City Cast Houston

It was a week full of fireworks in the city and in the news! From a major update in the Ken Paxton impeachment trial to an update on a missing man from 2015, host Raheel Ramzanali recaps the biggest stories oh the week with Pulitzer Prize finalist Evan Mintz and media personality Antre’chelle Nova.  Missing man found  Lake Conroe fireworks explosion Blue Button jellyfish in Galveston New Sunnyside...

Houston is constantly changing and so many places from our youth are closed. Of course AstroWorld is the most iconic place that no longer exists, but there’s so many more! From restaurants to malls and even nightclubs, host Raheel Ramzanali takes a trip down memory lane with lead producer Dina Kesbeh and ESPN Houston radio host Lance Zierlein.  The Cougars are heading to the Big 12 Looking for mor...

No, you aren’t being dramatic by complaining about the Houston heat this year because it is historically hot right now! So, is this the new norm in the summer or is this just a heatwave that will pass? Plus, what long-term impact will the scorching heat have on the city and how will it influence hurricane season? Meteorologist Matt Lanza from Space City Weather joins host Raheel Ramzanali to break...

Chet Garner, host of The Daytripper on PBS, joins host Raheel Ramzanali to give a daytrip recommendation you need to do ASAP. From crab fishing to a look back on the deep musical history of east Texas, this town has it all! Chet gives a detailed itinerary that gives you the perfect blend of outdoor time, good food, and appreciation of this often forgotten town off I-10! Learn more about what Texas...

It’s been a week full of news in our city, catch up on what you missed with Pulitzer Prize finalist Evan Mintz, writer Shiyam Galyon and producer Carlignon Jones. They’ll dive into what the latest special session means for Texans, how water breaks were stripped from construction workers this week, how the heat has impacted our power grid and so much more.  No more water breaks ERCOT breaks demand...

Houston and Atlanta have been throwing jabs at each other for years when it comes to which city is the best in the south. Today on the show, we’re ready to settle the debate. Host Raheel Ramzanali is taking on his youngest sister, Maheen, who grew up in Houston and now lives in Atlanta and her Atlanta native husband, Ali. From best food to overall culture, it’s time we pick a winner in the Houston...

Montrose has always been the most popular LGBTQ+ neighborhood in Houston, but could that be changing? Brian Riedel, associate director of the Center for the Study of Women, Gender, and Sexuality at Rice University, joins the show to talk about the history of Montrose, why Houston’s gay community migrated to the neighborhood, and why change is inevitable for this vibrant neighborhood. More on Brian...

Ask 100 Houstonians where the best kolache is in town and you’ll probably get 100 different answers. Kolaches have been an institution in H-Town for decades, but with so many great bakeries to choose from, where should you go first? Houston food content creator Shawn the Food Sheep joins host Raheel Ramzanali to give his recommendations of places you need to try ASAP. From fruit fillings to hearty...

We sometimes forget why Houston is called Space City, but now as the crew of the Artemis II Mission starts their training to orbit the moon, all eyes are once again on the Johnson Space Center as we venture into the next phase of space exploration. Commander Reid Wiseman joins host Raheel Ramzanali to talk about why Artemis II is such an important mission, what he misses about being in space, and...

It was literally so hot this week that roads were buckling in H-Town and the news was even hotter. From campaign finance misspending to a new law focusing on drunk drivers, host Raheel Ramzanali breaks it all down with Pulitzer Prize finalist Evan Mintz and media personality Antre’chelle Nova. Want to dig deeper into these stories? Check out the links below: Greater Houston Partnership New Leader...

Houston summers can be draining, but they’re also packed with unique events that you have to check out. Writer Olivia Flores Alvarez and Hey Houston newsletter editor Brooke Lewis join host Raheel Ramzanali to give their picks for the must-do summer events in H-Town. And yes, a lot of them are indoors! Make sure you check out some of these events this summer! The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston  Thun...

Houston hip-hop legend Lil’ Keke is celebrating his 25th year in hip-hop with his new album “25 Summers”. Producer Carlignon Jones sat down with Lil’ Keke to talk about H-Town’s impact on hip-hop, how he keeps moving his sound forward, and what he’s learned over the last 25 years in the industry. Follow Lil Keke on instagram @donke713 and check out his latest project, 25 Summers, on all streaming...

