Harris County
Contract COVID-19 testers file federal compliant over wage dispute and threats of deportation
Posted on · Former workers say they faced threats of deportation if they spoke out about the alleged mistreatment.
Tag: COVID-19
Houston Matters
Pediatric ICU bed shortage, and Taco-Tastic Cookbook (Nov. 18, 2022)
Posted on · On Friday's show: We learn why hospitals in Texas and Greater Houston are facing a shortage of pediatric ICU beds. Then, we discuss recent developments in consumer technology. And chef and restaurant owner Victoria Elizondo talks about her new taco cookbook, Taco-Tastic.
Health & Science
Flu season hits Houston area earlier than usual
Posted on · More than 3 percent of reported doctors visits in Harris County during the first week of November were related to the flu or other respiratory viral infections, compared to 1.7 percent in early October, according to the Houston Health Department.
News
Virtually all PPP loans have been forgiven with limited scrutiny
Posted on · Officials promised a robust review process before forgiving PPP loans, but most loans could be forgiven with a simple, one-page form. Meanwhile, just 2% of loans have gotten close, hands-on reviews.
Houston Matters
School dropout rate amid COVID, and Texas AG candidate Rochelle Garza (Oct. 4, 2022)
Posted on · On Tuesday's show: State numbers paint a picture of how many students dropped out of school during the worst of the pandemic. And we continue our series of interviews with candidates on the ballot on Election Day with Rochelle Garza, candidate for Texas Attorney General.
Houston Matters
Houstonians gear up to help Florida as Hurricane Ian makes landfall (Sept. 29, 2022)
Posted on · On Thursday's show: We learn how Houstonians are gearing up to help those in Florida affected by Hurricane Ian.
Politics
Texas AG says counties can spend COVID relief funds on extra pay for elected officials without public notice
Posted on · The nonbinding legal opinion states local elected and appointed officials can receive up to $25,000 for work done during the COVID-19 pandemic on top of their regular salaries. Unlike other pay raises, these “premium pay” bonuses don’t need to be declared to the public ahead of time.
Health & Science
Houston researchers find your heart arteries may play a role in long COVID
Posted on · 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.
Health & Science
COVID-19 boosters targeting Omicron variant now available in Houston
Posted on · The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention endorsed reformulated versions of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines last week. The shots should better protect people from the most recent COVID-19 variants.
Houston Matters
Vaccine boosters target omicron, and writer Erika L. Sanchez (Sept. 6, 2022)
Posted on · On Tuesday's show: Who should get newly approved COVID-19 boosters that target the omicron variant? Then, Carolyn Evans-Shabazz answers questions about issues facing the city. And we talk with writer Erika L. Sanchez.
Houston Matters
Life expectancy continues to fall: The Good, Bad, and Ugly of the week
Posted on · The Houston Matters panel of non-experts weighs in on stories from the week’s news and decides if they’re good, bad, or ugly.
Houston Matters
New COVID guidelines, and addressing the crisis in the teaching profession (Aug. 15, 2022)
Posted on · On Monday's show: We take a closer look at the CDC's new COVID guidelines, we discuss ways to address the crisis in the teaching profession, a local veterinarian answers your questions, and we consider the impact of putting kids under the spotlight of events like the Little League World Series.
Politics
A new MAGA: Mothers Against Greg Abbott mobilizes against the incumbent governor seeking a third term
Posted on · Mothers Against Greg Abbott has grown into a potent political force in the governor’s race, with a membership of over 50,000 on Facebook. The group recently caught more attention after releasing ads that have gone viral on social media.
Health & Science
Houston doctor suspended for vaccine misinformation files $25 million defamation lawsuit against Methodist Hospital
Posted on · The lawsuit accuses Methodist Hospital and Methodist CEO Marc Boom of making "false and defamatory" statements about Dr. Mary Bowden, an ear, nose, and throat doctor in River Oaks.
Health & Science
Home testing makes predicting new COVID waves in Texas challenging
Posted on · New cases of COVID-19 in Texas are increasing again. But predicting how long this wave of infections will continue — and how severe it could be — will not be easy this time around.