Dateline Rice for Dec. 23, 2015

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

This kryptonite argument against trans rights is beating America’s top LGBT group
In the wake of the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance’s definitive defeat in last month’s general election, political scientists, supporters and opponents of the law agreed that the “bathroom issue” critics pushed doomed the law at the polls. A survey conducted by Bob Stein, the Lena Gohlman Fox Professor of Political Science, is cited. Stein is also quoted in an article about Texas’ solution to evacuation traffic.
BuzzFeed
http://bzfd.it/1Mw67Rf
Will another traffic nightmare precede the next big storm?
Texas Tribune
http://bit.ly/1U4AALH

TV in Mexico goes digital
Mexican TV will soon be digital. Tony Payan, the Françoise and Edward Djerejian Fellow for Mexico Studies at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and director of the institute’s Mexico Center, explains the problems this creates for those with a low income.
SDPB Radio (This also appeared in WBFO.org, Topix, WVPB-FM, WPLN-FM, WUWM-FM, EIN News, WWNO-FM, WSDL 90.7 and Benton Foundation.)
http://bit.ly/1JuOYHC

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Mosquito watch
Despite the increasing risks of mosquito-transmitted epidemics in the United States and Mexico, policymakers in both countries have made little effort to prevent future outbreaks, according to a new policy brief by tropical-disease and science policy experts at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1NLl2J0

University of St. Thomas opts out of ‘campus carry’ law
University of St. Thomas opted out of the Texas “campus carry” law. Rice is mentioned for also opting out of the law.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1PkO072
Another Houston university opts out of ‘campus carry’
Houston Business Journal
http://bit.ly/1NLkMdd
Open carry in Texas after Jan. 1: Chance for fashion statement?
Miami Herald (This article appeared in 32 other media outlets.)
http://hrld.us/1Th4jRz
KTRK-TV
http://bit.ly/1Yxf3C5

Abbott plans Christmas visit to National Guard on border today
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 about Gov. Greg Abbott’s visit with 2,000 Texas National Guard troops along the border in Weslaco. Jones is also cited for his ranking of the Texas House and the Republican presidential candidate most likely to secure a nomination.
WOAI.com (This also appeared in KTKR-AM.)
http://bit.ly/1mzU6W3
http://bit.ly/1RG8Ejr
Susan King re-enters senate race at 11th hour
Texas Scorecard
http://bit.ly/1YB4JU9
Republican insiders turn on Trump
Canon Place Mercury
http://bit.ly/1J4idGq

Houston university named a top 5 ‘best value’ school
Rice is No. 7 on Kiplinger’s list of 10 best-value schools for 2016. The ranking combines public and private universities. Rice is No. 4 on the best-value list of private universities.
Houston Business Journal (This article also appeared in My Informs and Congoo News.)
http://bit.ly/1mgmHPw

A new twist in genetic switches
An important genetic switch operates through a mechanism revealed by molecular computer models at Rice University. The NFkB-DNA-IkB system operates by molecular stripping, the details of which are explained for the first time. Peter Wolynes, the D.R. Bullard-Welch Foundation Professor of Science and a professor of chemistry, and postdoctoral researcher Davit Potoyan are quoted.
Texas Medical Center News (This article also appeared in Biology News, Health Canal, U.S. Official News, Bionity and Biology News.)
http://bit.ly/1PkUqTF

Houston’s 5 biggest music stories
KTRU’s return to the FM airwaves is mentioned in an article highlighting the top 2015 music news stories in Houston.
Houston Press
http://bit.ly/1PkRQNx
Goodbye, good riddance to the entirety of 2015
The Leader
http://bit.ly/1OnuCHO

BROADCAST

Al-Jazeera America
Jim Krane, the Wallace S. Wilson Fellow in Energy Studies at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, discusses the global impact of the falling price of oil.
http://bit.ly/1SbiARn

Why Elon Musk wants to recycle his rocket boosters
David Alexander, professor of physics and astronomy and director of the Rice Space Institute, discusses the successful landing of the first-stage booster from SpaceX.
Marketplace.org
http://bit.ly/1QL7XW0

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Antibiotic-releasing bone implants for craniofacial surgery
Rice researchers test antibiotic-infused block copolymers in their plastic spacers to protect craniofacial tissue from infection while healing. Antonios Mikos, the Louis Calder Professor of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, is quoted. Alumnus Paschalia Mountziaris ’10 is mentioned.
MedGadget
http://bit.ly/1V6At3w
Antibiotic gel can prevent infection in bone implants
Fierce Drug Delivery
http://bit.ly/1Pk1VbD

Texas failing in health insurance coverage?
The rate of adults without health insurance across the U.S. dropped nearly twice as much as in Texas from 2013 to 2015, according to a new report released by Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and the Episcopal Health Foundation. Elena Marks, a nonresident health policy fellow at the Baker Institute for Public Policy and president and CEO of the Episcopal Health Foundation, is quoted.
Insurance Business America
http://bit.ly/1mzXbW9
Report shows Texas is lagging behind in bringing health insurance to consumers
Live Insurance News
http://bit.ly/1SbarMS

EMS providers must ask for help with emotional trauma
Alumnus Mark Escott ’96 authored a blog post about his experience with posttraumatic stress disorder.
Journal of Emergency Medical Services
http://bit.ly/1Sb29o8

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Book review: Ladders (2nd edition)
Writer Erick Villagomez reviews “Ladders” by Albert Pope, the Gus Sessions Wortham Professor of Architecture.
Spacing
http://bit.ly/1OnuoAl

The 10 best bars in Rice Village, Houston
Valhalla, the graduate student-run pub, is included on a list of the best college bars in Texas and unique underground spots in Rice Village.
The Culture Trip
http://bit.ly/1kgXF1E

Most popular features 2015
President John F. Kennedy’s famous “Moon Speech” delivered at Rice Sept. 12, 1962, is mentioned.
Blue & Green Tomorrow (This also appeared in The Server Side.)
http://bit.ly/1Yxb9sL

SPORTS

WPMI-TV (Mobile, Ala.)
Rice basketball fell to University of South Alabama 67-74 at the Mitchell Center.
http://bit.ly/1mA3WXN

Rice Owls fall in OT to Texas Southern in women’s college basketball action
Rice women’s basketball fell to Texas Southern University 66-69 at Tudor Fieldhouse. Players Shani Rainey and Wendy Knight are mentioned.
Examiner.com
http://exm.nr/1JuNqx7

Swoopes named candidate for Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame
Rice women’s basketball will play against Loyola University Chicago Dec. 28 at Tudor Fieldhouse.
MVC-Sports.com
http://bit.ly/22pYUh9

Year 1 – Jordan Stephens
Rice baseball player Jordan Stephens has been added to the Major League Baseball Pipeline list of the top 30 White Sox prospects. Head coach Wayne Graham is mentioned.
Chicago Now
http://bit.ly/1Th5ws1

NEWS RELEASE

Rice University to close for winter break until Jan. 4
Rice University will be closed for winter break from noon Dec. 24 through Jan. 3; the university will reopen Jan. 4.
http://bit.ly/1Iq4M3t