Houston Matters

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 check in on the continuing security delays at Bush Airport amid a partial government shutdown.Also this hour: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup.Then, 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

On Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup.Also this hour: When people think “rodeo,” they often picture one thing. But in Houston, rodeo culture tells a much bigger, more layered story -- one shaped by music, diverse cowboy traditions, fashion, and community. We explore how Houston’s version of rodeo culture stands apart.And a recent survey revealed some things about how Houstonians experience loneliness these days, so much so that it inspired a public event on the topic next week called Stronger Together. With those facts in mind, we ask a licensed professional counselor for some practical advice on how to address loneliness in our lives and communities.Watch

On Tuesday's show: An Australian gambler known as “The Joker” has confirmed he was behind the plot to engineer a guaranteed Lotto Texas jackpot win in 2023. In his ongoing coverage of this story, Houston Chronicle investigative reporter Eric Dexheimer tells us more about the man and the ring of high-stakes gamblers who pulled off the plot, reportedly with the full support of the Texas Lottery Commission.Also this hour: The next launch window for Artemis II is April 1-6. The mission to send astronauts around the moon and back has been delayed over technical issues found during testing, which remind us of the complicated nature of spaceflight. We discuss aerospace and aviation safety standards with an industry expert.Then, author Mark Stevens talks about his new memoir, The Last Club Kid, which recalls how Houston’s nightlife once offered refuge, freedom, and community for a generation during the height of the AIDS epidemic.And, on this St. Patrick's Day, we learn about Irish Americans, immigrants, and ex-pats who gather at Houston-area parks to play traditional Gaelic football, which combines elements of soccer and rugby, among other sports.Watch

On Monday's show: Houston-area public school districts have recently become inundated with requests for Individualized Education Programs, or IEPs, linked to Texas' new $1 billion school voucher program. Houston Public Media's Bianca Seward joins us to explain.Also this hour: We learn why Corpus Christi could run out of water by next year and discuss the possible ramifications for the state.Then, veterinarian Dr. Lori Teller answers listener questions about their pets.And, we get an update on Astros Spring Training and the World Baseball Classic.Watch

On Friday's show: We get the latest on the status of the upcoming Artemis II mission.Plus, we talk about the political implications of County Judge Lina Hidalgo's incident at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.Also this hour: We break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.Then, spring is on the way, and your allergies might be as well. We discuss how to deal with those challenging seasonal sneezes with the help of Dr. Dat Tran of Innovative Allergy.And movie legend Charlie Chaplin's 1940 satire of Adolf Hitler, The Great Dictator, will be screened on March 16 as a part of the Houston Jewish Film Festival. We look back at the film and consider what it's message has to tell us today.Watchhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45FJFryZNxQ

On Thursday's show: Houston Mayor John Whitmire and Houston Police Chief Noe Diaz have announced revisions to the department’s protocols for engaging with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. We learn what’s changed and why.Also this hour: Seeking out a spring break-appropriate trip into nature within a day’s drive? We visit Lake Houston Wilderness Park to learn more about it.Then, we get answers to some questions about pharmaceutical drugs. For example, when you’re sick, how can you tell the difference between a symptom and a drug interaction? We ask a pharmacist about safer medication habits.And we discover what a new photo exhibit called Between Borders has to show us about the war in Ukraine -- and the unlikely organization hosting the exhibit.Watchhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0wvHnr5z6w

On Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup.Also this hour: Author Tayari Jones talks about how her latest novel, Kin, explores mother-daughter relationships and friendships between women. Jones appears tonight at Houston’s Kindred Stories.And we learn about a new exhibit at The Health Museum which explores the science, stories, and human experiences behind the fight against cancer.Watch

On Tuesday's show: Gas prices in Houston have risen around 50 cents in the last week, bringing the average price per gallon above $3 for the first time in recent memory, according to AAA, as the Iran war intensified. We discuss how long that increase might last and how it could affect the Houston economy.Also this hour: Houston hosting matches during this summer's FIFA World Cup brings international attention and scrutiny to human trafficking prevention in our region. So, how are local human rights groups preparing for the rise in illicit activities? And what happens once the games are over?Then, a civil rights nonprofit recently released a report documenting modern-day lynchings, finding more than 70 have taken place since 2000 here in Texas and six other states.And we all know Houston traffic can be challenging. But now imagine you’re in it while steering a covered wagon and a team of mules! We visit with the Valley Lodge Trail Riders as they roll into town for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.Watch

On Monday's show: Fort Bend County Judge KP George's trial for alleged money laundering is set to begin this week, and Galveston is embarking on a mission to help people live better and longer. Houston Public Media's Fort Bend and Galveston County reporters update us on those stories.Also this hour: We visit Camp for All near Brenham, where kids with disabilities, health conditions, and other challenges can have a traditional summer camp experience.Then, Meg Tapp from the Garden Club of Houston answers questions about how to maintain the plants in your home or garden.And we discuss the Texans' latest plan to overhaul their offensive line to protect the team's quarterback next season.Watch