Houston Public Media

The inaugural Houston match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup came amid a flood watch. The stadium’s retractable roof was closed for Germany's 7-1 win against Curaçao, but many fans were drenched on the way in.

A total of seven World Cup matches will be played in Houston, beginning with Sunday's game between Germany and Curaçao.

Abbott pledged to spend at least $25 million to flip Harris County from blue to red. His legislative priorities include restricting further growth in property taxes, closing the state’s primary system, banning Islamic religious law across the state, and regulating AI data center construction.

Harris County's top elected official also claimed she had been denied access to NRG Stadium until two days before the start of the World Cup. The county owns the stadium, which is under FIFA control during the soccer tournament.

Travel experts say Houstonians should plan ahead for crowds if traveling through the airports.

Eight cases have now been confirmed in Texas as officials expand surveillance efforts, release millions of sterile flies and mobilize resources to stop the flesh-eating parasite from spreading.

TORCH CIN, a physician-hospital organization representing 45 rural and community hospitals across Texas, announced Friday it will end its contracts with UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company over "unsustainable" reimbursement rates. The leader of TORCH CIN said the current rates pose an "existential threat" to rural hospitals.

The falsified results included illegal levels of ammonia, E. coli and phosphorus, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

For our busy Houston commuters, we have – The Commuter Cut – a special 40-minute version of our show to listen to during your journey home.

The maximum heat index, or feels-like temperature, is forecast to reach 109 on Friday, 106 on Saturday and 105 on Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.

Today: We talk with Democratic candidate for Texas Governor Gina Hinojosa, learn about the Garden Theatre’s “Musical Theatre Extravaganza,” and discuss the FIFA World Cup with former Houston Dynamo player Mike Chabala.

At least one person was killed and others were injured in a shooting across Midland on Friday morning. The suspected gunman also died after a standoff, according to authorities.

The district’s state-appointed board of managers opted to delay voting on the $2 billion proposed budget. The vote has been rescheduled for June 25, less than a week before a deadline.

The Houston Matters panel of non-experts weighs in on stories from the week’s news and decides if they’re good, bad, or ugly.

On Friday's show: We learn why the head of the Harris County Flood Control District has resigned. An author explains everything there is to know about soccer. And we break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.

The total number of people living on the streets or in shelters held steady for the sixth year in a row. Mayor John Whitmire’s administration is shifting its goal from “ending street homelessness” to “reducing” it.

Public records show Ryan Seiders, co-founder of global lifestyle and outdoor brand YETI, is one of the owners of the Moody Bennett Ranch in the state's Big Bend region. The ranch, which lies in the path of the Trump administration's planned border wall, has been involved in construction activities getting underway in the region.

The state’s environmental regulator will hold a public hearing June 15 on its proposed rules for how the toxic wastewater can be reused. Here’s what you should know.

On the first day of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Houston's fan festival reached its 7,500-person capacity and multiple people were reportedly hospitalized with heat-related illnesses.

The proposed language by the party’s Legislative Priorities Committee appears to have strong support from rural delegates, but it potentially stands at odds with the priorities of Gov. Greg Abbott and other state leaders.