What. A. Week. We had alligators trapping swimmers on a dock and that wasn’t even our biggest story of the... more

Hurricane season is officially here and while prepping for the season is a summer ritual for Houstonians, we often forget... more

The invasive hammerhead flatworm is being spotted all around Houston so we had to bring in Scott Solomon, biology professor... more

Visiting Katy Asian Town for the first time can be overwhelming because of the dozens of restaurants to choose from... more

New election bills are targeting Harris County, but are they just political theater or will they impact how we vote?... more

From the blistering weather to crazy traffic, the Bayou City can be a beast of a city to conquer so... more

Diversity, equity, and inclusion offices have been part of public universities for years, but now state lawmakers are close to... more

Aga’s Restaurant and Catering was barley surviving when Shaukat Maredia and his family bought the Alief based restaurant in 2011.... more

The 2023 Texas legislative session is about to end, but so many bills are still being discussed. Which ones could... more

The 42nd annual Kinder Houston Area Survey was released earlier this week so Raheel is bringing on political contributor and... more

There’s no denying the fact that we have some terrible roads and traffic in Houston, so today we’re doing a... more

We’re only five months into 2023 and 12 inmates have already died inside Harris County Jail. This is coming off... more

Since 1969, China Garden has been a downtown institution with a legendary lunch rush which included some of the biggest... more

After burning for over 70 hours, the Shell fire in Deer Park was finally put out, but now the real... more

It’s Friday so that means it’s time to talk about the biggest stories of the week. Will the recent attacks... more

Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) month is here and with so many events going on, we’re bringing on Stephanie... more

The Art Car parade needs no introduction, but there’s another parade cementing its place in our city. The Art Bike... more

Texas has had some of the worst and deadliest mass shootings in U.S. history. Most recently, in Allen, a suburb... more

Harris County and UTHealth Houston have made great strides when it comes to providing mental health help for Houstonians through... more

We have our first crime report of the year and the statistics are promising. Plus, two major Houston institutions are... more

No need to scramble next week to find a great Mother’s Day gift because lead producer Dina Kesbeh, producer Carlignon... more

Why is it we only think of Galveston when Houstonians want to hit up a beach? Surfside Beach is only... more

If you’re anything like our host Raheel then you have a massive sweet tooth that needs to be satisfied. Sure... more

Right now is the perfect time to rent a bike from one of the many BCycle stations around Houston parks... more

Could we be getting new state parks in our area? Also, what’s the latest on the Ike Dike? Raheel is... more

It’s a different type of team chat today because Houston sports legends George Foreman and Wade Phillips join Raheel on... more

Houston has become a destination for major sporting events like The Final Four, the Super Bowl, and the World Cup... more

It’s Food Tuesday and we’re putting down those played out sugary mocktails for some sophisticated non-alcoholic drinks from Texas’s first... more

Houston was ranked as the 12th hardest place to live for people with allergies by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation... more

Happy Friday, y'all! Political contributor and Pulitzer Prize Finalist Evan Mintz joins culture contributor Antre’chelle Dorsey to recap some of... more

It’s 420 so you know we had to do a show focusing on cannabis in Houston. While products like Delta-8... more

The Karankawa people once freely roamed the Texas coast as the first settlers, but around 1860 they disappeared due to... more

For the last four years, Eric Davis has been on a culinary journey as @EricEatsHTX and has built up a... more

Gun violence is an important issue for many Houstonians and a new report from the Harris County Commissioners Court’s Analyst’s... more

We made it to another Friday! Political contributor and Pulitzer Prize finalist Evan Mintz and writer Shiyam Galyon join host... more

We all love HEB and the delicious snacks that line it's shelves! But, picking the right snack can be overwhelming.... more

Since 1976, The Ensemble Theatre has been preserving African American artistic expression as one of the largest professional African American... more

Shun Japanese Kitchen is changing the game by combining Houston influences with high-level Japanese cooking techniques. Head Chef Naoki Yoshida... more

Sure, we all sort of understand how inflation works, but how does it REALLY impact us? TikTok’s unofficial economist and... more

We made it to another Friday! Political contributor and Pulitzer Prize finalist Evan Mintz and culture contributor Antre’chelle Dorsey join... more

