Hello Houston

On today’s Hello Houston, we’re joined by former Galveston mayor and candidate for Texas Attorney General Joe Jaworski in the first hour of the show, who tells us about his platform and why he decided to run after running for this seat before.Also, in the first hour, Houston Public Media reporter Michael Adkison joins us to give us the latest on the relocation of the Space Shuttle Discovery to Houston and what it would take to transport the shuttle. Then, in the show’s second hour, public information officer for the Texas Department of Transportation, Danny Perez, explains what we can expect on the roads for the Thanksgiving holiday and shares some tips on traveling smart for the holiday season.Plus, Ernie, Frank, and Celeste break down events and releases happening during the week of Thanksgiving, as well as share how they're celebrating the holiday this year. And, as always, our hosts discuss today's top stories at the top of each hour, including Governor Greg Abbott wanting to flip Harris County red and the Pentagon investigating Arizona Senator Mark Kelly after he appeared in a video with other Democratic lawmakers urging military members to refuse "illegal orders."

On today’s Hello Houston, we talk with Houston City Councilmember Tarsha Jackson in the show’s first hour, who discusses the illegal dumping in 5th Ward, as well as what is happening to address this issue, and what still needs to happen.Also, in the first hour, with this week’s festivities only a few days away, we also talk with licensed professional counselor Audrey Omenson, who tells us about how we can navigate difficult family gatherings and avoid arguments on Thanksgiving. Then, in the second hour of the show, we’re joined by Margaret Kidd, adjunct professor at the University of Houston’s Cullen College of Engineering, who shares her thoughts on President Trump’s decision to roll back food tariffs that he initially ordered.Plus, Elisha Beach, the wife of actor Michael Beach and founder of The Mom Forum, an online community dedicated to helping moms, joins us to discuss her new book Balance Is B.S: The Truth About Motherhood and Self-Care.And, as always, Ernie, Frank, and Celeste weigh in on the top stories of the day at the top of each hour, including the Federal Aviation Administration preparing for Thanksgiving travel, the Supreme Court pausing the ruling on Texas's new congressional map, Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene announcing her resignation from Congress, and more.

On today’s Hello Houston, Ken W. Good, a noted bail attorney and board member of the Professional Bondsmen of Texas, joins us in the show’s first hour to break down a ruling on Attorney General Ken Paxton’s challenge of Harris County’s 2019 bail reform settlement.Also, in the first hour, we hear from five-time New York Times best-selling author Shea Serrano, who tells us all about his latest book, Expensive Basketball, a poetic examination of some of the most unforgettable moments in the history of the game. Then, in the second hour, Dan Price, director of the Data & Society Program and the Community Health Workers Initiative, and his wife, Carol Price, a member of the board of directors for Preservation Houston, join us to talk about their role in preserving famed architect Victor Lundy’s home in Bellaire.Plus, we learn all about tonight’s Tejano Music Awards and its move to Houston after nearly five decades in San Antonio, with Blanca Beltran-Robinson of Champions Club Agency, and singer/songwriter Yeisi, who’s also a nominee in this year’s awards.And, as always, Ernie, Frank, and Celeste discuss today’s top stories at the top of each hour, including Humble ISD joining a statewide School Marshal program, President Trump meeting with New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, and President Trump’s response to a video by Democratic lawmakers saying members of the military can refuse illegal orders.

On today’s Hello Houston, we talk with Dr. Robin Armstrong, currently serving as a member of the Finance Commission of the Texas Republican National Committee and commissioner for Galveston County’s Precinct 4, who gives us the Republican reaction to the ruling on redistricting maps in the show’s first hour.Also, in the first hour, we hear the newest installment of Ernie’s “InnerVIEWS” series, in which he catches up with 80s easy-listening and R&B singer Charlene, known for the hit song “I’ve Never Been to Me.”Then, in the show’s second hour, we’re joined by Houston area immigration attorney Charles Foster, who discusses the Department of Justice’s decision to fire certain immigration judges and how this is impacting U.S. immigration broadly.Plus, our hosts and listeners share a rundown of the things that are currently taking over all their free time for our regular Thursday feature, “Current Obsessions.”And, as always, Ernie and Celeste discuss today’s top stories at the top of each hour, including the Houston City Council enacting a curfew on scooters across the city, a movie based on the life of Houston businessman "Mattress Mack," and Buddhist monks on a 2,000-mile “Walk for Peace” injured after a traffic crash.

