On today’s Hello Houston, it’s Election Day, and Ernie, Celeste, and Frank begin the show by talking with Harris County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth, who gives us an update on how voting is going and answers questions about what to expect.

Also, in the first hour, we hear from Houston Public Media reporter Andrew Schneider, who gives us an in-depth look into the history of the 18th Congressional District with TSU professor Michael Adams, and we learn about the support group, Steel Magnolia Moms, and their upcoming annual holiday market.

In the second hour of the show, Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare joins us to discuss a potential crime spike amid a loss of SNAP benefits for nearly half a million residents across Harris County.

Then, we’re also joined by Mary Vazquez, Vice President of Community Outreach for United Way of Greater Houston, who tells us about the resources that are available to those in need of support until their partial SNAP benefits are credited to their accounts.

Plus, we also receive a preview of the upcoming Disasters Expo taking place at the George R. Brown Convention Center this week, with James Berryman, CEO of Fortem International US.

On today’s Hello Houston, Ernie, Celeste, and Frank begin the show by discussing today’s top stories, including long wait times at Houston airports due to the ongoing government shutdown and most Americans not feeling confident about the direction the country is heading.

Also, in the first hour, we’re joined by Texas Tribune reporter Eleanor Klibanoff, who helps break down the history of redistricting in Texas, and Mari Carmen Ramírez, Wortham Curator of Latin American Art at MFAH, tells us about their new exhibition, Gyula Kosice: Intergalactic.

Then, in the second hour of the show, Katie Campbell Shumway, Executive Director of the League of Women Voters of Houston, joins us to discuss tomorrow’s election, and Harris County reporter for the Houston Chronicle, John Lomax, tells us about his report on the use of AI by our local government officials.

Plus, we also hear from Jacqueline Aguilera, Community Liaison & Program Host for the non-profit Literacy Texas, who tells us about the current state of adult literacy and how that’s changed in recent years.

On today’s Hello Houston, we’re joined by Houston Public Media reporter Bianca Seward, who helps break down the upcoming Cy-Fair ISD Board Election, and Ghosts of Galveston author, Kathleen Maca, shares some spooky ghost stories from the Houston/Galveston region, in the show’s first hour.

Then, in the second hour of the show, Gail Buttorff, a research associate professor at the Hobby School of Public Affairs, tells us about the findings of the 2025 Texas Trends Survey from the University of Houston and Texas Southern University, which includes how Texans are coping with the rising cost of energy.

Plus, we share a rundown of events happening in Houston tonight and this weekend for a special Halloween edition of our regular Friday feature – “Last Minute Plans.”

And, as always, Ernie and Celeste discuss today’s top stories at the top of each hour, including Harris County commissioners supporting the idea of acquiring park land for Ben Taub Hospital’s expansion, King Charles III stripping his brother of all of his royal titles, President Trump calling for the filibuster to be scrapped to end the government shutdown, and more.

On today’s Hello Houston, we’re joined by Amanda Seitz, a KFF health reporter, who discusses the uncertainty currently surrounding the Affordable Care Act and how much coverage will cost in the first hour of the show.

Also, in the first hour, Nerdtropolis founder and host Sean Tajipour gives us his movie recommendations for Halloween.

Then, in the second hour of the show, we hear an excerpt from the latest installment of Ernie’s “InnerVIEWS” series, in which he chats with scientist, pediatrician, and advocate for global health, Dr. Peter Hotez, about the changing views he has witnessed surrounding vaccines and autism.

Plus, our hosts and listeners share the things that are currently taking over all their free time for our regular Thursday feature – “Current Obsessions.”

And, as always, Ernie and Celeste talk about the top stories of the day at the top of each hour, including the delay of a proposed ordinance to enhance inspections and fines for allegedly problematic Houston apartments, Houstonians spending a long amount of time stuck in traffic, and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson. 

On today’s Hello Houston, Ernie and Celeste discuss today’s top stories at the top of the first hour, including House Republicans calling for the Justice Department to investigate former President Biden’s use of the presidential autopen and JPMorgan Chase allowing its employees to use AI to write their performance reviews.