There’s something special about driving down I-45 for an hour to be greeted by the sounds of seagulls and waves... more

Chet Garner, host of The Daytripper on PBS, joins Raheel to layout why Port Arthur is the perfect destination for... more

Black Restaurant Week is under way until April 16th in H-Town and with so many delicious spots to try, we... more

Synthetic fentanyl related deaths in Houston are at crisis level, but politicians still haven’t legalized fentanyl testing strips even after... more

Ah, Friday — We made it! It’s that time of the week where we look back at the biggest and... more

Houston finally has perfect spring weather so the City Cast Houston crew gathered to give their best recommendations for four... more

There have been wild lawsuits and stories making the headlines around town. From the state taking over HISD to the... more

You might not recognize the name Abbas Dhanani at first glance, but you’ve probably seen his content in your Instagram... more

Shocker, a big corporation is adding more fees to our bills. Electric bills have been skyrocketing for Houstonians since Winter... more

It’s finally Friday! Time to roundup some news from the week with political contributor Evan Mintz, producer Carlignon Jones, and... more

We’ve been hinting at it for a few episodes and now the day is finally here! Our big surprise is... more

Although Houston isn’t normally seen as a place for nature, the wildlife here is actually more unique than you think!... more

We continue our deep dive into the TEA takeover of HISD by looking at why the takeover may not be... more

Last week the Texas Education Agency announced it is officially taking over the Houston Independent School District effectively putting the... more

It’s Saint Patrick’s Day and Friday, what a perfect combination! In honor of Saint Patrick’s Day, we have a fantastic... more

This is the last weekend of the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo so our intrepid producers Carlignon Jones, AK ALMoumen... more

A lot of Texans are known for riding horses or even riding sheep during the Mutton busting events at the... more

Daniel Wolfe is the owner of City Cellar HTX. It’s an upscale restaurant that offers a full brunch and dinner... more

Governor Greg Abbott has been a fierce voice against diversity, equity and inclusion hiring programs, saying that these programs are... more

It’s been a week of so much news in our city. From the TEA circling around HISD with a possible... more

We got an email from a listener who is 63 years old, asking us for help on how to meet... more

Some say the Houston Rodeo is a right of passage for any transplant or longtime resident. From the concerts to... more

Our city is full of places to get your grub on, but what about places to satisfy your sweet tooth?... more

From 2019 to 2021, six Houston-area refineries dumped 55 million gallons of chemicals into the Houston Ship Channel and other... more

It’s Fri-YAY! Which means it’s time to dig deep into some Houston news! This week was packed with big stories,... more

The humidity is low and the temperatures are rising, which means it's the perfect time to enjoy the outdoors with... more

Freedman Town (now known as Freedmen’s Town), was established in 1865, and was home to one of the most robust... more

Soul Food is a staple in many southern households but what about if you want to add a little variety... more

This week, The Houston LiveStock Show and Rodeo officially kicks off. What’s the concert line-up looking like? What’s new this... more

It is this time of the week again and the City Cast crew lead producer Dina Kesbeh and producer Carlignon... more

Are you tired or bored of going to AMC or Cinemark over and over again. Well buddy City Cast Houston’s... more

Houston is known for its diversity but in Alief, that diversity is amplified to the max! This neighborhood is known... more

Imole Ayo Ladipo is proving to the world that women can have it all by being an engineer, wife, mother... more

It’s Friday, which means where looking back to talk about the news that’s been in the headlines in Houston. Contributors... more

Today, we’re putting on our boxing gloves and knee pads as we debate which city is the best in America.... more

Every year a group of volunteers gather at Christmas Bay to help pick up abandoned crab traps in Texas waters.... more

A new independent, nonprofit digital media group has officially launched in our city. Houston Landing will be covering Houston and... more

Last week, Memorial Park’s Kinder Land Bridge & Cyvia and Melvyn Wolff Prairie were unveiled at "Texas’ Biggest Picnic." City Cast... more

This week Producers Carlignon Jones and AK ALMoumen are joined by politics contributor Evan Mintz to round up the week’s... more

It’s no secret Houston is extremely vast and really spread out. Living in the suburbs and possibly going on a... more

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, we know people all over are getting ready for datenights. Which can be fun-filled,... more

