Dateline Rice for Oct. 23, 2014

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Texas election fought in cities as wide-open spaces turn urban
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, is quoted about the candidates in the upcoming Nov. 4 election.
Bloomberg
http://bloom.bg/1tNPca0

Water: The old but new piece of the energy puzzle
A blog post is authored by Regina Buono, the Baker Botts Fellow in Energy and Environmental Regulatory Affairs at the Center for Energy Studies at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.
Forbes
http://onforb.es/1t6MxWX

New study shows that US prison rates and severity of criminal sentencing reflect racial bias
A new study from Rice University shows that the black population of a state affects how strict its prison policies are, including prison conditions and minimum sentences.
Independent Journal Review
http://bit.ly/10qEM3l

Texas chief toxicologist says stay indoors to avoid ozone pollution
The state’s chief toxicologist said that since people spend most of their time indoors, there’s no reason to be concerned about dangerous levels of ozone. The Vice News article mentions research by Loren Raun, a faculty fellow of statistics, environmental analysis and decision-making, and Katherine Ensor, professor of statistics, on the effects of ozone on health, including one that shows ozone is a trigger for asthma. Raun is quoted. The Houston Press article mentions John Anderson, the W. Maurice Ewing Chair in Oceanography and professor of Earth science.
Vice News
http://bit.ly/1scVIQb
TCEQ scientist says the smog is fine because Texans stay indoors
Houston Press
http://bit.ly/1teWHVg

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Better together: Houston’s power couples
A list of Houston’s most powerful couples includes Rice President David Leebron and University Representative Y. Ping Sun and Rice Board of Trustees Chair Bobby Tudor ’82 and his wife, Phoebe. Also included are Rice trustee Laura Arnold and her husband, John, but Laura’s Rice affiliation is not mentioned.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1zmbzWz

Poll: Public does not want to pay for Astrodome renovation
A new Houston Public Media/KHOU Election Poll found Harris County voters do not support using tax funds to pay for a renovation of the Astrodome. Bob Stein, the Lena Gohlman Fox Professor of Political Science, is quoted.
Houston Public Media
http://bit.ly/1FIRWZa

Poll: Harris County voters favor decriminalizing dope
The latest KHOU–Houston Public Media Poll indicates a majority of voters in Texas’ largest county want to decriminalize weed. Bob Stein, the Lena Gohlman Fox Professor of Political Science, is quoted.
KHOU
http://bit.ly/1vQafri

Houston investors hope the legal marijuana industry will make them high rollers
An article about the recent Marijuana Investment Conference in Houston mentions Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and its extensive research on marijuana policy.
Texas Observer
http://bit.ly/1wuSa1Z

UTEP receives NIH grant for scholarships, partnership
Rice was listed among the research institutions that are part of a National Institutes of Health diversity consortium.
El Paso Times
http://bit.ly/1scWahf

County courts, part 2
Alumnus Jason Luong ’97 was mentioned in the Houston Chronicle’s endorsements for judges in Harris County courts.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1pEtnm1

Yamatane: Yusuke Asai created a massive mural out of local soil
Japanese artist Yusuke Asai’s “yamatane” installation, which will be on display at Rice Gallery through Nov. 23, is featured.
Houston Press
http://bit.ly/1tO8Oe9

Harris County district attorney’s race heats up
With 13 days until elections, the marquis race to watch is Harris County District Attorney, according to 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.
KTRK
http://abc13.co/1oxM5B5

Texas early voting turnout is up, but who does it benefit?
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, comments on the rise in early voting participation.
Austin American-Statesman
http://abc13.co/1oxM5B5

BROADCAST

KTRH-AM
Patricia Reiff, professor of physics and astronomy, discusses the Earth’s magnetic field and Thursday’s partial eclipse of the sun.
http://bit.ly/12j2yyB

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

This is not the immigration crisis you’re looking for
A new paper from Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy examines historical immigration data, the “push” and “pull” factors currently motivating Mexicans and Central Americans to migrate to the U.S., and then attempts to explain why current undocumented immigration crossing the Mexican border has been perceived as a crisis. Tony Payan, a Baker Institute Fellow for Mexico Studies, is quoted.
Science 2.0
http://bit.ly/1D1yanJ
Data indicate there is no immigration crisis
Phys.org
http://bit.ly/1nAz9tl
KTSA-AM
http://bit.ly/1wuSnSE
Baker Institute paper: Data indicate there is no immigration crisis
NewHope360.com
http://bit.ly/1vTboye

The Houston Symphony presents Ravel and Debussy with conductor laureate Hans Graf this weekend
An upcoming concert will feature Jon Kimura Parker, professor of piano.
BWW
http://bit.ly/1pEu6no

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Free online AP courses debut on edX website
Rice launched a free Advanced Placement biology course for high school students on edX. Reid Whitaker, professor in the practice of digital learning, executive director of Rice’s Center for Digital Learning and Scholarship, is quoted.
Columbia Daily Tribune (Columbia, Mo.)
http://bit.ly/1wmEHs1

Artist demos chalk art
An article features Lilibeth Andre, associate director of the Shell Center for Sustainability, for her chalk art.
Alpine Avalanche (Alpine, Texas)
http://bit.ly/1zmbSR4

SGA president on tap for proposing beer at home games
An article about the proposal of beer sales at Eastern Kentucky University football games mentions how Rice handles alcohol sales at its games.
The Eastern Progress (Richmond, Ky.)
http://bit.ly/1zmbWQT

Cranford Cub Scout Pack 75 visits West Point
A Cub Scout pack attended the Army-Rice Owls football game Oct. 11.
Cranford Chronicle (New Jersey)
http://bit.ly/1z1c9Yq

SPORTS

Berkman enjoying next phase in life
Former Rice baseball player Lance Berkman, who is completing his kinesiology degree at Rice, is featured. Head baseball coach Wayne Graham is quoted.
CBS Houston
http://cbsloc.al/ZJl4OR

Articles preview Saturday’s football game between Rice and the University of North Texas.
Five things UNT fans should know about Rice
Denton Record-Chronicle (Denton, Texas)
http://bit.ly/1tfvpiL
Football: McNulty’s work, wait pay off
Denton Record-Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1rmJ4ii
Relationship between UNT coach, QB’s family comes full circle decades later
Dallas Morning News
http://bit.ly/1wuSwp7
College football notebook: Southern Miss climbing back to respectability
El Paso Times
http://bit.ly/1wuSwFD
North Texas (2-5) at Rice (3-3)
Miami Herald (This article also appeared in the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, the Wichita Eagle and the Kansas City Star.)
http://bit.ly/1DEqsCg