Dateline Rice for June 14, 2017

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Will Trump fire Mueller? A friend says maybe — but Washington warns against it.
Douglas Brinkley, professor of history, is quoted.
Washington Post (This also appeared in Houston Chronicle, LMT Online, ADN, Standard-Examiner and My San Antonio.)
http://wapo.st/2rhdY2W
Donald Trump says he has no intention to fire Robert Mueller, but this is Trump we’re talking about
Stuff
http://bit.ly/2rhag9K
‘Imus in the Morning’
WABC (This also aired on 66 other stations.)
http://bit.ly/2t22cLj (Click on the audio button to listen to the broadcast.) 

Cities can jump-start climate progress by plugging in their vehicles
Daniel Cohan, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, authored an op-ed about climate progress.
The Conversation (This also appeared in the Houston Chronicle and a number of other media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/2rrvTYU
Science: Back electric cars if your city wants to defy Trump and go green
Informed Comment
http://bit.ly/2ssw1HU

The transportation side effects of ‘the great inversion’
Bill Fulton, director of Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, authored an op-ed about cities. Fulton is also quoted in an article about his recent trip to Israel with Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner.
Governing
http://bit.ly/2soovg9
Houston delegation visits Israel to research high-tech startups and other industries
Houston Public Media (This also appeared in Houston News Info.)
http://bit.ly/2rhrdk2

Qatar slams ‘illegal siege’ as neighbors seek to influence US
Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, fellow for the Middle East at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted.
Bloomberg Politics (This also appeared in BOE Report.)
https://bloom.bg/2ssrp4b

Term sheet — Tuesday, June 13
Seed accelerators AngelPad and Y Combinator have landed the coveted top spots in the inaugural 2017 rankings from the Seed Accelerator Rankings Project, a benchmarking program run by entrepreneurship and management experts from Rice, MIT and the University of Richmond. Yael Hochberg, the Ralph S. O’Connor Associate Professor in Finance and Entrepreneurship, is mentioned.
Fortune
http://for.tn/2sazWpB

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Finding the most dangerous intersections in Houston
Traffic accidents involving pedestrians and bicyclists have increased both in Houston and nationally in recent years, and a new report from Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research found that intersections with traffic lights are nine times more likely to see fatal car crashes with pedestrians and bicyclists. Yujie Hu, development, transportation and placemaking research fellow at the institute, and Kyle Shelton, director of strategic partnerships at the institute, authored the article. The article also mentions Marjorie Corcoran, a professor of physics and astronomy who was killed Feb. 3 in a train-cyclist accident.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required. This appeared in the Chronicle’s “Gray Matters” online magazine.)
http://bit.ly/2t1tu4r

New judge chosen to preside over Attorney General Ken Paxton’s criminal case
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.
Dallas Morning News
http://bit.ly/2rvGHAm
Las Vegas lets you bet on almost everything — except elections
KTRH
http://bit.ly/2s0Z7wq
SB4: ¿Qué llevó a Texas a aprobar una ley tan extrema?
Al Dia Dallas (An English translation is not available.)
http://bit.ly/2t2hrUf

8 Texas universities made this global college ranking — and UT Austin leads them all
Rice is No. 89 in the QS World University Rankings for 2018.
Austin American-Statesman
https://atxne.ws/2ssr0yI

Understanding Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the leading candidate for Mexico’s presidency
Hanszen College junior Raul DeLira authored an op-ed about the presidential campaign of Andrés Manuel López Obrador in Mexico.
Houston Chronicle’s “Baker Institute Blog”
http://bit.ly/2saz0BP

Why making do with less can boost your career
Scott Sonenshein, the Henry Gardiner Symonds Professor of Management at Rice’s Jones Graduate School of Business, discusses his book “Stretch: Unlock the Power of Less — and Achieve More Than You Ever Imagined.”
Dallas Morning News
http://bit.ly/2t2alz5

Dragon lacrosse players earn All-American recognition
A student who hopes to attend Rice is mentioned.
Southlake Style
http://bit.ly/2tm620U

