Cleanup of the San Jacinto River Waste Pits has been delayed another nine months, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. It’s the latest in a series of setbacks since the toxic site was targeted for cleanup by the EPA back in 2008.The waste pits contain dioxins — a group of chemicals known to cause cancer — and community members are calling on the EPA to speed up the site's cleanup."It is critical that the EPA stop allowing time to be wasted, and require an expedient and thorough cleanup," said Jackie Medcalf, with the Texas Health and Environment Alliance. "Delays or poorly...…Cleanup of the San Jacinto River Waste Pits has been delayed another nine months, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. It’s the latest in a series of setbacks since the toxic site was targeted for cleanup by the EPA back in 2008.The waste pits contain dioxins — a group of chemicals known to cause cancer — and community members are calling on the EPA to speed up the site's cleanup."It is critical that the EPA stop allowing time to be wasted, and require an expedient and thorough cleanup," said Jackie Medcalf, with the Texas Health and Environment Alliance. "Delays or poorly...WW…

Texas Governor's Decision To Lift Mask Mandate Draws Strong Reactions When Texas's Gov. rescinded the state's mask mandate, reaction was swift and intense. Many businesses want customers to return, but there's concern about employees who still haven't gotten vaccinated.Heard onFromToggle more optionsWhen Texas's Gov. rescinded the state's mask mandate, reaction was swift and intense. Many businesses want customers to return, but there's concern about employees who still haven't gotten vaccinated.STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:When Texas Governor Greg Abbott lifted coronavirus restrictions, he made the...…Texas Governor's Decision To Lift Mask Mandate Draws Strong Reactions When Texas's Gov. rescinded the state's mask mandate, reaction was swift and intense. Many businesses want customers to return, but there's concern about employees who still haven't gotten vaccinated.Heard onFromToggle more optionsWhen Texas's Gov. rescinded the state's mask mandate, reaction was swift and intense. Many businesses want customers to return, but there's concern about employees who still haven't gotten vaccinated.STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:When Texas Governor Greg Abbott lifted coronavirus restrictions, he made the...WW…

Took a drive, just about every refinery and petrochemicals plant was flaring. This is a small area in Bayport. The entire Houston Ship Channel was lit up by flare stacks, never seen anything like it. Couldn't get a good pic of HSC from where I was. 1/2— Jason Tidwell (@BadfishRanch)Fill out the form below to subscribe our new daily editorial newsletter from the HPM Newsroom.· Meeting the needs of cyclists, pedestrians and mass transit users, while increasing safety and reducing pollution, are among the priorities for the city's transportation planners.· A bike ride through Houston's Gulfton...…Took a drive, just about every refinery and petrochemicals plant was flaring. This is a small area in Bayport. The entire Houston Ship Channel was lit up by flare stacks, never seen anything like it. Couldn't get a good pic of HSC from where I was. 1/2— Jason Tidwell (@BadfishRanch)Fill out the form below to subscribe our new daily editorial newsletter from the HPM Newsroom.· Meeting the needs of cyclists, pedestrians and mass transit users, while increasing safety and reducing pollution, are among the priorities for the city's transportation planners.· A bike ride through Houston's Gulfton...WW…

, a new podcast produced by Texas Public Radio in collaboration with Houston Public Media. This is the first story in a series about chemical disasters in Texas.It was an early Friday morning last January, in Houston's Westbranch neighborhood. Gilberto Mendoza Cruz was asleep when a ceiling collapsed on him.A nearby industrial warehouse, the Watson Grinding and Manufacturing facility, had exploded.Cruz went to the emergency room and was eventually released. He moved his wife and their two children into a hotel because their home was destroyed.Two weeks later Cruz died, his lawyer says, from...…, a new podcast produced by Texas Public Radio in collaboration with Houston Public Media. This is the first story in a series about chemical disasters in Texas.It was an early Friday morning last January, in Houston's Westbranch neighborhood. Gilberto Mendoza Cruz was asleep when a ceiling collapsed on him.A nearby industrial warehouse, the Watson Grinding and Manufacturing facility, had exploded.Cruz went to the emergency room and was eventually released. He moved his wife and their two children into a hotel because their home was destroyed.Two weeks later Cruz died, his lawyer says, from...WW…

