The Engines of Our Ingenuity 2670: Expanding the Human Environment
Episode: 2670 The Expanded Human Habitat: Our Solar System as a Defining Environment. Today, we expand the notion of environment.
More stories from our newsroom
Recent reporting and curated coverage across every beat we cover.
Lines, Legends & Limitless Talent: Meet Harper Madison, The Woodlands' Rising Manga Artist
Walk into any seventh-grade classroom in The Woodlands and you'll find the usual assortment of spiral notebooks, half-finished homework, and doodles in the margins. What you won't expect — what stops people in their tracks — are the fully realized, intricately detailed manga panels that fill Harper Madison's pages from…
Teen flown to Texas Medical Center after shooting inside Humble-area home, sheriff says
A 19-year-old is in critical condition after being shot inside a Humble home, with Harris County deputies investigating whether the shooting was accidental.
Humble teen shot, hospitalized in possible accidental shooting
A teen is hospitalized after being shot in a possible accidental shooting in Humble, according to Harris County Sheriff's Office.
Car slams into 18-wheeler that was unloading cinderblocks in northwest Harris County, sheriff says
Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said cinderblocks were scattered throughout the roadway, forcing it to close in both directions as crews work to clean it up.
18-year-old charged after accidental shooting leaves 19-year-old injured in northwest Harris County
A teenage boy was flown to a hospital in critical condition after an apparent accidental shooting at a northwest Harris County home, according to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.Deputies responded to a residence in the 10700 block of Spring Brook Pass, where investigators...
Former Harris County constable's deputy awarded $1.65M by jury in harassment lawsuit
A federal jury found that Bert Whittington III, a Black man, was harassed by his supervisors because of his race, court documents show.
Traffic: Mueschke Road closed after truck loses load of cinder blocks
A road in northwest Harris County is closed after an 18-wheeler lost its load of cinder blocks.
Woman still waiting for Harris County home reconstruction nearly a year after approval
A Harris County woman says she's still waiting for home reconstruction work to begin as county officials review updated plans for her damaged home.
Republican candidate for Harris County commissioner escalates effort to remove incumbent from office
Richard Vega's filing in the Texas Supreme Court came after a lower court denied his legal effort in April, ruling that Democratic Commissioner Adrian Garcia can keep his seat on commissioners court.
Family attorney of teen killed by Brazoria County deputy calls for ‘accountability’
John Mendoza Jr., 18, was shot and killed by a Brazoria County Sheriff's Office deputy early Monday after what the law enforcement agency described as an attempted traffic stop that turned into a brief vehicle pursuit.
Houston police chief 'not at all' concerned about ICE presence or immigration raids at World Cup
Immigrant advocates and Democrats have raised concerns about the prospects of immigration surveillance surrounding the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
There are more than 20 summertime cooling centers where Houston-area residents can escape the heat
An $80,000 donation by Reliant Energy is helping to support 22 cooling centers in Houston and Harris County, along with another 17 sites across Texas.
Campus police incidents in Texas (June 2, 2026)
On Tuesday's show: We learn about an investigation that finds campus police officers aren't just stopping shooters--too often they're body slamming or tasing children.
Hello Houston (June 1, 2026)
Today: We receive a preview of what’s ahead for hurricane season with meteorologist Travis Herzog, share how families can prepare for hurricane season on a budget, learn about the Harris County Flood Control District’s flood mitigation plans, and more.
Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson stepping down
Nelson’s office oversees elections. Gov. Greg Abbott appointed her to the role in 2023 after she became the longest-serving Republican woman in Texas Senate history.
The week in politics (June 3, 2026)
On Wednesday's show: With Texas' primary elections in the books, we look to other races across the country and their implications for the general election in November. Plus, we explore the music of Final Fantasy.
ERCOT votes to streamline process for data centers looking to join the power grid
The state has faced a backlog of large energy consumers who want to connect to the Texas power grid.
Libertarian Ted Brown courts disaffected conservative voters in Texas' U.S. Senate race
Brown received more than 267,000 votes in the 2024 Senate race, a record for a Libertarian candidate. He sees an opening this year with Republican voters who are reluctant to support the party’s nominee for the November election, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Brazoria County sheriff's deputy fatally shoots driver after attempted traffic stop turns into chase
The shooting is being investigated by the Brazoria County District Attorney's Office as well as the Texas Rangers, according to the Brazoria County Sheriff's Office, which said the deputy who fired his gun will be placed on administrative leave during the investigation.
As data centers flock to Texas, ERCOT tries to decide which projects are feasible
The state's grid operator will vote Tuesday on whether to begin a study of data centers, known as "Batch Zero," that would use a new evaluation process for adding projects to the grid.
$1 billion icebreaker project expected to create thousands of jobs in Galveston, Port Arthur
Officials broke ground on the project Monday, with expectations to create more than 2,400 jobs for Galveston and Port Arthur and invest more than $730 million to grow the business in Texas.
Texas schools say they still face budget difficulties despite $8.5 billion boost
Public school leaders told lawmakers how they're navigating finances, teacher quality and special education after last year’s state funding overhaul.
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1580: Su-Sung's Clock
Episode: 1580 Su-Sung's wonderful eleventh-century water clock. Today, Su-Sung's wonderful clock.
Construction begins on new $30M clinic for Fort Bend County veterans
The 38,000-square-foot facility is estimated to be under construction until the end of 2027 and will replace the current Richmond location with a capacity to serve double the number of veterans and their families.
Hello Houston (June 2, 2026)
Today: State Rep. Dr. Suleman Lalani explains why he thinks Islamophobia is on the rise among Texas politicians, we discuss domestic violence awareness and prevention, learn about Houston’s only traditional jazz group, and more.
Big Tech finds a foe in Texas’ robust consumer protection laws and AG Ken Paxton
Paxton is banking on his recent lawsuits against tech and social media companies like Meta, WhatsApp and Discord to win a Senate seat, building on notable victories in years past.
James Talarico says rising beef prices hurt Texas' bottom line
James Talarico says he's not vegan — but the rising price of beef may force more Texans to give up meat.
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 2670: Expanding the Human Environment
Episode: 2670 The Expanded Human Habitat: Our Solar System as a Defining Environment. Today, we expand the notion of environment.
Students at 33 Houston ISD campuses will not automatically receive free meals during 2026-27 school year
Families can still apply on a household level for their children to receive free or reduced-priced meals if their school is no longer participating in the federal Community Eligibility Provision Program.
Hello Houston – The Commuter Cut (June 2, 2026)
For our busy Houston commuters, we have – The Commuter Cut – a special 40-minute version of our show to listen to during your journey home.
Divorce trial for Ken and Angela Paxton canceled weeks before scheduled start date
The cancellation comes as Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, prepares for a November showdown against Democrat James Talarico.
Former Houston Rockets coach Rick Adelman, a Hall of Famer who won more than 1,000 games, dies at 79
Adelman engineered a 22-game winning streak with the Rockets in 2008, a run that is the fourth-longest in NBA history.
Another Houston-area school district is consolidating special education programs for the upcoming school year
The move by Cy-Fair ISD will require transferring students to new campuses so they can access the specialized programs in Texas’ third-largest school district. The changes resemble Houston ISD’s special education restructuring, which prompted a federal civil rights investigation.
Houston Public Media launches Galveston County News Bureau, expanding hyperlocal Coverage
Houston Public Media has established a Galveston County News Bureau, expanding its hyperlocal reporting with an embedded journalist dedicated to reporting on the people, decisions and events shaping this growing county in Southeast Texas.
Texas lifts commercial drivers license ban for temporary agricultural workers
The policy change was announced hours after the Department of Public Safety removed the Spanish language option for commercial driver’s license tests to align with federal guidance.
More of Texas' youngest kids are becoming uninsured, new research shows
A new report shows Texas leading the country in its rate of uninsured children under 6.
New details released on Texas Children’s Hospital’s planned detransition clinic
The Houston hospital must set up the facility within 90 days of the $10 million settlement it reached with the Texas attorney general and create a list of potential gender affirming patients.
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 3378: Hrotsvitha
Episode: 3378 Tenth century author, Hrotsvitha, brought back to life in the sixteenth century. Today, meet Hrotsvitha.
Houston is installing 300 solar-powered lights along the Columbia Tap Trail
The initiative is the first phase of a $7.5 million investment in the trail — which officials are also touting as one of the walkable routes leading to NRG Stadium during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Houstonians call for disaster recovery funding, infrastructure upgrades in town hall
As the city gears up for hurricane season, local activists and community members gathered to share their stories of surviving natural disasters.