City Cast Houston

It’s Friday so we’re recapping the big news from the week. Host Raheel Ramzanali is talking to Pulitzer Prize finalist Evan Mintz and dynamic media personality Antre’chelle Nova about Mayor Whitmire’s move to bring in more younger HPD officers, why Kim Ogg just caused a stir with an endorsement, the disadvantages Latino children in Harris County face, and more!  Featured stories:  City Cast Housto...

Houston has a rich history of female political trailblazers that have shut out any doubt when it comes to women leading in politics. So, what lessons can Vice President Kamala Harris learn from them? Host Raheel Ramzanali is talking with one of those trailblazers, former Houston Mayor Annise Parker, about the lessons women in politics can learn from her, if VP Harris can turn Texas blue, and more!...

Houston Restaurant Weeks has become a summer tradition in Houston for foodies with over 400 restaurants participating with $25, $39, and $55 prix fixe menus. But, with so many choices, it can be overwhelming! Host Raheel Ramzanali is getting the best picks from Brittany Britto Garley, Eater Houston’s editor, for all the price points. Read all of Brittany’s work here Restaurants we mentioned today:...

Host Raheel Ramzanali and Danya Pérez, Houston Landing’s diverse communities reporter, are getting you up to speed on all the big stories to start the week. They start with Mayor Whitmire announcing his new police chief, then they talk about why Governor Abbott’s special election announcement is causing all sorts of confusion, plus how one person can make a difference in their community, and more!...

State appointed HISD Superintendent Mike Miles joins host Raheel Ramzanali today to answer your questions and concerns about Texas’ biggest school district heading into year two of the state takeover. Raheel starts off by learning about the high rate of staff turnover, the new budget for the school year and what it means for students, the $4.4 billion bond proposal, how things will look in year tw...

We finally made it to Friday! Host Raheel Ramzanali and Shafaq Patel, reporter at Axios Houston, are breaking down the big news from the week. The duo start by talking about Mayor Whitmire’s new proposed law that would benefit him. Then, they breakdown CenterPoint’s latest attempt to get in your pockets. Plus, Houston biggest polluters list is out, but will things ever change when it comes to poll...

If you're new here, welcome! We’ve put together a starter pack for you, with episodes and articles to welcome you to the City Cast Houston community.  August is all about back-to-school in Houston, but before the kids officially go back, we’re enjoying some fun things to do around H-Town. From outdoor adventures to unique art experiences, every Houstonian should check out these places. Plus, Augus...

We’re satisfying our sweet tooth today as host Raheel Ramzanali is getting tips for the best unique candies around H-Town with Chron.com’s food reporter Erica Cheng. From the viral Dubai chocolate bar to sour chamoy treats, you have to try these one-of-a-kind candies in our city.  Check out the candy recommendations from our conversation:  Royal Roastery Rocket Fizz  Space City Candy Las Delicias...

Host Raheel Ramzanali and Houston Press reporter Faith Bugenhagen are getting your week started by breaking down the big stories of the week. The duo starts by talking about Houston’s new fire chief and some questions around the move. Then, they talk about celebrating the life of Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, Houston making history once again in the medical field, how a massive sinkhole opened up, and...

CenterPoint has been in the hot seat ever since the widespread power outages after Hurricane Beryl. A lot of people — from elected officials to community members — have been asking how Houston can be better prepared for the next storm. In today’s episode, Host Raheel Ramzanali discusses that very question with Andrew Schneider, News 88.7’s government reporter. Check out Andrew’s in-depth report on...

Another week is in the books, so that means it’s time to recap the local news stories you need to know. City Cast Houston producer Carlignon Jones is filling in for Raheel Ramzanali this week and is joined by Pulitzer Prize Finalist Evan Mintz to discuss a massive bust on bail bond fraud, why COVID is on the rise, the growing list of politicians vying for Shelia Jackson Lee’s spot, and much more!...

The opening ceremonies for the Olympics go down tomorrow and Houston is going to reppin’ big time with so many athletes and coaches competing for Team USA and other countries. So, to learn more about our local Olympians, host Raheel Ramzanali is talking to Danielle Lerner, sports enterprise reporter at the Houston Chronicle, about Houstonians competing in Paris, just how much it costs to be an Oly...

It’s been a long month in Houston since Hurricane Beryl hit. And one of the best ways to recover is with your favorite comfort food. Luckily, here in H-town we have so many options, from Tex-Mex to Viet Cajun! So today, host Raheel Raheel Ramzanali is revisiting this conversation with Abbas Dhanani, owner of Burger Bodega and the guy behind @HoustonEatz, where they try to pick the official food of...

