City Cast Houston

Many of us will celebrate Thanksgiving this week, but for many Indigenous communities, it's a day of reflection or even mourning. Host Raheel Ramzanali is talking to Maaliyah Papillion, council member with the Atakapa-Ishak Nation, about her tribe's history, the challenges they face today, and what they’re doing to make sure their people and heritage are never forgotten.  Learn more about the Atak...

Every Friday on City Cast Houston we’re breaking down all of the big stories from the week with some of the top journalists and dynamic voices from H-Town. Today, Host Raheel Ramzanali is joined by Lucio Vasquez, reporter at Houston Public Media, and Anna-Catherine Brigida, immigration reporter at the Houston Landing. The trio start by talking about outgoing Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg...

If you’ve been to a big grocery store in the last month or looked up at a power line then you’ve noticed tons of blackbirds all around you. So, what are these birds, and why are they taking over?! Host Raheel Ramzanali spoke to Rice University professor Cin-Ty Lee last year about this annual fall phenomena, so we’re playing back our conversation to answer all your blackbird questions..  This episo...

Thanksgiving is almost here and if you don’t want to cook and clean, but still enjoy great food, we have you covered! Host Raheel Ramzanali is talking to Eric Sandler, CultureMap Houston’s city editor, about the best restaurants open on Thanksgiving. From traditional turkey plates to extravagant buffets, there’s something for everyone around Houston on Thanksgiving.  Restaurants we talked about to...

The week is off to a busy start, and host Raheel Ramzanali is getting you caught up with the stories you need to know. Today, he’s joined by executive producer Laura Isensee to learn about what’s next for HISD and state-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles after voters rejected its historic $4.4 billion bond. Plus, Beyoncé is performing on Christmas, but will we will be able to watch it on Netflix...

It’s almost time for the holiday travel season, and we want to help you make it less stressful! So, today host Raheel Ramzanali is speaking with Jim Szczesniak, director of aviation at the Houston Airport System, about essential travel hacks, the latest on construction projects at Bush International Airport, and his insider tips on picking up passengers at Hobby or Bush.  Learn more about the spon...

Happy Friday! Host Raheel Ramzanali is back with the biggest stories you need to know about H-town. He’s joined by Houston Landing’s diverse communities reporter Monique Welch. Raheel and Monique start with breaking down the new billion-dollar plan to revive the Astrodome, but Raheel’s not convinced anything will come of it. Then, they unpack why voters skipped so many local races on the ballot, a...

Houston astronaut Butch Wilmore had an eight-day mission that has turned into months, after a Boeing Starliner aircraft malfunctioned and left him and his fellow test pilot Suni Williams stranded on the International Space Station. So, what’s it like being stuck in space? Well, today, Butch shares his thoughts on that, plus what he’s going to eat when he’s back on Earth, and the future of NASA. Bu...

We already knew Houston is one of the best foodie cities in the country (and world!), but now it’s official. The Michelin Guide just announced its first-ever awards for restaurants in Houston and the rest of Texas. Host Raheel Ramzanali and Chron.com food reporter Erica Cheng are breaking down which Michelin-starred restaurants you need to try first and why the Bib Gourmand recs — aka Michelin on...

It’s been another busy weekend for Houstonians with lots of news to unpack. Producer Carlignon Jones is chatting with ABC 13 reporter Shannon Ryan to talk about the latest in the investigation into the beleaguered Houston Housing Authority, the surge in racist texts across the country — including right here in Humble ISD — and Mayor John Whitmire’s new plan to reduce homelessness. Plus, they share...

In about 70 days, President-elect Donald Trump will be sworn in for his second term. Here at City Cast Houston, we wanted to know what does Trump 2.0 mean for Houston? Executive Producer Laura Isensee begins to answer that question with Pulitzer Prize finalist Evan Mintz, from tariffs to immigration, and a lot in between. Dig deeper into the issues we talked about here: What Trump’s victory could...

What a week it has been! Host Raheel Ramzanali and political analyst Rafael Lemaitre are recapping the big takeaways from the election. From local grassroots efforts to fight against the historic HISD bond to why there was such a huge shift amongst Texas Latinos to the Republican party, and why your taxes will be going up in Harris County. Plus, after such a heavy week, we get our moments of joy f...

