Fort Bend County Commissioner Dexter McCoy is refusing to attend commissioner's court meetings because he believes interim county judge Daniel Wong has no legal authority to serve, as Wong's appointment expired when the case he was appointed to fill was disposed of. McCoy argues that Wong's continued participation in court proceedings opens the county to litigation and liability, and that the four duly elected commissioners can handle county business without the fifth vote. The dispute involves a visiting judge who appointed Wong, who is running for the position, creating concerns about political conflicts of interest.
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Hello Houston Full Episode - July 22, 2026
Added:Houston as two key witnesses ask a federal judge to release them from immigration detention. We'll discuss this and more of today's top headlines.
I'm Ernie Manuse and I'm guest host Donna Reed. Who's really in charge of Fort Ben County right now. Commissioner Dexter McCoy is here to share why he's refusing to attend commissioner court meetings and what this leadership fight could mean for county government. Plus, what can a backyard beehive tell us about Houston and how is B2B helping residents become stewards of the city's most important pollinators?
>> And as always, we want to hear from you.
Give us a call or text us at 713-4408870 or email us at [email protected].
Hello Houston is made possible in part by founding sponsors John Bradshaw and Kathy Sanders, by Metro, and by gifts from listeners like you. Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. Today, President Trump carries out one of his most somber duties as commanderin-chief.
He is attending the dignified transfer of four US service members killed in action in the US war with Iran. Before leaving Joint Base Andrew for Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, Trump told reporters he was about to carry out one of the hardest duties of his presidency.
>> All I'm going to say is we love you. We love your child. And that's what they are to them. They're their children. Uh there's no games, no nothing. That's their child. And uh all you can do is throw out your hearts. Since the US and Israel went to war with Iran in late February, at least 18 American troops have been killed. The Iranian government says it has lost thousands of its citizens, many of them civilians. Trump is wrapping up threats on Iran. In a post on social media, he said the US would destroy bridges and power plants if Iran shoots at ships in the Straight of Hormuz. Here's NPR's Deep Shivaram.
Attacking civilian infrastructure could constitute a war crime. But Trump says from now onward if Iran fires missiles, rockets, drones, or any other weapons at ships in the street of Hormuz. The US would respond by bombing one bridge or power plant. He added that those could include ones located in or near Iran's capital city, Thrron. The escalation comes as Trump has said he has no interest in meeting with Iranian negotiators. The war has gone on months longer than Trump said it would and support for Trump's actions abroad and the higher price of goods that have come with it is dropping even among his base.
Deepa Shiveram NPR News.
>> By a vote of 220 to 205, the US House of Representatives has advanced a bill that would extend government funding until after the midterm elections. Six Democrats joined nearly all Republicans to send the funding package to the Senate where Majority Leader John Thun said the chamber would act before leaving town for the August recess. And Pier's Eric McDaniel reports.
>> Republicans want to avoid a third government shutdown. This one coming just ahead of the midterm elections.
Democrats have forced two record-breaking shutdowns since President Trump began his second term.
the first over federal subsidies for health insurance plans and the second over funding for the president's immigration enforcement agenda after federal personnel killed Americans in Minnesota earlier this year. Leader Thun says he'll work on a different version of the funding extension in order to attract needed support from Senate Democrats. If that doesn't pan out, he has a plan to pass a funding extension on a party line vote, avoiding the chamber's typical 60 vote threshold using a parliamentary quirk known as reconciliation. Eric McDaniel, NPR News, Washington. Parts of the Gulf Coast are bracing for tropical storm Bertha's impact. People from Louisiana to Florida are expecting floodgenerating rainfall and destructive wind gusts. It's a second name storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season. This is NPR.
>> Live from News87 in Houston. I'm Matt Herab. Yeah, Bertha is expected to hit New Orleans today and approach the Texas coast sometime tomorrow night into Friday morning. Impacts though are still expected to be minimal here in Houston.
However, Haley Bailey with the National Weather Service says there's still some unknowns.
>> Forecast has it that approaching the Texas coastline as a tropical storm. Um there's a lot of uncertainty still with the intensity. Um we do have northeasterly uh shear um that has been developing and increasing um and that's going to play heavily into how uh this storm evolved over the next couple of days. Houston is projected as of right now to maybe pick up an inch of rain today through Saturday. It's those gusty winds though that could be more of a problem. It might be a good idea to have a bottle of water with you when you go outside today. This will be the hottest day of the year so far with temperatures expected to exceed 100°, maybe reaching 105 on the thermometer. Haley Bailey is a forecaster with the National Weather Service. Let's go to her again. She says with the humidity, it'll feel worse.
We're looking at widespread heat indices in the 110 to 115 range. So, for that reason, we have gone ahead and issued an extreme heat warning uh for today. Uh looking like we may have a heat advisory uh for Thursday as well.
>> Cooling centers are open throughout the city of Houston today. It's already 92 degrees on the uh campus. Galveastston is the focus of a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the resurgence of mureine typhus. That is a fleaorn disease that can cause serious illness in humans and it's had a resurgence specifically in South Texas. Tony Malone is the chief clinical veterinarian at the Houston Humane Society. He says infected fleas can be carried by rats, possums, cats, and dogs. If we're not managing it in the animal population, then it becomes a public health ris for for humans.
>> Alone says it's important to get flee prevention for pets and clear yards and homes of any fleece. For more news and updates on the tropical storm, you can head to our website that is houstonmedia.org.
I'm Matt Herup.
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Live from Houston Public Media and News87, it's Hello Houston, an open forum on today's biggest stories affecting Houston and beyond. Call now 713-448870 or let us know your thoughts on today's topics by emailing us at talk@hello houston.org. And now hello Houston.
Hello there Houston. We've made it to the middle of the week. I'm Ernie Manuse and with me we're thrilled to have back with us that voice you've known for years and years. Donna Reed is in the house.
>> Thank you Ernie. So great to be here a second time. I feel like, you know, I know you now even more.
>> Well, you knew me before because you also do a podcast.
>> I do.
>> Talk about that a little bit.
>> Spotlight conversations. Uh you were one of my guests during COVID and that's when I launched it and uh we had someone we both knew. We had actually never met, but I reached out to her, Laura, and uh she put us together and I I was so nervous. I was like I told everybody at home, I says, "Oh, it's Ernie. You know, hope I have the right questions." And you were great. You made it so easy. And I was brand new to podcasting, but it was fun. I enjoyed that.
>> I I will say I I love to interview people. I've made it my stock and trade.
I think I'm a terrible guest. I never know when to stop. I don't know. If you ask me a question, I'm like, and I ramble on and on. I think I'm terrible guest.
>> I loved it. Your mother was on too, just briefly a little bit in the background.
>> It was the co era. We all had family members popping in. Cats, pets, random strings. Oh, but we had all kinds of different topics come up. Um, I'm not sure what episode it is. If you go to uh YouTube YouTube, if you go to uh wherever you get your podcast, I think Spotify has it. You were one of my first ones, so I'll say it's probably the first 10 podcasts I did. But it was entertaining. It was fun.
>> I need to go back and listen to it before I promote the fact to tell you folks.
>> Forget what we just said. We don't know what we talked about. But it was co and it was, you know, I'm sure that was part of the conversation. Yeah. And for folks who say, "I know Donna Reed. She's been around a while. You've been a voice in this community for a good clip of time."
>> Long time, 20 years anyway. Oh my gosh.
When I was like 14, I started doing voiceovers. Look at you.
>> But yes. Yeah. It's it's also a very demanding job as anybody that does voiceovers knows. It's uh there's a lot of changes going on in the business, too.
>> And uh but I have a studio at home and I love it. So podcasting sort of was part of that. Yeah. because I'm always talking.
>> Do you ever find like when you're out in public or you're talking to like the pharmacist or something, you slip into your radio voice? It's like, can we help you? Yes, I actually need this prescription.
>> No, I I No, maybe I'll have to ask my pharmacist, but I think at home it's kind of like, turn that down. I mean, I get into a different voice for the kids when they were little, but I Well, if I'm on an airplane, yeah, I'll do, "Hey, can you pass me my headphones?"
>> Well, we're thrilled to have you here with us today. sitting in. We've got a lot going on on the show today. If you've been following the news, you know Fort Ben County has been having a very interesting period of time there with their commissioner's court and what's going on and who's in charge and who's the county judge and how they got there and who they really are and do they still have the power. There's a whole lot going on there. Well, we're going to have one of the county commissioners here, Dexter McCoy, is going to be joining us to help walk us through it and to find out why he is not attending votes during this period. And he is not alone in that. But what does all of that mean? We're going to find out in a little bit. We also bees. They're so important to our community. You don't always think about them, but if you know anything about bees, without them, we'd be in big trouble. B2B is going to be here and they're going to be sharing uh what we can do to help keep bees strong here in the Houston area. But you know what? We are in campaign right now and we are here with our resiliency campaign. And the reason for that is because when the federal bud when the federal funding cut happened, it left us all pretty much all and by all I mean all public media stations kind of at a loss for what to do. So we turned to our community. We lost $2.2 million a year in operating funds. Now some stations got hit much harder because a larger percentage of their budget comes from the community. We're in a good shape, but it was still about 10% of our budget. And it wasn't just for one year.
It was for two years, which also means another 2.2 million. We're trying to regroup that amount. Imagine if 10% of your budget from your household just went away, but you still needed to function and feed your family and pay your light bills and everything you have to do. Put gas in your car. That's what we're asking you to do to help us with.
We're very close. We're almost there. I think we're at about 85% of the way to where we need to be. So, we need your help right now. Easiest way to do it is go to houstonmedia.org/donate org/donate or give us a quick call at 888990887 and you can make that gift of support.
It's easy to do.
>> It's so easy and we're so close.
>> We are. We are very close. And uh we'll tell you more about it as the show goes on. But you know the drill. If we're asking for your help, it's not because we want it, it's because we need it. And uh that need can be satisfied by our community. And you're one of those folks. So please help us out.
houstondia.org/donate.
But into the show always at the top it is headlines. So Donna take us into the headlines.
>> Thank you Ernie. Pressure continues mounting over the fatal ICE shooting of Houston construction worker Lorenzo Salgado Aujo Arojo as two key witnesses asked a federal judge to release them from immigration detention. The Houston Chronicle first reported that Daniel Torado Pauha and Joseé Trinidad Roas PGO, who were passengers in Salgado's work van, filed petitions in the US District Court for the Southern District of Texas, seeking release from immigration detention. The men argue they were being held unlawfully while serving as key witnesses in the ongoing investigation. If granted, the petitions could lead to their release from an ICE detention facility in Montgomery County.
