Dateline Rice for July 10, 2025

dateline rice

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

New data reveals FEMA missed major flood risks at Camp Mystic
Jim Blackburn, a professor in the practice of environmental law and co-director of Rice's Severe Storm Prediction, Education and Evacuation from Disasters Center, is quoted.
NPR (This "Morning Edition" segment aired on more than 950 affiliated stations across the U.S.)
http://dateline.rice/july-10-blackburn
Kerr County struggled to fund flood warnings. Under Trump, it's getting even harder
NPR (This article also appeared in more 150 NPR-affiliated homepages.)
http://dateline.rice/july-10-blackburn

Here are some things you can do to be better prepared for major flooding
James Doss-Gollin, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering, is quoted.
The Associated Press (This article also appeared in more than 30 other media outlets.)
http://dateline.rice/july-10-doss.gollin
New flood warning system greenlit shortly before deadly Texas disaster
The Wall Street Journal (This article also appeared in MSN Public Safety and Emergencies.)
http://dateline.rice/july-10-doss.gollin
After deadly flooding in Central Texas, state lawmakers look to prevent similar tragedies
KIII Online (This segment also aired three times on KIII-TV in Corpus Christi.)
http://dateline.rice/july-10-doss.gollin
'13 Eyewitness News'
KTRK-TV (Houston)
http://dateline.rice/july-10-doss.gollin (This segment aired three times.)
'Houston's Morning Show'
KRIV-TV (Houston)
http://dateline.rice/july-10-doss.gollin

Officials have yet to explain who did what during critical early hours as deadly floods hit Texas
Phil Bedient, the Herman and George R. Brown Professor of Civil Engineering and co-director of Rice's Severe Storm Prediction, Education and Evacuation from Disasters Center, is quoted.
CNN (This article also appeared in more than 20 other media outlets.)
http://dateline.rice/july-10-bedient
Sirens, gauges and flood prevention: What the Texas Legislature could do in response to Hill Country disaster
MSN (This Texas Tribune article also appeared in 10 other media outlets.)
http://dateline.rice/july-10-bedient
Gov. Greg Abbott adds 4 flooding related priorities to special session agenda
Spectrum News (El Paso)
http://dateline.rice/july-10-bedient
'TWC News All Night'
Spectrum News (Austin; this segment aired six times.)
http://dateline.rice/july-10-bedient
Greg Abbott sees championship moment while bodies are pulled from flood debris
San Antonio Express-News
http://dateline.rice/july-10-bedient

What went wrong in the Texas floods?
Avantika Gori, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering and a Rice Academy Senior Fellow, is quoted.
The Economist
http://dateline.rice/july-10-gori
In the Hill Country and beyond, rural Texas counties lack resources for flood detection
Texas Observer
http://dateline.rice/july-10-gori

Texas legislature hands Elon Musk's companies some big wins
Mark Jones, the Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies, professor of political science and fellow in political science at Rice's Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted.
NPR (This "All Things Considered" segment aired on more than 950 affiliated stations across the U.S.)
http://dateline.rice/july-10-jones

Redrawing Texas: The Republican plan to stack the decks for the midterms
Bob Stein, the Lena Gohlman Fox Emeritus Professor of Political Science and fellow in urban politics at Rice's Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted.
The Guardian
http://dateline.rice/july-10-stein

Why thick battery electrodes fail: Chemistry, not structure, holds the key
An article features collaborative Rice research into thick battery electrodes. Co-authors include Ming Tang, associate professor of materials science and nanoengineering, and alumnus Zeyuan Li.
MSN (This article originally appeared in Tech Xplore, and it appeared in ElectronicsForU.com and Environmental News Network.)
http://dateline.rice/july-10-tang-li
Supercharged EV battery life may be possible, thanks to Rice's 'hot spot' discovery
MSN (This article originally appeared in Interesting Engineering.)
http://dateline.rice/july-10-tang-li

