Sports
Texans In Tokyo: A Bit Of Stumbling, A Couple Of Medals & More Winning On The Horizon.
Hady Mawajdeh, KERA
Texas athletes participating in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics faced challenges during the first two days of the competition.
Politics
San Antonio State Rep. Philip Cortez Is Back In DC — With A Warrant Out For His Arrest
Kathleen Creedon, TPR / Joey Palacios, TPR
Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan issued an arrest warrant for Democratic State Representative Philip Cortez after he returned to Washington D.C. Sunday night.
Politics
Texas Lawmakers To Testify As U.S. House Oversight Committee Plans Hearing On Texas Voting Bill
Alexa Ura, The Texas Tribune
Three of the Democratic legislators who went to Washington, D.C., to deny the Texas House a quorum have been invited to detail their concerns at a specially called hearing on the contentious legislation that includes new restrictions on voting.
Sports
UT-Austin, OU Take First Steps Toward Leaving The Big 12
Alejandro Martínez-Cabrera, KUT
The announcement comes days after the universities signaled interest in joining the Southeastern Conference.
News 88.7 In-Depth
Despite Republican Challengers, Experts Say Governor’s Race Is Greg Abbott’s To Lose
Former State Senator Don Huffines and former state GOP chairman Allen West are both seeking to outflank incumbent Greg Abbott on the right, but they could end up canceling each other out.
Andrew SchneiderPosted on
Most Viewed
Houston Man Arrested For Whipping Police Officers At U.S. Capitol Insurrection, FBI Says
Despite Republican Challengers, Experts Say Governor’s Race Is Greg Abbott’s To Lose
Texas Has Seen Nearly 9,000 COVID-19 Deaths Since February. All But 43 Were Unvaccinated People
The Delta Variant Will Drive A Steep Rise In U.S. COVID Deaths, A New Model Shows
A Houston Student May Be Forced To Self-Deport After Spending Most Of His Life In The U.S. – Even Though His Father Is Here Lawfully
Politics
Despite Republican Challengers, Experts Say Governor’s Race Is Greg Abbott’s To Lose
Andrew Schneider
Former State Senator Don Huffines and former state GOP chairman Allen West are both seeking to outflank incumbent Greg Abbott on the right, but they could end up canceling each other out.
Criminal Justice
Houston Man Arrested For Whipping Police Officers At U.S. Capitol Insurrection, FBI Says
Lucio Vasquez
Andrew Quentin Taake is the ninth Houston-area arrest in the wake of the riot.
Criminal Justice
Federal Judge Dismisses Nicolas Chavez Police Shooting Lawsuit
Florian Martin
Chavez' family sued the city of Houston, the Houston Police Department, and five officers after Chavez was killed by police in April 2020.
Texas
USPS Premiers Western Wear Stamps In Abilene
Heather Claborn (KACU)
Tomorrow morning the United States Postal Service officially issues a new collection of Western Wear stamps. Abilene post offices are among the first to offer the set of Forever stamps, designed by a hometown artist.
Bauer Business Focus
Social Media Privacy
Doug Mueller
Guest: Professor Bill Zahn
Health Matters
World Hepatitis Day
Doug Mueller
Guest: Dr. Bich-May Nguyen
Houston Matters
A 'Fourth Wave' Of COVID-19 (July 26, 2021)
Michael Hagerty
On Monday's show: Public health officials deal with a "fourth wave" of COVID-19, and we begin a weeklong series exploring summer Olympic sports played here in the Houston area starting with a visit to a local table tennis academy.
I SEE U
I SEE U, Episode 10: Black A I = Artificial Inclusion
Eddie Robinson
Amazon AI ethicist leads efforts to ramp up technology access and innovation in her native Jackson, Mississippi
News from NPR
A Lawsuit Against Jan. 6 Rally Speakers Forces DOJ To Consider Who's Legally Immune
The Justice Department is considering whether the federal officials who spoke at a Trump rally ahead of the insurrection were acting within the scope of their jobs that day.
Surfing Makes Waves At The Olympics For The First Time
Surfing often gives off an endless summer, meditative, chill vibe. But at the Olympics, athletes have to focus on skills, tricks and points, and, of course, looking for the perfect wave.
Kindergarten Enrollment Fell Last Year. Now Schools Wonder How Many Kids Are Coming
It's too soon to say if schools will see a surge, but they do know that kindergartners are entering their first year of school with a wide range of experience.
The Executive Editor At The 'Miami Herald' Responded Publicly To A Racist Email
Miami Herald Executive Editor Monica Richardson published her response to a racist email she received, launching a conversation not only with the sender but with Miami as a whole.
Houston Matters
How Rising COVID Numbers Are Affecting One Local Hospital System (July 23, 2021)
Michael Hagerty
On Friday's show: As the county raises its COVID threat level, Memorial Hermann's chief physician explains how rising case numbers are affecting his hospitals. And we correct some misconceptions about the life of pirate Jean Lafitte.
Politics
Texas House Democrats Trying To Block The GOP Voting Bill Are Pinning Their Hopes On Congress. So Far Congress Is Unmoved
Abby Livingston, The Texas Tribune
Over the past few days, the Texas delegation has met with nearly all of the most powerful Democrats in Washington, save for President Joe Biden. But there is not yet clear movement to revive the congressional Democrats’ federal voting legislation.
