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Top Stories: Trump Picks Third Texan For Appeals Court; Paxton Vs. Huffines In Primary

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The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in New Orleans, La.

The top local stories this evening from KERA News:

President Donald Trump has picked Gov. Greg Abbott's general counsel for the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Andrew Oldham will join two other Texans who were nominated by Trump and confirmed to the same, New Orleans-based court: former Texas Supreme Court Justice Don Willett and James Ho, former Texas solicitor general.

Other stories this evening:

  • A federal judge is hearing arguments on whether statewide elections in Texas to choose judges for its highest criminal and civil courts violate the Voting Rights Act by deliberately diluting Hispanic voting power. A coalition of Hispanic and civil rights advocates has sued and is seeking single-member districts for the Court of Criminal Appeals and Supreme Court. Charles “Rocky” Rhodes is a professor at South Texas College of Law in Houston, and he broke down the case with Laura Rice on Texas Standard.

  • It would be hard to find an American child who didn't spend at least some time today with a computer, smartphone or television. Still, the science is inconclusive when it comes to whether or not all that screen time is detrimental. Today on Think, NPR education writer Anya Kamenetz talked with host Krys Boyd about why some researchers hesitate to think of technology use among children as an addiction.

  • There’s just one open seat up for election in the Texas Senate this year: Senate District 8 in Collin County. The incumbent – Van Taylor – is stepping down to run for Congress. KERA’s Christopher Connelly reports, the battle to replace him involves some famous names in North Texas, and a whole bunch of money.

You can listen to North Texas stories weekdays at 8:22 a.m. and 6:20 p.m. on KERA 90.1 FM.

Gus Contreras is a digital producer and reporter at KERA News. Gus produces the local All Things Considered segment and reports on a variety of topics from, sports to immigration. He was an intern and production assistant for All Things Considered in Washington D.C.