Posted on · 100 years ago today, the Houston Ship Channel officially opened. The Ship Channel is a part of the Port of Houston, one of America's busiest seaports. In fact, last year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Port of Houston led the nation in the total tonnage it imported. The Port of Houston Authority claims […]
Posted on · According to the Urban Land Institute and Price Waterhouse Cooper's "Emerging Trends in Real Estate 2015" report, Houston is the country's number one "market to watch" next year. The ranking is based on factors like investment, development and homebuilding prospects. According to the ULI website, "Houston offers a significant amount of investment opportunity" for folks […]
Posted on · Nine people have been executed in the state of Texas in 2014. Two more are scheduled for execution later this month. While eleven executions would be, by far, the most in any state in 2014, it’s also the fewest in Texas since 1996. Why? Are attitudes changing towards the death penalty in Texas? Are we […]
Posted on · Last month, the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission, which is tasked with identifying and eliminating inefficiencies in state government, released a critical report on the Texas Department of State Health Services. The report characterizes the state’s mental health hospital system as being "in crisis,” adding that "individuals waiting to enter the state mental health hospital system […]
Posted on · Tuition, room and board, supplies – the cost of attending college adds up quickly. In a recent survey, The College Board placed the average cost of attending a public in-state university this past academic year at a little over $18,000. The cost of attending a private college averaged nearly $41,000. A lot of families can't […]
Posted on · The recent death of actor Philip Seymour Hoffman has once again raised the specter of addiction. It’s a topic often discussed, but not always well understood. More and more, medical professionals are recognizing addiction as a medical condition. They explain how drugs and alcohol can affect the chemistry in our brains, and how some of […]
Posted on · In recognition of Martin Luther King Day, Houston Matters will devote much of todayâs program to civil rights. Weâll listen back to conversations from this past summer about the civil rights era in Houston. Weâll hear from Reverend William Lawson, Pastor Emeritus of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, and Dr. James Douglas, Executive Vice President and […]
Posted on · On this edition of Houston Matters, we take up the notion of Houston as an âA-listâ city, in terms of concerts and performing arts, the sports world, and among foodies. As a city “up there” with other major cities in those specific worlds. Do the top performers make a point of touring here? Do we […]
Posted on · As politicians in Washington continue to haggle over the restoration of long-term unemployment benefits, more than a million Americans have stopped receiving checks. On the one hand, the long-term unemployed are likely to be those most at financial risk, and so most in need of help. They also could impact the economy for the rest […]
Posted on · The Texans. Houston's restaurant scene. Affordability. Diversity. The arts. Depending on your own opinion, these things aren't getting enough attention here in Houston. Or…they’re receiving too much. On this edition of Houston Matters, we ask you: what’s overrated and underrated in Houston, and why? It can be anything! Sports, food, entertainment, museums – whatever you […]
Posted on · A lot can happen in a week. Some of it good. Some of it bad. Some of it downright ugly. When faced with oddities in the week's Houston news, we turn to our panel of Houstonian non-experts to sort out the good, the bad, and the ugly of it all. On today’s panel: Mark Bennett, […]