Also, in the first hour, Cesar Espinosa, executive director of FIEL Houston, gives us the latest on the current ICE activity in our region, and we explore the Texas films that will be showcased at this year’s Round Top Film Festival with the festival’s programming director, Micky Duzdevich.

Then, in the second hour of the show, we hear from Houston Food Bank president and CEO Brian Greene, who joins us to talk about the special distribution sites the food bank is opening for federal workers and SNAP recipients impacted by the ongoing government shutdown.

Plus, we learn about the new Museum of Fine Arts Houston exhibit, Art and Life in Imperial Rome: Trajan and His Times, with the museum’s research curator Danielle Bennett, and we chat with James Beard Award-nominated chef, restaurateur, and TV personality Arnold Myint, who discusses his new cookbook Family Thai.

On today’s Hello Houston, we’re joined by actor Mark Ivy, who tells us all about his role in the Theatre Under the Stars production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, in the first hour of the show.

Then, in the second hour, we hear from Reverend Michael E. Garrett, co-chair of the Public Relations subcommittee of the Houston White Cane Safety Day Committee, who tells us about this event, his experience as a blind man, and the accessibility challenges faced by Houston’s blind community.

Plus, we’re also joined by Eric Berger, a Houston-based meteorologist and editor of Space City Weather, who gives us the latest on Hurricane Melissa after it made landfall in Jamaica.

And, as always, Ernie, Celeste, and Frank discuss the top stories of the day at the top of each hour, including a federal appeals court rehearing a lawsuit over a drag show ban at West Texas A&M University and former Vice President Kamala Harris saying she might run for President again.

On today’s Hello Houston, we’re joined by University of Houston economics professor Steven Craig, who discusses whether we’re in the middle of an A.I. bubble and the impact this could have on the stock market in the first hour of the show.

Also, in the first hour, Chefs Alain Verzeroli and Salvatore Martone of The Bastion Collection discuss how earning a Michelin star has impacted the Houston area restaurant Le Jardinier in the year since receiving this recognition. 

Then, in the second hour, Harris County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth joins us to answer questions from Hello Houston listeners about the upcoming November election. Plus, marketing coordinator for the Discovery Green Conservancy, Nic Martinez, tells us all about the Houston Pumpkin Festival.

And, as always, Ernie, Celeste, and Frank discuss today’s top stories at the top of each hour, including Harris County commissioners considering adopting restrictions on panhandling in unincorporated areas of the County, the global birth rate dropping significantly, and President Trump raising tariffs on Canada over an ad that used a clip of President Ronald Reagan criticizing tariffs.

On today’s Hello Houston, we learn about the Texas Children’s Kangaroo Crew, with their program director, Dr. Basheer Ahmed and critical care nurse Lamont Seltzer, who tell us about their work providing intensive care services to patients from across the U.S. and Central America in the show’s first hour.

Also, in the first hour, paranormal researcher and Haunted Objects Podcast host, Greg Newkirk, tells us all about the show he’s performing tonight at the Hobby Center, Haunted Objects Live!

In the second hour of the show, we’re joined by ABC13 Chief Meteorologist Travis Herzog, who shares his thoughts on the severe weather that’s expected across Texas and the Houston area this weekend, and what we can expect.

Then, Dr. John Diamond, Senior Director of the Center for Tax and Budget Policy at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, helps break down how the government shutdown is affecting workers, markets and the broader economy.

Plus, our hosts share a list of events happening this weekend in Houston for our regular Friday feature, “Last Minute Plans.”

And, as always, Ernie and Frank discuss some of today’s top stories at the top of each hour, including Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick calling for the registration of Alamo Trust President and CEO Kate Rogers over views found in her 2023 dissertation and the rise of eye injuries while playing Pickleball.

On today’s Hello Houston, Ernie and Celeste talk with Nikhil Nayak, President and CEO of Gulf Coast Blood, who tells us about how blood donations are being used for medical research and how people can join in this effort in the show’s first hour.

