Official newspaper of The University of Texas at Austin

The Daily Texan

Official newspaper of The University of Texas at Austin

The Daily Texan

Official newspaper of The University of Texas at Austin

The Daily Texan

Hannah Ortega, Senior Audio Producer

Hannah is a journalism and rhetoric/writing senior from Dallas, Texas. She currently serves as a senior audio producer but previously worked as a news desk editor, senior videographer, projects reporter and more. Hannah enjoys horseback riding and hanging out with friends.

All content by Hannah Ortega
Austinites can vote next week to decriminalize marijuana, end no-knock warrants

Austinites can vote next week to decriminalize marijuana, end no-knock warrants

Hannah Ortega, News Reporter April 26, 2022

Editor's Note: This article first appeared in the April 22, 2022 flipbook. Austinites can cast their votes starting April 25 on a proposition that could end no-knock warrants and citations or arrests...

Bevo Beats: West Campus DJs

Bevo Beats: West Campus DJs

As DJ-ing rises in popularity in West Campus, student DJs at UT share their thoughts on the community, mix-making process and efforts to gain more of the spotlight. Music: "West Bad" by...

Texas primary results announce Greg Abbott, Beto ORourke as party nominees for Texas governor

Texas primary results announce Greg Abbott, Beto O’Rourke as party nominees for Texas governor

Hannah Ortega, Senior News Reporter March 2, 2022

Republican Greg Abbott and Democrat Beto O’Rourke won their party’s respective nomination for governor Tuesday night in the Texas primaries, while incumbent Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton will...

Student startup Psykhe matches students with therapists

Student startup Psykhe matches students with therapists

Hannah Ortega, News Reporter February 28, 2022
Psykhe, a medical match-making service for students and therapists, within its seven months of operation, has matched over 60 students.
UT students express concern over in-person classes despite improving COVID-19 numbers

UT students express concern over in-person classes despite improving COVID-19 numbers

Hannah Ortega, News Reporter February 15, 2022

This article first appeared in the Feb. 11, 2022 flipbook. Nearing the end of the second week of in-person classes, the UT-Austin COVID-19 dashboard reported an estimated 373 active COVID-19 cases on...

Helping the Samaritans: UT engineering students to design new facility for Rusk food pantry

Helping the Samaritans: UT engineering students to design new facility for Rusk food pantry

Hannah Ortega, News Reporter February 13, 2022
Designing a new facility for the Good Samaritan serves as a capstone project for 28 Texas engineering students.
UT assistant professor to conduct research abroad with Texas Global grant

UT assistant professor to conduct research abroad with Texas Global grant

Hannah Ortega, Senior News Reporter February 10, 2022

A nearly $10,000 grant will allow assistant professor Benjamin Leibowicz to research sustainable development in relation to climate change in Austria this summer. The Texas Global Faculty Research Seed...

CapMetro planning to build light rail on Guadalupe

CapMetro planning to build light rail on Guadalupe

Hannah Ortega, News Reporter January 22, 2022
The rail line is part of Project Connect, a $7.1 billion plan voters passed in the November 2020 election, and will include an orange line and a blue line.
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COVID-19 impacts students’ study abroad plans

Hannah Ortega August 14, 2020

Abril Barraza was supposed to study abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina, this fall and graduate in fall 2022. Now, due to COVID-19, Barraza’s study abroad program has been canceled, and she will be...

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Students react to being asked to quarantine prior to campus return

Hannah Ortega August 10, 2020

Before returning to campus, the University is asking students to quarantine themselves for 14 days and to use the Protect Texas Together app to track their symptoms, according to a July 29 email from UT...

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UT-Austin holds student focus groups to discuss fall reopening plans

Hannah Ortega July 21, 2020

The University recently held several focus groups to get student feedback on fall reopening plans, including intentions to return to campus. Sara Kennedy, director of strategic and executive communications...

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Texas Advance Commitment covers both incoming, current students despite misunderstanding

Hannah Ortega July 18, 2020

After a student-led petition gathered over 700 signatures, the University confirmed financial aid from Texas Advance Commitment will cover both current and incoming students, clearing up rumors circulating...

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UT students voice concerns about fall reopening plan

Hannah Ortega July 14, 2020

Some students have expressed frustrations with UT’s fall reopening plan, specifically regarding the cost of tuition, online learning and double-occupancy rooms in residence halls. Details of the...