President Biden dropping out of the presidential race has caused major ripples in the political world, but how will it impact Houston? Plus, we remember Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and all the work she did for Houston. And, you won’t believe why traffic on the Hardy Toll Road came to a stop over the weekend. Host Raheel Ramzanali is joined by Joy Sewing, Houston Chronicle columnist, and Jim K...

The last two weeks since Hurricane Beryl have been physically and emotionally draining. So much that a lot of Houstonians are questioning their relationship to the city. Host Raheel Ramzanali is talking with Houston’s Poet Laureate Aris Kian about the emotional aftermath of Beryl, and also hearing from listeners about their frustrations.  Read Aris’ poem “Tired of #HoustonStrong.” And check out mo...

It’s Friday so host Raheel Ramzanali recapping all of the big news from the week. Monique Welch, Houston Landing’s diverse communities reporter, and Marco Torres, Houston Chronicle taco columnist, are joining him to talk about CenterPoint’s new resiliency plan (and who will pay for it!), a new survey about some Houstonians wanting to leave the city, the Michelin Guide finally coming to H-town, and...

It’s been over a week since Hurricane Beryl ripped through our region, and while we’ve been talking about how it impacted Houston, what was it like for our friends in Galveston? From slowing down their tourism season to what we can do as Houstonians to help out the island, Mary Beth Bassett of Visit Galveston is talking to host Raheel Ramzanali about how Galveston is doing after Beryl.  Here’s mor...

It’s been a tough time for millions of Houstonians since Hurricane Beryl left widespread damage and power outages. Some folks are still without power, and even if you have the lights back on, a lot of us are feeling tired, even traumatized. So for today’s City Cast Houston podcast, host Raheel Ramzanali is teaming up with Houstonia Magazine’s editor-in-chief Emma Balter to bring you some ideas and...

It’s been over a week since Beryl hit H-Town, but we’re just starting to learn about the short and long-term impacts on businesses that have been without power. Host Raheel Ramzanali is talking ABC13 reporter Pooja Lodhia about that story, how utility workers are being threatened, a new class action case against CenterPoint, and some fond memories about columnist Ken Hoffman. Here's more about the...

Hurricane Beryl’s strong winds knocked out Houston’s power, but that was not its only impact. Neighborhoods in Northeast Houston also suffered flooding, even though Beryl wasn’t considered a major rain event. To find out why and how that could have been prevented, host Raheel Ramzanali talks with Elena Bruess, environmental reporter at the Houston Landing, and Alice Liu, with West Street Recovery....

To say it’s been a week is an understatement! Host Raheel Ramzanali is calling on Antre’chelle Nova and Evan Mintz to help recap the week since Hurricane Beryl hit Houston. They cover the politics of recovery, how long it will take to clean up the debris, and CenterPoint’s latest timeline for restoring power. They also remember some of the victims of the deadly storm and how the power outage at tr...

It’s been an exhausting week as the city rebuilds after Hurricane Beryl. So, host Raheel Ramzanali is decompressing a bit by talking to executive producer Laura Isensee and Hey Houston newsletter editor Brooke Lewis about what they’ll remember from the hurricane from their personal experience, tips on recovering from the storm, why we’re all so tired of being #HoustonStrong, and more!  Here’s more...

As the city recovers from Hurricane Beryl, one of the hardest parts has been the lack of power for millions of Houstonians. So, how long will we be without power? Host Raheel Ramzanali is talking to Houston Landing reporter Paul Cobler about CenterPoint’s timeline to restore electricity for Houstonians, why it could take a while, how to stay cool, and more.  Here are the stories and resources we m...

Hurricane Beryl battered Houston when it made landfall as a Category 1 storm, leaving millions without power, including most of the City Cast Houston team. But we have you covered! Executive Producer Laura Isensee talks with Justin Ballard, newsroom meteorologist at the Houston Chronicle, about how Beryl broke records, what recovery will look like, and what this all means for hurricane season. For...

A former Houston cop is facing felony charges for tampering with a government document. It’s just the latest in a major investigation and fallout from corruption on a small Texas city police force. We’re revisiting a conversation between host Raheel Ramzanali and KHOU investigative reporter Jeremy Rogalski to learn how it all began and why it should matter to Houstonians. Stories we mentioned in t...