The special day of love is approaching and the city of Houston has a lot of fun things to offer... more

Although Valentines day is suppose to be a day to celebrate love, for many people it just brings sadness. Most... more

It’s Friday, which means it’s that time of the week where we see what Houston’s talking about. Lead producer Dina... more

What’s your favorite style of pizza, New York, deep dish, pan style, Italian? How do you like your pizza, stone... more

The Buffalo Bayou is a 52-mile river that flows through the heart of our city. It’s home to some of... more

The epidemic of people experiencing homelessness has been a problem all over America, but after being praised by The New York Times for... more

We all talk about how traffic has gotten so much worse in our city and most of the time people... more

What happened this week in Houston? Here to talk all about it are Producer Carlignon Jones, producer AK AL-Moumen and... more

Houston does food right, there’s no debate there. But did you know it’s also crowned for having one of the... more

Harwin Drive is the place many say you can find almost anything your heart desires. No matter if its clothing,... more

City Cast contributor Jaime González explains the deep history and surprising substrates of our daily commutes. Interested in being the new... more

Houston is famous for its big-hearted philanthropists. But not all of them have big money: Today we’re talking with truck... more

What happened this week in Houston? Podcaster Mohammad Usman Aijaz and producer Carlignon Jones join host Lisa Gray for her... more

It’s Lisa Gray’s last week at City Cast Houston, so she and the City Cast crew revisit some of the... more

Legendary producer Sean 'Solo' Jemison was instrumental in defining Houston’s Hip-Hop sound in the '90s with countless hits under his... more

The Texas Legislature is awash in lobbyists pushing for Texas to expand legal gambling. So is this finally the year... more

Jen Rice, who covers Harris County for the Houston Chronicle, helps host Lisa Gray get her head around a wild... more

Yes, Houston has two MLK parades at the same time. The City Cast crew elaborates — and offers other ways... more

Once upon a time, the nightclub District 1960 featured performers like Megan Thee Stallion and Slim Thug. Then the pandemic... more

Every two years the Texas State Legislature convenes for a few frantic months of lawmaking. The last session brought extraordinary... more

Think ballet is boring? You haven’t seen Harper Watters strut his glam stuff on Instagram. For more check out Harper's website... more

It’s time to hash out the week’s news. Contributor Shiyam Galyon, producer AK Al-Moumen and host Lisa Gray discuss the... more

Usually the City Cast crew talks about Houston’s greatest stuff, the places and experiences you want to share with people... more

The Karankawa tribe was long thought to be extinct but Absolem Yetzirah, a Karankawa native and Council-member of the Five... more

What do we want out of Houston this year? City Cast guests and contributors offer suggestions — and a few predictions. Looking for... more

Houston rained victorious this year as the Astros took home the trophy for the World Series! With over 1 million... more

Today, as we continue our celebration of 2022’s superlatives, we’re revisiting the show that made us hungriest. In September, Ope... more

On today’s celebration of 2022 superlatives, we’ll hear from one of this year’s most entertaining guests — and also the... more

As we look back on 2022, we’re doing a week of superlatives! Today we give you the year’s biggest Houston... more

The City Cast crew looks back on the year’s most Houston moment, the city’s hottest hotspot, and more. The Most Houston... more

For lots of Mexican-American families in Texas, Christmas is celebrated with tamales — often homemade ones. Adán Medrano, author of the... more

Which Houstonians delighted us this year? And which ones deserve coal in their stockings? Texas Monthly staff writer Michael Hardy... more

In the Houston area, winter is the best season to be outdoors. But if you want to immerse yourself in... more

Time to recap the week’s Houston news! City Cast cultural contributor Antréchelle Dorsey joins producer Carlignon Jones and host Lisa... more

An out-of-state colleague recently tried Texans’ favorite fast-food chain and says that he can’t understand why it’s so popular. The... more

How do you get to be a Santa? Do you hang out with other Santas? Isn’t that suit hot? Santa... more

Hot chocolate, snowmen, and a crackling fire in the hearth? Bah, humbug: Here in subtropical Houston, the azaleas are blooming,... more

In May inmate Gonzalo Lopez, a former member of the Mexican mafia, hijacked a Texas prison bus on its way... more

