Listen
Back in the summer of 2013, we examined food deserts in Houston – neighborhoods with a shortage of nearby access to fresh food. They tend to be in low income areas, where major grocery chains are sometimes unwilling or unable to open a store. The concern in 2013 was that 1 in 5 households in Harris County lived without cars, and lived more than a half mile from a supermarket. Back then, some city officials were attempting to recruit retailers into opening in some of these neighborhoods.
It’s been two years. How successful have city and nonprofit programs been targeting food deserts? We’ll find out on today’s Houston Matters.
Also this hour: According to the latest data from the Association of American Medical Colleges, Texas ranks in the bottom 10 in states in the nation for the number of active doctors per 100,000 population, and for primary care physicians actively seeing patients. We’ll discuss what’s behind this apparent doctor shortage in the Lone Star state, where it manifests itself most prominently, and what might be done about it.
Then: Houston artist Dario Robleto recently joined a group of top astronomers and physicists in London – no less than Stephen Hawking among them – to announce a series of projects called Breakthrough Initiatives, aimed at communicating with intelligent life beyond Earth. Robleto tells News 88.7 arts and culture reporter Amy Bishop about his role, and who's behind Breakthrough Initiatives.
Plus: Throughout the summer months, Houston Matters is dedicating time each week to books about Greater Houston, set in Greater Houston or written or edited by Houstonians. Our summer reading series continues today with Tom Williams, author of a collection of short stories called Among the Wild Mulattos and Other Tales. Houston serves as the backdrop for some of his stories. (Williams earned his PhD at the University of Houston). Williams will talk with Houston Matters’ Paige Phelps.
