Houston Matters

02/07/2025

Houston Matters producer Michael Hagerty visits the museum in southwest Houston, which touts itself as the first in the Americas dedicated to memorializing Mahatma Gandhi’s life and work.
 
Listen to the full conversation with co-founders Atul Kothari and Manish Wani to learn how the museum came to be in Houston and to tour its exhibits at HoustonMatters.org

02/06/2025

Looking for the best spots in Houston to watch the Super Bowl?
 
Super Bowl LIX is this Sunday between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs. Ahead of the big game, food writers discuss some of their favorite places in Houston for bar food and to watch sports in this month’s installment of The Full Menu.
 
Listen to the full conversation with Eric Sandler of CultureMap Houston, Felice Sloan of the Swanky Maven lifestyle blog, and David Leftwich of Edible Houston and Houston Food Finder at HoustonMatters.org.

01/30/2025

In 1917, the U.S. Army opened Camp Logan in what is now Memorial Park. It was a training ground where soldiers from the Illinois National Guard were preparing to ship out during World War I.
Black soldiers of the 24th Infantry guarded the camp. But outside it, they encountered racism, were randomly tossed in jail, and couldn’t carry their weapons.
 
On Aug. 23, 1917 one of the soldiers of the 24th intervened in the arrest of a Black woman. After an altercation, rumors spread that the soldier died, which then sparked a riot between white civilians and Black soldiers. That culminating in 16 deaths, and 110 men were found guilty in the largest court martial in U.S. history.
 
The saga is recalled in Celeste Bedford Walker’s play, Camp Logan, on stage at Houston’s Ensemble Theatre through Feb. 23.
 
Houston Matters producer Laura Walker talks with the playwright along with director Allie Woods and actor Jason Carmichael.
 
Listen to the full conversation at HoustonMatters.org

01/29/2025

Houstonians often talk about the experiences that make Greater Houston unique, and most of those are the kinds of experiences you encounter with certain senses.

For example, you see the NASA rockets at Johnson Space Center. You hear a concert at the rodeo. You feel the humidity. You taste our abundant Tex-Mex.

But there are also smells that define our city. But what are they?
 
Houston Matters producer Michael Hagerty visited the Color Factory to check it out and talk’s with Lorena Mendez, the attraction’s creative producer, about how sense of smell can conjure powerful memories.
 
Listen to the full conversatio at HoustonMatters.org

01/28/2025

The 2025 Houston AutoBoative Show takes place Wednesday through Sunday at NRG Center. It’s the combined annual auto and boat show and a good reason to take stock of the Greater Houston auto industry.
 
Houston Matters host Craig Cohen talks with Steven Wolf, chairman of the Houston Automobile Dealers Association, and the dealer principal for Helfman Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram Fiat. They discuss how 2024 ended for Wolf’s dealership and for auto dealers across the Greater Houston area.
 
Then, they talk about the state of the industry, how a new administration and changing policy may influence car and truck sales, and what Wolf is hearing from customers at his dealership about what they want in new cars and trucks.
 
Listen to the full conversation at HoustonMatters.org

01/16/2025

How a Houston physical therapist is making health care more inclusive for LGBTQ+ patients

Dr. Roy Rivera of Elation Physical Therapy explains efforts he’s made to create an environment where LGBTQ+ patients feel safe to talk about their health concerns and discusses what the entire medical community can do to be more inclusive.

01/14/2025

As a new session starts, we recall one of the giants of Texas politics in the 1970s and 80s.

A new biography examines the life and career of former longtime Lieutenant Governor Bill Hobby

01/13/2025

A conservation nonprofit leader has expressed concerns that Texas lawmakers will need to review a proposed plan for Houston to sell some of its water to drought-stricken areas of the state.
 
Bob Stokes, president of the Galveston Bay Foundation, stated on Houston Matters that it’s uncertain if such a deal would be sustainable for the city.
 