Also, in the first hour, we learn about the women-led immersive art installation The Fragility of a Creative Mind: Rediscovery of Self, which will be featured at this year's annual AfroTech Conference, with its founder and creative director India Dorsey, producer Lynette Guidry and event coordinator Banke Mayòwa.

Then, in the second hour of the show, we’re joined by Michael Adams, Director of the Master of Public Affairs Graduate Program at Texas Southern University’s School of Public Affairs, who helps break down the race for the 18th Congressional District.

Plus, our hosts and listeners share a rundown of the things that are currently taking over all their free time for our regular Thursday feature – “Current Obsessions.”

And, as always, Ernie and Celeste talk about the top stories of the day at the top of each hour, including President Trump saying he “could be” seeking $230 million from the Justice Department, community concerns over the planned homeless hub, and U.S. cattle ranchers criticizing President Trump for supporting the idea to import beef from Argentina to bring down prices for American consumers.

On today’s Hello Houston, we take an in-depth look into the Amazon Web Services outage with University of Houston cybersecurity expert Chris Bronk, and Will Wright, Chief Creative Officer of the Galveston Historical Foundation, tells us about the many haunted history tours they’re offering this month in the show’s first hour.

Then, in the second hour of the show, we’re joined by Houston City Council member Dr. Carolyn Evans-Shabazz, who addresses concerns over the fates of the George Floyd mural and the Black Lives Matter mural on Alabama Street following the recent removal of Montrose’s rainbow crosswalks, and more.

Plus, we learn about Alley Theatre’s production of The Body Snatcher, with the show’s director, Brandon Weinbrenner, who also tells us about how the play was brought to life onstage, its special effects, and what audiences can expect from the production.

And, as always, Ernie, Celeste, and Frank talk about the top stories of the day at the top of each hour, including criticisms of President Trump’s White House ballroom project and the possibility of no SNAP benefits if the government shutdown continues.

On today’s Hello Houston, Ernie, Celeste, and Frank are joined by Raheel Ramzanali, formerly of ESPN radio and CityCast Houston, in the show’s first hour, who discusses the new Rockets season, which starts tonight and what we can expect.

Also, in the first hour, Colton Berry, Founding Artistic Director of Art Factory, tells us about their annual production of The Rocky Horror Show.

Then, in the second hour of the show, we hear University of Houston political science professor and Party Politics co-host Brandon Rottinghaus break down the amendment process and why constitutional amendments are important to Texas in the latest episode of his feature, Texperts.

Plus, we also learn about the new Asia Society Texas exhibition, The House of Pikachu: Art, Anime, and Pop Culture, with the organization’s Director of Exhibitions, Owen Duffy, and Houston-based artist Gao Hang, whose work is on view in the show.

And, as always, Ernie, Celeste, and Frank discuss the top stories of the day at the top of each hour, including the Amazon Web Services outage and residents restoring the colors of the now-removed rainbow crosswalks in Montrose.

On today’s Hello Houston, Ernie, Celeste, and Frank talk with Caro Achar, Engagement Coordinator for the ACLU of Texas in the show’s first hour, who discusses the organization's recent letter to all Texas superintendents urging caution over SB 11, which allows school districts to adopt daily periods for prayer.

Also, in the first hour, we’re joined by Dr. Linda Yancey, an infectious disease specialist with Memorial Hermann, who joins us to share tips on how you can stay safe during flu season.

Then, in the second hour of the show, we hear from Reda Hicks, co-chair of the organizing committee for Fleet Week Houston, who tells us about next month’s event which will bring 1,000 Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen to the Bayou City for a full week of ship tours, public events, and community outreach.

Plus, Pietro Milillo, an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Houston, tells us about a study which reveals the world’s weakest bridges and a solution to fix them before failure occurs.

And, as always, Ernie, Celeste, and Frank discuss the top stories of the day, including last weekend’s “No Kings” protests in Houston and across the country, the start of early voting in Texas for the upcoming November election, and historical figures being used for AI deepfakes on Sora.

On today’s Hello Houston, Ernie, Celeste, and Frank are joined by Rania Mankarious, CEO of Crime Stoppers of Houston, who discusses the growing sex trafficking problem in the city during the show’s first hour.

