City Cast Houston

• HISD Superintendent Miles on Back-to-School, Student Progress, & School Closures

  Today marks the first day of back-to-school for over 170,000 students and some 10,000 teachers in the Houston Independent School District. State-appointed HISD Superintendent Mike Miles is joining host Raheel Ramzanali to talk about the latest state ratings, potential school closures, teacher turnover and more changes you need to know for the new year.   Stories we talked about on today’s show:  HISD has no F-rated schools in 2025, Mike Miles says ahead of official TEA rating release More than 2,300 teachers left Houston ISD in June, continuing trend of high turnover under Mike Miles Houston ISD is aiming for up to 10 school closures, plans to build $180M career center, Miles says Learn more about the sponsors of this August 12th episode: Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Visit Port Aransas Apollo Chamber Players We’re doing our annual survey to learn more about our listeners. We’d be grateful if you took the survey at citycast.fm/survey—it’s only 7 minutes long. You’ll be doing us a big favor. Plus, anyone who takes the survey will be eligible to win a $250 Visa gift card–and City Cast City swag. Get more from City Cast Houston when you become a City Cast Houston Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm  Looking for more Houston news? Then sign up for our morning newsletter Hey Houston  Follow us on Instagram  @CityCastHouston Don’t have social media? Then leave us a voicemail or text us at +1 713-489-6972 with your thoughts! Have feedback or a show idea? Let us know!  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Let’s Talk! Photo: Larry D. Moore

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• Is Houston Really Prioritizing Road Safety?

  Houston traffic fatalities hit record numbers last year — so why is City Hall pushing back against road designs that researchers say are safer? Executive producer Laura Isensee is talking with Evan Mintz, editor of opinion and community engagement for the Houston Chronicle, about the controversial road design changes on Telephone Road, what this means for all Houstonians, and how the city’s growth plays into all this. Why isn't City Hall putting safety first on Telephone Road? | Editorial Houston board delays $438K Telephone Road redesign amid public outcry over design changes Why Isn't Montrose More Walkable? Houston Heights residents, businesses divided about 11th Street bike lanes as mayor continues criticism Houston traffic fatalities rose to record numbers in 2024 as city lags on previous Vision Zero goals Want to become a City Cast Houston Neighbor? Check out our membership program.  Learn more about the sponsors of this August 11th episode: Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Visit Port Aransas Apollo Chamber Players Looking for more Houston news? Then sign up for our morning newsletter Hey Houston  Follow us on Instagram  @CityCastHouston Don’t have social media? Then leave us a voicemail or text us at +1 713-489-6972 with your thoughts! Have feedback or a show idea? Let us know!  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Let’s Talk!

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• Texas Redistricting Wars, Secretive Crypto & Job Losses for Black Women

  All eyes were on Texas this week as dozens of House Democrats fled the state, temporarily blocking the GOP’s push to redraw political maps and gain five new seats in Congress. Executive Producer Laura Isensee talks with attorney and education advocate Monica Flores Richart and Maggie Gordon, senior storytelling editor at Straight Arrow News, about what makes this quorum break different — and what might come next. Plus, they dig into why rising unemployment for Black women is especially concerning, talk about how Texas cryptocurrency mining could impact our electric bill, and share their moments of joy. Dive deeper into today’s stories: What’s Happening With Redistricting in Texas? Cornyn says FBI will help locate absent Texas Democrats, but scope of feds’ role unclear How a Self-Described Wallflower Came to Lead the Texas Democrats’ Walkout Exclusive: SAN reporter’s inquiry into Texas’ Bitcoin mines triggers lawsuit A staggering 300,000 Black women left jobs or were forced out in 2025. Here's why Texans should care. Learn more about the sponsors of this August 8th episode: Houston Restaurant Weeks Downtown Houston+ Contemporary Arts Museum Houston Want to become a City Cast Houston Neighbor? Check out our membership program.  Looking for more Houston news? Then sign up for our morning newsletter Hey Houston  Follow us on Instagram  @CityCastHouston Don’t have social media? Then leave us a voicemail or text us at +1 713-489-6972 with your thoughts! Have feedback or a show idea? Let us know!  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Let’s Talk! Photo: KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI/AFP via Getty Images

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• BBQ, NASA, or the Rodeo? We Pick the ‘Most Houston’ Thing Ever

  There are so many uniquely Houston institutions, foods, pop culture icons, and moments in time that have become symbols of the city. But which one best defines H-Town? Host Raheel Ramzanali and executive producer Laura Isensee are making the case for their favorites in an epic, multi-round competition, with Deborah Duncan, host of Great Day Houston on KHOU, stepping in as judge.  So, which local icon was dubbed the “Most Houston” thing ever, and do you agree with our conclusions? We invited listeners to vote on their faves as well — check out the full bracket and see who won that “listeners’ choice” competition. Plus, let us know what we missed! Learn more about the sponsors of this August 7th episode: Houston Restaurant Weeks Downtown Houston+ Get more from City Cast Houston when you become a City Cast Houston Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm  Looking for more Houston news? Then sign up for our morning newsletter Hey Houston  Follow us on Instagram  @CityCastHouston Don’t have social media? Then leave us a voicemail or text us at +1 713-489-6972 with your thoughts! Have feedback or a show idea? Let us know!  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Let’s Talk!

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• Best Back-to-School Snacks for Grown-Ups & Kids

  School is almost back in session, so it’s the perfect time to step up your snack game. Whether you have kids in school or just love a good treat yourself, this episode is for you. Emily Hill with Texas Grocery Finds joins Executive Producer Laura Isensee to talk about best snacks for this season. Plus, where you can get the best bang for your buck! Follow Emily on Instagram for even more Texas grocery finds!  Learn more about the sponsors of this August 6th episode: Houston Restaurant Weeks Downtown Houston+  Want to become a City Cast Houston Neighbor? Check out our membership program.  Looking for more Houston news? Then sign up for our morning newsletter Hey Houston  Follow us on Instagram  @CityCastHouston Don’t have social media? Then leave us a voicemail or text us at +1 713-489-6972 with your thoughts! Have feedback or a show idea? Let us know!  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Let’s Talk!

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