On today’s Hello Houston, we’re joined by Jelani Cobb, acclaimed historian, Pulitzer finalist, and Dean of Columbia’s Graduate School of Journalism, who talks to us about his new book, Three or More Is a Riot: Notes on How We Got Here: 2012-2025, in the first hour of the show.Also, in the first hour, we talk with actor Tyler Jordan Wesley about his role in the North American tour of the Tony Award-winning musical The Outsiders, which runs at the Hobby Center through Sunday.In the show's second hour, we hear from Texas State Representative James Talarico, who joins us to give us his thoughts on yesterday’s ruling on redistricting maps. Then, we revisit our interview with filmmaker Ken Burns and producer Sarah Botstein about their new documentary miniseries, The American Revolution, which is currently airing on TV8.Plus, we also hear Hello Houston producer Garrett Bohlmann talk with YouTuber and science communicator Hank Green, who discusses his career making educational content online, how he manages to balance his various projects, and more.And, as always, Ernie, Frank, and Celeste discuss today’s top stories at the top of each hour, including a federal judge ordering Conroe ISD to remove their Ten Commandments displays, the House and Senate approving a bill to release the Epstein files, and Gov. Abbott designating CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist organizations.

On today’s Hello Houston, we’re joined by former U.S. Representative and former Houston City Council member Chris Bell during the show’s first hour, who tells us about his run for Texas governor and why he decided to enter the race.Then, in the second hour of the show, we talk with Texas Monthly contributor and author Skip Hollandsworth, who joins us to discuss his latest book, She Kills, a collection of some of his most unforgettable stories about Texas’s most notorious female criminals.Also, we hear from U.S. representative Sylvia Garcia, who joins us along with Houston Public Media politics and government reporter Andrew Schneider to give us the latest on a federal court blocking the new Texas congressional map that favored Republicans. And, as always, Ernie, Frank, and Celeste discuss the top stories of the day at the top of each hour, including Governor Greg Abbott setting a runoff date for the special election of Texas’ 18th Congressional District, the U.S. House voting on a bill to release the Epstein files, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz signaling a possible 2028 presidential run, and more.

On today’s Hello Houston, we’re joined by the City of Galveston’s manager, Brian Maxwell, in the show’s first hour, who tells us all about the city’s plan to use AI to help improve traffic conditions on the island.Also, in the first hour, we discuss this year’s Iron Sommelier, Houston’s premier wine competition and tasting event, with the 2024 winner Matthew McLaughlin of Guard and Grace and Justin Goodman of The Periwinkle Foundation.Then, in the second hour of the show, we hear from David Froomkin, assistant professor of law at the University of Houston Law Center, who discusses recent Supreme Court news, as the Court prepares to hear a case that could reshape how millions of Americans vote by mail.Plus, we also chat with Ricardo E. Magdaleno, Director of the Mayor's Office of Special Events, who tells us about the upcoming annual holiday show, “Deck the Hall,” which will include a tree lighting countdown followed by a festive concert.And, as always, Ernie, Frank, and Celeste discuss the top stories of the day at the top of each hour, including President Trump calling for House Republicans to vote to release the Epstein files and Texas superintendents saying state takeovers of school districts are an ineffective method of improving learning for students.

On today’s Hello Houston, we’re joined by Houston City Council at large 4 candidate Dwight Boykins in the show’s first hour, who talks to us about his upcoming runoff election with Alejandra Salinas.Also, in the first hour, we hear from Texas Standard host David Brown, who tells us about their tenth anniversary, as well as the big event they have tonight at Saint Arnold Brewing Company to celebrate.Then, in the second hour of the show, we talk with Kendra Camarena and Lesley Guilmart, two of the recently elected members of the Cy-Fair ISD board, who join us to discuss the changes ahead for the district.Plus, our hosts share a rundown of events happening this weekend in Houston for our regular Friday feature, “Last Minute Plans.”And, as always, Ernie Manouse and special guest host Doris Childress discuss today’s top stories at the top of each hour, including California revoking 17,000 commercial driver's licenses given to immigrants, Pope Leo XIV's four favorite movies, and the Texas A&M University System approving a policy that could limit courses about race or gender ideology.

