Houston Libertarians and a Grand Parkway Tour: Thursday’s Show (June 9, 2016)

A longstanding mantra kicked around the Bayou City is that what's good for business is good for Houston. Yet Houston also has a history of advancing (some) social issues. These are not mutually exclusive concepts, and perhaps they're not surprising in a community that seems to have its fair share (maybe more) of libertarian (little “l”) residents — those that are economically conservative while socially liberal.

Is Houston a more libertarian city than others? Or is this a trend you can see nationwide? We discuss that question with Brandon Rottinghaus, an associate professor of political science at the University of Houston.

Then, we discuss the state of the Libertarian (big “L”) Party in Houston. If so many Houstonians' values match the so-called third party's values, why aren't there more people voting for Libertarian candidates each election in Greater Houston? Whitney Bilyeu joins us. She’s the Region 7 Representative for the Libertarian National Committee.

Also this hour:

Travelling the Newest Stretch of The Grand Parkway

Houston Matters takes a road trip to the newest leg of Highway 99, aka The Grand Parkway. This stretch of highway between Interstate 45 and I-69/US 59 near Spring was just completed and opened to traffic in late March after nearly three years of construction. News 88.7 transportation reporter Gail Delaughter joins us as we travel along the road, and stop at some of the exits and nearby businesses to get a sense of the impact 99 is having on the developing community surrounding it.

Former DEA Agent Pens Gritty Crime Novel “The Far Empty”

The Far Empty is a fictional book loosely based on Todd Scott's 20-year career as a special agent with the DEA – many of them spent in the stark Texas borderlands. The book revolves around two main characters, 17-year-old Caleb Ross and new sheriff's deputy Chris Cherry. Ross is dealing with the turmoil around his mother's disappearance who he believes is connected to his father, local Sheriff Stanford Ross, and Cherry is dealing with being stuck in the small town he grew up in West Texas called Murfee. Houston Matters producer Edel Howlin talks with author Todd Scott about his first published novel.

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