What happened this week in Houston? Lisa Gray, AK AL-Moumen, and Olivia Flores Alvarez process the week’s biggest stories. The Chron's... more

The City Cast crew checks out Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, and other worthy competitors. H-E-B. Central Market Houston locations. Trader Joe's Houston Locations. Whole... more

Usually we think of coral reefs — the oceans’ most thrilling displays of life — near exotic vacation destinations, such... more

What do the latest COVID numbers show? What’s the situation at Houston children’s hospitals? Houston Chronicle medical reporter Julian Gill... more

The real-estate firm Concept Neighborhood aims to make The Plant/Second Ward, an area just east of downtown Houston, far more... more

What happened this week in Houston? Host Lisa Gray and University of Houston historian Raúl Ramos hash out the news. Conflict... more

Could you, in a pinch, buy your holiday gifts at Texas’ biggest, beaver-iest roadtrip stop? The City Cast crew gives... more

Montrose — Houston’s most walkable neighborhood, full of interesting places to eat, drink, and hang out — remains the center of LGBTQ life in... more

Why buy your holiday gifts from Amazon or big-box stores? You’ll find cooler stuff at locally owned businesses — and... more

Houston has one of the fastest-growing Black populations in the U.S., and it’s among the leading cities for Black businesses.... more

Anita Jaisinghani, the owner/chef behind Pondicheri, one of Houston’s favorite restaurants, has just published a cookbook: “Masala: Recipes from India,... more

From 1960s “brown-eyed soul” to present-day cumbia, Houston’s Chicano music reflects our Gulf Coast multicultural meltdown. Guests Nick Gaitan, Isaac... more

For decades we’ve heard that shopping malls are withering away. So why is the Galleria packed? In this rebroadcast of... more

Time to wrap up the week’s Houston news! Host Lisa Gray hashes it out with producer Carlignon Jones and cultural... more

The City Cast crew has your back. Plus, producer AK AL-Mouman asks what so many of Houston’s immigrants wonder: What’s... more

Got overdue Houston speeding tickets? Through Saturday, you can pay them off at a discount, and without getting arrested. But... more

Ever thought about getting a tattoo, but the “permanent” part held you back? Ephemeral, a small chain that recently opened... more

The Alley Theatre — Houston’s oldest and biggest theater — turned 75 this year. For several of those decades, the... more

Yow, what a week for Houston news this has been! Scott Braddock, of the Quorum Report and Texas Take, joins... more

Though Republicans swept statewide offices (same as it ever was), Democrats overwhelmingly won in Harris County. Do those skinny margins... more

Election update from host Lisa Gray. Plus, producer AK AL-Moumen interviews Rafael Struve and Eliot Carter about the GOP push to attract... more

Producers Carlignon Jones and AK AL-Moumen capture the sounds Astros’ World Series championship parade. Plus: City Cast Philly makes good... more

Politics contributor Evan Mintz and host Lisa Gray discuss tomorrow’s mid-term election. What do we know from early voting? How... more

Political analyst Scott Braddock joins host Lisa Gray and producer AK AL-Moumen to unpack the week’s news. Want more Houston news?... more

We're breaking down the best food trucks in Houston today with host Lisa Gray, and producers (and noted food truck... more

Sprawling, spread-out Houston is a different kind of city than Chicago or New York, so we need to think differently... more

Fall means that the weather perfect for exploring Houston neighborhoods. Today we’re revisiting one of our favorite “neighborhood guide” episodes.... more

When playwright Brendan Bourque-Sheil was 18, he and his mom lived in an apartment in The Woodlands. One night, they... more

With the World Series about to start, City Cast Philly’s Trenae Nuri challenges host Lisa Gray to a bet that... more

Obviously Houston is better. But why? Dallas partisan Angelica “Jelly” Walker bravely makes the case for the wrong city. Host... more

Independence Heights, now in northwest Houston, was originally its own town — and in fact, was Texas’ first municipality registered... more

What does Beto have to do with the Alamo? Why are people screaming at school boards? And what’s the deeper... more

When did bike paths become the stuff of attack ads? And was that Pride Ride hit-and-run an accident or an... more

What happened this week in Houston? Host Lisa Gray, producer Carlignon Jones, and journalist and podcaster Donnie Houston recap it... more