On today’s Hello Houston, we’re joined by Houston City Council at large 4 candidate Alejandra Salinas, who talks to us about her upcoming runoff election with Dwight Boykins, and filmmaker Ira Sachs tells us all about his new film Peter Hujar's Day, in the first hour of the show.Then, in the show’s second hour, we speak with Chase Untermeyer, a Professor of Practice at the University of Houston’s Hobby School of Public Affairs, and Loren Steffy, a writer-at-large for Texas Monthly, who discuss the early career and legacy of former Vice President Dick Cheney, following his recent passing.Also, our hosts share a rundown of the things that are currently taking over all our free time for our regular Thursday feature, “Current Obsessions.”And, as always, Ernie and Celeste talk about the top stories of the day at the top of each hour, including Mayor John Whitmire defending the Houston Police Department’s coordination with ICE and reactions from the new emails that were released from convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s estate. Plus, as a bonus, Houston Public Media reporter Michael Adkison joins us for live reports from the Houston Ballet’s Nutcracker Market at the top of each hour.

On today’s Hello Houston, we’re joined by Dr. Michael Nikolaou from the University of Houston’s Cullen College of Engineering and reservoir engineer Muhammad Haseeb Muktar, who break down their study on abandoned oil wells in West Texas, also known as “zombie wells,” in the show’s first hour.Also, in the first hour, we discuss the area non-profit Girls on the Run Greater Houston, with their interim Executive Director Michelle Nahsser, who explains how they inspire young girls to recognize their inner strength and increase their level of physical activity.Then, in the second hour of the show, we hear from Officer Ken Nealy, 1st Vice President of the Houston Police Officers Union, who tells us about their recruitment call to NYPD officers who want to leave New York over Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral win last week.Plus, Dr. Mark D'Andrea, a board-certified radiation oncologist at University Cancer Centers and a principal investigator on the Alpha DaRT IMPACT pancreatic cancer pilot study, joins us to discuss pancreatic cancer and how people can navigate a diagnosis.And, as always, Ernie, Celeste, and Frank discuss the top stories of the day at the top of each hour, including Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's lawsuit against Harris County over an immigration legal defense program, new emails from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate that mention President Trump, and TxDOT saying Texans need more public transportation to address the mobility needs of the state’s growing population.

On today’s Hello Houston, we’re joined by Dr. Sarah Nadeem, an endocrinologist and Assistant Professor at Baylor College of Medicine, who joins us to discuss weight loss drugs and President Trump’s recently announced plan to lower their cost in the show’s first hour.Also, in the first hour, we hear from local jazz drummer Graeme Francis, who tells us all about the opening of Houston’s new jazz club, Doc’s Houston.Then, in the second hour, for Veterans Day, we talk with Noel Cardenas, Senior Vice President and CEO of the Memorial Hermann Pearland and Southeast Hospitals, who shares his story of setting up a 164-bed combat support hospital from the ground up, during his time in the U.S. Army.Plus, we learn about the faith-based nonprofit Amazing Place, with their Family Services Director Arlene Schollaert, LCSW, who tells us more about their work empowering the lives of families dealing with the challenges of dementia and Alzheimer’s.And, as always, Frank and Celeste discuss the top stories of the day at the top of each hour, including the Senate passing a bill to reopen the government after the longest shutdown in U.S. history and President Trump proposing a 50-year mortgage to address home affordability and $2,000 tariff dividend checks.

On today’s Hello Houston, we begin the show by talking with University of Houston political science professor and Party Politics co-host Brandon Rottinghaus, who discusses a possible end to the government shutdown, U.S. Rep. Al Green announcing he's running for Texas’s 18th Congressional District, and more.In the show’s first hour, the Baker Institute’s Bill King discusses the shrinking immigrant population in the U.S. and what impact this could have on America’s economic outlook. Also, legendary trumpeter Wynton Marsalis tells us about his upcoming concert at the Hobby Center with the acclaimed Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.Then, Ernie, Celeste, and Frank kick off the second hour of the show by discussing Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s lawsuit against Galveston ISD for refusing to display the Ten Commandments inside its school’s classrooms. Plus, we hear from Daniel Cohan, a professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Rice University, who discusses the United States’ lack of participation in the COP30 climate summit in Brazil, and Samantha Smart, the writer and star of the award-winning film Charliebird, joins us to tell us more about the film, which was filmed in the Houston area.

