The top local stories this morning from KERA News:
President-elect Donald Trump has a few vacancies left in his administration’s cabinet. For Secretary of Agriculture, he’s turning to Texas.
Texas Tribune reporter Patrick Svitek told public radio’s Texas Standard the conversation’s been focused on Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, former state comptroller Susan Combs, and Elsa Murano.
Though Trump’s transition team has only officially named Murano as a candidate, she’s lesser known than Miller and Combs. Murano was the top food safety official at USDA under former President George W. Bush.
A decision on agriculture secretary is expected in the next few weeks.
Other stories this morning:
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas and Texas Health Resources haven’t reached a decision yet in an ongoing contract dispute, but the Dallas Morning News reports there’s signs of progress. More than 150,000 customers could end up paying more for health care if the state’s largest insurer and Texas Health can’t settle the dispute by Jan. 1.
- The way a city or a building is planned can encourage people to walk more and be healthier in daily life. We explore the concept of “active design” in our ongoing Breakthroughs project.
You can listen to North Texas stories weekdays at 8:22 a.m. and 6:20 p.m. on KERA 90.1 FM.