Outdoor horror movies, costume ideas, and other suggestions from the City Cast crew — host Lisa Gray, producers Carlignon Jones... more

What does the poet laureate of Houston do? Can poetry be a day job? Emmanuel Outspoken Bean, Houston’s poet laureate, talks... more

Standing sewage, gang extortion, and guards who carry knives to protect themselves: Keri Blakinger, of the Marshall Project, recently reported... more

Last week Joe Biden pardoned people for federal marijuana possession. Does that change anything in Houston or Texas? What’s the... more

What happened this week in Houston? Scott Braddock, of “Texas Take” and “The Quorum Report,” joins host Lisa Gray and... more

If you could designate four great people who represent this city, who would they be? Barbara Jordan? Beyoncé? The City... more

Why was Houston picked to play a dystopian, crime-ridden Detroit in “RoboCop 2”? What did that wretched movie have to say... more

In Harris County, early voting starts October 23. What’s at stake this year? Will Beto have coattails? How is a... more

Can the Astros win the World Series? What do roller-coaster oil prices mean for Houston’s economy? And can police find... more

How should we savor this glorious weather? The City Cast crew — Lisa Gray, Carlignon Jones and Brooke Lewis — weigh... more

Rodeo Goat, in EaDo, serves great burgers. But what really wows its guest is the welcoming spirit and the wildly... more

The City of Houston already buys more renewable energy “than any other place,” Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner told us when... more

In the wake of Hurricane Ian, we thought you might be wondering: How do hurricanes work? And what's the best... more

It’s that time of the week y’all! We’re diving into a weeks worth of news from around Houston with producer... more

What are this city’s best places to relax with friends? To meet them for a night of drinks? Or after... more

ChopnBlok serves up smoky jollof rice with a side of West African culture, and in less than a year, it’s... more

Houston is the most diverse city in America, but one thing that makes us even more unique is the deep... more

Hispanics, Latinos, Latinx people. However you define this overlapping set of groups, whatever you call it. It is clearly the... more

It’s been a long week, which means we have a lot of news to roundup! Don’t worry, Lead Producer Dina... more

Today the team chats all things museums in Houston. In addition to producer Carlignon Jones and newsletter writer Brooke Lewis,... more

Houston Chronicle columnist Joy Sewing grew up in Third Ward and is raising her own kids there now. Today she... more

With cooler temperatures on the horizon, City Cast contributor Evan Mintz can’t wait for Houston’s best season to grow veggies. Year-Round... more

Today, host Lisa Gray sits down with Phyllis Frye. She's dubbed the grandmother of transgender rights who pioneered transgender law.... more

It’s that time of the week y’all where we dive into a weeks worth of news. Today, producer Carlignon Jones is... more

Today, in our weekly team chat, we’re tackling our favorite things to do this Fall season. Lead producer Dina Kesbeh... more

Joshua Martin is the Youngest SGA President in history at the University of Houston after winning his freshman year on... more

Today, DJ, producer, journalist, and podcast host Donnie Houston is here to chat with producer Carlignon Jones about how he... more

American alligators, the kind that live in the Houston area came off the endangered species list in the 1990s. But... more

It's that time of the week where we look back at a weeks worth of news! Today, you'll hear a... more

Houston spawns talent. (You’re welcome, world.) Today lead producer Dina Kesbeh will rave about Mo Amer, producer Carlignon Jones talks... more

Today, we're bringing back one of our favorite episodes. The one where we talk about DJ Screw. In the early 90's,... more

Hurricanes, heat waves, droughts, and floods: Thinking about Houston's natural world can be stressful. But investing in nature not only... more

It’s that time of the week where we dive into a weeks worth of news. Today, host Lisa Gray is... more

If you’re looking to thrift on a budget or hunt for the latest designer items for half the cost, we’ve... more

The iconic Shamrock hotel was torn down decades ago, but its presence still looms large in Houston legend. It was... more

Today, Beekeeper Nicole Buergers, from Bee2Bee Honey Collective, responds to an episode we aired earlier this month called Why Houston’s... more

Charter schools, private schools, public schools and more! Houston, has so many options when it comes to schooling.. possibly more... more