Also, in the first hour, we learn about the National Marrow Donation Program from Hope Guidry Groves, Vice President of Experience and Product Operations at NMDP, as well as hear from Kenzie Paul, who shares her story as a stem cell transplant recipient fighting an aggressive form of leukemia.

Then, in the second hour of the show, we hear the latest installment of Frank’s “Friends of Frank” series, in which he sits down with Reverend Russell Levenson, a major faith leader and spiritual advisor to many, who discusses his new book “Witness to Belief: Conversations on Faith and Meaning.”

And, as always, Ernie, Celeste, and Frank, talk about the top stories of the day at the top of each hour, including this weekend’s nationwide “No Kings” protests and Smucker’s suing Trader Joe’s after accusing the grocery chain of copying their Uncrustables sandwich.

On today’s Hello Houston, Ernie, Frank, and Celeste talk with University of Houston political science professor and Party Politics co-host Brandon Rottinghaus, who discusses the upcoming November election, the propositions on the ballot, and the latest political news in the show’s first hour.

Also, in the first hour, Rottinghaus tells us about Y’alloween, a nonprofit he runs with his son that helps provide children in need with costumes for Halloween.

Then, in the second hour of the show, we’re joined by Pablo Pinto, Director of the University of Houston’s Center for Public Policy, who breaks down a new report that found many Houston area households are currently facing economic strain.

Plus, our hosts and listeners share the things that are currently taking over all their free time for our regular Thursday feature, “Current Obsessions.”

And, as always, Ernie, Celeste, and Frank discuss the top stories of the day at the top of each hour, including airlines refusing to show a video of Kristi Noem blaming Democrats for the government shutdown, the arrest of two Houston parents after being accused of leaving their 6-month-old infant on a beach, and more.

On today’s Hello Houston, Ernie, Frank, and Celeste talk with former Houston City Council member Dr. Leticia Plummer, who discusses her run for Harris County Judge, as well as her vision, priorities, and why she’s decided to run, in the show’s first hour.

Also, in the first hour, we discuss Sober October with Dr. Sherma Morton, National Medical Director at Eleanor Health, who explains why she believes this global challenge is important for reflecting on alcohol and substance use.

Then, in the show’s second hour, we’re joined by Houston City Controller Chris Hollins, who joins us to discuss a proposal that could potentially increase the city’s revenue. Plus, Kathleen Belcher, Artistic Director of the Moores Opera Center, tells us about the world premiere of composer Tom Cipullo’s latest opera, Hobson’s Choice.

And, as always, Ernie, Frank, and Celeste talk about the top stories of the day at the top of each hour, including major media outlets refusing to sign new press rules required by the Pentagon and a former United Airlines flight attendant saying she was fired for confronting Superintendent Mike Miles while off duty.

On today’s Hello Houston, Ernie, Frank, and Celeste begin the show by discussing the ACLU of Texas urging state schools to reject any policy allowing teachers or students to pray or read religious texts during the school day, arguing this policy violates the First Amendment.

In the first hour of the show, we talk with Dr. Asher Lubotzky, a Teaching Fellow and Scholar in Residence in the University of Houston’s Department of Political Science, who joins us to break down the future of Gaza, Hamas, and the broader regional dynamics.

Also, we discuss the Houston Methodist-Rice University Digital Health Institute with Houston Methodist's Dr. Kurram Nasir, who tells us about their work using healthcare technology and artificial intelligence to shape the future of digital health. 

In the show’s second hour, Houston City Council member Abbie Kamin, who represents District C, joins us to discuss the ordered removal of Montrose’s rainbow crosswalks to comply with federal regulations.

Then, we learn about a recent investigation from Public Health Watch reporter Salina Arredondo, which looked into the over five million pounds of unpermitted air emissions released by industrial facilities in the Houston area after Hurricane Harvey.  

And finally, Joanie Steinhaus, Ocean Program Director for Turtle Island Restoration Network, discusses their efforts in protecting the five threatened or endangered sea turtle species found in the Gulf.

