On October 20, 2025, the radio show “Hello Houston” featured a range of discussions addressing community issues, health, and upcoming events. In the first hour, the hosts spoke with Caro Achar, Engagement Coordinator for the ACLU of Texas, who elaborated on the organization’s recent letter sent to all Texas superintendents. The letter urged caution regarding Senate Bill 11, which enables school districts to implement daily periods for prayer. Achar emphasized the potential implications this legislation could have on student rights and the separation of church and state.
In addition to legislative concerns, health was a significant focus of the program. Dr. Linda Yancey, an infectious disease specialist with Memorial Hermann, joined the discussion to provide essential tips for the public on staying safe during the upcoming flu season. Dr. Yancey highlighted the importance of vaccination, good hygiene practices, and awareness of flu symptoms as critical measures to protect oneself and the community during this period.
As the show progressed into its second hour, the hosts welcomed Reda Hicks, co-chair of the organizing committee for Fleet Week Houston. Hicks shared details about next month’s event, which is set to welcome approximately 1,000 sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen to the Bayou City. The week-long celebration will include ship tours, public events, and community outreach activities, aimed at fostering connections between service members and local residents.
The program also featured insights from Pietro Milillo, an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Houston. Milillo discussed a recent study identifying some of the world’s most vulnerable bridges and proposed effective solutions for addressing these infrastructure challenges before they lead to failures.
As always, the hosts—Ernie, Celeste, and Frank—took time to cover the day’s top stories. They discussed the “No Kings” protests that occurred in Houston and other cities over the weekend, which focused on social justice issues. The start of early voting in Texas for the upcoming November election was also a topic of interest, along with the use of historical figures in AI-generated deepfakes on the platform Sora.
The discussions highlighted critical issues affecting the Houston community, underscoring the importance of civic engagement and public health awareness.