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Texas 4000 completes annual bike ride virtually due to COVID-19

Hannah Ortega July 5, 2020

After completing an 18-month training program, 78 bicyclists with Texas 4000, a UT organization that raises money and awareness for cancer, were supposed to set out on a 4,000-mile-long journey this summer...

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UT-Austin announces plans for campus operations, residence halls this fall

Nicole Stuessy and Hannah Ortega June 29, 2020

Editor's note: This story has been updated throughout. UT announced more details of its reopening plan Monday, including online, hybrid and in-person classes, mostly double-occupancy rooms in residence...

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Small UT groups raise money during Black Lives Matter movement

Hannah Ortega June 27, 2020

Despite having about 30 active members, the UT Pre-Optometry Professional Society wanted to support the Black Lives Matter movement, and raised $1,448 for two organizations in just nine days. The group...

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Students, faculty, staff will receive disciplinary action for face mask violations

Hannah Ortega June 20, 2020

UT Interim President Jay Hartzell announced the University will require face masks or coverings inside all campus buildings in an email June 8. Masks are not required while walking around campus, but they...

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Wildflower Center employee tests positive for COVID-19, UT says

Hannah Ortega June 10, 2020

An employee at the University’s Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center tested positive for COVID-19 while another displayed symptoms for the virus, UT announced Wednesday in an internal email to University...

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Students, not soldiers: A look into UT-Austin’s student veteran community

Hannah Ortega March 6, 2020

At 29, first-year student Axton Vorpahl sits at the front of classes filled with students potentially a decade younger than him. While most freshmen have likely only ever known their high schools and...

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3 UT employees receive Texas Parents Staff Merit Award

Hannah Ortega February 3, 2020

Andrew Mendoza said when his boss called him into her office, he figured there was a problem they needed to solve. Instead, he received news that he had won a Texas Parents Staff Merit Award. Mendoza,...

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WalletHub study names Austin best college town in US

Hannah Ortega January 22, 2020

Austin took first place in a study of the best college towns and cities in the United States last month.  WalletHub, a personal finance website, designated Austin as the best college town in the...

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Dorm prices increase due to renovation, maintenance and labor costs

Hannah Ortega September 3, 2019

Dorm prices increased by hundreds of dollars this year to help cover the costs of renovation projects, maintenance needs and other expenses.  This year, students have to pay $11,791 for a shared...

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Some housing requires full August rent despite late move in

Hannah Ortega August 28, 2019

At many West Campus apartments, students often pay rent for all of August despite not being allowed to move in until the last couple weeks of the month.  2400 Nueces property manager Laura Bales...

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Senate president’s resolution on incomplete grades passes in Faculty Council

Hannah Ortega May 9, 2019

“Could you just not handle it?” Katarina de la Rosa said the question came up in a job interview in reference to her course load. The prospective employer was asking about an X symbol, which...

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Initium Magazine hopes to bridge gap between science and art at College of Natural Sciences

Hannah Ortega May 3, 2019

Editor's Note: The second paragraph of this story has been adjusted to better reflect the inspiration behind Initium. Public health freshmen Joshua Lattao and Neha Dronamraju hope to bridge the...

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UT students work hard, network, make lifelong friends at Disney College Program

Hannah Ortega May 2, 2019

From atop the Swiss Family Treehouse in Magic Kingdom, marketing junior Samantha Kagel watched the Happily Ever After fireworks show with tears in her eyes and friends by her side. It was her last shift...

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Students struggle to find, use microwaves at UT Austin

Hannah Ortega April 26, 2019

Half an hour. That’s how long Laura Souto once waited to use a microwave. Souto, who lives in Riverside, is one of many students who brings food from home and struggles to use or find microwaves...

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Student Government passes legislation supporting apology to Wallace Hall, permanently establishing Gender Inclusivity Coalition

Hannah Ortega April 24, 2019

Student Government passed an assembly resolution Tuesday night supporting an apology to Wallace Hall, a former UT System regent, and an assembly bill permanently establishing the Gender Inclusivity Coalition...

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Student Government passes resolution for ‘difficult dialogues’ Faculty Council task force

Hannah Ortega April 17, 2019

Student Government members fast-tracked and approved an assembly resolution Tuesday night supporting the establishment of a Faculty Council task force to look into best practices for handling difficult...