On today’s Hello Houston, Ernie and Celeste talk with Jeff Miller, Healthcare Policy Specialist for Disability Rights Texas, who breaks down government cuts that could have devastating consequences for millions of people with disabilities, especially here in Texas, in the show’s first hour.

Also, in the first hour of the show, DJ Sun, founder of the Houston-area live music venue The Flat, tells us about a week-long series of events that will celebrate its 20th anniversary.

Then, in the show’s second hour, we are joined by Scott Burns, Vice President of Growth at the Montgomery County Food Bank, who discusses food bank shortages and the impact they’re having on working families, rural communities, and seniors trying to stay fed.

Plus, food and drink writer Maggie Hennessy joins us to discuss restaurant etiquette and help us all navigate “the right rules” for dining out.

And, as always, Ernie and Celeste will talk about the top stories of the day at the top of each hour, including the release of hostages as part of the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, the end of the historic Hilton Americas-Houston strike, and President Trump reinstating Columbus Day.

On today’s Hello Houston, Ernie and Frank discuss today’s top stories at the top of each hour, including Governor Greg Abbott calling for the removal of Montrose’s rainbow crosswalks and the indictment of New York Attorney General Letitia James.

In the first hour of the show, we hear an excerpt from the latest edition of Ernie’s “InnerVIEWS” series in which he talks with director and choreographer Dan Knechtges. Also, we’re joined by Houston-based flamenco soloist and instructor Ana María Barceló and percussionist Jesús Pacheco, who tell us about the cabaret-style show A Flamenco Journey.

Then, in the second hour, as October is both National Women’s Small Business Month and LGBTQ History Month, we spotlight two women at the intersection of identity, business, and advocacy: Tammi Wallace, President & CEO of the Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce, and Tamika Caston-Miller, Co-Owner and Director of The Ranch Houston.

Plus, Ernie and Frank talk with Celeste as she broadcasts live from Memorial Park to give us an intimate look at this weekend’s annual Bayou City Art Festival.

On today’s Hello Houston, Ernie, Frank, and Celeste begin the show by talking with Hanan Hammad, Director of the AAEF Center for Arab Studies at the University of Houston, who discusses the "first phase" of a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, and what we can expect to happen next.

Also, in the first hour of the show, we’re joined by Houston City Council Member Tiffany D. Thomas and real estate professional Courtney Johnson Rose, who tell us about the 2nd Annual Faith and Affordable Housing Summit. Then, Broadway veteran and University of Houston Artist-in-Residence Sally Mayes discusses an upcoming performance featuring acclaimed UH alum Billy Stritch.

In the show’s second hour, our hosts talk about today’s top stories, including country music star Dolly Parton’s health update and Texas halting commercial driver's licenses for refugees, asylum seekers, and DACA recipients.

Then, we also discuss the upcoming Filipino American History Month Festival at POST Houston with event organizer Anthony Guevara, who helps break down the sights, sounds, and flavors of the Philippines coming to Houston this weekend.

And finally, we talk with Dr. Tara T. Green, a professor and chair of the University of Houston’s African American Studies department, who tells us about the department’s upcoming Jazz Jam Brunch.

On today’s Hello Houston, Ernie and Frank start the show by talking with U.S. Congressman Al Green, currently serving Texas's 9th congressional district, who joins us to discuss the government shutdown, congressional redistricting in Texas, and more.

Also, in the first hour, we’re joined by Stephanie Ramirez and Vivian Echevarria Guzman of Legacy Community Health, who discuss their work in ensuring students in the Houston-area receive healthcare.

In the second hour of the show, Ernie and Frank discuss how, starting next month, a section of the westbound I-10 Katy Freeway will be turned into two lanes until mid-2026. We also hear from Hello Houston listeners, who call in to share their thoughts on Houston’s traffic issues and what should be done to resolve them.

Then, we hear from Craig Pirrong, a professor of finance from the C.T. Bauer School of Business, who breaks down the new Texas Stock Exchange. Plus, FotoFest executive director Steven Evans and Houston-based artist duo Stephan Hillerbrand and Mary Magsamen tell us about the contemporary arts organization’s newest exhibition, which features their work.