The top local stories this morning from KERA News:
A Senate confirmation hearing begins for former Governor Rick Perry. He’s nominated to become energy secretary. In a Republican primary debate during his failed 2011 bid for President, Perry forgot to name “energy” as one of the departments he’d eliminate if he were elected.
The Energy Department oversees nuclear weapons. Perry has little experience with nuclear power. However, he oversaw a boom in oil and gas drilling and wind power during his time as governor.
Perry’s trying to remove himself from potential conflicts of interest if he’s confirmed. In an ethics disclosure filed last week, Perry said he’d sell off his holdings in several energy companies, including Energy Transfer Partners, the Dallas company behind the controversial Dakota Access Pipeline.
Perry is the second Texan to face a confirmation hearing after Rex Tillerson, who’s nominated to be Secretary of State.
Other stories this morning:
- Dallas native and American advertising titan Liener Temerlin died late last week at 88. Our Big Screen team talked about Temerlin’s contributions to the world of film.
- Former Texas Rangers player Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez has been chosen for Major League Baseball’s Hall of Fame. Rodriguez played 13 of his 21 major league seasons with the Texas Rangers. He’s the second catcher to be inducted in the Hall of Fame on the first ballot. Rodriguez is now the youngest member at age 45.
You can listen to North Texas stories weekdays at 8:22 a.m. and 6:20 p.m. on KERA 90.1 FM.