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Senate passes resolution supporting course schedule removal of professors who violate sexual misconduct policies

Hannah Ortega April 12, 2019

Members of the Senate of College Councils fast-tracked and passed a resolution Thursday evening that supports removing English associate professor Coleman Hutchison from this fall’s course schedule.  An...

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Student Government members propose legislation supporting apology to Wallace Hall

Hannah Ortega April 10, 2019

In light of the college admissions scandal involving UT and several other universities, Student Government proposed an assembly resolution Tuesday evening supporting an apology to Wallace Hall, a former...

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Ivanova, Lee elected Senate president, vice president

Hannah Ortega April 5, 2019

Elena Ivanova and Katherine Lee were named president and vice president of the Senate of College Councils in a special election Thursday evening. Ivanova ran against neuroscience junior Christopher...

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Senior campaigns for RLM name change of jurassic proportions

Hannah Ortega April 4, 2019

Malcolm Over Moore, a campaign created by electrical engineering senior Vikram Sundaram, embraces absurdity by supporting a unique name change for Robert Lee Moore Hall. The movement calls for the building...

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113th Student Government Assembly holds first meeting

Hannah Ortega April 3, 2019

The 113th Student Government Assembly convened for the first time at a meeting Tuesday night. Members voted in elections for a variety of positions, including speaker of the assembly and financial affairs...

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SG Supreme Court hears complaint concerning passing procedure for recent controversial bill

Hannah Ortega April 1, 2019

Update: In an opinion released Tuesday evening, the Student Government Supreme Court declared the passing vote on Assembly Bill 16 null and void. The bill would have established Multicultural Engagement...

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Liberal Arts Council, supporters push for resolution hearing by Faculty Council

Hannah Ortega March 29, 2019

For a little over a year, the Liberal Arts Council has been crafting and attempting to implement a resolution supporting the addition of sensitive content disclosures to professors’ syllabi. The...

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Student Government approves adding MEC representatives to improve diversity, support for former student

Hannah Ortega March 27, 2019

At the final meeting for the 112th Student Government assembly, members approved resolutions supporting athletic stadium metal detectors and a former UT student who lives in subsidized housing, as well...

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New meal plan, dining hall hours set for next year

Hannah Ortega March 12, 2019

Students who live on campus will receive meal plans with unlimited swipes for the all-you-care-to-eat dining halls next semester. The plan will allow students to visit Kinsolving Dining and Jester 2nd...

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Camron Goodman, Amie Jean named student body president, vice president by overwhelming majority of students

Hannah Ortega March 8, 2019

Camron Goodman and Amie Jean will serve as next year’s student body president and vice president. “This is … eight weeks in the making, two months of hard work and dedication,”...

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Goodman-Jean executive alliance campaign fined for financial, worker list violations

Hannah Ortega March 7, 2019

Just hours after voting closed in the 2019 Student Government election, the Election Supervisory Board fined the Goodman-Jean campaign for campaign worker and financial disclosure violations. The Election...

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Student Government proposes MEC representatives, support for metal detectors at Darrell K Royal

Hannah Ortega March 6, 2019

Members proposed legislation to establish allotted seats for Multicultural Engagement Center representatives and support metal detectors at the Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in a meeting Tuesday...

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Peace Corps Prep Certificate officially launches at UT

Hannah Ortega February 27, 2019

A launch event this evening will mark the official arrival of the Peace Corps Prep Certificate program at UT and help students learn about service abroad. The event, which coincides with Peace...

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Student Government swears in new Supreme Court Justice, presents legislation supporting Instapoll

Hannah Ortega February 27, 2019

Student Government proposed legislation supporting Instapoll in classrooms and approved a new Supreme Court Justice during a meeting Tuesday night. First year representative Avi Patel presented...

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Fanucci-Ivanova, Goodman-Jean participate in Student Government candidate debate

Hannah Ortega February 26, 2019

The Fanucci-Ivanova and Goodman-Jean executive alliances took the stage in the Student Activity Center Monday night for a debate on topics ranging from sexual assault to free speech.  The event,...