· Where to go for locally-grown produce.· An acclaimed local photographer’s work is on display at City Hall, reflecting on the past and present of a Houston neighborhood, while also honoring Black History Month.· If it receives a national designation, the Emancipation Trail stretching from Galveston to Houston could be the second trail of its kind, focused on the experiences of African Americans.· Emancipation Park, the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, and others have been named UNESCO Slave Route Project sites.…· Where to go for locally-grown produce.· An acclaimed local photographer’s work is on display at City Hall, reflecting on the past and present of a Houston neighborhood, while also honoring Black History Month.· If it receives a national designation, the Emancipation Trail stretching from Galveston to Houston could be the second trail of its kind, focused on the experiences of African Americans.· Emancipation Park, the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, and others have been named UNESCO Slave Route Project sites.WW…

An annual holiday meal program for low income and homeless Houstonians is going to look a little different this year, foregoing the traditional hot meal for grab-and-go food baskets to keep people safe during the pandemic.The Houston Super Feast, which organizers call "the nation's largest feeding," has provided meals to families in need during Thanksgiving and around Christmas for the past four decades. Under normal circumstances, families sit down to share meals at the George R. Brown Convention Center.But this year, the Super Feast will be handing out food baskets instead, with walk-up...…An annual holiday meal program for low income and homeless Houstonians is going to look a little different this year, foregoing the traditional hot meal for grab-and-go food baskets to keep people safe during the pandemic.The Houston Super Feast, which organizers call "the nation's largest feeding," has provided meals to families in need during Thanksgiving and around Christmas for the past four decades. Under normal circumstances, families sit down to share meals at the George R. Brown Convention Center.But this year, the Super Feast will be handing out food baskets instead, with walk-up...WW…

Fill out the form below to subscribe our new daily editorial newsletter from the HPM Newsroom.· On Monday's show: We begin a week of discussions marking the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Harvey by examining what still needs to be done to prevent another great flood and reflecting on lessons learned from the disaster with Jeff Lindner, the man who was the face of much of the events.· It could be as late as 2042 before Galveston Bay's coastal barrier project is completed.· On Monday's show: What needs to happen for the long-sought-after Ike Dike/coastal barrier project to become reality...…Fill out the form below to subscribe our new daily editorial newsletter from the HPM Newsroom.· On Monday's show: We begin a week of discussions marking the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Harvey by examining what still needs to be done to prevent another great flood and reflecting on lessons learned from the disaster with Jeff Lindner, the man who was the face of much of the events.· It could be as late as 2042 before Galveston Bay's coastal barrier project is completed.· On Monday's show: What needs to happen for the long-sought-after Ike Dike/coastal barrier project to become reality...WW…

· Experts say we’ll have a better idea of any potential impacts of the slowly developing system to the Houston area next week.· Some areas will get between 1-2 inches of rain, which could cause flooding.· On Thursday's show: Local municipalities are taking action to prepare for more intense heat in the coming days. Then we learn why expiring corporate tax incentives will cost Texas taxpayers billions of dollars. Plus: Using architecture to prevent flooding, and Tiffany Derry of The Great American Recipe.· With the start of another Atlantic hurricane season, Houston Matters presents an hour...…· Experts say we’ll have a better idea of any potential impacts of the slowly developing system to the Houston area next week.· Some areas will get between 1-2 inches of rain, which could cause flooding.· On Thursday's show: Local municipalities are taking action to prepare for more intense heat in the coming days. Then we learn why expiring corporate tax incentives will cost Texas taxpayers billions of dollars. Plus: Using architecture to prevent flooding, and Tiffany Derry of The Great American Recipe.· With the start of another Atlantic hurricane season, Houston Matters presents an hour...WW…

Fill out the form below to subscribe our new daily editorial newsletter from the HPM Newsroom.…Fill out the form below to subscribe our new daily editorial newsletter from the HPM Newsroom.WW…

To embed this piece of audio in your site, please use this code:X · Most studies of what causes symptoms of COVID-19 to linger on after the virus has passed focused, with little success, on the heart muscle. Doctors at Houston Methodist Hospital instead looked at the heart arteries and hit on a promising idea.· The new shots from Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech target both the original strain of the coronavirus and the omicron BA.4/BA.5 subvariants that most people are catching now.· The Biden Administration blames the halt of the program on Congress due to a lack of funding.· Revised...…To embed this piece of audio in your site, please use this code:X · Most studies of what causes symptoms of COVID-19 to linger on after the virus has passed focused, with little success, on the heart muscle. Doctors at Houston Methodist Hospital instead looked at the heart arteries and hit on a promising idea.· The new shots from Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech target both the original strain of the coronavirus and the omicron BA.4/BA.5 subvariants that most people are catching now.· The Biden Administration blames the halt of the program on Congress due to a lack of funding.· Revised...WW…