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Published by 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 — one we hope you’ll continue here, at home, at work, with family, with friends and neighbors. We hope to introduce Houstonians to one another, to celebrate our diversity, and to engage one another through stories and conversations that demonstrate depth and context. Just the sort of thing you count on from public media.
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On Friday's show: We look back at Sept. 11, 2001, 25 years later as we hear from Houstonians who were in New York the morning of the terrorist attacks there, in Washington, and in Shanksville, Penn. And we hear from different generations of Houstonians about how they remember the day and how it has affected them and their respective generations differently. And, from President Trump saying he’d give each American $5,000 if the GOP retains control of Congress, to ABC refusing to air Jimmy Kimmel’s interview with James Talarico, we break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week. Watch
On Thursday's show: Texas Comptroller Don Huffines has requested legislators double the money behind the state’s private school voucher program to $2 billion. More than 100,000 students sit on the waitlist, but critics argue there is little evidence vouchers are delivering on their promises to justify expanding the program. Also this hour: We consider why the federal minimum wage hasn’t been raised in 17 years. Then, as the Taliban retook Afghanistan in 2021, The New York Times scrambled to evacuate people that worked for its bureau there and their families. They ended up here in Houston. Why, how, and what happened next is the subject of the new book, The Last Free Women . We talk with the co-authors, Rebecca Blumenstein and Diana Kapp, ahead of an event at Brazos Bookstore Friday. And, this weekend, Performing Arts Houston will present a concert at Jones Hall featuring the complete piano etudes of Philip Glass . Among the performers is Jiani Wu , an HSPVA alum and a current Rice University piano student, who performs and talks about Glass' music. Watch
On Wednesday's show: From this week’s GOP mid-term convention in Dallas, to the New Hampshire primary and other stories, we discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup. Also this hour: We consider the challenges and importance of communicating with the public about science and scientific research as Rice University launches a new center dedicated to that mission. And we revisit a 2025 conversation with chef, food writer, and filmmaker Adán Medrano about his work honoring the plant-based cooking traditions of Texas-Mexicans. Watch
On Tuesday's show: After years of scarcity, there is now a much greater selection of homes for sale in the Houston market. Despite that, Houston Chronicle reporter Marissa Luck talks to us about why there still aren't many good bargains out there. And we take the pulse of the Houston real estate market with Theresa Hill , chair of the Houston Association of Realtors. For years during the pandemic, Houston homebuyers were told there just weren’t enough homes on the market to bring down prices. Now, buyers have a much bigger selection of homes to choose from – but they still aren’t finding major discounts. Also this hour: We offer listeners a chance to vent their pet peeves about life in our city. And we learn about Slime in the Ice Machine , a new video game featuring Houston as its setting. Watch
On Friday's show: A Galveston County jury has sentenced James Elmore , 61, to 20 years in prison for his role in a decades-old "Texas Killing Fields" case that went unsolved for over 40 years. We get the details on his trial and sentencing. Also this hour: NASA just launched a new telescope. We learn what makes the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope different than others before it, like the Hubble and the James Webb Space Telescope, and what the agency hopes to discover with new snapshots of the universe. Then, we break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week. And members of the ensemble WindSync tell us about their joint performance with Musiqa tonight at Miller Outdoor Theatre. Watch
On Thursday's show: We discuss the recent deal the city of Houston made promising to never absorb The Woodlands in exchange for $50 million over the next four years. Also this hour: We discuss how the growth of AI is shaping the medical field for doctors and patients. Then, a DPS trooper tells us what to do if (and, let's face it when) you’re in a fender bender on Houston roads and highways. And the folks behind Houston's online radio station Ice House Radio talk about their mission to share and document Southern music culture. Watch
On Wednesday's show: We get an update on the after effects of Tropical Storm Edouard after it made its way through southeast Texas. Also this hour: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup. Then, what's the holy grail of memorabilia from NASA's Apollo program? We find out as we learn about the realm of space memorabilia . And a new art exhibit at Rice called Radiant Geometries explores academic concepts like math, science, and technology through Indigenous and Latin American traditions. Watch