Mayor John Whitmire and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott are considering this deal, with potential funds aimed at improving Houston’s infrastructure.
 
Stokes emphasized the challenges in capturing excess floodwater, noting the costs and long-term commitment required for such reservoirs. He highlighted that long-term water planning has yet to begin. While the city could use the funds for repairs, it’s unclear how the sold water would be allocated.
 
Stokes warned the plan may face backlash if the water is used for industries like cooling computer servers or fracking, predicting local opposition.
 
Listen to the full conversation with Bob Stokes at HoustonMatters.org.

01/08/2025

This weekend, the Museum of Fine Arts Houston continues its Movies Houstonians Love series with a screening of 1979’s The Muppet Movie, presented by our very own Craig Cohen.
 
Growing up, the Muppets were ubiquitous in Craig’s life as he came of age watching The Muppet Show and The Muppet-adjacent Sesame Street...and then, of course, the Muppet films throughout the 1980s.
 
Craig sits down with Houston Matters producer Joshua Zinn to talk about his favorite memories, including when he interviewed Sesame Street correspondent Kermit the Frog about a hurricane threatening the good people of Sesame Street.
 
You can watch The Muppet Movie presented by Craig Cohen this Saturday, Jan. 11, at 7 p.m. at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.
 
Listen to the full conversation at HoustonMatters.org.

12/12/2024

What song do you think perfectly captures the essence of Houston? Share your anthem for the city and tell us why! 🎵

12/05/2024

In this month’s edition of The Full Menu, food writers share their top picks for new restaurants that have opened in the past year.
 
Eric Sandler of CultureMap shared that his favorite new restaurant of the year is Ema, a Mexican breakfast and lunch concept in The Heights.
 
Listen to the full conversation with Eric Sandler of CultureMap Houston, Felice Sloan of the Swanky Maven lifestyle blog, and David Leftwich of Edible Houston and Houston Food Finder at HoustonMatters.org.

12/03/2024

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, or ARPA, provided nearly $2 trillion in stimulus for the nation as we sought to dig our way out of the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and response. Among those funds were billions of dollars that assisted municipal governments, colleges and universities, and health systems, among others.
 
Well, the last penny of that money must be allocated by the end of this month. That means those governments, schools, hospitals, and more can’t rely on it anymore to fund projects and make up budget shortfalls.
 
To find out how ready they are and what other sources of funding could help fill in future gaps, Houston Matters producer Mincho Jacob talked with John Diamond, the director of the Center for Public Finance at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, and Joyce Beebe, a fellow in public finance at the institute.
 
Listen to the full conversation with John Diamond at HoustonPublicMedia.org.

11/26/2024

If you’re planning on hitting the roads for the Thanksgiving holiday here are some safety tips to follow as the Texas Department of Public Safety will have increased enforcement.
 
According to AAA, more than 5.7 million Texans are expected to travel 50 miles or more. During Thanksgiving last year, DPS said it issued more than 41,000 warnings and citations statewide. Fifty-four felony, 36 DWI, and 18 fugitive arrests were also made during that same period.
 
On Monday, DPS Sgt. Rich Standifer and Sgt. Sasha Latham with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office spoke with Houston Matters’ Craig Cohen about what Texans should look out for if they plan to drive this holiday season.
 
Latham said impaired driving is a leading cause of fatal crashes, especially in Harris County, which leads the state in traffic fatalities.
“Looking at [the] data, we can actually narrow down the causes of those crashes to five main things; first and foremost, impaired driving,” she said. “Just under half of fatality crashes involve one or more impaired drivers, regardless of who caused the crash.”
 
Other leading causes are speeding, improper lane departure, failure to wear a seat belt and ignoring traffic control devices i.e. running stop signs or red lights, Latham said.
 