Toado and Rojas argued in their filings on Monday that they are being subjected to indefinite detention in violation of their fifth amendment due process rights despite having no criminal records and posing neither a flight risk nor a danger to the community. The petitioner is neither a flight risk nor a danger to the community. Immigration attorney Ry Gonzalez says who represents both men wrote in the petitions per the chronicle. So what are your thoughts?
call or text us at 713-448870.
>> To start off with this, I would think that the biggest fear, the biggest concern for um legal experts, for um people that would uh what's the term I'm looking for for defendants for for this case to get a full investigation is if these gentlemen had were extradited, were sent out of the country to one of these camps that we've heard so much about. And if you are trying to um if someone if some organization some element wanted to hide information or uh deny uh full transparency that would be a move that would be taken. It is not unheard of. Simply being undocumented has meant people have been picked up all across our country have been held and in many cases been extradited. So I can see the concern here. And these gentlemen uh and their representation are saying or their representatives are saying, you know, they don't pose the threat ris the flight risk. They have not been criminal, they're not criminal charges against them. I don't know that that matters in today's ICE world. I think the idea simply the fact that if in fact they are undocumented, I don't know their full stories and I haven't heard as much about their cases, but if in fact they are undocumented and being held because they are undocumented, it is not unheard of that they could be sent out. If especially if their story differs from the official story that we've heard and from what we have already been told by folks who have talked with them is the fact that it does differ from the official story of what's been told by the feds. So yes, I can understand that concern. I don't know necessarily that it would mean that they should be released from the ICE detention facility. I think that's going to be a harder hurdle to overcome. But I would think that the most important thing is to keep them from extradition.
>> I mean, where do you see it heading?
Just your gut feeling.
>> Well, I'm I'm going to throw a question then back at you.
>> Where do I see what element advances?
What do you think for them? I see them.
I think there's going to be so much outrage and uh pressure. I think they won't be extradited, which and I'm the one bringing up extradition. They're not saying that, but that's what I think this is all about. Um I I think they will continue to be held here. I don't think they will be released. I don't think that will come of it immediately >> because I think that they will still because I think uh ICE has to show that there was a reason for this whole incident to happen even if they weren't the individuals ICE was looking for.
They came across people who also were a foul of the system and therefore yes things got out of hand in the situation.
We'll see full investigations into what actually happened with the encounter that led to the death. But if you let these other two gentlemen back out into the community, then I think ICE feels and the government feels like, oh, then it looks even worse what we did. If we can hold on to them, we can still say, see, things went wrong, but we got these two. I I think that it's a bit of a cynical position, but I I think that what do you think?
>> Well, whatever happens is going to change the landscape >> completely. So, it's hard to say at this point what will happen because >> everything's still unknown, >> right? you know, so it's it'll be just to see the future of everything.
>> I mean, I think extradition would be a foolish move at this point because so many so many a few individuals have actually spoken to them and their story is already out there. Sylvia Garcia spoke with them. Sean Tier's people have spoke with them. So there has been conversations happening and their story has come out. So now it doesn't behoove them to send them out of the country.
before it would have if they could have I'm sure if they could have taken him and extradite him immediately they would have for the sake of and and I I'm just talking off feeling instinct and a bit of history of what we've seen happen in other situations like this.
>> Yes.
>> And I'm curious what you think. Give us a call or text us 713448870.
What do you think's going to happen here? What do you think should happen here? Um, are we on the right path here?
Should they be released? Should they be since they are not a flight risk and show no criminal record or simply the fact that they did not uh they were undocumented and therefore they should be detained? What do you think? Call us.
Let us know. 713448870.
I have talked enough on that topic. I feel like I had a whole monologue there on that with my thoughts.
>> I did. But but you have feelings. you have a passion for it.
>> I have feelings and I'm also greatly concerned about this entire situation. I my biggest concern in this entire situation is that we will move on as a culture to other stories. We will find there will be other ICE incidents. There will be other news things. There will be other things that come out of the White House or out of the federal government.
And this story will slowly fade. And my goal is to continue to talk about it to make sure we have transparency, that we get the investigations we need, that all the all the um evidence is gathered, that none of it is destroyed, that nothing is hidden, that nothing is falsified. That's my dream for this, and that we really know what happened. None of this is going to bring Lorenzo back.
None of this is going to bring total peace to the family.
>> But we do owe justice to them. do need to understand what happened and who was at fault in this situation and then if someone else was at fault there needs to be >> uh some sort of I don't want to say punishment or retribution but there has to be accountability >> but the story may not fade too >> I hope it doesn't >> and I don't think it will >> all right um speaking about other things happening in and I said you know other stories making it to the headlines the Trump administration is moving forward with a new commemorative coin for America's 250th birthday. And guess whose likeness is going to be featured on one side of it? Take a guess.
>> Yours, >> not mine. All right.
>> A bald eagle on one side.
>> All right.
>> Donald Trump on the other. Yep. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessett unveiled the new design last week with uh production expected to begin soon. The proposal is already drawing legal questions, however, as federal law generally bars living people from appearing on US currency. Treasury officials argue this is a special edition coin to authorize um under that's authorized under a separate legislation passed by Congress in 2020. What do you think?
Commemorative Trump coin which would be legal tender. What do we think about it?
7134408870.
Donna, what do you think about it?
Getting your change purse out.
>> I was looking all of those coins.
They're all deceased.
>> Mhm.
>> I did not know that. Yeah. Listen, >> every time I come in here, it's like a history lesson with you. I love it because I didn't I mean, I probably knew it, but it's interesting.
>> I'm I'm more okay, not that I'm okay with any of this, but I'm more okay with a commemorative Franklin mint coin, something like that that doesn't have legal tender, that isn't our real currency. You want to do that, it's not my cup of tea. Some people want that, so be it. But for it to be on our official currency and bucking the trend of everything. I remember though back and you may remember this too. I have seen it back in in 1976. Didn't they have commemorative legal tender? There was a half dollar or something coin that had a little star. Yeah. That had a little star thing on it for 76. M >> so they have done commemorative things for those but it wasn't putting you know uh Nixon or Jimmy Carter's or Gerald Ford's face on the coin >> back in time now >> you know trying to remember which one was president. Did you see me run through all of them until I got there?
>> You had it. Do you think it was pitched though that it would be commemorative?
>> They're saying they're saying you know that there's it's this is a special edition coin. It's authorized under special legislation. But I think there's a difference between that like you know >> a golden girl medallion that you want to get from Franklin Mint fine you know but you can't >> you have not looked at my jewelry box you didn't >> What do you think? Are you a coin collector? Is this a coin you would want to get your hands on if it weren't legal tender? Would it still have the same significance to you? Would it be a keepsake of a period you'd want to get and just be happy with it? Or do you feel like we're at a point where this is a very important point in our history?
It's our 250th. He is actually the president during this period. Should he be recognized on that coin? I'm really curious what you think about it. You're being very quiet out there today.
7134408870.
Um, we had a comment that came in that mean meant uh Ernie, I think you mean, this is going back to our first story when I was talking about the gentlemen that were also in the van. I think you might mean deportation, not extradition.
I think you are very right. All right. I think I conflated those two words and I probably just conflated the word conflate. Uh, you're right. Uh, they also say the witnesses to the Lorenzo killing should be released. So, the Harris County District's Attorney's Office should be released too, I guess, if they want to say. So, they are available for investigative interviews.
Um, yes. What I'm thinking I'm saying though is they can be talked to while still in custody. I think they need need to be made available. Not saying I don't agree with you. I'm just saying that as long as they are kept available, if they are kept in our area and they are kept so there is access available to them.
>> Yeah, that's what I'm thinking on that one.
>> Anyway, what are your thoughts on the topics we are discussing today? I'm trying to turn my pages. Um, we did have a story to read, but I know we're tight on time, so we're not going to get to it. We'll get to it later about the mo the new movie The Odyssey, which I saw last night. I'm curious what folks think about that and uh we'll be returning to that later on. But right now, we are going to take a quick break. When we come back, we're going to try and make not speaking about coins, but heads or tails out of what's going on over at Fort Ben County Commissioner's uh court and Dexter McCoy is here to talk with us about his actions, what's going on there, and what we all need to know about this story. This is Hello Houston on News87.
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And now back to Hello Houston. To comment on today's topics, call or text 713-448870 or email us at talk@hello houston.org.
And now, Ernie Manuse and guest host Donna Reed.
>> All right, the fight over who has the legal authority to serve as Fort Ben County's interim judge continues with lawsuits, disputed commissioners court hearings, court meetings, and growing questions about how county business should move forward. And so today is Fort Ben County Commissioner Dexter McCoy in the studio who's been protesting recent commissioner's court meetings over Daniel Wong's appointment.
He's here to share his perspective on the outgoing dispute, what's at stake for the county, and where things go from here. Good morning, Commissioner McCoy, and welcome to Hello Houston.
>> Thanks so much for having me.
>> This is one of those stories where I don't even know where to begin.
>> Yeah. So, I'm going to begin kind of toward the end and then I want you to take us back and help us understand all the process of it. But part of it is you are not currently voting >> and you've made that choice for a reason. Explain to folks why when you sit on that court, you have decided no, it's more important for me not to cast a vote.
>> Well, so first I have to say I'm geeking out a little bit. I have listened to Houston public media since I was in middle school. Uh back when it was more strictly all the classical music and all. Um, and now to be here, uh, in the studio is a really big deal. So, thank y'all for having me on here. Uh, but also too to talk about the community that I love. I grew up in Fort Ben. Uh, it raised me. It's it's where uh I met my wife when I was 12 years old. Uh, growing up in in in Fort Ben County and it's where now we returned and we're raising our two beautiful daughters.
>> I know it has nothing to do with why you're here. You met her at 12 years old. Did you start dating as teens and it's been your one and only?
>> So, she the the debate is I keep saying, "Oh, yeah, we are high school sweethearts, but we did not date continuously." Okay.
>> Uh she broke my heart junior year of high school. She still doesn't know why.
Uh but >> and then you punished her by marrying her.
>> That's good. I'm have to use that.
>> See, we like to ask our guests. We feel like there's a bond going on when we ask these questions.
>> Oh, yeah. No, but uh but that's my heart. But I mean, they're they're the reason why I do the work I do every day.
and uh I'm I'm really excited about um what's on the horizon for our county, but we've got some dark clouds over us right now.
