the African-American experience today? We talk with artist Clarence Heyward about his new exhibit at the Houston Museum of African American Culture, which reimagines paradise, exile, and hope through a powerful modern lens. Watch

On Tuesday's show: Fort Bend County’s new chief executive was sworn in Monday. We learn more about County Judge Daniel Wong, a former Sugar Land city council member who was appointed to the position after K.P. George was removed from office last week. And we learn about some of the reaction to Houston City Council’s passage of a revised HPD policy for interacting with ICE. Also this hour: Houston’s social scene quite often revolves around alcohol. But what if connection didn’t require a drink? We learn how one Houston woman turned her personal journey to sobriety into a growing movement to create alcohol-free spaces and community, called Sober Girl Houston, as more Americans rethink their relationship with drinking. And we revisit the story of The Melody Maids, a group of singing teenage girls from southeast Texas that traveled the world performing for troops from World War II to Vietnam. A new documentary tells their story, and it will be shown April 15 at the River Oaks Theatre. Watch

On Monday's show: We discuss what we learned from the Artemis II mission, what's ahead for future Artemis missions, and how the mission moved us closer to establishing more permanent operations on the moon — and potentially going to Mars someday. Also this hour: Gardening expert Meg Tapp will answer listener questions. And we preview the Rockets' first round matchup in the NBA Playoffs. Watch

On Friday's show: We preview this evening's planned re-entry and splashdown of the Artemis II astronauts. Houston Public Media will offer live coverage of the crew's splashdown beginning around 6:45 p.m. on News 88.7 and on YouTube. Also this hour: We find out how the water crisis in Corpus Christi has led many municipalities in the region to rush to pump water from aquifers in order to try and avert their own disasters. Then, we break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week. And we learn how the Brazilian community and its culture are expanding in the Bayou City ahead of this year’s Brazilian Food and Music Festival. Watch

On Thursday's show: Houston City Council has approved a proposal to limit Houston police officers' cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. Councilmember Alejandra Salinas joins us to discuss the details and why she supported the measure. Also this hour: From changing trends to pleasing customers and thin profit margins, running a restaurant has never been easy. But is it even harder these days with on-again/off-again tariffs and rising costs? We talk it over with some folks in the business. And an upcoming performance from the Houston Chamber Choir called The Sacred Veil explores how music can be used for healing. Watch

On Wednesday's show: Just hours before a deadline President Trump had set for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face widespread destruction, the United States and Iran reached a ceasefire agreement, set to begin immediately and lasting two weeks. We consider what might happen next and examine what the president has been saying and doing regarding Iran as we discuss the latest developments in politics. Also this hour: We learn about Camp Kangaroo, which helps children who are grieving the loss of a loved one. And Captain John Dyer, a longtime Houston military and commercial pilot, shares stories from his time in the cockpit. He's among those being inducted into the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame at an event Friday at the Lone Star Flight Museum. Watch

On Tuesday's show: Artemis II astronauts had an historic day Monday, conducting their lunar fly-by and traveling farther from earth than any other humans. We learn more about what they achieved. And we learn about HISD's plans to expand Superintendent Mike Miles' New Education System to nine more campuses. Also this hour: A handful of local breweries have closed across Houston in recent years. What are some of the market factors that are causing that? Has the craft beer bubble burst? Are people drinking other things these days -- or not drinking at all? We talk it over. And how much impact does a father figure really have? An upcoming exhibit at The Health Museum is turning to Houstonians to explore the answer.

On Monday's show: After nearly 50 years in publication, the Fort Bend Star is closing down. This is the second community newspaper in recent weeks in Greater Houston to announce it was ceasing operations after The Leader ended publication in March after more than 70 years. Meanwhile, a company purchased the magazine Houstonia and laid off numerous editorial positions. We discuss these stories and what they mean for local journalism in the region. Also this hour: We offer listeners a chance to vent about their pet peeves about life in our city. And we get an update on Houston sports from Jeff Balke, co-host of the Bleav in Astros podcast. Watch

On Friday's show: We get the latest on the Artemis II mission as it continues into its second full day. Also this hour: From the recent death of a man law enforcement believed was connected to the murders of several Houston-area women, to the indictment this week of his longtime friend for his alleged involvement, we make sense of a flood of new developments in some murder cases that have sat unsolved for decades and are considered part of the so-called "Texas Killing Fields." Then, from a hoax involving the death of a 193-year-old tortoise, to the case of 400,000 stolen KitKat bars, we consider The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week. And we pay a visit to the sprawling complex of commerce that is the Traders Village flea market. Watch

On Thursday's show: NASA's historic Artemis II mission launched successfully, lifting off at 5.35 p.m. Central Time Wednesday from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. We learn what's next for the mission and the role Houston’s Johnson Space Center will play. Also this hour: We consider the experiences of youth transitioning out of the foster care system. Then, a dermatologist offers advice on how to take care of your skin as many of us are spending more time outdoors. And we get to know the Houston Symphonic Band. Watch

On Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup. Also this hour: In this month's installment of The Full Menu, local food writers talk about some restaurants worth taking a short trip outside Houston to try. And a unique company in The Woodlands called Othram used DNA to identify a suspect in the 1990 "Lovers Lane" murders in Houston. We revisit a conversation about how they do that work. Watch

