Back-To-School Chaos, Traffic Wrecks After Beryl, and Houston Demure
Happy Friday! It’s almost the weekend, so host Raheel Ramzanali is bringing on Monique Welch, diverse communities reporter at the Houston Landing, to recap some of the week’s biggest stories. The duo kick it off with discussing how Houston is “demure” — the latest internet trend. Then they dive into the findings from an independent investigation into why the Houston Police Department marked thousands of cases as suspended. Plus, they discuss even more fallout from Hurricane Beryl and its impact on traffic accidents. Raheel and Monique also spend time talking about back-to-school chaos in Cy-Fair, how residents are fighting to have their voices heard in Missouri City, and more!
Check out the stories that we talked about in today’s episode:
- Panel: Mismanagement, understaffing among ‘critical issues’ in suspended cases scandal
- Data: Traffic crashes, injuries at stoplights spiked in Houston area after Hurricane Beryl
- Houston-area gas stations accused of price gouging after Hurricane Beryl sued by Harris County
- Residents push back against public comment restrictions in Missouri City
- Fort Bend commissioner candidate asked to bow out following felony charge of impersonation
- Cy-Fair ISD parents wait in lines after district cuts bus routes
- Parents report transportation chaos on Cy-Fair ISD's first day of school
- Culture Wars, Budget Cuts, and Other Issues Local ISDs Are Facing
Learn more about the sponsors of this August 23rd episode here: Downtown Houston+
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Thank you Houston, we’ve loved the conversation we’ve been having with you for the past three years. City Cast Houston and Hey Houston have suspended operations. Our last newsletter and podcast episode was Oct. 24, 2025.
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