Houston Matters Houston Public Media

On Friday's show: Meteorologist Eric Berger of Space City Weather tells us about some potential rain in the region next week and what might become of a tropical disturbance that is likely to develop in the Gulf of Mexico in the coming days.
Also this hour: Sony Pictures is buying Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas. And competitive eater Joey Chestnut is out of the Nathan’s hot dog eating contest this July 4th. We discuss those and other stories in the news on this week’s edition of The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.
Then, we revisit our tour of some of the items from The Kinsey African American Art & History Collection that are on display at Holocaust Museum Houston through June 23.
And, ahead of Father’s Day Sunday, we revisit Joshua Zinn’s 2023 conversation with Isobella Jade, Houston-based author of a book about connecting to her late father through the few objects he left behind in his car after his death.

On Thursday's show: With Houston City Council finally approving the city's budget, we talk with Sallie Alcorn, At-Large Council Member Position 5 and the chair of the Budget and Fiscal Affairs Committee.
Also this hour: We examine how commercial real estate is doing in Houston.
Then, we consider ways that downtown Houston could be changed and revitalized, inviting input from listeners.
And we learn about the Houston Show Choir, one of the oldest performing arts groups in the city.

On Wednesday's show: Houston City Council is taking on the city's next budget, and Hunter Biden was convicted on felony gun charges. We discuss those and other developments in local, state, and national politics in our weekly roundup.
Also this hour: Today is the 100th anniversary of the birth of late President and longtime Houstonian George H.W. Bush. We listen back to Craig Cohen’s 2015 conversation with biographer Jon Meacham about Bush, based on Meacham’s book Destiny and Power. Meacham has a new book out about Bush to mark the centennial. It’s titled The Call to Serve and features some never-before-published photos celebrating the 41st President.
And we talk with Varsha Bajaj, the New York Times bestselling author of the middle grade novel Thirst and numerous children's books. She’s back with her latest book, A Garland of Henna, and she’ll be in Houston for an event at Blue Willow Bookshop on Saturday.

On Tuesday's show: The Annie E. Casey Foundation’s annual Kids Count report is out, and it doesn’t have very flattering things to say about child wellbeing in Texas. We discuss whether the report jibes with what Bob Sanborn of Children at Risk sees locally and statewide.
Also this hour: Just in time for summer, dermatologist Dr. Oyetewa Oyerinde answers questions about skin care. She's the director of the Skin of Color Clinic at Baylor College of Medicine.
And film critic Joe Leydon reflects on the classic Hitchcock film Dial M for Murder, and we talk with an actor from an adaptation of the story on stage now at The Alley Theatre.

On Monday's show: HISD Superintendent Mike Miles is set to meet with Houston City Council for the first time. We learn more from Houston Public Media reporter Colleen DeGuzman.
Plus, ERCOT says Texas could face rolling blackouts in August as energy demand peaks throughout the state.
And we learn how recent storms and flooding have damaged the oyster business in Galveston Bay.
Also this hour: We find out why home insurance rates in Texas have gotten so high over the past five years and how a disaster-prone area like Houston contributes to those increases.
Then, Meg Tapp from the Garden Club of Houston answers questions about gardening.
And we discuss how drug policies in sports may need to evolve as the law and the medical world’s views on some drugs change with Jeff Balke.

On Friday's show: From budget talks, to delays on the firefighters' contract, to the Montrose TIRZ project, we discuss the latest from the City of Houston with HPM's Tom Perumean.
Also this hour: Former Houston Comets star and basketball hall of famer Sheryl Swoopes talks about her memories of winning the WNBA's first four championships, what it was like beginning her professional career just weeks after giving birth to her son, and about her hopes of bringing a WNBA team back to Houston -- whether it's called the Comets or not.
Then, our non-experts weigh in on The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.
And we learn about EarShot Readings, a program offering young and upcoming composers the opportunity to get their pieces performed and recorded under the mentorship of established composers. That has been happening this week in Houston, and ROCO will host a showcase of some of their work today at 11 a.m. at Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts.