government
Harris County commissioners to discuss 2026-27 budget, tax rates
Commissioners are expected to review the budget, as the county is projected to face a $178 million shortfall.
Spring
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HISD school ratings (Aug. 17, 2026)
On Monday's show: We discuss the latest state school ratings and questions about reading proficiency at some HISD schools. And we mull over the reasons people, industry, and venues are moving from the core of the city outward....
News
TPS recipients hope a potential change of power in Congress provides relief from deportation
A late-June U.S. Supreme Court ruling effectively allows the Trump administration to revoke Temporary Protected Status from any nationality. That puts more than 100,000 TPS recipients in Texas at risk of being expelled from the country....
News
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 3400: Hell-Broth
Episode: 3400 In which we cause water to, like a Hell-broth boil and bubble within a nuclear reactor. Today, For a charm of powerful trouble ...
safety
Woman killed, 2 children injured in crash
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a fatal crash on N State Highway 6 tonight.The single vehicle crash happened just before 6:30 p.m. this evening on Highway 6 just north of Clay Road in the Cypress area.Investigators say the adult female driver is deceased. A......
safety
Motorcyclist killed in crash on N. Sam Houston Parkway near Fairbanks, Harris County Precinct 4 says
All eastbound lanes have reopened on Beltway 8 near Gessner Road after a motorcycle crash, according to Houston TranStar.
safety
1 killed, 2 hospitalized after crash on SH 6 near Cairnway, Harris County Sheriff's Office says
One person was killed while two others were taken to the hospital after a crash in west Harris County on Sunday evening, authorities said.
safety
High-speed chase ends in rollover crash after suspect steals Harris County patrol car
A 35-year-old man faces multiple felony charges after stealing a deputy’s patrol vehicle and leading law enforcement on a high-speed pursuit that ended in a rollover crash, authorities said....
News
They fought for the U.S. in Afghanistan. Now they worry about losing their green cards
When the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan five years ago, thousands of Afghans who helped U.S. troops were brought here to rebuild their lives. But now, some fear the U.S. may want to send them back....
safety
Woman taken into custody following police pursuit that forced North Freeway shutdown
A vehicle pursuit led by Harris County Constable Precinct 4 deputies ended Sunday morning on the North Freeway with a woman taken into custody.
News
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1617: Connections
Episode: 1617 Reflections on the dicey question of cause and effect in history. Today, the connections problem.
government
Alleged intruder shot, killed by 911 caller inside apartment in north Harris County, HCSO says
Investigators said they believed the 911 caller inside the unit was the current boyfriend of the woman who lives in the apartment, and the alleged intruder was her ex....
government
This Week in Texas: Senator Ted Cruz, Harris County Budget, Flock Cameras
This Week in Texas, our conversation with Senator Ted Cruz about college athletics and his bipartisan bill that would change the sports landscape.
government
Harris County authorities find 8 tailgates during theft investigation
Officials say an investigation for one stolen tailgate led to them finding seven more at apartment complex on West FM 1960.
safety
New details on Harris County mother, boyfriend facing charges after 2-year-old’s tragic death
Prosecutors are waiting for the sheriff's office to complete its investigation before deciding whether to upgrade the couple's charges.
government
Before the next flood, Harris County is changing how rescues begin
For years, Harris County first responders have had to leave the region to receive specialized swiftwater rescue training. That is about to change.County officials broke ground Friday on a new Swiftwater Rescue Training Facility at 1731 Hugh Road. The center will give deputies,......
News
ERCOT says governor's data center audit could take months to complete
Abbot has ordered a pause of new data center approvals until regulators can evaluate these projects.
News
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1616: Ivan Polzunov
Episode: 1616 Ivan Polzunov and early Russian steam engines. Today, the steam engine comes to Russia.
safety
3 deputies' access to Flock cameras suspended, Harris County Sheriff's Office says
Three deputies have been suspended from using Flock Safety's system a day after the company announced new safeguards to prevent law enforcement from misusing its cameras, HCSO said....
safety
1 killed, 3 hospitalized after four-vehicle crash on East Freeway in Houston
One person was killed and three others were hospitalized after a four-vehicle crash Friday evening in the westbound lanes of Interstate 10 (East Freeway) near Freeport Street, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office said.The crash happened around 6:07 p.m. and involved a Honda sedan,....
safety
Interstate 10 crash: Fatality reported following 3-car crash in westbound lanes after Freeport
Harris County authorities are on the scene following a three-car crash that occurred on Friday afternoon on Interstate 10.
schools
A Wheatley High School teacher claimed his students couldn’t read or write. Then the school got an ‘A’ rating
A viral video posted on social media by a Houston ISD teacher with a controversial past has raised questions about the effectiveness of a state takeover, broader literacy trends and educator decorum....
News
Fort Bend County is on a deadline to find a solution for its stray livestock
Fort Bend County lacks a dedicated facility to house and care for the thousands of stray livestock and exotic animals they oversee annually, relying for years on the private property of a law enforcement official who is set to retire next year....
government
Flock cameras: 3 Harris County deputies have access suspended, Deer Park officer disciplined
Numerous law enforcement agencies are conducting audits in regard to the ongoing discussions about the use of Flock cameras.
News
14 years after Austin Tice’s disappearance in Syria, his family in Houston presses efforts to find him
Tice, a freelance journalist and U.S. Marine Corps veteran, disappeared near a checkpoint in Damascus on Aug. 14, 2012, while reporting on the Syrian Civil War....
safety
3 Harris County deputies have access to Flock system suspended; Deer Park Police Department disciplines officer
Two different law enforcement agencies say they are either reviewing or have disciplined employees for misuse or potential misuse of the Flock camera system. The Harris County Sheriff’s Office says it has suspended three deputy’s access to the Flock system and launched a review.....
safety
Advocates accuse hardware store chain of cooperating with ICE following detention of man in Houston area
The Home Depot, where a man was recently arrested by federal agents after reporting a shooting to local police, denies being involved with ICE operations but says it does not prevent agents from accessing its parking lots, where automated license plate readers are located....
News
James Talarico pushes new plan to woo Texas veterans, pledges to 'fight for them the way they fight for us'
Democratic U.S. Senate nominee James Talarico unveiled a veterans and military agenda Friday aimed at ending forever wars, strengthening support for military families and increasing the resources available to veterans for health care, housing and employment....
schools
Texas schools see modest improvement in 2026 A-F ratings. Here's how they fared
About 85% of Texas public schools earned a passing grade in the state's latest A-F accountability ratings, while roughly one-quarter of districts and campuses scored higher than they did last year....
News
Hello Houston – The Commuter Cut (August 14, 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.
News
Historic Elissa ship returns to Galveston Saturday after months at sea
The Elissa is expected to arrive at the Galveston Historic Seaport located off of Harborside Drive at around noon Saturday. Those attending are encouraged to gather at Pier 21 with homemade welcome signs in hand....
weather
Hello Houston (August 14, 2026)
Today: We discuss the expansion of Flock cameras in Texas, learn how we can restore old furniture, and talk with River Oaks Theatre artistic director Rob Saucedo about his new graphic novel....
News
Houston’s water utility receives ‘negative’ financial outlook from S&P Global
The lowered outlook comes after significant financial restructuring by Mayor John Whitmire’s administration.
safety
Three injured by man who shot at moving vehicles before he was shot by police, HPD says
A woman and her daughter were among those shot late Friday morning, according to the Houston Police Department, which said the shooter was struck multiple times by responding officers and transported to a hospital....
News
Mike D'Antoni, who coached the Houston Rockets to new heights, to join Naismith Hall of Fame
The mind behind "seven seconds or less" revolutionized NBA basketball with a style that teams have either sought to replicate — or adapt to.
News
The future of Flock cameras: The Good, Bad, and Ugly of the week
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.
government
2 accused of polluting Halls Bayou with oil, transmission fluid in north Harris County
Two men are facing felony charges in Harris County after authorities learned an unlicensed auto repair operation has been polluting soil and a Houston bayou....
News
Texas Standard for Aug. 14, 2026: Mike D'Antoni talks NBA coaching career ahead of Hall of Fame induction
Former Houston Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni is joining the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame after a career that helped reshape NBA offense. His fast-paced system influenced a generation of teams, while his Rockets tenure paired that philosophy with James Harden and produced a......
government
Election 2026: Make your voice heard
Tell us what matters to you and help shape our election coverage.
business
At Big Bend National Park, bulldozers begin clearing pristine desert land for border barrier work
A coalition of landowners, outdoor enthusiasts and business owners that say any work in Big Bend National Park would forever change the place often called "Texas' gift to the nation."...
safety
Longstanding limits on certain firearms, silencers lifted in Texas after judge’s order takes effect
The Trump administration declined to immediately appeal a ruling by a federal judge in Lubbock that invalidated parts of the 1934 National Firearms Act....
government
Juvenile detained, another injured after apparent stabbing in NW Harris Co., officials say
Precinct 4 deputies said the stabbing occurred following an apparent fight between two juveniles. The injured one received medical attention, and the other was detained....
Local
Juvenile stabbed during fight in Spring neighborhood Friday morning
An investigation is underway after a juvenile was left stabbed following an altercation Friday morning in Spring, according to deputies with Constable Mark Herman’s Office.The incident was reported in a residential neighborhood, located in the 200 block of Leaflet Lane.Klein ISD....
News
Comedian Ron Funches (Aug. 14, 2026)
On Friday's show: We preview Saturday’s rescheduled Pride Houston parade. Then, we break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week. And we catch up with comedian Ron Funches....
government
Judge who appointed Daniel Wong as Fort Bend County judge denies request to vacate that decision
This week's ruling by Judge Jeth Jones solidifies the likelihood that Wong, a Republican who is facing Democratic Fort Bend County Commissioner Dexter McCoy in the county judge race, will continue to serve in that position through the November election....
safety
Woman killed in vehicle-pedestrian crash on Highway 249 in NW Harris County
A woman was killed late Thursday night after being hit by a vehicle in northwest Harris County, according to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.Deputies responded around 9:30 p.m. to the 13300 block of Highway 249 for a reported auto-pedestrian crash. Investigators said the......
News
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1615: Learning to Use Coal
Episode: 1615 On learning to use coal. Today, we learn why we shouldn't bring coals to Newcastle.
schools
5 HISD schools receive F ratings a year after there were no failing campuses
Wheatley High School, where a string of F ratings triggered the ongoing state takeover of the district, earned an A for the first time.
government
'It's not fair what they're doing to people': Tenant sues North Harris County apartments over rent dispute
At least two families at the Palms on Rolling Creek Apartments say management falsely accused them of not paying rent — and one of them has filed a lawsuit to fight back.This is the same North Harris County apartment complex KPRC 2 News reported on this week, where a judge has......
safety
2-year-old girl allegedly beaten by her mother's boyfriend has died, HCSO says
A 2-year-old girl who prosecutors allege was punched and stomped on by her mother's boyfriend has died, according to the Harris County Sheriff's Office....
safety
Overturned truck hauling dirt prompts closure of SB lanes of E. Sam Houston Tollway, officials say
A semi-truck hauling dirt overturned, forcing the closure of the southbound lanes of the East Sam Houston Tollway on Thursday afternoon, according to the Harris County Precinct 8 Constable's Office....
News
U.S. attorney confirms that FBI tests didn’t find meth in van driven by man fatally shot by ICE in Houston
Aaron Reitz did not reveal what FBI testing found in bags taken from Lorenzo Salgado Araujo’s van after his July 7 shooting death. Other men in the van said the bags contained salt....
traffic
CBP commissioner defends agency's border project in Big Bend National Park
Rodney Scott, the head of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, indicated Thursday the agency would stick with its plan to build vehicle barriers and patrol roads in the West Texas park despite growing public outcry. "We are securing this park to protect its legacy," Scott said in....
business
U.S. commerce secretary lauds Apple's manufacturing expansion in Houston
U.S. President Donald Trump has implemented tariffs to try to bring more manufacturing jobs to America. Still, U.S. manufacturing jobs have declined slightly over the past 12 months....
News
As John Whitmire turns 77, the ‘spry’ and ‘vigorous’ Houston mayor wants to stay in office into his 80s
After 50 years in the Texas Legislature and nearly three at City Hall, Whitmire says he will seek a second term as mayor.
weather
Houston’s 2026 Pride parade is set for Saturday, when high temperatures are in the forecast
According to the National Weather Service, Houston is forecast to have a high temperature of 98 degrees on Saturday, with a heat index, or feels-like temperature, of up to 109. The parade will be held in the evening....
News
Hello Houston – The Commuter Cut (August 13, 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.
News
Paxton, Talarico tap contrary versions of God and Christianity in appeal to Texas voters
Campaigning for the U.S. Senate, Paxton says he was “delivered by God” to protect Texas from leftists. Talarico’s focus: “You can’t love God and hate other people.”...
business
Hello Houston (August 13, 2026)
Today: We discuss a federal judge's ruling on a longstanding Houston minority business contracting program, catch up with Houston singer Christina Wells, and find out how we can discern political fact from fiction during campaign season....
safety
Surveillance video of car wash shooting suspect in southeast Houston released
Houston police are searching for a suspect who allegedly shot a man during an attempted car wash robbery and then shot at a Harris County constable deputy....