On Tuesday's show: Tropical Storm Edouard has formed moving in the Gulf and could bring heavy rain to parts of Greater Houston today. We have the very latest on the forecast and how area communities are preparing. Also this hour: In this month's installment of The Full Menu , Houston foodies offer their suggestions for the best breakfast and brunch options in town. And, last week, Houston Audubon announced its rebranding itself as Birds Houston , to better describe the organization’s mission to connect people with birds and to champion conservation. Birds and birding are surprisingly big in Greater Houston, which explains why there’s a Texas-sized field guide, called Birds of Texas, describing the hundreds of bird species you can find here. We learn more about it from its author. Watch
On Monday's show: Fort Bend County commissioners voted last week to strip funding and staff from the office of elected County Attorney Bridgette Smith-Lawson, creating a new civil legal department under the court's own control. We learn what it could mean for the county and its residents. Also this hour: A tropical disturbance in the Gulf could develop into a tropical depression -- or even a tropical storm -- by Tuesday, the National Weather Service predicts, with several inches of rain falling in southeast Texas. We get the latest information on how it might affect Greater Houston. Then, during his visit to Johnson Space Center last week, President Trump signed an executive order to get the ball rolling on a U.S. Space Academy . We learn what it would do and consider whether the announcement signals an intent to place it here in Space City. And we reflect on how the often-overlooked Gemini missions won the space race. Plus, we discuss hair loss, hair changes, and signs of a need for medical attention with Dr. Oyetewa Asempa from Align Dermatology . And we preview the Texans season with Jonathan Alexander of the Houston Chronicle. Watch
On Friday's show: We get details on Pres. Trump's visit to Houston, with a RNC fundraiser last night and plans to bestow the Artemis II astronauts with a Congressional Space Medals of Honor today. Also this hour: we break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week. Then, restaurants come and go. So, how are some able to stand the test of time and become dining institutions that have stuck around 50, 80, or even more than a hundred years? We visit three of Houston's longest-lived eateries to find out. And we learn about an exhibition called Anomalous , which features works by a pair of Houston artists examining the beauty in imperfections. Watch
On Thursday's show: We talk with Houston Public Media’s Dominic Anthony Walsh about Houston Police Chief Noe Diaz being a no-show at a Houston City Council public safety committee meeting this week examining a report on HPD calls involving ICE. We also discuss a $50 million agreement under consideration by Houston City Council that would, in part, include a decision not to absorb Woodlands Township . Also this hour: We get an update on developments in the bid for an NHL expansion team in Houston or Austin. Then, many companies promote drinks or supplements as health-forward, but what works best for you and when should you put them down? And we preview this weekend’s Houston Mariachi Festival . Watch
On Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup. Also this hour: We learn how the concept of cohousing works by visiting East End Commons , a first-of-its kind in Houston housing concept that just opened in the East End. And two local ensembles come together to celebrate the 90th birthday of composer Arvo Pärt with a pair of concerts Aug. 29 and 30. We learn more from the founders of Kinetic and Cor Mundi. Watch
On Tuesday's show: The city of Houston has opened a program to provide funding to help homeowners whose property was damaged in the 2024 derecho or Hurricane Beryl. We get details on how the federally funded program works and who is eligible. Also this hour: The Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is holding an infrastructure summit and expo Wednesday. We learn more about it from the chamber’s Laura Murillo. Then, while the political world is focused on the upcoming election, we’re going to look back at historic leaders in Houston’s history, and why some are beloved, some are seen as controversial, and why those sentiments can change over time. And Houston artist Avery Brown Renfro discusses three generations of art in her family -- her work and that of her father and grandfather, Bruce Brown and Leon Renfro. An exhibit at Texas Southern University celebrating all three is on display beginning Aug. 29. Watch