On Tuesday's show: A federal trial underway this week could force Texas to air condition its prisons, where temperatures routinely top 90 degrees and inmates have died from the heat. Reporter Bayliss Wagner provides details. Also this hour: We talk about science fairs and how they can potentially influence the careers of their student participants. Then, while the weather in Houston has been pretty nice lately, we all know heat is coming. And that means running our air conditioners more. So, how can you make sure your A/C unit isn’t fighting for its life? A local HVAC contractor offers some general tips to keep your system running smoothly. And we learn how Tuffly Park was renamed after beloved local coach. Watch

On Monday's show: A number of No Kings protests took place in the region over the weekend. We learn what took place. And as the partial government shutdown enters its 45th day, we get an update on airport security wait times at Bush Airport. Also this hour: New research suggests AI can be helpful during the creative process. We ask a few Houston area creatives what they think. Then, as NASA prepares to launch Artemis II this week, taking humans back to the moon for the first time since the Apollo program, we recall Gemini, the program that preceded Apollo, and how it may have actually been what won the space race over the Russians. And we recap the rest of the Astros season-opening series against the Angels. Watch

On Friday's show: We check in on the status of long wait times at Bush Intercontinental Airport amid a partial government shutdown. And the UH Cougars were knocked out of the NCAA Tournament with a loss to Illinois last night. We recap the game. Also this hour: From repurposing the Astrodome to the high-speed rail line between Houston and Dallas, there are some big -- potentially visionary -- projects in Greater Houston that never quite come to fruition. We consider some of the reasons why. Then, we break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week. And Houston’s EZ Band, which brings Tejano flavor to covers of modern pop songs, performs for us in studio. Watch

On Thursday's show: We check in again on the latest efforts to reduce security delays at Bush Airport as TSA workers remain unpaid during the partial government shutdown. Also this hour: Following the conviction of a Houston man for murder in a case involving stalking, we discuss how to recognize it and what practical steps can be taken to help someone in danger. Then, we examine how diagnostic delays, a lack of tailored treatments, and historic underinvestment in conditions that primarily or disproportionately affect them all combine to impact women’s health outcomes across Greater Houston. And we get an update on Houston’s real estate market. Watch

On Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup. Also this hour: We revisit a question we’ve asked before: is Texas too big? And we reflect on the women’s suffrage movement in Houston and Texas and discuss why women's voting access is still a relevant topic today. Watch

On Tuesday's show: The annual CERAWeek energy conference is taking place in Houston this week. We learn about protests planned during the event and about some of the conference's high-profile speakers. And we dig into the state of the energy industry amid ever-rising oil prices. Also this hour: Anti-Islamic rhetoric is on the rise. We discuss how Houston-area Muslims are responding and what they're thinking about their future in Texas. Then, we discuss the contributions of women to space exploration and how to better highlight their stories ahead of an event Thursday on that subject. We talk with Margot Lee Shetterly, author of the book Hidden Figures, and Melanie A. Adams, interim director of the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum. And the third-annual Houston Bookstore Crawl takes place during the month of April, with 31 independent bookstores across the area taking part. We revisit a conversation with three bookstore operators about why the business of books continues to thrive and what readers can expect to find in Greater Houston’s diverse bookstore scene. Watch

On Monday's show: The University of Houston Cougars men's basketball team is back in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA tournament after a blowout win over Texas A&M. They will take on Illinois on Thursday night in what is essentially a home game at the Toyota Center. We review how they got here and contemplate what’s next with the help of Houston Chronicle reporter Joseph Duarte. And Houston Public Media’s Michael Adkison drops by to review the reaction in Houston and Texas to the allegations against the late 20th century labor leader and activist César Chávez. Also this hour: The Trump administration claims the war in Iran will not be an extended engagement. But what if it is? We discuss how it might affect Houston -- beyond high gas prices. Then, we take a deep dive into the rollout of the state’s school vouchers program with Houston Public Media's Bianca Seward and Elizabeth Sander from the Houston Chronicle. And we preview the new baseball season for the Astros, who kick things off Thursday night against the Angels at Daikin Park. Watch

On Friday's show: A battle over immigration enforcement is playing out at Houston City Hall, and it puts the mayor and city council on a collision course. And Harris County commissioners have voted to pass a controversial expansion of Ben Taub Hospital through eminent domain. We get details on both stories from the Houston Public Media newsroom. Also this hour: We preview the Houston Hockey Hall of Fame induction event tonight, emceed by our own hockey enthusiast, Craig Cohen. Inductees include Chie Chie Yard, an NHL executive, former Olympian, and Houston-native. And we find out what's on tap for the annual Hockey Day in Houston event this Saturday at Saint Arnold Brewery. And we break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week. Watch

On Thursday's show: Delays in heavy trash pickup around the city are sometimes forcing residents to take matters into their own hands. We find out what's behind the crisis and whether any solutions are on the horizon. Also this hour: A national conference exploring the intersection of medicine and religion takes place in Houston March 22-24. We preview the event and discuss where those two things should and should not intersect. And we learn about this year’s Buffalo Bayou Partnership Regatta, the biggest canoe and kayak race in Texas, which takes place on Saturday. Watch