What’s ‘driving’ the latest round of Houstonian Pet Peeves
In our monthly opportunity to vent their complaints about life in Houston, listeners had plenty of driving-related gripes to share.
View ArticleCougars fall just short (April 8, 2025)
On Tuesday's show: The Houston Cougars fell two points short of a men's college basketball national championship Monday night. We recap the loss to the Florida Gators. And we hear from retired WNBA...
View ArticlePussy Riot founder discusses creating art that generates change
Ahead of a visit to Houston on April 17, Nadya Tolokonnikova talks about how her Russian feminist protest art collective became a symbol of resistance to Russian President Vladimir’s Putin’s regime.
View ArticleThe week in politics (April 9, 2025)
On Wednesday's show: A special election has been called for November in the 18th Congressional District, leaving some Houston residents without a representative for another seven months. We discuss...
View ArticlePolitical Roundup: Ken Paxton takes on John Cornyn in Senate race
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is officially running against U.S. Sen. John Cornyn next year. And Gov. Greg Abbott has called a special election in November for the 18th Congressional District. We...
View Article11th Street redesign (April 10, 2025)
On Thursday's show: We get updates on recent developments at Houston City Hall, including concerns about the fate of the redesign of 11th Street in The Heights
View ArticleTexas Roadhouse becomes the new king of casual dining: The Good, Bad, and...
The Houston Matters panel of non-experts weighs in on stories from the week’s news and decides if they’re good, bad, or ugly.
View ArticleVoter thoughts on Houston issues (April 11, 2025)
On Friday's show: A new poll sheds light on Houston-area voters’ attitudes on issues facing the city. And we break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.
View ArticleIn ‘The Antidote’ Karen Russell uses the Dust Bowl to warn against the...
Russell, whose novel "Swamplandia!" was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, talks about her latest novel ahead of an event in Houston on April 14.
View ArticleStudent visas revoked (April 14, 2025)
On Monday's show: At least 115 students and recent graduates in Texas have had their legal status changed by the U.S Department of State over the last few weeks. They're among more than 600 people...
View ArticleBoston Marathon bombing survivor (April 15, 2025)
On Tuesday's show: After she survived the Boston Marathon bombing, former Houstonian Rebekah Gregory fought to save her badly injured leg. We learn why she eventually chose to let go and have it...
View ArticleHow amputating her leg helped a Boston Marathon bombing survivor move on
Former Houstonian Rebekah Gregory shares the story of losing her leg after surviving the Boston Marathon and her work helping others.
View ArticleThe week in politics (April 16, 2025)
On Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest developments in politics. And Houston author Huda Fahmy tells us about her latest graphic novel, "Huda F Wants to Know?"
View ArticlePolitical Roundup: The ongoing case of a wrongly deported man
Houston Matters discusses the ongoing case of a man the Trump administration says was mistakenly sent to a Salvadoran prison as we break down the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup.
View ArticleA young Muslim girl deals with her parents’ divorce in the latest ‘Huda F’...
Houston author and illustrator Fahmy talks about the latest installment in her series of graphic novels about a girl loosely based on herself. It's called "Huda F Wants to Know?"
View ArticleHouse passes school vouchers (April 17, 2025)
On Thursday's show: The Texas House has given initial approval to a billion-dollar private school voucher bill that stands to transform education in Texas in the years to come and a $7.7 billion public...
View ArticleBacklash over the Blue Origin flight: The Good, Bad, and Ugly of the week
The Houston Matters panel of non-experts weighs in on stories from the week’s news and decides if they’re good, bad, or ugly.
View ArticleLuring film production to Texas (April 18, 2025)
On Friday's show: A bill to greatly expand efforts to lure film and TV production to Texas moves forward in the legislature. And we break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.
View ArticleLegacy of Pope Francis (April 21, 2025)
On Monday's show: We talk about the death of Pope Francis, the possibility of a full THC ban in Texas, and answer dog and cat care questions.
View ArticleHouston’s higher STI rates (April 22, 2025)
On Tuesday's show: A challenge to a requirement that health insurance providers cover HIV prevention medications was heard at the U.S. Supreme Court in a case stemming from Texas. We learn more and...