On Monday's show: More than 20 Houston-area apartment landlords are accused of using a shared pricing algorithm to push rents higher. We find out what a settlement means for affected renters. Also this hour: As Houstonians, we waste a lot of time sitting in traffic. We lose hours doom scrolling on social media. We also lose precious time contending with spam calls and junk mail, which only seem to get worse as time goes by. Can we free ourselves from unsolicited calls, e-mails, and texts? Then, a Houston Chronicle article laid out how HISD and other districts may be gaming the system to artificially inflate their state accountability grades and why that particular gravy train may soon end. We discuss that and other developments in education with a roundtable of reporters. And the Astros General Manager, Dana Brown, is parting ways with the team after four seasons. We talk about his tenure and what comes next for the team, which is tied for the division lead, with Bleav in Astros podcast co-host Jeff Balke . Watch
On Friday's show: ERCOT has announced when its audit of data centers mandated by Gov. Greg Abbott will be complete. And a new report expresses concern over certain pathogens found in Texas waterways. Also this hour: Houston Chronicle columnist Regina Lankenau explains how a relatively unique court in Harris County is helping renters avoid eviction . Then, we break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week. And the 1877 tall ship Elissa recently returned to Galveston after visiting New York for America’s 250th birthday. We talk with a volunteer crew member and the director of the Galveston Historic Seaport about the voyage and the historic ship -- one of only three of its kind still actively sailing. Watch
On Thursday's show: We look at the forecast for hot weather as a heat advisory begins today with Justin Ballard, meteorologist with the Houston Chronicle. And, amid the Houston heat, Houston City Council has approved an ordinance requiring landlords to provide air conditioning for residents in rental units within the next 120 days. Also this hour: Back in the 1880s, Mexican Americans in the southwest established escuelitas (Spanish for "little schools"). These are small, grass-roots educational spaces to teach community children about their history and culture. This summer, Magnolia Park Arts and Community launched its own pilot escuelita program . We learn more about it. Then, we examine the role chaplains play at the Texas Medical Center and in other health care settings across Greater Houston. And we preview Saturday night's performance of The Call of the Flute by the Indian performing arts group Samskriti at Miller outdoor Theatre. Watch
On Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup. Also this hour: When Texas became a state in 1845, it might have been given Congressional permission to divide itself into five states . We contemplate what such a move might have meant and would mean today for a metro area like Houston, which might've become a state unto itself. And we visit a first-of-its-kind monument to Black pioneers in space called EarthRise . Watch
On Tuesday's show: We take a closer look at the redistricting saga in Galveston County. Also this hour: We get a primer on MUDs, municipal utility districts, which handle water services and other utilities for unincorporated areas of Texas. Then, we discuss how to deal with burnout in your job or career. And people in Texas love their barbecue, but how did a lower-quality cut of meat like brisket become the main event ? Houston Chronicle barbecue columnist J.C. Reid explains. Watch
On Monday's show: We discuss state school ratings , and questions about reading proficiency at some HISD schools with Houston Public Media’s education reporter Bianca Seward. Also this hour: It’s hardly a new phenomenon, but it just keeps increasing -- people, industry, and venues moving from the core of the city outward into the suburbs, exurbs, and beyond. From housing developments, to company headquarters, to new arenas, we explore what this continuing shift means as Greater Houston continues to transform. Then, veterinarian Dr. Lori Teller answers listener questions about pet care. You can submit yours now to talk@houstonmatters.org . And, as the WNBA was suddenly thrust into a challenging spotlight last week over whether transgender women should be allowed to play in the league, we consider how professional sports leagues can navigate divisive issues in the culture that rile up fans and players alike. Watch
On Friday's show: A representative from Pride Houston 365 will join us to preview Saturday’s rescheduled Pride Houston parade. Also this hour: As a recent tragic incident of domestic violence reinforced here in Houston, while conversation about abuse often encourages people to “watch out for the signs,” it’s not always clear who is ultimately responsible for speaking up when those signs begin to show -- or even how to do it. We discuss that with Leticia Manzano the Houston Area Women's Center . Then, we break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week. And we talk with comedian Ron Funches , who just brought his standup to Houston last weekend. Watch
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Observed September 20, 2026.
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