>> So, back to my question, why are you not voting?
>> So, um and and really it's not that we're not voting, we're not um participating in the proceedings right now. We're being blocked from participating. Uh essentially, what we have is a situation where um there was someone temporarily appointed to perform the duties of county judge. again, not the county judge, uh, but with our county judge having been suspended, someone was appointed to temporarily carry out his duties in his absence, uh, and, um, you know, there it was, as a result of a civil lawsuit to remove KP George from office, but that that that uh, lawsuit has been disposed of. It's gone. Uh and yet this temporary appointee who happens to be my opponent, my Republican opponent for uh the the seat for county judge, um he has decided no, I'm not leaving unless you give me an a court order that tells me I have to.
>> Anyone who knows how civil litigation works knows that's not how that works.
But uh they uh have been operating in this kind of space of lawlessness and like well you know make me and that's that's just awful for our community. And so >> you're gonna I'm gonna stop you right there. You're gonna take me back so that the audience can follow what in the world is going on here. And I think there's so many weird ripples in this story. But the first one is >> KP George gets elected >> to county commissioner, >> county judge.
>> County judge. I mean he is though a Democrat.
>> Then he switches to a Republican. So that's the first thing that's odd in this whole thing. Right. So now it's saying is he there because the Democratic voice of the community put him in that position but now he represents the Republican voice of the community and so therefore there seems to be a Republican stronghold behind him.
>> Yeah.
>> But that's not how he got elected initially.
>> Correct.
>> Then there was some concern about the way he handled matters and officials and there was a court case and he was removed from or he was yes he was initially >> suspended.
>> Suspended.
>> But in the suspension this is where I already get confused. Y >> because there's the appeals or were the appeals, >> he didn't necessarily leave the title behind. He still holds the title. Does that still hold true today?
>> That is true. He is still the elected county judge today.
>> Okay. Then the next level of it is they appoint someone as you said, Daniel Wong to do the the daytoday activities of being >> uh the county judge.
But what you're saying is though, but because KP George still holds the title, then Wong doesn't have the title.
>> Yeah. So, I mean, essentially, and this is the hard part and for the average resident, it is very confusing. Oh, and I'm going to make it even more confusing because these are two separate cases.
One is was a civil removal from office case and the other was a felony moneyaundering case. KP George is sentenced on the fel felony money laundering case and he there's an order to remove him from office immediately that goes in with his sentencing and then the person on the other side of with the civil case said I no longer need any remedy because he's been removed I'm withdrawing my case and that was the case where Daniel Wong was appointed to be county uh to to perform the duties of county judge but the moneyaundering uh with the moneyaundering case since he is appealing he gets to uh continue to hold the office. But that judge said, separate judge said it's in the public's interest that he not perform these duties and so um that he essentially left the seat um somewhat open, but he still is the occupant of it.
>> Okay, ready for another ripple? Okay, here we go. The judge that appointed Wong to the position was a visiting judge.
>> That's correct.
>> Explain what that means. Yeah. So, I mean, they changed the law last legislative session where a judge outside of the county um where the official is his um tenure in office is being questioned where that another judge adjudicates that case. It makes sense on the face of it because you don't want someone who might have personal vested interest determining whether or not there's merit to someone's claim about removing an elected official from office. So, that makes sense. But the strange thing is this visiting judge appoints the GOP nominee to >> and I was gonna say that and Wong just isn't some uh guy looking out for the best. He is running for this office. So you're giving him actually an audition ramp for a job that he is running for.
>> Yeah. Yeah.
>> That seems a little um suspect.
>> Yeah, that's a good way of putting it.
Suspect. Um you it's uh what a lot of our residents are talking about right now is it's disheartening because essentially their voice in the matter has been stolen and they get no saying in this. Uh but beyond that uh what we have is we we see them pushing through policies to score quick political wins.
Um we see them posturing politically that has absolutely nothing to do with serving the people. Fortbing is coming becoming way less expensive to live in.
M >> sorry. Me and my wife built our first house in Fort Ben County when in our 20s. I'm not that much older now. I'm just 34. But someone starting out their career today can't afford to do that.
We're not talking in commissioner's court about how to make it more affordable now. We're talking about who has power and why. And that's awful. Um and that's what I think is the biggest travesty of all of this.
>> Okay. I got one more history part of this. So, and I'm not sure I'm right on this, so help me with this one. that once uh Wong was appointed it was for a and any other it would be for a period of time and that period of time has expired.
>> So his appointment even if you question the appointment part the period of time he was supposed to serve in this should have expired by now. Is that correct or not?
>> Somewhat um he was appointed to uh to dur and it follows a term of office for the person he was there to perform the duties on behalf. So through the end of the year, right? Okay. But that appointment was temporary and by statute it's only goes until that case is disposed of. And so if KP George had been removed from office in the civil litigation uh then uh Daniel Wong would not have continued to serve the commissioner's court would have had the opportunity to re to fill that seat because it would have been vacant. But since KP George has not been removed from office, but that case was, you know, thrown out essentially, um, Daniel Wong's time in office has expired. Um, and his claims to the contrary are just, uh, contrary to what the law says.
>> So, the obvious question I would be, if somebody is just sitting in office and it's time for them to move on and they don't, >> what's the recourse? the only remedy is for the state to file suit against that person for usurping the office. Um, and it's called a quo warranttoe and that's what our county attorney has filed on behalf of the state of Texas. Uh, but that is another removal from office proceeding which likely will take months and we might not see a resolution until after the election. Here's the real concern and why Commissioner Precage and I are not currently um participating in these sessions is because what our county attorney has advised us is that anything he votes on right now while he does not have a legal claim opens up the county to litigation and liability. A contractor who doesn't get a contract can now come back and say, "I didn't get it because someone who wasn't supposed to have the authority to vote on it voted on it and now they're suing us."
And th that's hundreds of thousands of dollars that we have to spend per case in litigation to resolve. And we don't we took an oath to uphold the law when we came into these offices. It seems like Commissioner Preage and I are committed to that and our colleagues aren't.
>> And I want to let everyone know as we have this conversation, we have reached out to the other side of the aisle. We have uh reached out to the Republicans that sit on Commissioner's Court and uh and when we finally find a way to have them on the show, we will for their side of the story. But I just want to let you know it's not that we are ignoring that side, but you accepted our invitation.
They have yet to do the same.
>> Yes. So, >> and and and you know, to the the average person, it just looks like politicians fighting and and I get it. It it I I don't think I've been more sad and anxious ever at any point in my life than I have been during this season because it's heartbreaking.
>> I can see your passion for it.
Heartbreaking in a way that can you see that change >> looking forward say five years from now >> you're in a position where you can change everything.
>> That's my hope is sorry.
>> What would you do? So, I mean, my that's part of the reason why I decided to run for county judge was because I think that we need a completely uh different culture in in in our county. We need a culture shift on commissioner's court and we've got to get back to some normaly. Paving roads and paying bills is not a partisan issue and that is what our residents expect us to do. Uh and we can do that. But for people who are trying to hold on to power and people who are, you know, posturing and all this stuff really sucks. It really does suck. And um I don't think it it holds any real purpose.
>> Just to remind everyone, we were speaking with Fort Ben County Commissioner Dexter McCoy. If you'd like to join the conversation, give us a call or text 7134408870.
for folks that are sitting there saying, you know, we're tired of listening to all of this stuff from politicians because, and I'm gonna editorialize, we get it from the top all the way down.
There's a lot of this going on. Just do the work. Where where are they suffering? What aren't they getting while this plays out? Or is enough stuff in place that we can weather this storm for a couple of months in time for the election and then I guess even up until January, depending who would take the seat? Are we in position for that or do you need it functioning right now? Uh we definitely need it functioning right now and what we have said is that there are four duly elected members of commissioner's court. We can pay the road pave the roads and pay the bills all on our own. We don't need to, you know, have a fifth vote to do that.
Those are not partisan issues. Um and we've offered, hey, you can go play county judge all you want. Give the proclamations, do all the things, but let us do the business. uh so that we don't have to have the cloud of is this a legitimate vote or not? Can we pay these bills or not? And we've said that.
Here's the the our saving grace is we have really good staff in our county.
Top-notch people who show up to work despite all of this this craziness. Um and they make sure that they're delivering services, that they're actually responding to constituent concerns. I mean, I got a call on my way here about a constituent who needs some sidewalks replaced in front of her home.
And that is what people are expecting us to do. I thank the good Lord in heaven that we have some really strong professionals who are continuing to do that.
>> I'm sure that those on the other side of the aisle will say you're making an issue out of this right now and trying to get attention because you're running against Wong and this is a great campaign thing for you. How do you address those concerns?
>> I can understand that concern for sure and I don't think that it's wrong of anyone to think that. What I would say is that the easier thing for us to do would be to just play along. But then what's the consequence of that? Again, we've made it very clear. We we we're willing to do our job that we're doing it every day. The thing that they're holding us back from doing is participating in court because again, we were advised by the chief legal officer of the county that this person no longer has authority and should not be included in business moving forward. and yet they still insist. What does that say? That you believe you are the the most important thing, more important than our residents? That's that's heartbreaking.
And so that for me is what I hope that people hear is that we're trying to do the right thing here. Um we we are do all sorts of scrutiny, right? Because this is a circus and we are participants in this. Um, but it's my belief that we're trying to do make sure that we are doing what our oath says and that's uphold the law. Um, and our colleagues seem to think that they don't have to abide by the law. I guess from a stepping away from your role and uh from all politics and stuff, the way this makes you feel as a person >> that we are watching these kind of battles, these kind of shifts, this kind of power struggle that seems to be happening not just in national government but on the local level too.
How do you process that for where we are today as a people?
>> It's hard and and I I keep using the term heartbreaking because That's the only way that I could adequately describe how I feel. Um, when they start when the county judge switched parties and they started this mid-decate redistricting thing, by the way, which was before the state even started theirs, um, those meetings got really intense. I had to bring a picture of my daughters and sit it on the the deis with me as a reminder that like I need to make sure that I'm behaving in a way that they would be proud of. I need to make sure that, you know, I'm not saying things that I wouldn't be proud of. Um, because this is very frustrating, but also they're who I'm fighting for and all these other kids in our community. And this, you think about what they're going to think when they look back at this period in our country >> right now.
>> It's embarrassing. And I don't want to be party to continuing to let these things happen. uh in the 30 seconds I have left with you, what do you see forward as a way out?