There are SO MANY delicious burgers to pick from in Houston so we’re helping you narrow the list with our guide to the best burgers in H-Town! From most unique burger to the most H-Town burger, host Raheel Ramzanali is joined by Nick Scurfield, co-founder of Trill Burgers and president of the Scurfield Group PR Firm, to break it all down. Want to try out some of Raheel and Nick's recommendations?...

There was a lot going on in Houston this week! From the Ken Paxton trial moving to Harris County to a new coalition forming to help animal shelters and how new courts could help the overcrowding in our jails. Host Raheel Ramzanali breaks it all down with Pulitzer Prize finalist Evan Mintz and writer Shiyam Galyon.  Ken Paxton Trial  New Courts in Harris County  The best and worst legislators  It’s...

Keeping the kids entertained during summer break can be overwhelming, so we’re focusing on summer activities for kids in the second installment of our Summer Entertainment Guide! Jenny Isaminger of Houston Moms and producer Carlignon Jones join host Raheel Ramzanali to give their best recommendations of things to do around H-Town so you can make it a memorable summer for the kids. Check out some o...

Next week will mark the third year we celebrate Juneteenth as a federal holiday, but how can we celebrate it respectfully while honoring the history of one of the most important days of our region? Houston artist Reginald Adams, who has painted 10 Juneteenth murals across the nations along with his team of creatives, joins host Raheel Ramzanali to answer just that! He'll also explain why every Hou...

We already know Houston has one of the best food scenes in the nation and with that comes a vastly underrated pizza scene that features several types of pies and unique toppings. So, what’s the best slice in H-Town? Lead producer Dina Kesbeh, newsletter editor Brooke Lewis, and producer AK Al-Moumen chat with producer Carlignon Jones about their top spots to try right now! Check out these spots! C...

Food Not Bombs has been serving meals to the unhoused community in Houston for years without any issues, but now HPD has started to ticket members of the group for their food distribution events. So, why are they being targeted and what are they doing to fight the potential fines? Food Not Bombs volunteer Nick Cooper joins Raheel to explain why he thinks the group has been ticketed almost 30 times...

The weather is heating up and so is the news in H-Town. Pulitzer Prize finalist Evan Mintz and Houston personality Antre'chelle Dorsey join host Raheel Ramzanali to breakdown how a small city budget win will have a big impact on neighborhoods, why Houston is making noise nationally, and so much more!  Saudi Oil ramp down Ashby High-Rise drama Drainage gets a bump in the budget Trill Burgers opens...

Summer is finally here and we’re helping you put together the perfect first day of summer with tips and ideas from producer Carlignon Jones, Hey Houston! editor Brooke Lewis, and host Raheel Ramzanali. This is the first installment of our Summer Entertainment Guide where the City Cast Houston team will have you ready to take full advantage of summer like a pro! Check out some of our recommendation...

Now that the Texas Education Agency has officially appointed Mike Miles as the new superintendent of HISD and a new board, what major changes are coming to the district? Houston Chronicle reporter Kennedy Sessions has been covering the TEA takeover and she joins host Raheel Ramzanali to explain how Miles’ background could impact the future of HISD schools and how a new outcome based model could ch...

There’s something so perfect about getting fresh Louisiana crawfish and boiling it up to the perfect spice level with your friends, family, and neighbors at a crawfish boil, but what if you’re a beginner to the boil game? Mike Trinh of Mike’s Seafood joins host Raheel Ramzanali to breakdown how to do your first at-home crawfish boil, why our city loves these mudbugs so much, and the perfect way to...

The 2023 hurricane season is officially underway and this year is a bit different because of El Niño, but what exactly does this mean in terms of how many hurricanes we could see impacting Houston? ABC13 Chief Metrologist Travis Herzog joins host Raheel Ramzanali today to explain how El Niño will impact Houston, what the early models are showing, and what it’s like to cover a major storm in local...

What. A. Week. We had alligators trapping swimmers on a dock and that wasn’t even our biggest story of the week! Political contributor and Pulitzer Prize finalist Evan Mintz joins host Raheel Ramzanali to talk about HISD’s new superintendent, all the drama surrounding your property taxes, and yes, alligators trapping swimmers at a state park! Columbia Tap Trail attacks  Columbia Tap trail attacks...

Hurricane season is officially here and while prepping for the season is a summer ritual for Houstonians, we often forget about our pets and what they need in case of a major storm. From packing an emergency kit to helping calm your fur babies during a hurricane, lifestyle contributor and writer Olivia Flores Alvarez and producer Carlignon Jones join host Raheel Ramzanali to layout a plan to keep...