How one surreal photo inspired Emma Donoghue’s latest novel, ‘The Paris Express’
The Irish-born writer, who's known for her historical fiction and the novel 'Room,' speaks at an event in Houston on March 24.
View ArticleLaw enforcement and ICE (March 20, 2025)
On Thursday's show: We learn about HPD's approach to handling cases of immigration enforcement after a local man detained by the department was handed over to federal agents. And we talk with comedian...
View ArticleStealing a golden toilet: 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 ArticleThe latest on the Pauline Road Fire (March 21, 2025)
On Friday's show: The latest on a wildfire in San Jacinto and Montgomery counties, revisiting a conversation about Eldrewey Stearns, and the good, the bad, and the ugly of the week's news.
View ArticleHouston’s real estate market (March 24, 2025)
On Monday's show: We discuss the latest developments in residential real estate here in Greater Houston, which has long been a seller’s market.
View ArticlePassing the ADA (March 25, 2025)
On Tuesday's show: Activist Lex Frieden reflects on what it took to get the Americans with Disabilities Act passed, which is the subject of a new PBS documentary called "Change, Not Charity."
View ArticleThe week in politics (March 26, 2025)
On Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup. And the board chair of METRO answers questions about public transportation in our region.
View ArticleFrom ‘METRONext’ to ‘METRONow’— how public transit is changing in Houston
METRO Board Chair Elizabeth Gonzalez Brock fields questions from Houston Matters listeners about public transportation in the region.
View ArticleStormy weather for Opening Day (March 27, 2025)
On Thursday's show: There’s potential for some heavy rainfall, maybe even a bit of flooding over the next 36 hours. We look at the forecast, and we preview the new Astros season, which begins tonight.
View ArticlePianist Jason Moran pays homage to the musical range of Duke Ellington in a...
Moran talks about his performance, "Duke Ellington: My Heart Sings” and about his dream to create a venue in Houston where jazz musicians can find an open mic to jam.
View ArticleFort Bend ISD considers Bible-infused curriculum: The Good, Bad, and Ugly of...
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 ArticleFuture of Texas water (March 28, 2025)
On Friday's show: We learn what ever-hotter summers may do to our water supply and what’s being done to prepare for potential shortages in Texas. And we break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of...
View ArticleRailroad crossing safety (March 31, 2025)
On Monday's show: We learn about a bill in the Texas Legislature aimed at improving safety at railroad crossings after the death of a Houston high school student.
View ArticleIdentifying a serial killer’s victims (April 1, 2025)
On Tuesday's show: We discuss the growing trend of too much hype in weather forecasting. And we learn how scientists identified the remains of long-unidentified victims of serial killer Dean Corll.
View ArticleHow scientists finally gave names to many unknown victims of serial killer...
Investigative reporter Lise Olsen's new book, "The Scientist and the Serial Killer," details how forensic anthropologists helped give names to unidentified remains tied to a notorious Houston murderer...
View ArticleThe week in politcs (April 2, 2025)
On Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup. And food writers talk about some of their favorite places to take kids to eat.
View ArticlePolitical Roundup: Big day for tariffs, and a slow-moving Texas House
More tariffs, election results, a very long speech, and what’s not happening yet with school vouchers -- we discuss those and other developments in politics.
View ArticleThe best Houston restaurants to take kids: The Full Menu
Food writers discuss their favorite places to take kids to eat and play in the area.
View ArticleClashing over the city’s overtime expenses (April 3, 2025)
On Thursday's show: Houston leaders are clashing after an explosive report on overtime expenditures by the police, fire, and solid waste departments. We find out what's going on. And Houston native...
View ArticleAllowing teachers to pray in the classroom: 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 ArticleControversial bills in the legislature (April 4, 2025)
On Friday's show: A number of fascinating and controversial bills over abortion, religion in schools, and high speed rail are getting hearings these days in Austin We discuss them all. And we break...
View ArticleUH plays for a title (April 7, 2025)
On Monday's show: The University of Houston's men's basketball team will play tonight for the national title against Florida after a stunning comeback victory against Duke. We preview the game. And we...
View ArticleWhat’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 Article