On today’s Hello Houston, we hear an excerpt from the latest installment of Ernie’s “InnerVIEWS” series in the show’s first hour, in which he talks with U.S. representative Sylvia Garcia, who has been serving Texas's 29th congressional district since 2019.Also, in the first hour, we learn about a fundraising event from the non-profit Communities In Schools of Houston (CIS) and Houston restaurant The Pit Room, to help support Houston students. We discuss with the event’s co-chairs, Jen Espey and Jen Moss, as well as Michael Sambrooks, owner of The Pit Room.In the second hour of the show, we’re joined by former rancher Deborah Birge, who shares her thoughts on the current state of the Texas cattle industry following the Trump administration’s plans to quadruple low-tariff imports of Argentine beef.Then, we also hear Ernie broadcast live from the second annual Round Top Film Festival in Round Top, Texas, to tell us more about who and what will be featured at the festival, which takes place throughout the weekend. Plus, you can also hear Ernie talk with actors Jonathan Lipnicki and Mariel Hemingway at the festival at the top of each hour.And, as always, Celeste and Frank discuss the top stories of the day at the top of each hour, including flights being cut at Houston and other major cities’ airports due to the ongoing government shutdown and the Trump administration announcing a deal to lower the cost of weight-loss drugs.

On today’s Hello Houston, Ernie and Frank are joined by District 18 Congressional candidate Amanda Edwards in the show’s first hour, who discusses her campaign advancing to a runoff election following Tuesday night’s results.Also, in the first hour, we hear an excerpt from the latest installment of Ernie’s InnerVIEWS series, in which he talks with Broadway, film, and television actor Jeremy Jordan.  Then, in the second hour of the show, we hear from Sara Loperena, Director and Founder of The Book Cycle, who tells us about their program that keeps books in circulation by giving them away at no cost, as well as provides a space for the community to connect and share their love of reading.Plus, we also chat with Houston-born singer, actress, and motivational speaker Christina Wells, who tells us about her career as well as her cabaret-style show Divas Across the Decades, which will be at the Hobby Center tonight and tomorrow night.And, as always, Ernie and Frank discuss today’s top stories at the top of each hour, including Supreme Court justices skeptical over President Trump’s argument for imposing tariffs on other countries, former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi announcing her retirement, and the U.S. turkey flock being at its smallest number in 40 years.

On today’s Hello Houston, Ernie and Frank begin the show’s first hour by talking with Houston Public Media politics and government reporter Andrew Schneider, who helps us break down the results of yesterday's election.Also, in the first hour, District 18 congressional candidate Christian Menefee joins us to talk about the results of last night’s election and the upcoming runoff expected early next year. Then, actress Tiffany Tatreau tells us about her role in A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical, which is on stage at the Hobby Center through November 9.In the second hour of the show, Ernie and Frank dive into some of today’s top stories, including the Houston Police Officers’ Union recruiting New York City police officers following the election of Zohran Mamdani as New York’s mayor, and Tom Brady cloning his dog.Plus, we also hear from Dr. John Cooke, professor and chair of the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences at Houston Methodist, who gives us the lowdown on anti-aging supplements, and we learn all about the upcoming Houston Cinema Arts Festival from Katie Creeggan-Rios, Executive Director of the Houston Cinema Arts Society.

On today’s Hello Houston, it’s Election Day, and Ernie, Celeste, and Frank begin the show by talking with Harris County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth, who gives us an update on how voting is going and answers questions about what to expect.Also, in the first hour, we hear from Houston Public Media reporter Andrew Schneider, who gives us an in-depth look into the history of the 18th Congressional District with TSU professor Michael Adams, and we learn about the support group, Steel Magnolia Moms, and their upcoming annual holiday market.In the second hour of the show, Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare joins us to discuss a potential crime spike amid a loss of SNAP benefits for nearly half a million residents across Harris County.Then, we’re also joined by Mary Vazquez, Vice President of Community Outreach for United Way of Greater Houston, who tells us about the resources that are available to those in need of support until their partial SNAP benefits are credited to their accounts.Plus, we also receive a preview of the upcoming Disasters Expo taking place at the George R. Brown Convention Center this week, with James Berryman, CEO of Fortem International US.

