The Supreme Court's latest session has nearly drawn to a close. The High Court has issued opinions and decisions in the final weeks in several widely anticipated cases, involving ones involving cell phone privacy and buffer zones around abortion clinics. And by the end of the day Monday, the Court's expected to issue its decision in a case questioning whether a for-profit company can deny health coverage to employees based on the religious objections of the corporation's owners.
These and other cases have implications for Houstonians. On this edition of Houston Matters, we talk with Constitutional law professors Peter Linzer from the University of Houston and Josh Blackman from South Texas College of Law about the court's decisions and opinions, and how the justices in the majority and the dissent arrived at their respective conclusions. We also talk about the surprise for some Court watchers that some high profile opinions this session have been unanimous. And note connections or allusions to past Supreme Court cases involving similar issues, stemming from the Lone Star state.
Also this hour: From Houstonian complaints about the smell and taste of our tap water, to the next hurdle cleared for a Houston-to-Dallas “bullet train,” to the cellar-dwelling Houston Astros making the cover of Sports Illustrated, we explore The Good, The Bad and The Ugly in Houston news with political blogger Charles Kuffner, La Voz de Houston editor Aurora Losada, and “Native Texan” columnist Joe Holley.
Plus: Comedian and Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me! panelist Paula Poundstone performs in Houston tonight at 8 at the Wortham Center. We talk with Poundstone about her efforts to stave off “crazy cat lady” status, and how she prepares for her appearances on Wait, Wait.