It’s been a long week with the election, so we’re going take a moment and indulge in what Houston does best — food! Host Raheel Ramzanali, producer Carlignon Jones, Hey Houston newsletter editor Brooke Lewis, and executive producer Laura Isensee are competing to put together their most iconic Houston meal. Each one will draft an appetizer, an entree, two sides, and a dessert from any Houston resta...

While former President Donald Trump regained the White House for a second term, the City Cast Houston team has the latest on local and state races. We start with the race for U.S. Senate between Sen. Ted Cruz and Rep. Colin Allred, then look at HISD’s controversial $4.4 billion bond. Plus, we look at the race for Harris County District Attorney, and Houston’s voter turnout. Learn more about the sp...

Election Day is here! Host Raheel Ramzanali is joined by Monica Flores Richart, education advocate and attorney, and conservative commentator Charles Blain to get their final thoughts on key races that will impact Houstonians. Plus, we hear from local voters on their picks for president and why.  Learn more about the sponsors of this November 5th episode here: Houston Cinema Arts Society Visit Pea...

Election day is almost here, and election integrity is being brought up more and more. But host Raheel Ramzanali wanted to know if those concerns are warranted. So, he’s talking to Poppy Northcutt, an election judge at Houston’s biggest voting center, about how polling stations are prepared and what steps she and other election workers take to make sure that our voting system is secure and that ev...

This week we’ll be sharing results from our local elections and discussing what they mean for Houston. But we can’t help but wonder… what’s going on with our City Cast colleagues in swing states? As America white-knuckles its way into one of the closest presidential elections in modern history, City Cast CEO David Plotz sits down with the hosts of our shows in swing state cities: Madison, Philly,...

With Election Day around the corner, we have a lot of stories to break down! Host Raheel Ramzanali, Pulitzer Prize finalist Evan Mintz, and dynamic media personality Antre’chelle Nova start by talking about the tragic consequences of Texas’ strict abortion laws, and how it could impact voting in local and national races. Then, the trio discuss why the feds are investigating a Houston Housing Autho...

When playwright Brendan Bourqu e-Sheil was 18, he and his mom lived in an apartment in The Woodlands. One night, they started hearing a knocking sound that kept waking them up around 3 a.m. Eventually, his mom became convinced that there was a ghost in the house. Brendan tells the true story of their ghostly encounter. Check out Grown-Up Storytime, where Brendan first shared this story. This episo...

November is full of great events featuring volunteering, friends and family, and, of course, food! So, we’re giving you our top recommendations to make the most out of November in H-Town. We’re covering ways to give back, like supporting urban farms; cultural events from Día de los Muertos to a Native American pow wow; and the best spots to get that fantastic dish for your holiday gatherings. This...

It’s the final week of early voting and there are a lot of stories to talk about as we approach election night. So, host Raheel Ramzanali is bringing on Faith Bugenhagen, trending news reporter at Chron.com, to recap local, state, and national election stories impacting H-Town. Plus, they’re talking about why you might be hearing fireworks outside, how H-Town is a trending destination globally, an...

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and while it serves to empower survivors and those undergoing treatment, there’s a group that feels left behind: Black women. On today’s show, producer Carlignon Jones is talking to breast cancer survivor Chivon Jones about her journey, the power of community, and why she’s raising awareness about the breast cancer crisis affecting Black women. Here's more...

It’s a big day in Houston with VP Kamala Harris holding a historic rally with Beyoncé, Willie Nelson, Rep. Collin Allred, and others, but why Houston? Plus, the Harris County District Attorney’s race is could be a lot closer than you think. Then, what can HISD voters learn from the massive mistakes made by Fort Bend ISD and its school bond? Houston Landing’s politics reporter Paul Cobler is joinin...

Houston still ranks as one of the more affordable big cities in the country, but it’s not as affordable as it used to be. And we’re all feeling the pressures of inflation and other rising costs. From insurance to groceries and eating out, we want to help you save money and keep Houston feeling affordable. Host Raheel Ramzanali is bringing on Hey Houston newsletter editor Brooke Lewis and executive...

We might not be experiencing those cool fall temps just yet, but it’s still a great time to grab an iced latte and get into the fall vibes. So, where should you go to take full advantage of Houston’s coffee scene? Host Raheel Ramzanali is teaming up with Bianca Carol, creator of @HoustonCoffeeBlogger, for the ultimate guide to coffee in H-town, from pumpkin spice to sweet drinks and everything in...