View ArticleThe week in politics (April 23, 2025)
On Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup. And we talk with opera star Christine Goerke.
View ArticlePolitical Roundup: Trump softens on trade war with China
Houston Matters discusses the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup.
View ArticleHow soprano Christine Goerke found her way to opera stardom — by accident
Goerke talks about her path to a singing career ahead of a benefit concert for UH's Moores School of Music on Thursday.
View ArticleIndependent bookstores (April 24, 2025)
On Thursday's show: We get some updates on city government. Then, we learn why independent bookstores in Greater Houston seem to be thriving right now. And we use the new horror film "Sinners" as an...
View ArticleAstros fans reselling bobbleheads: The Good, Bad, and Ugly of the week
The Houston Matters panel of non-experts weighs in on stories from the week’s news and decides if they’re good, bad, or ugly.
View ArticleGrading Texas schools (April 25, 2025)
On Friday's show: We dig deeper on the TEA's grades for Texas schools for the 2022-2023 school year, which were just released after a 19-month legal battle. And a local union wants to see an increase...
View ArticleWorkers at jobs tied to Houston tourism are seeking a $23 hourly wage
As the number of people visiting Houston each year continues to increase, many of the workers who greet and serve those visitors say their wages haven’t kept up.
View ArticleWhen being tough on crime goes too far (April 28, 2025)
On Monday's show: We provide a rundown on some of the municipal election decisions being made today in Fort Bend County. And we discuss some “tough on crime” policies that may go too far.
View ArticleWhen does being ‘tough on crime’ go overboard?
Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare discusses the need to separate the approach to violent, dangerous criminals from the approach to low-level offenders.
View ArticleForecasting the economy (April 29, 2025)
On Tuesday's show: Last week, two economists gave very different outlooks on how the Trump economic policy could affect Houston. Could they both be right? Or both be wrong? And do economists really...
View ArticleLibraries have been in the crosshairs of culture wars throughout history
Houston Matters talks with Dawn Logsdon, the filmmaker behind the PBS documentary, "Free for All: The Public Library."
View ArticleThe week in politics (April 30, 2025)
On Wednesday's show: This week marks President Donald Trump's 100th day in office. We reflect on everything that's happened so far and discuss the latest developments in local, state, and national...
View ArticlePolitical Roundup: What Trump’s first 100 days mean for Houston
In our weekly roundup of the latest developments in politics, Houston Matters examines how the president's first 100 days have affected Greater Houston.
View ArticleBook pulls back the curtain on the ‘sanitized’ practice of lethal injection
Legal scholar Corinna Lain shares some of the revelations she had from seven years researching the practice of lethal injection in the United States, the subject of her book "Secrets of the Killing...
View ArticleHospital prices (May 1, 2025)
On Thursday's show: Hospitals in Texas are failing to provide real transparency in pricing for medical services they provide. We discuss a new report on that subject. And blues guitarist Kenny Wayne...
View ArticleKenny Wayne Shepherd says going by three names had nothing to do with Stevie...
Ahead of a concert Sunday with Bobby Rush at House of Blues, Shepherd explains how he chose his stage name and reflects on getting into the music business as a teenager.
View ArticleAn AI-powered mood ring for dating: The Good, Bad, and Ugly of the week
The Houston Matters panel of non-experts weighs in on stories from the week’s news and decides if they’re good, bad, or ugly.
View ArticleHappy Houston (May 2, 2025)
On Friday's show: We get updates on two abortion-related bills that passed the Texas Senate this week and are moving on to the House. And we invite listeners to share what they're happy about.
View ArticleHouston police get a raise (May 5, 2025)
On Monday's show: We examine a new deal between the City of Houston and the police union, giving officers more money. And we offer listeners a chance to vent about their pet peeves.
View ArticleGame 7 losses and other Houstonian pet peeves
Houston Matters host Craig Cohen leads this month’s grumble-fest, venting about his favorite team’s playoff demise. (And no, it’s not the Rockets).
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