BROADCAST

Study: Electric market reforms ‘delivered what was intended’
Residential electricity rates in competitive areas in Texas have declined relative to wholesale electricity prices, which suggests that Texas electricity providers are minimizing costs to meet market demands, according to a new paper by Ken Medlock, the James A. Baker III and Susan Baker Fellow in Energy and Resource Economics and senior director of the Center for Energy Studies at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and lecturer of economics.
Houston Public Media
http://bit.ly/2rhmhvy
Study: Electric market reforms ‘delivered what was intended’
Texas Standard (This also aired on 24 radio stations.) 
http://bit.ly/2sAmRbP

Despite its diversity, Houston isn’t the Texas city with the highest rate of interracial marriage
Leah Binkovitz, staff writer for Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, is quoted about interracial marriage.
Texas Standard (This also aired on 24 radio stations.) 
http://bit.ly/2s0WTwV

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Prosthetic hand offers ‘muscle sense’ to amputees, represents major advancement in prosthetic research
Engineers working to add “muscle sense” to prosthetic limbs found that tactile feedback on the skin allowed blindfolded test subjects to more than double their ability to discern the size of objects grasped with a prosthetic hand. Marcia O’Malley, professor of mechanical engineering and computer science, visiting researcher Edoardo Battaglia and Rice graduate student Janelle Clark are mentioned, and a video produced by Rice University is embedded in the article.
American Ceramic Society
http://bit.ly/2s1jyJF

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Head transplant? Astonishing new medical breakthrough: William Sikkema
The combination of graphene nanoribbons made with a process developed at Rice University and a common polymer could someday be of critical importance to healing damaged spinal cords in people. Graduate student William Sikkema discusses the research.
Everything Zoomer
http://bit.ly/2ssmdO1

Leading accounting academic receives Lifetime Award
The American Accounting Association announced that Stephen Zeff, the Keith Anderson Professor of Accounting at Rice’s Jones Graduate School of Business, is the recipient of its 2017 Lifetime Service Award.
Economica
http://bit.ly/2t24iLa

Covering controversial issues on campus
Kelley Callaway, director of student media, is quoted.
Nieman Reports
http://bit.ly/2rvvJLm

International panel of judges announced for AEC Excellence Awards 2017
Alumna Julie Siple ’07 is mentioned.
Geospatial World
http://bit.ly/2t1U8tT

The travel ban isn’t new: America’s history of restrictive immigrant legislation — Part II
Stephen Klineberg, founding director of Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research and a professor of sociology, is quoted.
Brown Girl Magazine
http://bit.ly/2tm62OJ

Keepsakes, June 14
Graduate student Kevin Smiley is mentioned.
Advocate-Messenger
http://bit.ly/2rvQYfL

Making Pepper walk: Understanding Softbank’s purchase of Boston Dynamics
IBM Research and Rice University have collaborated to create the prototype IBM Multi-Purpose Eldercare Robot Assistant, a first-of-its-kind Watson-enabled application designed to aid the elderly and assist caregivers.
Alley Watch
http://bit.ly/2tmlZnP

Election 2017: Mayor’s race heats up in Chewelah
Approximately half of mayoral elections in six U.S. states are unopposed, and unopposed elections are on the rise, according to a report from the Center for Local Elections in American Politics, part of Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research.
Chewelah Independent
http://bit.ly/2sokMPT

Future automation plans include ocean shipping
Moshe Vardi, director of Rice’s Ken Kennedy Institute for Information Technology, the Karen Ostrum George Distinguished Service Professor of Computational Engineering and professor of computer science, expects that within 30 years machines will be capable of doing almost any job that a human can.
Vdare
http://bit.ly/2rrixMq
How worried should we be about artificial intelligence? I asked 17 experts.
OIA News
http://bit.ly/2ssvDsE

