Five stories that have North Texas talking: Millions of Texans are registered to vote but will they show up?; UT-Arlington researchers are studying the oil extraction near Balmorhea before it begins; the Kimbell is showing the early works of Claude Monet; and more.
A record 15 million Texans registered to vote by the Oct. 11 deadline. But showing up at the polls isn’t one of Texas’ strong suits. Of the 35 states that hold primaries, the voter turnout in the Texas primaries held in March lagged behind all but seven states, The Texas Tribune reports. About 7 percent of adults cast ballots in the Democratic primary and 14 percent of adults cast ballots in the Republican primary, according to the United States Election Project.
Low GOP voter turnout is fueling Sen. Ted Cruz’s travel plans in North Texas this week. He’s attending three events aimed at ensuring a strong appearance from conservatives “after a presidential race that left many such voters disillusioned,” according to the Tribune. Cruz's get-out-the-vote efforts began earlier this month, when he visited a phone bank for the Tarrant County Republican Party. [The Texas Tribune]
Here's that video of #TedCruz working phone bank at GOP office in Fort Worth. This time with watermark for @dallasnews, the content owner. pic.twitter.com/7D4rTGcXJu
— G.J. McCarthy (@gjmccarthy) October 6, 2016
- Houston’s Apache Corporation is partnering with UT-Arlington to conduct research on the oil extraction process planned near Balmorhea and its spring-fed pool. Last month, Apache announced a massive oil and gas discovery around the state park in Reeves County. After news broke that park officials hadn’t studied the impact of the drilling near the site, many became concerned about one of the state’s most treasured natural sites. Texas Standard reports the partnership between Apache and the UTA is unprecedented. [Texas Standard]
- An exhibition of Claude Monet’s early works opened Sunday in Fort Worth. The Kimbell Art Museum and the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco assembled 55 pieces from private collections and museums around the world to create, “Early Monet.” These works lead up to Monet’s 1872 painting of a foggy harbor at daybreak — the piece that established Impressionism, according to Art&Seek. Learn more about the show, which runs through Jan. 29. [Art&Seek]
- On Sunday, ESPN's “Outside the Lines” aired a segment on Texas' campus carry law and its impact on athletes. Reporter Paula Lavigne talked with University of Texas administrators, students and athletes, including linebacker Malik Jefferson about the law, which took effect on the 50th anniversary of the UT clock tower shooting that left 13 people dead and dozens injured. [ESPN]
- Not many glass artists are known in Texas, but Jim Bowman is a household name. His work resides in universities, hotels, collectors’ homes and the City of Dallas.He's worked with glass in North Texas for 30 years now. In that time, he helped get UT-Arlington's glassblowing program off the ground — as well as helped pioneer the Cedars as an artists' community. He’s the subject of the most recent Artist Spotlight. [Art&Seek]