Houston Matters
Water Park Chemical Spill, And An Oddly Shaped Rocket: The Good, Bad, And Ugly Of The Week
Michael Hagerty
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.
Health & Science
The Delta Variant Will Drive A Steep Rise In U.S. COVID Deaths, A New Model Shows
Rob Stein, NPR / SELENA SIMMONS-DUFFIN, NPR
New estimates show the U.S. is on track to see a big rise in cases and more than triple the number of deaths by October.
Weather
Just How Severe Is A Severe Thunderstorm Warning? NWS Helps Out With New Alert Tags
Domini Davis, KERA
Life-threatening thunderstorms can come in many forms and levels of severity. That's why the National Weather Service is adding two new categories to its Severe Thunderstorm Warnings starting July 28.
Town Square
Authentic Representation For Latinos Still Fights The Same Barriers
Brenda Valdivia
Stereotypes of Latinos created a century ago still paint how entertainment media depicts Latinos today. While smaller publishing houses are avenues for Latino creatives, major film and book publishers still hold up walls.
Encore Houston
Encore Houston, Episode 170: Aperio, Music of the Americas
Joshua Zinn
Aperio and New American Voices present music by David Lang and a world premiere by Shawn Crouch.
Energy & Environment
ERCOT Announces Electricity Market Redesign, Warns Of More Energy Conservation Requests
Dominic Anthony Walsh, TPR
The market redesign is ongoing, and the grid operator has already made some changes to improve reliability. Nonetheless, officials warn Texans to expect more energy conservation requests in the coming weeks as temperatures rise.
Immigration
A Houston Student May Be Forced To Self-Deport After Spending Most Of His Life In The U.S. – Even Though His Father Is Here Lawfully
Elizabeth Trovall
A growing number of young people with parents who are high-skilled immigrant workers may be forced to leave the country. These “documented Dreamers” grow up in the U.S., but because of the visa backlog, aren't allowed to stay.
Health & Science
Harris County Raises COVID-19 Threat Level Amid Latest Surge In Hospitalizations
Paul DeBenedetto
The threat level -- currently at “yellow,” or moderate -- will rise to “orange,” indicating significant and uncontrolled spread of the virus. It's the first time the county has reached that level since late May.
Houston Matters
The Bigger Picture: 'Space Jam' And The Legacy Of Product Marketing On The Big Screen
Michael Hagerty
With the release of Space Jam: A New Legacy, we discuss how product endorsements and marketing deals have affected what’s on the silver screen.
Politics
Texas Democrats Remain In Washington Amid Coronavirus Cases And Congressional Hurdles
Ashley Lopez, KUT
Dozens of Democratic state lawmakers fled Texas in an effort to block Republican-led restrictive voting legislation from being passed.
Health & Science
Texas Has Seen Nearly 9,000 COVID-19 Deaths Since February. All But 43 Were Unvaccinated People
COLLEEN DEGUZMAN, The Texas Tribune
Preliminary data shows 99.5% of COVID-related deaths in Texas were among unvaccinated people, according to the Department of State Health Services.
Town Square
Houston Arts Return With New Leadership, After Being Hit Hard By The Pandemic
Catherine Lu / Lucio Vasquez
We meet three of Houston’s newest arts leaders and discuss their visions post-pandemic – including the future of live performance, equity and community impact.
Business
Thousands Of Texas Restaurants Closed During The Pandemic. Some Houston Favorites Are Ready For A Comeback
Florian Martin
COVID-19 had an unprecedented effect on the food scene and forced thousands of Texas restaurants to close.
Houston Matters
Hazardous Chemical Leak In La Porte Enters Second Day (July 22, 2021)
Michael Hagerty
On Thursday's show: The latest on the chemical release incident in La Porte, a Rice professor discusses his BBC series about the end of the world, and an in-studio performance by musician Bob Schneider.
Energy & Environment
What Are The Chemicals Involved In The La Porte Dow Plant Leak? We Asked An Expert
Kyra Buckley
Houston Public Media spoke with University of Houston chemical engineering professor and Chief Energy Officer Ramanan Krishnamoorti to learn more about the chemicals involved.
Town Square
Best Of: How Do We Find Innovative Solutions And Tap Into Creativity In Times Of Crisis?
Brenda Valdivia
We hear the story of how a Rice University engineering team designed an emergency ventilator in just a matter of weeks to help COVID-19 patients. And a bestselling author discusses ways to tap into one’s own inventive spirit.
Health & Science
Gov. Greg Abbott Says He Won't Impose New Mask Mandate Despite Increasing COVID-19 Cases
Patrick Svitek, Texas Tribune
Abbott reiterated Tuesday that Texas schoolchildren will not face mask requirements as they return to school later this summer.
Energy & Environment
La Porte Evacuation Notice Lifted, As Dow Chemical Plant Leak Continues
Paul DeBenedetto
Dow Chemical reported a “process upset incident” at 7:27 a.m. Wednesday, in its 13300 Bay Area Boulevard facility. The city also issued a shelter in place notice for all areas of La Porte east of Bay Area Boulevard.