Judge Hidalgo Walks Out, Building in Flood Plains, and Hotel Strike
Meltdowns at commissioners court, a hotel workers’ strike, and a new investigation into building in the floodplain— it’s another busy week in Houston! Host Raheel Ramzanali is joined by Chron.com’s trending news reporter Faith Bugenhagen and conservative commentator Charles Blain to unpack why Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo abruptly walked out of budget talks, what the Hilton Americas strike means for other workers, and why Houston is STILL building in flood zones.
Dive deeper into stories we talked about on today’s show:
- Harris County Judge abruptly leaves budget talks to attend concert
- Houston developed 65,000 flood-prone properties since Harvey. Who profits, and who pays the price?
- Houston's promise of opportunity tested by striking hotel workers | Editorial
- Hilton Americas-Houston workers extend ‘historic’ strike by 11 days, rally at city hall
- Houston City Council questions pension chairperson as municipal retirees await payments
Learn more about the sponsors of this September 12th episode:
Contemporary Arts Museum Houston
Awty International School Houston
Huel - Save 15% with code HOUSTON
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Photo: Ed Uthman
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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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