>> Well, so one, I think we have this ongoing litigation from the county attorney, um we need that to move forward to give us some clarity. Um but the other thing is that it's very clear we can go back to normal order right now if Daniel Wong will step aside and let those who have a clear authority to do the business to do the business. And that's all we're asking if he wants to again go and give out proclamations and do those things. You know, paving roads and paying bills is not a partisan issue.
>> And I want to thank Fort Ben County Commissioner Dexter McCoy for joining us today.
>> Thank you so much for having me.
>> Thank you. And we have, as I mentioned, we have put out uh requests for other Republican members of the court to come and join us. Uh and we'll let you we'll bring them to you when they do. Okay.
We're going to take a quick break. When we come back, bees. We're going to learn all about bees right here on Houston.
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And now, Ernie Manuse and guest host Donna Reed.
Okay. B2B Collective Honey is a Houstonbased area business that aims to provide healthy and sustainable habitat for pollinators while promoting education about honeybees and urban beekeeping. And since 2016, they've installed over 100 beehives in micro apiaries. This little compact localized beekeeping setups across the city of Houston. And in addition to partnering with local beekeepers to help bring their products to the market. Nicole Ber Burggers is here to tell us more about the work they do and the services they provide. And she's also the owner of B2B Collective Honey. Nicole, welcome to Hello Houston.
>> Hello. So, thank you for having me.
>> What an interesting business. How did you get started?
>> Well, uh I got a beehive for my birthday uh from my now husband. Uh I was really interested in bees and wanted to become a beekeeper and he told me to get started in our little duplex in Matros and I enjoyed the hobby so much I made a business. Kind of fell into it.
>> Did you ever get stung? like initially was, "Oh yeah, look at it."
>> I get stung on the regular. Um, it happens. Uh, it's part of the job. I >> I guess a lot of people think and initially you hear, "Oh, beekeepers, so you can get honey and that's great to have." So you have your honey, but actually talk about the environmental impact. We were talking about that a little bit at the very top of the show, the significance and importance of bee colonies in our community.
>> Well, it's it's really important to have all pollinators um in our communities.
Um, honeybees in particular are uh used in our food industry. Um, they're brought all around the country for our food system and there is a uh craft of of beekeeping and people are interested in um gardening, pollinating their gardens and uh this is kind of like next level gardening is what I like to call it. And we often talk about when we do lose bees from a community, it it's a significant impact. As you said, the being pollinators without them, the rest of this ecosystem just doesn't work. And we are seeing nationally, internationally, a shortage of bees.
>> That's correct. Uh bees are under a lot of stressors. Um the weather obviously is is a a big impact. Um sometimes it's uh you know, a lot of human interaction that's the problem. And I do my best to miticate that.
>> Yeah.
>> Yeah.
>> It's funny. I think about this all the time that like in a world that is so full of technology and machinery and computers and AI and all you still need these little insects that are out there, if you call them insects, what they call me an insect. Okay.
>> Yes. Yes. Of course.
>> I don't know. You know, you always run into these things. So, no, no, no, we actually call them blah blah blah. But, um, actually, that little odd creature is keeping us alive on this planet.
Yeah, they're very special to us as humans. Um, we have been beekeeping um since before like written history. Um, it's considered one of the oldest professions and uh yeah, it's it's really important to our entire ecosystem.
>> You were talking about when you came in about being in the beekeeper suit before we went on the air and the heat. How is the heat for the bees? Do they like this kind of heat or no?
>> Um, they keep their hive at about 98° inside the hive. So, it's actually a little too hot for them and they need a lot of water to cool down the hive. They bring water to the hive and um fan their wings like a swamp cooler and it it kind of cools down the hive. So, they require extra water at times like this.
>> Um so, uh providing a water station for bees is uh something every Houstononian can do.
>> Yeah, I was going to say if you don't want to get into all of beekeeping, you can. So, what is what do you do if you want to create a water? Is it just putting a bowl of water out or is there something more?
>> Well, it's putting out maybe like a dish pan or a bowl or a fountain of water.
Um, what's really important is keeping it full and not letting it uh dehydrate uh evaporate uh and uh letting the bees know that this is a constant source of water that they can depend on. And so they'll continue to come back and maybe stay out of the pool um stay out of uh splash pads and whatnot um because they're just desperate for water. Okay.
Okay.
>> Oh, I was going to say, excuse me, honey bees and then um native bees to our area. Is there a difference? Do they look different or do they sound different?
>> They're different. Um there's over 20,000 species of bees. Honey bees is just one of them. And um they're not uh they're the important ones for humans because we use them as livestock for our uh food system, but the other bees I I consider them much more important.
>> Yeah. So, non-honey bees though, are they still in the business of honey?
>> No, not typically. Um, they are in the business of pollinating and uh sometimes they're solitary, sometimes they have small colonies. Um, they're they're all over the place. Um, they some of some of them look a little like honey bees, some of them don't.
>> Okay, let's talk honey.
>> Yeah.
>> Okay, honey, tell me about this. Uh, can you with a jar of honey, if you tasted it, could you could you taste a Houston honey? Oh, yeah. There's um a very um kind of particular flavor that Houston embodies. Um and our main nectar source is an invasive species. Um very typical Houston. Uh it's the Chinese tallow tree. So that um that flavor is pervasive within our within our uh honey year uh the season. However, um, Houston honey, it's a lot to do with the humidity. It's a little runnier than like European honey. Uh, I I find I can I'm physically able to taste the difference even between neighborhoods and um Yeah. Really? Really?
>> Oh, yeah. Each neighborhood has their own particular like fingerprint uh of different flowers.
>> Okay. So, if I'm if I'm getting a honey in this region, >> what's a good neighborhood to get from?
Um, >> am I doing urban honey? Am I doing something?
>> You're doing an urban honey. Urban honey.
>> Oh, yeah. Where where do you live? I >> I live right outside of downtown.
>> Midtowny.
>> Midtowny. Okay. So, we have a hive location um near Midtown in the museum district um at Smith Optitians. That's where our home base is and that's where we do all our educational like hive tours and classes and things like that.
Um so that would be very close to where you live and It's also delicious.
>> Not just retailwise, but if I'm looking for the best flavor, am I finding better flavor from an urban honey, from a suburban honey, from a way out in a farmland honey?
>> In my opinion, the urban honey is the best cuz it's the most um diversified of flowers. The diversity of Houston extends to ecology. Um we we have so many different plants here, um so many different types of blossoms and nectars.
It it really is a special place for honey.
>> That's once again, we're the most diverse city in the country. Even in our honey.
>> Even in our honey. Even our honey. Okay.
If I want to get started on this journey myself, >> what would I do?
>> Uh first thing you would do would probably be join a bee club. Um we have a lot of associations throughout the city. Uh the Houston Beekeepers Association, um Harris County Beekeepers Association. There are um different sectors of uh bee clubs. All the counties surrounding Houston have a bee club. So that is where you get the most like localized information and uh guidance.
>> And not only is it a fun hobby that gives you honey if it's honey bees you're working with, which I think it would be, uh it's also good for the environment. Yeah, it's it's if you're doing it right, um you you will have this almost spiritual connection to nature and um greater appreciation for your surrounding environment.
>> Nicole, thank you very much for coming in today.
>> Thank you, Ernie.
>> Nicoleber Nicoleberger is a owner of B2B Collective. Honey, >> it's honey collective.
>> Honey collective. Oh, okay.
>> I don't know. Oh, you love your word.
>> Honey collective. There you go.
Straightened us out. We're going to take a quick break. When we come back, of course, we're going to be back into the headlines of the day. And Sean Singh is going to be here. He is Sean the food sheep telling us of course where the good places to eat. More coming up right after this.
We are in our onair resiliency fund campaign for one reason, to help to help keep Houston public media right where you want it, right here. We lost $2.2 million in annual federal support. That was a huge change for this station. And now we're turning to you for support.
>> And what you're hearing now is your public media service. Not because you have to pay to use it, but because it was built to serve you. And it stays here. It's available to the entire community because people like you support it. And Houston Public Media is 100% community funded. And that's because we're here today. We're asking you to take that extra step to make your gift. So if you've never given before, you can make your very first gift at houstonublicdia.org/donate or call 888-90887.
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>> And last call on this one. Every gift doubled, but only for a little while longer. For anyone just tuning in, someone is matching every gift we receive right now. So your support automatically counts twice. If you've been waiting for a sign to give, this is absolutely the time to do it. You give now at houstonublicdia.org/donate or call 888-9080887.
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Hello Houston is a production of Houston Public Media. The opinions expressed by the guests of this program are solely their own and do not represent the views of management, staff, or underwriters of Houston Public Media. This is News87.
>> Houston's next big story won't wait.
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>> You can watch Hello Houston on HPM Plus.
Free to download for smart TVs. We have an extreme heat warning in effect until 8 tonight. Currently 92. This is your NPR station. KUHF Houston News87, a service of the University of Houston.
Just ahead on this hour of Hello Houston, Governor Abbott has issued an executive order to crack down on the practice of birth tourism. We'll discuss this and more of today's top headlines.
I'm Ernie Manuse >> and I'm guest host Donna Reid. What happens when the life you imagine slips away? Houston actor Michael Vincent Barry joins us to talk about a deeply personal new film project.
>> Plus, looking for Houston's next great meal, Houston's own Shaun the Food Sheep is here to reveal the hidden gems, food trends, and the local favorites that might just be our answer.
>> Also, we want to hear from you, so give us a call or text us at 713-448870 or email us at [email protected].
You can also watch us live on YouTube by going to houstonublicdia.org.
Hello Houston is made possible in part by founding sponsors John Bradshaw and Kathy Sanders, by Metro, and by gifts from listeners like you.
Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh.
The US launched more air strikes on Iran overnight and Iran hit back against targets in the Gulf and Jordan. More from NPR's Jana Raf.
>> US Central Command said targets overnight included aircraft hangers in drone storage sites. Iranian state media reported explosions in seven Iranian provinces and said US attacks included a strike on an electrical installation close to a nuclear power plant. Iran said it attacked targets in Jordan, Bahrain, and Kuwait, countries with an extensive US military presence.
Meanwhile, Yemen's Houthi rebels backed by Iran declared that a key Red Sea waterway Babel Mundub would be off limits to Saudi Arabia. Jane Araf NPR News. Aman Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wong Yi today on the sidelines of a regional summit in the Philippines.