HOUSTON/TEXAS

New Houston biotech co. developing capsules for hard-to-treat tumors
An article features research by Omid Veiseh, professor of bioengineering, faculty director of the Rice Biotech Launch Pad accelerator and a Rice Academy Senior Fellow. Paul Wotton, adjunct professor in the practice of bioengineering and executive director of the Rice Biotech Launch Pad, is mentioned.
InnovationMap
http://dateline.rice/july-10-veiseh-wotton

Houston foundation grants $27M to support Texas chemistry research
An article mentions that two fellows from Rice will receive $100,000 annually for three years from the Welch Postdoctoral Fellows of the Life Sciences program.
InnovationMap
http://dateline.rice/july-10-inno.map

Home insurance rates on the rise in Cy-Fair
An article cites a study by Rice's Kinder Institute of Urban Research into home insurance increases brought on by extreme weather events. 
Community Impact
http://dateline.rice/july-10-ci

Regional development coordinator: Mandy Billings
An article featuring Mandy Billings mentions that she is a former production manager for Rice's Shepherd School of Music.
Texas Gulf Coast American Red Cross
http://dateline.rice/july-10-tgcarc

Unveiled: Holocaust Museum Houston opens powerful exhibition of rare artifacts, local history and global memory
An article mentions Rice's Joan and Stanford Alexander South Texas Jewish Archives.
Houston Style Magazine
http://dateline.rice/july-10-hsm

BROADCAST

Texas will seek $11 billion in reimbursement from Trump administration for border security expenditures
John Diamond, the Edward A. and Hermena Hancock Kelly Fellow in Public Finance and director of the Center for Tax and Budget Policy at Rice's Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted.
Houston Public Media
http://dateline.rice/july-10-diamond
KERA-FM (Dallas)
http://dateline.rice/july-10-diamond

'Wake Up! with SallyMac & Lina'
A broadcast mentions that Rice will host a flood relief drive at its Brian Patterson Performance Center July 10-11.
KRIV-TV (Houston)
http://dateline.rice/july-10-kriv (This segment aired eight times.)
'Noticiero Telemundo Houston'
KTMD-TV (Houston)
http://dateline.rice/july-10-ktmd

Discover Pewabic Pottery's unique tiles across Detroit and beyond
An article mentions that tiles from Pewabic Pottery, one of the oldest continually operating potteries in the country based in Detroit, are displayed at Rice.
ClickOnDetroit.com
http://dateline.rice/july-10-cod

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Why some genes are more error-prone: Scientists uncover hidden rule in DNA transcription
An article features collaborative Rice research into the factors that influence DNA transcription accuracy. Co-authors include Anatoly Kolomeisky, professor of chemistry and chemical and biomolecular engineering; Oleg Igoshin, professor and associate chair of bioengineering and professor of chemistry; and postdoctoral associate Tripti Midha.
MSN Health (This article originally appeared in Phys.org, and it appeared in Mirage.)
http://dateline.rice/july-10-kolomeisky-igoshin-midha
 
35 HPC Legends: Richard Tapia
Richard Tapia, University Professor, the Maxfield-Oshman Professor in Engineering and professor of computational and applied mathematics, is featured.
HPCWire
http://dateline.rice/july-10-tapia

AI in science: A hidden threat to research integrity?
Kathleen Perley, instructor in management and adviser on AI initiatives at Rice's Jones Graduate School of Business, is quoted.
Cointribune (This article also appeared in Decrypt and CoinStats.)
http://dateline.rice/july-10-perley

Introducing the 2025-26 Rebanks Fellows of The Royal Conservatory's Glenn Gould School
An article features graduate student Jonathan Mak, who is studying under Jon Kimura Parker, professor of piano at Rice's Shepherd School of Music; alumna Astrid Nakamura, who studied under Kathleen Winkler, the Dorothy Richard Starling Professor in Classical Violin; and alumna Juliana Moroz.
The Royal Conservatory
http://dateline.rice/july-10-mak-parker-nakamura-winkler-moroz

New report finds US child care system is failing and economists say it's time for bold action
An article mentions that Flávio Cunha, the Ervin Kenneth Zingler Professor of Economics and department chair, contributed to the featured research. 
ChildCare Aware of America
http://dateline.rice/july-10-cunha

