Houston Matters Full Episode - January 29, 2026

Video Description

Today on Houston Matters, Governor Greg Abbott has ordered all state agencies and public universities to freeze new applications for H-1B visas, which allow employers to hire foreign nationals for certain jobs in the United States. While this directive will affect many kinds of employers in Texas, we learn how it might affect hospitals and health care providers specifically from Ken Janda of University of Houston’s Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine. Also, the upcoming Artemis II mission will send American astronauts around the moon for the first time in decades. Andrea Leinfelder, space reporter for the Houston Chronicle, tells us about the mission and Houston’s role in it. Then, the Oyster South Symposium takes place this weekend in Houston. The gathering is aimed at supporting oyster farmers and protecting the waters where oysters are harvested. We learn about the challenges facing that industry from Bethany Walton from Oyster South and Dr. Mario Marquez from Texas A&M University. Plus, we hear about a unique approach to one of Shakespeare’s most famous comedies, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” presented with puppets. Annie Arnoult, Atticus Griffin, and Kahlil Cabble from Open Dance Project have the details. Houston Matters is an essential daily guide to the people, places, issues, and ideas that define Greater Houston. Hosted by Craig Cohen. Houston Matters streams live on YouTube weekdays from 9 a.m. – 10 a.m. CT, and airs live on Houston Public Media’s News 88.7. SUBSCRIBE for more from Houston Public Media: https://www.youtube.com/@HoustonPublicMedia ------------ FOLLOW US: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/houstonmatters Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/houstonpubmedia Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/houstonpublicmedia X: https://x.com/houstonpubmedia -------------- Houston Public Media is a trusted source for local news, information, and original storytelling in Houston, Texas. For the latest news and information, visit the Houston Public Media website: https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/ Subscribe to the Hello Houston newsletter: https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/hellohouston/ Houston Public Media is a service of the University of Houston. ------------- We can’t do it without you. Support our award-winning community journalism by donating today: https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/donate Timestamps: 00:00 Pre-show news 07:45 Intro 08:05 Ken Janda on freeze of H-1B visa petitions 22:21 Andrea Leinfelder on Artemis II mission 39:11 Bethany Walton & Dr. Mario Marquez on oyster symposium 49:42 Shakespeare with puppets