Ashish Valentine has more from Taipei.
The senior ministers of the world's two largest economies spoke about the fragile truce in Trump's trade war with China and the future of the Middle East conflict. Rubio and Wong also used the summit to pitch their respective nations as guardians of regional stability.
Tensions in the region were reignited after a clash between China and the Philippines in disputed waters. Rubio reiterated Washington's treaty obligation to help defend the Philippines while saying it was important to continue dialogue between the US and China. Xiinping is expected to visit President Trump in Washington in September. For NPR News, I'm Ashish Valentine in Taipei.
>> Trump candidates are celebrating wins in yesterday's Republican primaries in Arizona. They include races for a congressional seat and the governor's mansion. NPR Sage Miller reports.
>> Armed with Trump's endorsement, former NFL kicker Jay Feelely is the Republican nominee in Arizona's first congressional district. He be a candidate to his right. His Democratic opponent has not been decided yet. This seat is critical for Democrats to win if the party wants to take control of the House in November. Conservative Congressman Andy Biggs, Trump's pick for Arizona governor, also won the Republican nomination. Biggs refused to certify the 2020 election results over Trump's unverified claims that the election was stolen. If elected, Biggs would have power over the election process in the swing state. Biggs will challenge Democratic Governor Katie Hobbes for the office. Hobbes is considered one of the most vulnerable Democratic incumbents this midterm. Sage Miller, NPR News.
>> A Senate panel has voted 8 to4 to advance President Trump's nominee to lead the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Cameron Hamilton temporarily led the disaster response agency at the start of President Trump's second term.
He clashed with Trump in defense of keeping FEMA open and was abruptly fired. The former Navy Seal is now a full Senate vote away from retaking the helm. From Washington, it's NPR News.
>> Live from News87 in Houston, I'm Shelby Rose. Today is going to be the hottest day of the year so far. Haley Bailey with the National Weather Service even says the heat we're going to feel later may be the first of its kind for July 22nd.
>> There could be record-breaking temperatures for today. That is certainly a possibility. Right now, it looks like the forecast high for hobby is 102. So that would certainly break the record for hobby.
>> And even with the humidity, it could feel closer to 110, even 115 in some spots. That's why an extreme heat warning is in place today. Bailey says we'll slightly cool down tomorrow, but a heat advisory still could be put in place. She's also keeping a close eye on Tropical Storm Bertha. Impacts are still expected to be limited for the Houston area when the storm reaches the Texas coast sometime tomorrow night into Friday morning. And she says Houston will likely catch a break in terms of the rain. Latest forecast for today through Saturday um morning is honestly less than an inch. Closer to the coast of course expecting generally half an inch to around an inch. So it looks like most of the rainfall is expected to stay offshore with this storm.
>> And the storm is just off the Louisiana coastline now with a projected hit on New Orleans today. There is still some uncertainty though regarding the intensity and exact track as it approaches Texas. Plus, a body was found in Braze Bayou this morning near the University of Houston campus. News87's Tom Perumian reports.
>> Houston police were notified around 7 a.m. An investigator and dive team responded to the scene and saw the body floating in the water. Blood was seen on the body as it was brought ashore. HPD did not answer questions about what may have happened. The medical examiner's office will perform an autopsy to determine how the man died. I'm Tom Perumian, News87.
>> And Galveastston is the focus of a new study from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention on the resurgence of murine typhus. Now, that's a fleaorn disease that can cause serious illness to humans. Tony Malone, the chief clinical veterinarian at the Houston Humane Society, says infected fleas can be carried by rats, possums, cats, and dogs. So, it's important to get prevention for pets and clear yards and homes of any fleas. I'm Shelby Rose, News87. Support for NPR comes from NPR stations. Other contributors include Subaru. The 2026 Subaru Outback features new styling as well as standard symmetrical all-wheel drive and EyeSight driver assist technology. Learn more at subaru.com/outback.
Live from Houston Public Media and News887, it's Hello Houston, an open forum on today's biggest stories affecting Houston and beyond. Call now 713-4408870 or let us know your thoughts on today's topics by emailing us at [email protected].
And now, hello Houston with Ernie Manuse. And it is not just Ernie Manuse.
I could not do this alone. I need Donna Reed here with me. And Donna, welcome back. You stayed for the second hour.
>> I did. I should I should just embrace the moment, which is what I'm doing.
It's always fun working with you behind the scenes. If they could, they see my hands going like this. But you're relatively keeping it.
>> Oh, no. I'm a really bad hand talker. I think it comes from my Greek heritage.
>> Part Italian.
>> Yeah. Well, then you should be more hand. Yeah, there we are.
>> We have cameras. You want to see us talk with our hands? Go to YouTube. We broadcast there every day live. And let me tell you, this is just half the show.
I think some of the best part of the show, and I wish I could spend more time reading it when I'm on the air. It's the chat group in the YouTube. We've got some great regulars who we call YouTubers, and they share their opinions and jump in on the stories and ask questions. We monitor that. We need you folks to join that, too. And and bring up those numbers of who's watching online. We'd love to see you there. Just look for the Houston Public Media channel and uh you can see how sloppy I dress every day.
>> That's the bonus for it today. Have you ever been Have you ever kept bees? Have you ever done that?
>> I haven't. I We had a bees nest >> at our house, >> which is different than being in charge of it.
>> But they brought I know, but they brought honey afterwards because they had a little they were making honey and the guy >> they stopped by and they're like, "Hey, little bead." That was the voice. How did you know that?
>> I know. OB voices. That's how they sound. Yeah. Um I I found it fascinating. I I've been to I did a story. We had a series online maybe eight years ago called Great Name Mockingbird and Armadillo. We'll talk about that later. But one of the stories that they were all three minute stories kind of like like localish stories, but we did it at a at a bee beehive. And I got to wear the whole beekeeper suit and I went out and got to be with the bees and stuff and they gave me some honey from it. And I tell you, the locally sourced honey is just delicious.
>> It is. It's tasty. But I got a kick out of her saying that every section of Houston. It's got a different flavor.
>> Yeah. I love the diversity, the diversity of Houston, even in our honey.
Uh, also, we we talked with what's going on down in Fort Bend. And I hope we we didn't confuse you more about the situation down there, but helped lay out the issues and the different um I almost want to say storylines. While listening to our guest talk about it, I couldn't help but think, "Wow, this sounds like a plot from like a Game of Thrones where you've got the deposed king and then another person is told they will be the king, but the person who made them the king didn't have the authority to make them the king." And then they said, "But you can no longer be king." And they said, "But I'm going to stay king." And then the king's council revolt.
>> Crazy.
>> It would make for a great f The only problem is it's real life and it's what people in Fort Bender are having to deal with right now. I I don't even know if that's going to be the way from now on.
You know, the way you were talking about, you know, surfs and kings and kingdoms and areas and >> Yep.
>> It's a little crazy.
>> It is. It's a crazy world we live in.
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>> I say give now at houstonublicdia.org/donate or call 88890887.
And I used my hands.
>> You did use your hands.
>> And so did you.
>> I did too. I always do. I'm talking right to you.
>> We're so international.
>> 3D glasses on. You're watching us on YouTube. It's very fascinating. Anyway, coming up this hour, we are going to have Sean the food sheep here. He is not a real sheep, but he is a real foodie.
And he's going to be able to tell us about the trends and what's going on out there in our food world around us because not only are we diverse, we also probably have more restaurants per capita than any city in the country.
That's what I've heard said many times.
We'll find out if that's true. And uh local lo uh locally sourced, I was going to say Houston native. That's a better way to put it. He's an actor. He's an educator. He's an author. Michael Vincent Barry is here. He you would recognize him if you saw him. is one of those that guy actors. He's working on a new short film project. Uh very important topic and he's here to share that with us coming up in just a moment.
But as always, into the headlines.
Donna, take us away.
>> All right. Thank you, Ernie. Governor Abbott has issued an executive order to crack down on the practice of birth tourism. The move appears to be a response to the recent US Supreme Court ruling upholding birthright citizenship despite efforts by President Trump to restrict it. Abbott's orders direct six health focused state agencies to investigate schemes aimed at helping non-citizens travel to the United States illegally for the alleged purposes of giving birth and securing US citizenship for their children. According to Abbott, Texas will not tolerate the exploitation of our immigration laws by individuals traveling to the US illegally or under false pretenses to give birth and secure citizenship for their child. He continued, "This executive order directs state agencies to investigate birth tourism schemes and hold accountable any provider that facilitates this fraud.
Citizenship in the US is not for sale in Texas will put a stop to individuals seeking to profit from birth tourism."
According to Governor Abbott, the Nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute estimates that at most the number of babies born to tourists visiting the US is less than 30,000 out of more than 3.5 million births per year. So, what are your thoughts on Abbott's executive order? Call or text 713-448870.
>> Would you be surprised to learn I have thoughts on this?
>> I would not. And I think you should share your thoughts.
>> Well, then I will. And we want to hear yours, too. As Donna just said, 713-4408870.
What do you think about all of this? Um, initially, here's skeptic Ernie again. I think it's a campaign year and that's why we're hearing about this because first of all, we know it's a very tiny amount of births that happen in our country each year are from what we're calling birth tourism. Do I like birth tourism? No, I don't like the idea of it. Is there a way to stop it? No, I don't think there is. As long as we support the idea that if you're born in this country, you are a citizen of the US, that's it. It's a done deal. Now, people who come here because they want to have a child here and then go back and say their child is a US citizen. All right? That's an issue. That's a concern. I think people could have I don't like the concept of it, but I don't see how you can start deciding who does and who doesn't. So, when I heard this story, I was concerned. What exactly is the governor saying that he's planning to do here with this order? So, I did a little digging. It is uh the executive order is uh direct several Texas agency as you said to investigate its advertising birth tourism services, soliciting clients for birth tourism, assisting or facilitating birth tourism enga arrangements, providing unlawful birth tourism packages or related services. otherwise participating in schemes designed to profit from birth tourism. So, it's going after any organization or industry that is marketing the opportunity to do this.
What it is not doing is it does not deny citizenship to babies born in Texas. It does not change the constitutional rules of birth citizenship and it does not create a new criminal offense for parents traveling to Texas to give birth. So, it really is don't advertise this. Don't make a thing, you know, don't put a billboard on the border that says cross the border, have your baby here, and it's an if you if you market yourself that way, that's what he's going against. Will anything actually come of this? I don't I don't know. And I granted, I'm assuming the governor knows more than I do on this subject, but I I don't know that there are organizations that are actively promoting this. I have heard about uh flights from Asian countries with people who are very well off who can afford to do these kind of things. I've heard of those stories. I don't know so much of this as a major problem that we are facing in the country.
