Hello Houston (April 17, 2026)

On today’s Hello Houston, we once again simulcast with Tom Hudson at WLRN Public Media in Miami to discuss redistricting with Florida lawmakers heading into a special session later this month to consider congressional districts – something we’re familiar with in Texas.

Then, we discuss Inprint’s Poetry Buskers program with Giuseppe Taurino, Executive Director of Inprint, and Poetry Busker Anna Barr, who writes a poem for us about the importance of public radio at the start of our show, which we hear at the end of the first hour.

In the second hour, we learn all about the Texas Historic Tree Coalition, a non-profit group dedicated to preserving our state’s historic trees with their Houston and Southeast Texas Representative, Nancy Higgs. Also, our hosts share a rundown of events happening this weekend in H-Town as part of our regular Friday feature, Last Minute Plans.

And, as always, Ernie Manouse and Celeste Diaz Schurman discuss today’s top stories at the top of each hour, including Houston Mayor John Whitmire postponing today’s scheduled city council meeting to consider repealing the city's new HPD–ICE policy, and Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller calls in to discuss why he's urging Governor Abbott to temporarily suspend the state’s motor fuel tax.