Dateline Rice for Aug. 4, 2014 (Weekend Edition)

FEATURED ITEMS

10 reasons Houston attracts new residents
Having just completed his 10th year as president of Rice, David Leebron authored an op-ed listing 10 reasons Houston “surprises and enchants.”
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1zNGLL0

The media cycle, political theater and the border crisis myth
Tony Payan, the Françoise and Edward Djerejian Fellow for Mexico Studies at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and director of the Baker Institute’s Mexico Center, authored an op-ed about the border crisis.
The Hill
http://bit.ly/UMSI4d

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

40 years later, still trying to define presidential power
Historians have released books and documentaries to reassess President Richard Nixon’s impeachment. Douglas Brinkley, professor of history and fellow in history at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted.
New York Times
http://nyti.ms/1tNLtYM
A comprehensive look at the early Nixon tapes
Austin American-Statesman (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1s4X8BH
MSNBC’s ‘Morning Joe’
http://tinyurl.com/ks2o4n5

DNA may shape political affiliations
John Alford, associate professor of political science, is featured for his collaborative research on political bias.
Jagran Post
http://bit.ly/1nkIfDO
Liberals and conservatives: Hardwired to disagree?
Houston Community Newspapers
http://bit.ly/1o6l85V
Your political identity is in your genes
KTRH-AM
http://bit.ly/1xXu65g

Why the Israeli-Palestinian conflict should matter to black Americans
Anthony Pinn, the Agnes Cullen Arnold Professor of Humanities and professor of religious studies, is quoted.
Huffington Post
http://huff.to/1nkNvHE

Startup schools: American’s most entrepreneurial universities
Rice University is No. 50 on Forbes’ list of the top 50 schools for startup businesses in the U.S.
Forbes
http://onforb.es/1tZXKX6
CSU among Forbes’ top schools for startups
Coloradoan.com
http://noconow.co/1smQllB

See this, skip that: Houston
Rice’s Valhalla graduate student pub is featured on a list of alternative things to do when visiting Houston.
ABC News
http://abcn.ws/1qR33e8

HOUSTON/TEXAS

‘The century of cities’
William “Bill” Fulton has been announced as the new director of Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research in the Houston Chronicle’s “Gray Matters” online magazine.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1pRooO2
‘Visionary’ planning director Bill Fulton to depart for Rice University
Times of San Diego
http://bit.ly/1smAOCc
Nationally recognized urban planner William Fulton named director of Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research
Bellaire Examiner
http://bit.ly/1AOIQI7
San Diego planning director resigns for Rice University position
KUSI.com
http://bit.ly/1mfbkRt
San Diego planning director to depart for Rice University
San Diego Metro
http://tinyurl.com/ou6ljfn
Former Ventura mayor named director of urban research institute
Ventura County Star
http://tinyurl.com/n5f7knd

Ebola virus outbreak worsens as area medical officials are on alert
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a warning to avoid traveling to West Africa, due to its severe outbreak of the Ebola virus. Peter Hotez, a fellow in disease and poverty at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted.
Humble Observer
http://bit.ly/1lsE09x
Chances for Ebola in Houston low, but other diseases still flourish
NewsFix
http://bit.ly/1v1NvWA

Barbara Tucker concert benefits Family Promise coalition
Thomas Jaber, professor of music and director of choral ensembles, will perform at the 13th annual Gospel Extravaganza at First United Methodist Church.
Montgomery County Courier
http://bit.ly/1pz9JtD

BROADCAST

Houston Newsmakers July 27: Border crisis solutions; Liftoff Houston
Mark Jones, the Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies, professor and chair of political science and fellow in political science at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, discusses border crisis solutions. He is also quoted about the upcoming Houston mayoral race and discusses Gov. Rick Perry’s prospects as a presidential candidate.
KPRC-TV
http://bit.ly/1AOKXvm
2015 list of who might run for mayor is crowded and growing
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1oslXon
KUT-FM (Austin, Texas)
http://tinyurl.com/jwwr9sn
Travel Channel
Alumnus Greg Gatlin ’03 is featured for his restaurant, Gatlin’s BBQ.
http://tinyurl.com/kpa5cfj

WHKT-AM (Norfolk, Va.)
Mike Massimino, adjunct professor in mechanical engineering and materials science and former director of Rice’s Space Institute, discusses his work as at NASA.
http://tinyurl.com/n4afkoa

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

New tools advance bio-logic: Researchers build more sophisticated synthetic gene circuits
Researchers at Rice and the University of Kansas Medical Center are creating genetic circuits that can perform complex tasks by swapping protein building blocks. Matthew Bennett, assistant professor of biochemistry and cell biology, is quoted. Graduate student David Shis is mentioned.
Phys.org
http://bit.ly/1uf2w37

Reprogramming bacteria as an intriguing approach to desalination
Co-directors of Rice’s Center for Theoretical Biological Physics José Onuchic, the Harry C. and Olga K. Wiess Professor of Physics and Astronomy, and Herbert Levine, the Karl F. Hasselmann Professor of Bioengineering, are working to treat bacteria like computers with the intention of reprogramming them to perform specific activities.
Nanowerk
http://tinyurl.com/mec454d

GulfSlope Energy names John H. Malanga vice president and chief financial officer
Rice alum John Malanga ’96 has been appointed vice president and chief financial officer of GulfSlope Energy.
OilVoice (This article also appeared in Oil Earth.)
http://tinyurl.com/lar3472

Ohio State’s Aaron Bonnell-Kangas wins TI’s Innovation Challenge 2014
Rice is mentioned as placing second in the Texas Instruments Innovation Challenge.
PSD
http://tinyurl.com/mxu8nh6

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Which Mobile County public high school produced the most AP scholars?
Mobile, Ala., announced that its school system has 144 Advanced Placement scholars. Rice is mentioned.
AL.com
http://bit.ly/1AOSIBz

San Jacinto College focusing on promoting STEM to its underserved minority student body
Houston has seen an increase in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) careers, which has created a need for more graduates in these fields, especially women and minorities. Rice is mentioned.
Diverse Education
http://bit.ly/1olKCq6

PTI’s women
Justin Esarey, assistant professor of political science, is quoted about the benefit of women in politics.
The Nation
http://bit.ly/1njwZrc

Stop blaming black parents for underachieving kids
An op-ed cites research by Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research that recently found that African-Americans are most likely to value a postsecondary education as important to becoming successful, followed by Asians and Latinos.
Delaware Online
http://delonline.us/1xXDsy4

SPORTS

Key changes await Rice for 2014 football season
An article lists questions about the Rice Owls before the football team’s start of the season. Head football coach David Bailiff is quoted. Co-coordinators Larry Edmonson and Billy Lynch are mentioned.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1kz3CGO

NEWS RELEASES

New tools advance bio-logic
Researchers at Rice University and the University of Kansas Medical Center are making genetic circuits that can perform more complex tasks by swapping protein building blocks.
https://news2.rice.edu/2014/08/04/new-tools-advance-bio-logic

Children in immigrant families more likely to be sedentary
Immigrant children from all racial and ethnic backgrounds are more likely to be sedentary than U.S.-born white children, according to a new study by sociologists at Rice University. The researchers said their findings should remind pediatricians and parents of children in immigrant families to encourage physical activity.
https://news2.rice.edu/2014/08/04/64083