>> It's just making people not sure isn't it about so many different things >> and have you seen like what are the changes you've seen in the last five years for you personally >> in regards to >> the whole issue of who's born here, who's not and so on. I I I think I've just seen so much more attention on it, but I don't know that I've seen I mean, yes, there was the Supreme Court case and now that is settled law. You're born in this land, you are a US citizen. End of story, you know. Yeah. There small caveats that are there that we know of and we've talked about, but by and large, that's that's what the law of the land is. It was the law of the land. It remains the law of the land.
I I don't like the idea of people who use US citizenship in in these like tourist things where they come in to have the baby and then go back just so they can hold on to that tourism. But once you have established that is what your country does, then that's that's one of the the sore points in a policy that otherwise is better for all included. So there's a couple ripples. There's a couple problems here.
There's things I wish didn't get used that way. There are laws we have. Let's take for example tax code. You may not like the tax code when people take advantage of it, but those are the laws that were put in place. So fight to change those laws. You know, if people take advantage of a situation that's in front of them, I don't know how you stop that.
>> I don't either. I It's It's something that's just going to be ongoing for a while. And >> 7134408870.
Zaza from Sugarland is on the line. What are you thinking today?
>> Hi Amy. Uh >> hi. How you doing? I'm calling in because um this executive order is one of the funniest things I've said in a long time. Now, I'll tell you why. I have a very unique perspective. I'm actually an immigrant. I was blessed to be born in Africa, blessed to have lived in Europe, lived and studied in Europe, and blessed to be in the States now. And one thing that always happened to me is that every time I go for a visa, I get it.
Now, the guys that people think are doing B tourism are not the guys that are actually doing it. Because the guys that can afford to jump on a plane, come have a baby, pay private for maternity fees and all of that, jump back on a plane and leave, you will never stop giving them a visa. They overqualify.
So, all this is just mumbo jumbo. It's not the guys at the border that you're stopping with uh, you know, what's it called? The guy seeking asylum. No, it's those guys that are paying $5 million to get a Trump gold card. Those are the kind of people that are doing betism.
You will never stop it unless you remove it from the, you know, it's not there.
But to start making all this, you know, nitpicking. It's just a waste of time.
Those are the guys Americans want to come to America and they will always take keep taking advantage of these loopholes.
>> Saza, thank you for that. And that brings up a really interesting point that I had a thought about in this story is that will this and I can't imagine it would, but it makes me think it might.
Is that what the governor has said if that runs a foul of what Donald Trump and his administration wants to see, they like, like you mentioned that Trump gold card that if you can pay so much you can come into this country. So, if you're talking about that um birth tourism that caters to the high-end person, having a a statute come out or an executive order come out from the state of Texas might fly in the face of what the Trump administration wants when it comes to the high-end. You do make the good point. What they they mask it in is the idea it's that person at the border that's coming across that is in need, that is not financially stable, that may be looking for asylum. for some reason we are turning our back on them as opposed to those are the ones we want to welcome in. I do say though I go back to the fact anybody who wants to come to this country to make a life for themselves in this country in a loving, positive, wonderful way, bring it on.
You know, I I I'm not opposed to but I don't like the idea of someone just coming in to grab the citizenship and then go away again. I say all that while at the same time I'm looking at getting my Greek citizenship because I'm Greek origin. Uh all four of my grandparents are Greek so Greek descent. I would like to have that passport but and so I may maybe that makes me a bit of a hypocrite that I want that but I do have a connection to that country.
>> What's part of your culture and is it hard to do?
>> It would be hard.
>> I'll let you know.
>> You haven't started >> just starting the process and and all of my grandparents are gone. So gathering up all of those records and such is going to be hard. So I'll let you know how that problem.
>> Yeah, because I'll try for Italy because my grandfather's from Naples. So there you go. You know, we can talk about that in a future show.
>> We will. We're going to take a call though right now. It's 7134408870 from Lisha from uh Fort from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. That's what's confusing me.
Welcome back.
>> I know Ernie. Nice to talk to you guys again. I'm originally from Houston and listen every day. So, um, thank you guys so much for discussing this topic. Too many things going on in the world for this to be a sound bite that takes away from other things regarding health care like >> lack of health care in rural areas for pregnant moms. Absolutely. And those are the type of things that I feel like if we're going to discuss it on a national stage, these are the things that we want to get behind. But I understand it's just a sound bite to take away from everything else that's going on, you know, just to drum up, I believe, a certain portion of the constituency. So, thanks for having me and um have a great day.
>> Lisha, thank you as always for listening and for sharing with us. And yeah, I think she she falls in line with what I'm thinking here. You know, it's like there's so much more important stuff we need to be focused on.
>> So many.
>> Do I do I really disagree with the idea that we probably shouldn't encourage organizations to market off being able to send pregnant women here so they can have a baby and then send them back to their country with their US baby and they're profiting off of it? Yeah, we should probably. But is that the number one priority of what our governor in this state in this day and age and with the issues we're facing should be concerned with? I don't think that's the best use of his time.
>> I don't either, >> but as we said, it is an election year.
7134408870.
Kamora from Spring is on the line.
What's on your mind today?
>> Hey Ernie, how are you doing?
>> Well, um I'm in agreement with you. I think it's a frivolous topic. um you know many years ago I traveled uh 7 months pregnant from Houston to Kansas and I had to get clearance for that. So for um the lead our lead person here for the state of Texas to think that doctors in other parts of the world are not knowledgeable enough to first say to a mom yes or no they don't they whether they think they should travel or not. I think that's very um arrogant and ignorant of our leader of this state to not you know consider that. But um you know secondly it it's just you know it's very frivolous. If we did better uh nationwide and worldwide with US aid maybe some some people some mothers of with high risk pregnancies would not even be trying to travel here you know to this country. But since we you know cut us a might you know propel some moms to want to do that. But, you know, back to what your first caller said, it's it's wealthy moms that would even consider that. But first foremost, the doctors have a say in that. And a doctor is not going to let an 8 month or 9 month pregnant woman get on a plane if it's not good for her safety.
>> Tamara, thanks for sharing. I am curious. Were you at all worried your daughter or your child would be born in Kansas and then you'd have a Canian you were raising?
>> No, actually I was not. That's a good question. I was not I was a little nervous to travel, but I was traveling as a maid of honor.
>> A wedding.
>> Well, Kamar, thanks for sharing with us.
And uh to go back to what these callers have been saying, and it brings up that point, we did have a a an interview with this a little while ago on the show is the fact that rural health care is so bad in the state for pregnant women and the access to hospitals and health care.
I wish our governor was writing executive orders about that. I wish we were focusing on making sure that the people here in this state are able to safely and healthfully have children in today's day and age and not fear for where they can go for maternal health care and all of that.
>> We should have a guest in let's focus on that. Yeah.
>> Okay. But you know we're going to focus on the rest of the show coming up. We're going to be talking about an exciting new film project that Michael Vincent Barry is working on and then we're going to talk our favorite subject, food. So we're going to take a quick break. We'll be right back with more. Hello Houston.
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And now Ernie Manuse and guest host Donna Reed. Okay. Actor Michael Vincent Barry is returning to his Houston roots to launch a passion project years in the making. It's a short film following an aging man confronting isolation, addiction, and widening gap between societal expectations and lived reality.
The story examines how men can slowly detach from their own lives while still searching for hope, reconciliation, and connection. And joining us now to talk about this project is educator, author, actor, and again, Houstononian, Michael Vincent Barry. Hello there, sir.
>> How's it going?
>> Hello.
>> It's good to have you here.
>> Thanks for having me.
>> Uh, I do want to start with the educator part just for Yucks and so you can share with us. You've had uh some very well-known students, but one in particular, who do you think I'm talking about?
>> Oh, that's probably going to be Zenaia.
>> So, tell me about that. Then we'll get into all this. I'm just curious.
>> Yeah. So I had the great privilege of being the artistic director and chair of the theater department at Oakland School for the Arts for about 15 years. And uh as part of that journey uh raising uh at the time a middle schooler, I think she was in eighth grade at the time uh Zena uh and helping her get her launch on Disney Shake It Up and then you know the rest is history from there. But uh yeah, a little claim to fame in the in the Oakland world. Yeah.
>> Oh, you got a lot of claim to fame.
We'll get some more of those. I'm just curious. So when you see someone like her in a class, >> do you know there's something special or can anyone be someone special?
>> 100%. I mean my my moniker used to be, you know, I don't care if you grow up to be anything in the world, just be the best part of it that you can be. And uh you know, Zenaia was outgoing and and fun and funny faces and kind of had to get her back in line. And you know, for time unruly at times, >> unruly a little bit. Uh but that's that's all right. uh you know all the kids I think have potential out there and um just working in that arena with future artists and uh was was such a joy and into you know obviously to watch her what she's become and >> um I think she's you know ruling Hollywood these days.
>> She's doing pretty well for herself. She is >> uh you've done pretty well for yourself too. folks would recognize you from Law and Order SUV, Better Call Sal, Wakeo, the Aftermath, The Cleaning Lady, Them, and Outer Range, just to mention a few.
>> Just a few.
>> And I bring all of that up because, okay, you've been working long and hard and doing well, but you had this passion project. Talk about it.
>> So, uh, you know, I had a project, uh, kind of percolating, if you will, for the last 5 years. my manager uh Susan Ferris with Bohemia uh Entertainment uh in Los Angeles uh has kind of been lifting me up and and proddding me if you will for the last 5 years to to get it off the ground. Uh it started off as a as a project telling the story of my adopted children. Uh I have three uh deaf children that I adopted uh about 15 years ago and she's adopted and and and and she's prodded me along to to kind of get this story out and put it put it down on paper and uh from time to time over the last 5 years just fighting it and fighting the internal uh voices in my head of, you know, are you ready to tell this story? You ready to be vulnerable? You ready to put it out there to the world? And um we finally have gotten it to where it is now. um a story about a man, as you said, who can no longer perform in any aspect of his life. A man uh like many of us aging men without a a playbook to go by. Um and how we kind of quietly and secretly disappear from our own from our own lives. Um and so it's a it's a passion project that's been in my mind. Um and I' I've finally feel like I've gotten to the point where I'm v vulnerable enough to uh kind of share it with the world.