Best free online programming learning courses in world's top international universities
An article mentions that a Python coding course on Coursera is offered by Joe Warren, professor of computer science; Scott Rixner, director of professional programs and professor of computer science and electrical and computer engineering; John Greiner, assistant teacher professor of computer science; and Stephen Wong, lecturer in computer science.
United News of Bangladesh
http://dateline.rice/july-10-warren-rixner-greiner-wong

Experienced in educational design? This director position could be for you
An article mentions the renovation of the Rice School of Architecture's MD Anderson Hall and that Rice has broken ground on a new student center. 
Archinect
http://dateline.rice/july-10-archinect

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Ahrens named chair of graduate architecture
Mónica Rivera, the Albert K. and Harry K. Smith Professor of Architecture and director of graduate studies, is mentioned.
Washington University in St. Louis' The Source
http://dateline.rice/july-10-rivera

A photographer follows the sea
An article featuring David Hills mentions that his father worked at Rice.
The Provincetown Independent
http://dateline.rice/july-10-tpi

DTU joins hands with foreign universities for new engineering courses
An article mentions that Rice has signed a memorandum of understanding with Delhi Technological University.
ETVBharat.com
http://dateline.rice/july-10-etvb
 
Violist Ashley Callari attends the Texas Music Festival Orchestral Institute
An article mentions that faculty members of Rice's Shepherd School of Music mentor fellows of the Texas Music Festival Orchestral Institute.
Stetson University's School of Music
http://dateline.rice/july-10-su

SPORTS

The Perch is here for UTSA football
An article mentions that Rice's football team is slated to play the University of Texas at San Antonio Oct. 11.
GoUTSA.com
http://dateline.rice/july-10-utsa

Raines Watson qualifies for US Junior Amateur Championship
An article featuring Raines Watson mentions that he has signed to play golf at Rice.
KBTX Online (This segment also aired on KBTX-TV in Bryan.)
http://dateline.rice/july-10-kbtx

Rice Owls football schedules a new home-and-home series with the Duke Blue Devils
An article mentions that Rice's football team is slated to play Duke University Sept. 4, 2027, and Sept. 7, 2030; and Houston Christian University Sept. 5, 2026, and Sept. 1, 2029.
BCSNN
http://dateline.rice/july-10-bcsnn
Duke announces home-and-home series with an AAC opponent starting in 2027
USA Today's DukeWire
http://dateline.rice/july-10-dw

Ole Miss player personnel assistant Marvin Nash leaving for Texas high school football job
An article features Marvin Nash, former executive director of recruiting and player personnel.
On3.com (This article also appeared in News Break.)
http://dateline.rice/july-10-on3

Best offensive playbook to use in College Football 26
Rice football is mentioned.
GameSpot.com
http://dateline.rice/july-10-gs

Who's playing where? A cheat sheet on college sports realignment
An article mentions that Rice competes in the American Athletic Conference.
Idaho Business Review
http://dateline.rice/july-10-ibr

NEWS RELEASES

Why some genes are more error-prone: Scientists uncover hidden rule in DNA transcription
Every living cell must interpret its genetic code — a sequence of chemical letters that governs countless cellular functions. A new study by researchers from the Center for Theoretical Biological Physics at Rice has uncovered the mechanism by which the identity of the letters following a given nucleotide in DNA affects the likelihood of mistakes during transcription, the process by which DNA is copied into RNA. The discovery offers new insight into hidden factors that influence transcription accuracy
http://dateline.rice/july-10-kolomeisky-igoshin-midha

Thick electrodes' chemistry matters more than structure for battery performance
Thicker battery electrodes pack in more active materials, promising higher energy density. However, when it comes to lithium-ion battery performance, electrode materials' thermodynamic properties matter more than their structural design. A team of Rice researchers led by materials scientist Ming Tang showed that even if the materials used in thick battery electrodes have nearly identical structures, their internal chemistry impacts energy flow ⎯ and, hence, performance ⎯ differently. 
http://dateline.rice/july-10-tang-li

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