You can find more information on DPS safety tips for traveling during the Thanksgiving holiday at HoustonMatters.org

11/25/2024

Every month, Houston Matters goes to the dogs (and cats) as we welcome your questions about the care and feeding of your canine and feline friends, for veterinarian Dr. Lori Teller from the Meyerland Animal Clinic and Texas A&M University.
 
Dr. Teller offers some holiday-related reminders about foods that may or may not be good for our pets, as well as what to remember about holiday decorations those dogs and cats may try to chew on.

She explains that many of the foods we serve at Thanksgiving aren’t good for them, and in some cases, can be dangerous.

Listen to the full conversation at HoustonMatters.org

11/20/2024

On this week’s political round-up we discuss the key themes emerging from President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet nominations including connections to Fox News, policies favoring Elon Musk, and a strong emphasis on loyalty to Trump.  
 
We also analyze the recent cabinet and advisor appointments and their potential implications and explore significant happenings in local, state, and national politics.
 
Listen to the full conversation with expert commentary Nancy Sims, a political analyst and lecturer at the University of Houston, and Brandon Rottinghaus, a political science professor at the University of Houston and co-host of Party Politics at HoustonMatters.org.

11/15/2024

A new rideshare app could be introduced in Houston and other major cities in Texas, offering a unique service: All of its drivers have fi****ms.
 
Blackwolf started in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2023 as an alternative ridesharing app for those who wanted an extra layer of security. The founder, King Brown, had a career in private security and started the company after one of his former clients voiced a need for such a service.
 
“She was trafficked for three years and [during] the last couple of months that I had with this particular client, she told me to create a transportation system for herself and her daughter,” he said. “I started it initially to transport women and children who have been [victims] of domestic violence or trafficking.”
 
According to Blackwolf’s website, all drivers must have at least four years of experience in the military, law enforcement or private security. The company’s “premium” service also requires that drivers have proof of an active security license in the state where they are operating.
 
“We love to recruit our veterans and we’re a big supporter of the boys in blue, those who have been in the private sector, firefighters, EMTs [and] those who are actually licensed through their state,” Brown said. “The biggest thing is the comfort in the vetting process. ... It’s all about the perception.”
 
Currently, the Blackwolf app has more than 300,000 downloads, and Brown said social media has played a large role in the growth of the service’s user base.
 
You can learn more about Blackwolf coming to Houston at HoustonPublicMedia.org

11/13/2024

What are the top spots in Houston for celebrating a birthday, anniversary, or graduation? In this month’s edition of The Full Menu, food writers share their recommended restaurants for those special moments. 
Notably, several of these establishments were among the 24 recognized by the Michelin Guide in its inaugural Texas list this week.
 
Listen to food critics Eric Sandler from CultureMap Houston, David Leftwich from Edible Houston, and Isabel Protomartir, a social media and public relations specialist, discuss their favorite go-to restaurants for special occasions at HoustonMatters.org.

11/04/2024

Many of the battles over public education have focused on curriculum, resources, and, in Houston, the state takeover of Houston ISD. But an even more fundamental challenge has yet to be addressed: chronic absenteeism.
 
In a recent interview, Houston ISD Superintendent Mike Miles discussed strategies to combat this problem.
 
Chronic absenteeism, defined as missing at least 10% of school days, affected 30% of U.S. students in the 2021-2022 school year, and the numbers have doubled in Texas over the past five years. Miles emphasized that to address absenteeism effectively, schools must demonstrate their value to students.
 
The district typically responds to absenteeism by contacting parents, educating them about attendance policies, conducting home visits, and monitoring attendance patterns. Miles noted that both students and parents are increasingly aware of the widening skills gap.
 
The district has implemented intervention programs to support students who miss class. Teachers often contact the parents of absent students and provide lesson plans and online lessons to help students catch up.
 
Currently, Zoom’s video conferencing capabilities allow students to attend classes remotely in 130 schools, enabling them to participate in real-time lessons.
 
You can listen to the full conversation with Mike Miles on Chronic absenteeism at HoustonMatters.org