So yeah. And I know you'll be sharing it with folks in Houston tomorrow, Thursday, at the flat in Montrose area from 6:00 to 8:00. There'll be a free event where people can find out more about what you're doing, what the plan is, how it's going to move forward and can get involved if they want.
>> Absolutely. Uh big shout out to uh Andre and the folks over at the flat. We're really excited to be there tomorrow and have some beria tacos and uh I think it was voted best margarita in Houston last year.
>> So you'll check and see if it's right.
>> I'll check if it's right. Let us know.
Uh but it's a great opportunity for not only uh folks in the arts community, but also the LGBT community uh here in Houston to come together uh and really uh recognize indie film uh to share their passion for for the arts uh and to learn about this project that uh is beginning to shoot uh about 30 days from today.
>> Oh, wow.
>> Uh in uh in in New Mexico. And so we're really excited to share the the film, the project, the opportunity to to help come come on board and and help support our film. Uh you know, these things are not easy to get off the ground. And we've had so many uh amazing people nationwide really uh give on a grassroots level to this project. Uh and we're we're the ending uh the finish line is in in sight and we're ready to uh to just get it over the finish line.
and as a a native Houstononian, just so proud to represent this city um in a way that um really elevates it and and the and the artist around it.
>> What what I liked about when I first heard about this was the fact that, you know, film has the ability to say things. It's just not there for a spectacle to watch and see boom and excitement and all that, but to actually educate and learn from. and that when a real heartfelt story is told and told well, it can be the most powerful tool to connect people.
>> You know, it's amazing. I agree with you. Um, you this this story is is told through the lens of this aging uh man.
And uh I've had so many people reach out. We've had so many people reach out.
Uh Michael, you're talking about my husband. Michael, you're talking about my child. You're talking about me. It's a universal story uh about how we detach and how we uh face mental issues and uh and combat those whether it's how we numb ourselves through food or uh sleep or uh in some instances such as ED uh through narcotics etc. and how we just separate from our our oneness and the love we have for each other and the love we have for humanity. And so being able to tell a story that's universal through this lens uh is really important for those that struggle uh and it's really shining a mirror back into society and uh for those who for some reason or another aren't able to tell their story.
And so we look forward to uh to this being uh a production that people can really identify with and recognize themselves. I bet you there's uh someone out there that recognizes it uh themselves or or someone they they they love in their life. And um ultimately uh this story is about hope. It's about how uh uh we as as as uh humans, fathers in particular, the story uh are able to um find reconciliation with, you know, with ourselves, with life when it doesn't turn out the way that we hoped or expected it to. And um and that change is possible if we choose it.
>> Yeah. I want to remind everyone we are speaking with actor Michael Vincent Bry.
The number if you'd like to join the conversation is 713448870.
Uh in the introduction I refer to you as educator, author, and actor. Do I have to add director, producer? What what am I missing in >> Well, I uh I'm producing uh this show along with uh my my good team at Bohemia uh Group Originals out of Los Angeles.
uh Justin Ross directing and producing.
Uh I've directed many many uh shows over the past 30 years in public education and in in in public theater. Uh was uh was very fortunate enough to be nominated for a special Tony Award back in 2017 for my work in public education.
Uh so this >> multihyenate, is that what I call you?
So yeah, we're we're we we keep pushing and raising the bar uh as artists and uh this is just another uh part of my journey uh in this fantastic world of film and television.
>> You talk about this story kicking around in your head for a while and knowing when it was time to share it and tell it, but I I look at you from the outside looking in and you've got your partner and you've got your children, you just got a new home and you've got a a good career. Did you still deal with these same issues that you're talking about in the film itself? Well, you know, they say write what you uh know about, right?
And so, uh this is uh definitely a semi-autobiographical with a little Hollywood flown in uh with it, but uh it's a story that's dear and near to my heart obviously. And uh yeah, I think we all I think at some point deal with some of the struggles that Ed deals with. And it's uh uh it's about how we are able to see through really the circumstances of our lives and enable us to um see that there's possibility for change and um and it's all circumstantial and uh and through the right work and time and and uh focus uh that uh turnaround is possible, survival is possible. Um, and so this message is in this film is for folks who may not be able to see that for right now. Uh, but just know that you're obviously not out there uh by yourself. Um, that I see you, we see you, and uh, this story is uh, is really for you.
>> I bring that up though. The way I asked that question was because for all intents of purpose, people, excuse me, all intents of purposes, people would look at you and think, "Oh, he doesn't have these issues."
>> But I think the point is so many people do. and under the masking of life that surrounds them, we're not taking the time to pay attention to what's going on underneath.
>> Yeah. You know, all of this is built on a house full of uh of uh trials and tribulations. you know, I have my monsters that I've overcome. And uh and I think that's really the point is to, you know, stop and breathe for a moment and um embrace your your your fellow mankind and your friends and your family and reach out and uh everything that uh may appear to be well-built uh could be crumbling in the inside.
>> Yeah. How then do you think sharing that story helps build up the community that will see it? Well, I think from one standpoint from the LGBTQI uh plus community, um it gives us stories that are seldom told.
>> You know, unfortunately, uh our community has been ravished uh for the past decades uh with the HIV AIDS crisis and have lost uh many friends to that uh horrific disease. Um, this story goes beyond the typical uh, gay film story, if you will, and it uh, is universal. And so I think whether you're in that community or a supporter or an ally uh or if you're um in any part of this community uh that struggles from a mental health standpoint, an addiction standpoint, uh uh there are there are ways that you can overcome these these trials and tribulations. Um and through I think this story uh we're able to focus and highlight on this is universal. this is just an every man going through life and uh and so I think it's uh relevant and um and you know I think that that that's a that's a uh a story that's uh like I said rarely told and uh we're looking forward to uh to sharing it with the uh the audiences that uh can watch it. As you were making the story, was it affecting the people on the set too in ways that were growth oriented that people were really Oh, I get what he's trying to say.
>> Well, we're shooting actually the first week of September, so this movie has not been put up on camera, >> not in physical production. Physical production. Let me tell you this 100%.
We've had so many people reaching out.
our our crew alone are some of the most amazing uh uh crew uh working in Los Angeles, the New Mexico market.
Everybody has come on board and said, "Michael, I fully see this story. I I I see it in me. I see it in my neighbor. I see it in my friends. I see it in my family." Uh so they've gotten it right away. They've gotten the understanding of the transformation that Ed has gone through from this. you know, it's set in a rent by the hour, falling apart, dilapitated motel on the side, you know, on on the side of the road. Um, and it's it's Ed's on a five-day bender. And whether that be sleep or drugs or gambling or whatever it is for anyone out there, um, we've all been on those kind of like roads to nowhere. Uh and so they've seen the transformation as uh as in this film uh realized the catalyst through a car a character named Cowboy um who offers Ed uh the possibility of change for the relationship he's had with his children over the years or lack of. Um and so this is a story about fatherhood and desire and shame and masculinity and what it means to be masculine in a man and what that even looks like in today's society. And so it challenges some of those uh those uh uh ideals that we have had um as men, as aging men. Um and uh and throughout the film, again, it's it's a short 20-minute film uh that compacts a lot of uh a lot of issues that we're we're facing in in society. And so, uh, we've had some recognition with that, uh, and whether it be cast or crew or or the grassroots efforts we've had in funding this film.
Uh, so many people get it and, uh, and have joined us in this journey. We just couldn't be more proud of that of that.
>> Well, I want to remind folks they have a chance to meet Michael tomorrow night uh, at the flat in Montro between 6 and 8:00 p.m. That's Thursday. It's a free event where they can learn all about Ed the movie, but they can also learn all about Michael by meeting him there.
>> Michael, thank you so much for coming in and doing this with us today.
>> Thank you.
>> Houston, educator, author, actor, and multihyenate. We have decided Michael Vincent Barry is with us. Coming up next, Assange Shing aka Sea the Food Sheep is going to be here on Hello Houston. We'll be right back.
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>> On the next fresh air, the term Instagram face was coined by New Yorker staff writer Gia Tolantino. Now she has a warning. Plastic surgery has become so pervasive and undetectable, it's changing what we think a real human face looks like. Her article, Our Plastic Surgery Nightmare, delves into what happens when we can no longer trust our own eyes. Join us.
>> You can hear fresh air coming up at 8:00 >> on the podcast After the Flood from the Texas Newsroom and PBS's Front Line. We meet people who survived last year's floods in the Hill Country and those who lost loved ones and we try to answer the questions they still have after the flood out now.
Support comes from the Houston Museum of Natural Science in Herman Park featuring exhibits on dinosaurs, butterflies, stars, and ancient cultures along with the Burkbaker Planetarium and Cochro Butterfly Center. More at hmns.org.
Tonight on Houston Public Media TV8, the summer of space continues as NOVA presents Chasing Pluto at 8, followed by an encore of Once Upon a Time in Space at 9:00. Then it's NOVA Solar System at 10 tonight on TV8.
>> Support for Houston Public Media comes from listeners like you and from attorney mediator Ron Bankston, providing in-person video conference and hybrid mediation and arbitration services. More information is available at ronbangston.com.
Support for Houston Public Media comes from Ali Theater, presenting The Girl on the Train, a psychological thriller about memory, perception, and the search for the truth. Opens July 24th. Tickets at alitheater.org.
And now back to Hello Houston. Comment on today's topics, call or text 713-448870 or email us at talk@hello houston.org.
And now Ernie Manuse and guest host Donna Reed.
>> All right, foodies. Currently with 267,000 followers on Tik Tok and 254,000 on Instagram. S Sha Singh or Shawn the food sheep is here as he's known here in Houston and on all those digital platforms has become an icon in our city's food community. you started taking food reviews in 2021 and then making videos highlighting the best restaurants in Houston, Sean. So, there's hidden gems in there and there's things to do in the Houston area. Um, while he was using his platform to co-create the Houston Built Legacy Award Scholarship at his alma mater, the University of Houston, which aims to help support students passionate about Houston, so they can make a positive impact on the city. He's in the studio now to tell us more about his food influencer journey, Houston's food scene and to share with us some of the top spots that you think are the best in Houston. Sean, welcome to Hello Houston.
>> It is great to be here. Yeah, I think I was on NPR a few months ago. It's good to be back. Um, but yeah, no, you described it perfectly. It feels weird that like being an influencer is a job now. I think like I forgot who it was.
They did a study where it was like Gen Z, their number one job, the number one thing that they want to be growing up is an influencer, like a content creator now, which is going to let him go here.
