Storm Recovery Policy (July 17, 2024) – Houston Public Media

Houston Matters begins at 9:00 a.m. CT on 88.7 FM or listen online. Join the discussion at 713-440-8870, [email protected] or @HoustonMatters.

On Wednesday’s show: From the Republican National Convention and the response to the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, to the ongoing response in Houston to the slow recovery from Hurricane Beryl, we discuss the latest political developments in our weekly roundup.

Also this hour: In light of Saturday’s assassination attempt, we revisit our 2016 conversation with retired U.S. Secret Service agent Clint Hill, who served five U.S. presidents and was in Dallas when JFK was killed in 1963. (He’s the agent who jumped into the back of the presidential limousine and shielded first lady Jackie Kennedy as the car sped to Parkland Hospital.)

And we learn more about the Ensemble Theater’s production Pullman Porter Blues, which is showing until July 28. Cheryl L. West’s play tells the story of three generations of Pullman train porters from one family struggling to reconcile with one another, deal with racial tensions and an uncertain future. (For a century, Pullman porters worked in sleeping cars on American railroads, serving passengers by carrying luggage, shining shoes and maintaining the sleeping cars. They were named for George Pullman, who, starting in the late 1860s, hired former slaves to work on his sleeping cars. At one time, the company was the largest employer of African Americans.)

Audio for today’s show will be available starting at 11:00 a.m. Central Time. We also have a free podcast here on iTunes, Stitcher, and other apps.