Houston Matters Houston Public Media

On Wednesday's show: Legal action continues in connection with the kidney and liver transplant programs at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center. In April, the hospital halted those transplants due to a “pattern of irregularities with donor acceptance criteria.” We get an update on the story and learn about a woman whose husband died while waiting for a liver transplant.
Also this hour: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup.
Then, in this month's edition of The Full Menu, food writers discuss their favorite underrated restaurants and hidden gems around the city. 
And Stages Houston is presenting a fresh take on a Shakespearean classic. Othello: The Remix blends hip-hop and a rotating stage to bring new life to the themes found in the Bard’s classic work.

On Tuesday's show: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing the Biden administration over revised Title IX rules that would expand discrimination protections to transgender students.
Also this hour: On the heels of protests at college campuses over the war in Gaza, including some protests here in Texas, we discuss what a Supreme Court non-decision signals about the future of protests in Texas and other states.
Then: The latest about changing guidance surrounding cancer screening.
And this month’s edition of The Bigger Picture examines some of the social and political issues at play in the movie Civil War.

On Monday's show: We get an update on severe weather and flooding overnight around the region. And we explore how Southwest Airlines leaving Bush Airport will affect travelers.
Also this hour: The city of Corpus Christi is pursuing development of the state’s first ocean desalination project. Turning ocean salt water into healthy drinking water would have some obvious benefits, but could it have a negative impact on the environment? And we learn about a desalination project here in Houston.
Then, veterinarian Dr. Lori Teller answers your pet care questions.
And, on the heels of the NFL Draft, Jeff Balke reflects on how Houston sports teams have fared in drafts over the years -- who were some of the biggest successes and the biggest busts?

On Friday's show: The Harris County Jail continues to face challenges with overcrowding. And it’s not just the jail here. We learn how jails across the state are dealing with the same issue.
Also this hour: For students going to college, picking where to go can be a complicated decision. And visiting all the campuses on your wish list might not be feasible. But what if they came to you? That’s what happened recently when Houston’s NRG Center hosted the National Association for College Admission Counseling’s National College Fair, where dozens of institutions from across the country got a chance for some face time with busloads of local high school students and others there with their parents.
Then, from the Texans unveiling new uniforms, to a former college football star getting back a trophy he had to forfeit years ago, our panel of non-experts discusses The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.
And the local ensemble WindSync is celebrating its 15th anniversary at their annual Onstage Offstage Chamber Music Festival, which runs through the weekend. We reflect on the group's history and how it has changed over years.

On Wednesday's show: The Supreme Court of Texas has blocked implementation of Uplift Harris, the county’s guaranteed income pilot program for low-income households. And opening statements and testimony began in the first criminal trial of a former president. We discuss those and other developments in politics in our weekly roundup.
Also this hour: We learn about the annual Frida Festival this weekend, a celebration of creative expression and of a legend of visual art, Frida Kahlo. 
And more than 40 years ago, a film hit theaters showcasing a slice of life in Houston in the 1980s. Urban Cowboy starred John Travolta and Debra Winger – along with Gilley’s dance hall in Pasadena and one very popular mechanical bull. We listen back to a 2020 interview with the late Mickey Gilley on his memories from the film and what it did for his career and his business.

 
On Tuesday's show: From the ongoing court challenge to the county’s income assistance program, to calls for more transparency in how the county hands out contracts for infrastructure projects, we discuss issues facing Harris County with its chief executive, Judge Lina Hidalgo.
Also this hour: Term-limited Galveston City Council Member John Paul Listowski looks back on the island’s successes and challenges over the past six years.