>> Which is weird to think about cuz I I went to the University of Houston and you know, while I was there, I didn't think this would be a potential path at all. I was in nonprofit fundraising.
That's what I did. You know, shout out NPR, you know, PBS. I know y'all are y'all are doing that right now. Um, and then I just slowly transitioned to business school. And as that was going on, you know, that was during COVID, there was just a massive rise in the influencer scene and content creation.
And that's just really how I got into it. I do want to point out though, I don't really do reviews. I just consider myself a curator. So, I just consider myself, hey, this is a cool spot. I'll post it. I try not to be negative online just because I know how hard it is for small businesses and restaurants, especially now. Um, but yeah, just I just like to go around, eat, show fun things to do, and yeah, that that's about it.
>> All right. I've got to ask though, what is a food sheep? Where does that name come from?
>> So, I don't know if y'all know Shawn the Sheep, the popular clay animation TV show. It was >> vaguely. Yeah.
>> So, I used to visit my family in India all the time growing up. And that used to be one of the TV shows. It's it's from the UK. Um, I actually think there's like a movie coming on out about it. And so, when I originally started my account, it just started as a joke. It was my throwaway account. So, it was just Shawn the Sheep.
>> It's working for you.
>> So, I just threw in food and basically I never changed it. And so I've been trying to change it for the longest time.
>> Give up too late.
>> Yeah. But everybody everybody's like, "Nope, you you can't." They're like, "You're you're going to be known as the sheep going forward."
>> Yeah. So, how challenging is it? We were talking earlier about the the the number sheer number of restaurants we have in this area. How hard is it to conquer the food scene here? To see it, to know it, to taste of it. There's so many places and so many different styles and so many cuisines and so much. How do you get a handle on it all?
>> It's impossible. I think I genuinely mean this in the Houston area like you could eat out every day for the rest of your life and you still wouldn't be able to conquer it all. I know people there's a like a there's a quote about that on New York City but I think that applies to Houston as well because it's not only you know all the existing spots is that there are new spots constantly opening up all the time. And with Houston becoming the destination for chefs now with the Michelin Guide coming in we're constantly getting more attention. So, a lot of the newer openings that we're having are relatively different than they would have been five, six years ago. So, you genuinely can eat out every day and you would not be able to hit out, you know, all of them. And I I still miss them. There are places that I want to go to. And I'm like, wait, this closed down? I was like, I wish I wish.
>> It was on my schedule. I didn't get to it in time. I I'm curious, though.
You've got to have favorites. But with so many to sample, do you get to reenjoy favorites or are you always moving? So, I'll tell you one of my favorites right now. Um, I recently went to Coyo Handle Bar. So, they originally opened up in Webster. Very random, right? Like you'd think, oh, Webster, but they just opened up a location in the Heights where it was relatively close by where I live.
And because it's a handle bar, sushi handle bar. You know, you can have five hand rolls and it'll probably be 700, 800 calories. It's not going to be anything insane, but you're getting that great service, you can solo dine there pretty easily, and you can be in and out within 20 minutes. So, Coyo Hand Roll is like one of those examples of if a place is like low calorie, quick service, I'll visit there a lot. Um, so that that's just that's just one example, but there's there's a lot of like when people ask me what are my favorite restaurants, I like to go by what's like happening now because there's so many great spots. So, I I did prepare for this. I did have like five spots that I think everyone everyone should go to right I'm going to get to those five spots in just a second, but I don't want to run out of time here and I want to make sure we talk about your nonprofit and what it does and and the scholarship to help people embrace Houston better.
>> Sure. So, one of my goals because I worked in nonprofit fundraising for a couple of years, one of my goals when I became an influencer, my goal was as I got bigger and bigger, I want that to be a bigger part of what I do. So 20% of um all revenue, not profit, 20% of revenue goes to, you know, nonprofit causes around Houston. So one of the goals was is once once that like once we finally got big enough, I was inspired by Alex Earl, who's a, you know, a big influencer. She went to the University of Miami, set up a scholarship. So I partnered up with my buddy Darren Randall, who's the president and CEO of Houston Tens and Events, and we were just able to start a scholarship together. And I'm hoping to do more.
That's the goal. So the goal is is as it gets, you know, bigger and bigger, the goal is to continuously expand that operation. Okay, you said five. Give us the top five. What are they?
>> Okay, I know you have listeners from all over the Houston area.
>> We do.
>> So, Charice by Chef Austin Simmons, which is uh, you know, a new steakhouse.
He does everything. Chef and rancher.
He's, you know, he has a ranch. So, it's from bottom up. Number two is Gino's Italian Joint in Richmond, which is, yeah, a little bit far out, but has some of the best New York style pizza in the Houston area. They literally designed their water, like they have an entire system to where they have the exact pH as New York. So, >> which is fascinating because people never get that in pizza. Part of what makes a pizza from a particular place or region, it's the water. They never think about that.
>> Exactly.
>> So, that's Oh, that's great.
>> And they're one of the only places in in the Houston area doing that. And third, I feel like I got to give a shout out to Cafeteria. Cafeteria's been around for a while, but just because the FIFA FanFest, I think we were all so happy with FIFA being in town. It was really cool to have that great big sleepover, but um they were suffering a lot just with, you know, the streets being closed down around that area. So, Cafeteria, it's one of the most creative bakeries.
I mean, there's nothing else like it.
They do Cambodian, Vietnamese, Chinese, and Houston influences. You're not going to find anything else like it.
>> Where are they located?
>> They're right about 5 minutes away from here in Ido. So, they're they're in Ido.
Yeah.
>> All right, that's three.
>> Okay, number four. I'm going to go 11-1ven. So, it's one of the most exciting new like restaurants and cocktail bar. So, it's a bit of both.
And they are a Mexico City inspired bar.
So, it's like if you've ever heard of Contramar in Mexico City, it's very inspired by that. and they've got a great food program. Um, chef uh, Emanuel Chavez from Tatmo, he designed that entire program. So, I would definitely trust them.
>> All right, that means only one left.
>> And last is Bori. I feel like Bori I just had the chance to experience. It's a really high-end, you know, Korean barbecue spot. It was designed after the Korean barbecue spots of Seoul in Los Angeles. Just high-end, a little bit different from what people typically expect from their, you know, Korean barbecue spots, but very high-end meat and it's just a really cool vibe in there. You mentioned a lot and thank you for that list, but you also kept talking about bar with food, bar and food. Is that becoming the new the next phase is that we're looking at bars, which would traditionally be watering holes, quote unquote, as food sources.
>> I think that is starting to be a thing now. Um, another example would be Xolo.
They're another Mexico City inspired bar. Um, it's just starting to be a thing. I think people when they want to go out, it's like, you know, think of it like a pregame, right? Like if you if you want a pregame, that's where you start off 11-1ven or Xolo. You have a little bit of you have some bites, you have a couple drinks, and that's your starting phase. So, I am I think we are starting to see that. I'm curious how far that trend goes, but we're we're starting to see it now.
>> Yeah. And it's just funny because oftentimes you think bar food be throwaway food. It's just there to give you something to eat while you're in the bar, but they're actually focusing on it now. And there are chefs there and there are reasons to go to these places besides what the drinks are they have to offer.
>> But I will say, you got to go at the right time. Like, don't expect to go to 11-1ven at 1:00 a.m. and get, you know, get that food. It it is like 5. It is 5 to 10 p.m. So it is >> during the dinner hours if you want a good meal.
>> Exactly.
>> Is there a cuisine that's um that's just the top of the charts right now.
Everybody is just going toward the restaurants that have a particular type of cuisine.
>> Italian restaurants are having a moment in Houston right now. Um my buddy Bao, who's the Houston Chronicle restaurant critic, he's just he's been highlighting a lot of Italian sandwiches around town.
>> You had Lar Ro Lar Roza open up. You had Astero de Marcado, which um which is the former um you know, he's worked at so many Michelin, you know, restaurants across California. Just opened it up a few months ago. And you also have Angie's Pizza opening up. I had dinner there last night. It's not officially open yet, so we'll be officially open hopefully within the next week, but keep an eye on that one. Italian food is having a moment in Houston.
>> I got to thank you right now because we're out of time. Sean Singh, thank you so much for coming in and sharing with us uh all we barely scratched the surface. Come back.
>> Yeah, this was fun. Thanks. He's also known as Ashan the food sheep on Tik Tok and Instagram brings us to the end of the show. Donna Reed, thank you so much for sitting in with me today.
>> Thank you very much.
>> I'm going to hold on to you for a second more as we ask for some funding support from our audience. But we'll be back tomorrow with more of Hello Houston.
Don't go or do go somewhere, but come back tomorrow. Okay. Thanks. Bye-bye.
We're in our onair res uh resiliency fund campaign because Houston public media lost support that we used to count on. And what you're hearing is your public media service, not because you have to pay to use it, but because it was built to serve you and it stays here and it's available to the entire community because people like you support it. And Houston Public Media is 100% 100% community funded. And that's why we're here today asking you to take that extra step and make your gift. If you've never given before, make your very first gift at houstonublicdia.org org or go to the website Houston Media, houstonmedia.org/donate or call 888-90887.
>> Yeah, as we've talked about, we lost $2.2 million a year. That's about 10% of our budget and it wasn't insignificant.
The goal now is to raise $4.4 million and that's uh two years of the support that we lost so that this service can stay here and build into the future.
Now, we are just under $500,000 away from that goal. So, that's a we've cut into a big chunk of it, but we've still got to close this gap. So, we ask you right now to go to houstonublicdia.org/donate or call 88899887.
>> And when something happens, you want somewhere steady to turn. Whether it's a storm, a boat, or breaking news, Houston Public Media is here with facts and context and info to bring you clarity.
And we're 100% community funded as we mentioned and that means your gift keeps this service ready for the moments that you count on it. Your gift right now is so important. 888990887 at houstonublicdia.org.
>> And thank you.
>> Thanks for listening to Hello Houston.
Join us every Monday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. to talk all things Houston. The Hello Houston production team includes Garrett Bowman, Wunda Maniva, Jen Alai, Todd Holleslander, and Jim Kavachic. For the latest in local news, subscribe to the Hello Houston Daily Newsletter at houstonublicdia.org.
Hello Houston is a production of Houston Public Media. Opinions expressed by the guests of this program are solely their own and do not represent the views of management, staff, or underwriters of Houston Public Media. This is News87.
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