Dateline Rice for Feb. 20, 2018

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

The Lone Star long shot who wants to topple Ted Cruz
William Martin, the Harry and Hazel Chavanne Senior Fellow in Religion and Public Policy at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted in an article on the U.S. Senate race between Republican incumbent Ted Cruz and his Democratic challenger, Rep. Beto O’Rourke.
New York Times (This article also appeared in more than 25 media outlets, and it appeared in the Feb. 20 print edition of the Times with a different headline, “A blue spark in the heart of deep-red Cruz Country.”)
http://nyti.ms/2BFOe8D

Underpaid Venezuelans skipping out on work to make ends meet
Francisco Monaldi, a fellow in Latin American energy policy at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted in an article on Venezuela’s economic crisis. He also is quoted in a National Public Radio story on the Petro, a virtual currency launched by Venezuela.
ABC News (This Associated Press article appeared in more than 250 media outlets.)
http://abcn.ws/2BDRWQ0
WGBH-FM (Boston)
http://bit.ly/2Gui52U (Click the audio button to listen to the broadcast, which aired on more than 700 radio stations.)

Scientists near sickle cell cure
Scientists have successfully used gene editing to repair 20 to 40 percent of stem and progenitor cells taken from the peripheral blood of patients with sickle cell disease, according to Gang Bao, the Foyt Family Professor of Bioengineering.
The Guardian (Similar articles appeared in more than 10 other media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/2BFSKnB

Handout: The truth about our computerized election systems
Dan Wallach, professor of computer science and of electrical and computer engineering and a Rice Faculty Scholar at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted.
Medium (This article also appeared in The Brad Blog.)
http://bit.ly/2BCZvXc

Your stuff versus my stuff
Graduate student Baird Campbell co-authored an article for Slate’s “One Fight” series, which examines disagreements in relationships.
Slate
http://slate.me/2BEKOmq

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Inprint’s Poets & Writers Ball brings in $400,000
President David Leebron attended the Inprint Poets and Writers Ball.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required.)
http://bit.ly/2CbqKJi
http://bit.ly/2BEvLcq

Harvey looms over Texas primary, but effect may be minimal
Mark Jones, the Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies, professor of political science, fellow in political science at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and fellow at Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, is quoted in an article on voter participation in the upcoming primary election. Jones also is quoted in an analysis of the ballot and in an article on conservative talk radio host Chris Salcedo.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required. This article appeared in the Feb. 20 print edition with a different headline, “Will Harvey affect voting?”)
http://bit.ly/2Cd1LFE
‘A little homework’ needed as early vote begins Tuesday
KTRK.com
http://abc13.co/2BGmAZb
The ‘liberty-loving Latino’ who uses talk radio to make Texas great again
Texas Observer
http://bit.ly/2BF0nuc

HMNS weekly happenings
Jim Blackburn, a professor in the practice of environmental law and the co-director of Rice’s Severe Storm Prediction, Education and Evacuation from Disasters Center, will give a lecture titled “Making Houston a Resilient City: Flooding, Carbon and Food” Feb. 27 at the Houston Museum of Natural Science.
Houston Museum of Natural Science
http://bit.ly/2BEvq9y

Flooding will be the focus of Rice U.’s inaugural Houston-Centered Policy Challenge Feb. 22
Flooding in Meyerland will be the focus of Rice University’s inaugural Houston-Centered Policy Challenge, in which teams of students submit policy proposals designed for the real-time challenges faced by Houston communities. Libby Vann, director of programs and partnerships for Rice’s Center for Civic Leadership, is quoted. Bill Fulton, director of Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, is mentioned.
Houston Style Magazine
http://bit.ly/2BH6QFi

Dallas Symphony Orchestra is so tight-lipped, we’re gonna have to predict its next music director
Alumnus James Gaffigan ’03 is mentioned.
Dallas Observer
http://bit.ly/2BE56wo

BROADCAST

‘CNN Newsroom with Brooke Baldwin’
Professor of History Douglas Brinkley comments on Boise State University’s Presidential Historians Survey.
CNN
http://bit.ly/2CdaQOK (Click the video button to watch the broadcast.)

How Rep. Culberson’s seat went from GOP stronghold to ‘toss-up’
Bob Stein, the Lena Gohlman Fox Professor of Political Science at Rice, is quoted in a story on the race to represent Texas’ 7th Congressional District.
Houston Public Media
http://bit.ly/2BGwh9F

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

The virus hunter: In a bygone era, C.J. Peters learned how to bend the rules
Alumnus Clarence Peters ’62 is featured.
STAT
http://bit.ly/2BEsBp3

Human cells’ remodeling abilities may be key to how cancer spreads
An article mentions Rice participated in research.
EnvironmentGuru
http://bit.ly/2BHoEjE

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Kentucky Nonprofit Network names Delzotti, Engel as newest members of board of directors
An article mentions University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Foundation President and CEO Michael Delzoti formerly worked at Rice.
KyForward
http://bit.ly/2BENz79

Howard University College of Arts and Sciences appoints 3 distinguished faculty to new roles
An article mentions Thomas Foster was a visiting professor at Rice.
Howard Newsroom
http://bit.ly/2BCt5Mt

Cleveland Cello Society showcases previous scholarship winner at the Music Settlement
Alumna Madeleine Kabat ’08 will perform Feb. 23 in Cleveland.
Cool Cleveland
http://bit.ly/2BGtGgh

Los Alamos Community Winds presents ‘Joyride!’
Alumnus Tomasz Robak ’13 will perform as guest pianist April 14 in Los Alamos, N.M.
Los Alamos Daily Post
http://bit.ly/2BFPuZh

¿Alzar la mano con el celular sirve para mejorar la señal?
Lin Zhong, professor of electrical and computer engineering, is quoted in an article on whether raising your phone toward the sky improves signal strength.
Colombia.com (An English translation is not available.)
http://bit.ly/2BF0aY3

SPORTS

KPRC-TV (Houston)
The Rice baseball team faces Texas State University Feb. 20 at Reckling Park.
http://bit.ly/2BDwT02 (Click the video button to watch the broadcast.)

Jewish 6-foot-8 lefty a big part of Rice’s pitching staff
Rice baseball player Evan Kravetz is featured.
Jewish Herald-Voice
http://bit.ly/2BGrN2P

Sulphur alum Hannah Jackson wins 200-meter dash at C-USA indoors
Rice’s Hannah Jackson won the 200-meter dash at the Conference USA Indoor Track and Field Championships Feb. 18 in Birmingham, Ala. An article on Western Kentucky University’s performance at the meet mentions Rice pole vaulter Ayane Rossano finished second. (Editor’s note: A correction on the misspelling of Rossano has been requested.)
KPLCTV.com
http://bit.ly/2BGMDz5
Hilltoppers grab five All-Conference marks at indoor championships
College Heights Herald
http://bit.ly/2BEql13

Imagine moving on from Le’Veon
An article on the Pittsburgh Steelers mentions tight end Vance McDonald and Seattle Seahawks tight end Luke Willson were teammates at Rice.
Steel City Insider
http://bit.ly/2BFBhLV

Baylor to hire former Texas Longhorn All-American Frank Okam
Former Rice assistant football coach Frank Okam will join the coaching staff at Baylor University.
Sic ’Em 365
http://bit.ly/2BDoFoG
Frank Okam to coach football at Baylor
Lake Highlands Advocate
http://bit.ly/2BBMP2R