SPORTS

2 Rice pitchers picked in MLB draft
Rice baseball players Glenn Otto and Dane Myers were drafted by the New York Yankees and the Detroit Tigers, respectively.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/2szR5f4
http://bit.ly/2ssjsw0
Blue Jays draft Kacy Clemens in 8th round
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/2t21UUA
http://bit.ly/2rrqn8s
Clements’ Jack Conlon drafted by Orioles in 4th round
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/2tlLyWg
http://bit.ly/2t1xnWN
Jays take flier on a Clemens
Houston Chronicle (This also appeared in Times Union.)
http://bit.ly/2tm9zwq
How to follow the 2017 Major League Baseball draft: Day 3
Detroit Free Press
http://on.freep.com/2sseUpi
Tigers grab a couple of All-Americans among 8 players on Day 2 of MLB draft
Oakland Press
http://bit.ly/2t1N7t5
Baseball draft: Laws 7th-round pick by Blue Jays
Salisbury Post
http://bit.ly/2rrx22H
Pinstriped profile: 5th-round pick — Glenn Otto
Pinstriped Prospects
http://bit.ly/2saIixC
Tigers pick Notre Dame power arm Brad Bass among 8 players on MLB draft Day 2
Detroit Free Press
http://on.freep.com/2rqQMUh
Tigers select 8 players on Day 2 of 2017 MLB draft
CBS Detroit
http://cbsloc.al/2rvJUjp
Aaron Judge is ‘great for the game’ of baseball, says Mike Trout
Bronx Pinstripes
http://bit.ly/2ssejEh
Yankees draft update — Day 2
Bronx Pinstripes
http://bit.ly/2sAxfjR
MLB draft 2017: Grading the Yankees’ 5th-round pick — RHP Glenn Otto
Pinstripe Alley
http://bit.ly/2saEv3o
MLB draft 2017: Yankees select RHP Glenn Otto 152nd overall
Pinstripe Alley
http://bit.ly/2s0R175
What Glenn Otto brings to the New York Yankees
Fan Rag
http://bit.ly/2s13B60
Tigers take 8 players, including 2 catchers, on Day 2 of 2017 MLB draft
M Live
http://bit.ly/2s1kjlZ

WKU tops C-USA in titles: Cavanaugh, Lamp named Athletes of the Year
Rice is mentioned.
LEX18
http://bit.ly/2sohonU

Greer: College World Series all business this time for Louisville baseball
Rice baseball is mentioned.
Courier-Journal
http://cjky.it/2rvvuA0
Beyond the field: A look into Taylor Schwaner’s accomplishments
The Lion’s Roar
http://bit.ly/2sa5N9L
Southeastern’s Mac Sceroler drafted by Cleveland in the 2017 MLB draft
The Times-Picayune
http://bit.ly/2t1zrOP
A look at every team competing in the College World Series
USA Today
https://usat.ly/2s0Luxl
Schallenberg: With future bright, gates of Omaha well within reach
The Huntsville Item
http://bit.ly/2ssq0e6
LSU’s infield duo taken 9 picks apart in MLB draft; see other draftees with Louisiana ties
The Advocate
http://bit.ly/2sAm6Qd
College World Series team capsules
Miami Herald
http://hrld.us/2tm2pbm

College World Series: MLB No. 1 overall draft picks to play in the CWS
Former Rice baseball player Matt Anderson is mentioned.
NCAA
http://on.ncaa.com/2t1P4pa

Washington Nationals — PlayerWatch
Former Rice baseball player Anthony Rendon is mentioned.
Reuters
http://reut.rs/2rrBRc4

Bohls: Doug Ghim gives Texas golf program another reason to crow
Rice baseball coach Wayne Graham and former Rice coach David Pierce are mentioned.
Austin American-Statesman
https://atxne.ws/2tmkTbY

Kansas announces 2017-18 nonconference lineup
Rice women’s basketball is mentioned.
Salina Post
http://bit.ly/2rhBbBY

Best 5 moments for UTEP sports this spring
Rice men’s basketball is mentioned.
The Prospector
http://bit.ly/2t26LFb

The 50 most important college players in Texas in 2017 — No. 22: Rice’s Emmanuel Ellerbee
Baker College senior Emmanuel Ellerbee is featured.
Dave Campbell’s Texas Football
http://bit.ly/2t22hyv

NEWS RELEASE

Rice professor available to discuss astronaut training
NASA announced its newest class of astronaut candidates this month, and Eduardo Salas, the Allyn R. and Gladys M. Cline Chair of Psychology and professor of psychology, is available to discuss what’s in store for the astronauts.
http://bit.ly/2rhkZkb