On today’s Hello Houston, Ernie, Celeste, and Frank begin the show by discussing today’s top stories, including long wait times at Houston airports due to the ongoing government shutdown and most Americans not feeling confident about the direction the country is heading.Also, in the first hour, we’re joined by Texas Tribune reporter Eleanor Klibanoff, who helps break down the history of redistricting in Texas, and Mari Carmen Ramírez, Wortham Curator of Latin American Art at MFAH, tells us about their new exhibition, Gyula Kosice: Intergalactic.Then, in the second hour of the show, Katie Campbell Shumway, Executive Director of the League of Women Voters of Houston, joins us to discuss tomorrow’s election, and Harris County reporter for the Houston Chronicle, John Lomax, tells us about his report on the use of AI by our local government officials.Plus, we also hear from Jacqueline Aguilera, Community Liaison & Program Host for the non-profit Literacy Texas, who tells us about the current state of adult literacy and how that’s changed in recent years.

On today’s Hello Houston, we’re joined by Houston Public Media reporter Bianca Seward, who helps break down the upcoming Cy-Fair ISD Board Election, and Ghosts of Galveston author, Kathleen Maca, shares some spooky ghost stories from the Houston/Galveston region, in the show’s first hour.Then, in the second hour of the show, Gail Buttorff, a research associate professor at the Hobby School of Public Affairs, tells us about the findings of the 2025 Texas Trends Survey from the University of Houston and Texas Southern University, which includes how Texans are coping with the rising cost of energy.Plus, we share a rundown of events happening in Houston tonight and this weekend for a special Halloween edition of our regular Friday feature – “Last Minute Plans.”And, as always, Ernie and Celeste discuss today’s top stories at the top of each hour, including Harris County commissioners supporting the idea of acquiring park land for Ben Taub Hospital’s expansion, King Charles III stripping his brother of all of his royal titles, President Trump calling for the filibuster to be scrapped to end the government shutdown, and more.

On today’s Hello Houston, we’re joined by Amanda Seitz, a KFF health reporter, who discusses the uncertainty currently surrounding the Affordable Care Act and how much coverage will cost in the first hour of the show.Also, in the first hour, Nerdtropolis founder and host Sean Tajipour gives us his movie recommendations for Halloween.Then, in the second hour of the show, we hear an excerpt from the latest installment of Ernie’s “InnerVIEWS” series, in which he chats with scientist, pediatrician, and advocate for global health, Dr. Peter Hotez, about the changing views he has witnessed surrounding vaccines and autism.Plus, our hosts and listeners share the things that are currently taking over all their free time for our regular Thursday feature – “Current Obsessions.”And, as always, Ernie and Celeste talk about the top stories of the day at the top of each hour, including the delay of a proposed ordinance to enhance inspections and fines for allegedly problematic Houston apartments, Houstonians spending a long amount of time stuck in traffic, and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson. 

On today’s Hello Houston, Ernie and Celeste discuss today’s top stories at the top of the first hour, including House Republicans calling for the Justice Department to investigate former President Biden’s use of the presidential autopen and JPMorgan Chase allowing its employees to use AI to write their performance reviews.Also, in the first hour, Cesar Espinosa, executive director of FIEL Houston, gives us the latest on the current ICE activity in our region, and we explore the Texas films that will be showcased at this year’s Round Top Film Festival with the festival’s programming director, Micky Duzdevich.Then, in the second hour of the show, we hear from Houston Food Bank president and CEO Brian Greene, who joins us to talk about the special distribution sites the food bank is opening for federal workers and SNAP recipients impacted by the ongoing government shutdown.Plus, we learn about the new Museum of Fine Arts Houston exhibit, Art and Life in Imperial Rome: Trajan and His Times, with the museum’s research curator Danielle Bennett, and we chat with James Beard Award-nominated chef, restaurateur, and TV personality Arnold Myint, who discusses his new cookbook Family Thai.