Students at The Opportunity Center shoot scenes for the short film "Border Life."

Houston Matters

Filmmaking program offers different path for Harris County youth needing second chance

Posted on · The Center also offers vocational trades, including a barber program where kids can become certified barbers.  Construction, drivers licenses, art, music, welding and dance are also offered. 

Criminal Justice

Kids of color are disproportionately punished in the Harris County juvenile justice system, a study shows

Posted on · The study showed a small group of kids who had multiple interactions with the system -- disproportionately youth of color -- were more likely to receive harsher punishments, even though their offenses didn't increase in severity.

Houston Matters

Full Show: Bail Reform Settlement, Juvenile Diversion Program, And The Integration Of Texas Football (July 29, 2019)

Posted on · On Monday's Houston Matters: A tentative settlement is reached in the lawsuit over the county's bail system, a new program aims to keeps kids out of the court system, lawmakers want Texas to sue the federal government over costs of securing the border, we discuss issues raised in the Hulu movie Culture Shock, and we hear stories from the integration of Texas football.

Houston Matters

Full Show: Madeleine Albright On Bipartisanship, And Remembering Filmmaker James Blue (Nov. 8, 2018)

Posted on · On Thursday's Houston Matters: After losing his re-election bid, a judge releases many of the juvenile defendants who had cases before him. Then, former Sec. of State Madeleine Albright discusses the need for bipartisanship in foreign policy. Plus, a new documentary tells the story of Oscar-nominated documentary filmmaker James Blue, who spent much of his career in Houston. And a new performance explores the impact of Houston’s drag scene on the LGBT rights movement.

News

Full Show: Legally Defining Gender, and Cartoonist Ngozi Ukazu (Nov. 1, 2018)

Posted on · On Thursday's Houston Matters: A new report says public defenders in Harris County's juvenile courts aren't getting assigned enough cases. The Trump administration is considering altering the legal definition of gender. Houston-raised cartoonist Ngozi Ukazu discusses her popular hockey-themed web comic, Check, Please! And local band The Wheel Workers performs.