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Executive alliance candidates Lavelle, Krishnan are ‘here to have a good time’

Hannah Ortega February 21, 2019

Editor's note: This is the third in a series of profiles of the three executive alliances. Through a TikTok account, customized berets and a collaborative Google document, executive alliance...

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Student Government approves resolution supporting adoption of the Chicago Statement free speech standards

Hannah Ortega February 20, 2019

Student Government approved an assembly resolution supporting the adoption of Chicago Statement free speech standards and proposed legislation for creating new excellence awards. Liberal arts representative...

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Goodman, Jean executive alliance campaign want a ‘UT led by you’

Hannah Ortega February 19, 2019

Editor's note: This is the first in a series of profiles of the three executive alliances. Finance seniors Camron Goodman and Amie Jean said they strive to make their campaign for student body...

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Memorial bike ride honors cyclist killed near stadium

Hannah Ortega February 14, 2019

On the sidewalk near Gate 7 of Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, directly across from the Etter-Harbin Alumni Center, stands a white bike locked to a pole and adorned with artificial flowers. A laminated...

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Bike safety pushed, support for financial literacy programs approved at Student Government meeting

Hannah Ortega February 13, 2019

Students pushed for improved bike safety measures at a Student Government meeting Tuesday night with the proposal of Assembly Resolution 13. The resolution, written by James Lentz, Campus Bike Alliance...

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FIG, TrIG mentor classes to feature consent education

Hannah Ortega February 12, 2019

In order to teach incoming students about consent and healthy relationships, classes for First-Year Interest Group and Transfer-Year Interest Group mentors will include consent education starting this...

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UT, A&M students working to bring back rivalry football game

Hannah Ortega February 7, 2019

In recent weeks, students at UT and Texas A&M University have forged an alliance in the name of football rivalry. Student Body President Colton Becker, the Longhorn Athletics Agency within Student...

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Student Government discusses Title IX policies, financial literacy programs

Hannah Ortega February 6, 2019

Student Government passed a resolution to uphold current Title IX policies and reject changes presented by Betsy DeVos, U.S. Secretary of Education, in a meeting Tuesday night. Ian McEntee, Academic...

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Professor emeritus Ian Hancock named Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire

Hannah Ortega February 5, 2019

Editor's note: This story has been updaterd to include a clarified quote from a source. Connections between his Romani culture and the languages of other dispersed groups of people helped spark...

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New single transferable voting system to be used in spring student elections

Hannah Ortega January 29, 2019

This spring’s campus-wide student elections will rely on a new voting system approved by Student Government last February. The single transferable voting system, which requires students to rank...

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Texas Aging and Longevity Center to focus on aging of different populations

Hannah Ortega January 25, 2019

It’s in with the old at UT as the Texas Aging and Longevity Center kicks off today with an event at Patton Hall. The center’s creation stemmed from UT’s Aging Network and the...

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Student Government aims to promote accessibility, inclusivity through new initiatives

Hannah Ortega January 24, 2019

In an effort to make the organization more inclusive and accessible, the Student Government opened Longhorn Legislative Aide to transfer students, pinpointed an area for a potential new reflection space,...

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New College of Liberal Arts dean Ann Huff Stevens to assume role this July

Hannah Ortega January 22, 2019

The College of Liberal Arts has named Ann Huff Stevens as its new dean, effective this July. Stevens worked at the University of California, Davis for about 16 years as an economics professor and...

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Withholding personal information, meeting in public protects students using dating apps

Hannah Ortega November 30, 2018

Cat Kline said there is a lot of stigma surrounding dating apps, and occasionally for good reason. After all, it was just last month a person she connected with on the Badoo app tried to pressure her into...

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Fusion Belly Dance Club challenges stereotypes, promotes body positivity

Hannah Ortega November 29, 2018

Belly dance, a Middle Eastern art form, is often associated with seductive body rolling and hip shaking, but the new Fusion Belly Dance Club aims to challenge this stereotype. Psychology senior Gabby...

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Moisture, seasonal pattern change facilitate heavy rain in fall months

Hannah Ortega November 20, 2018

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, a weather data collection site, recorded 15.7 inches of rain during September and October. That marks the seventh-highest rainfall total for the two months since...

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UT-Austin Moody College celebrates 5-year anniversary of its naming

Hannah Ortega November 13, 2018

This month marked the five-year anniversary of the Moody Foundation’s $50 million donation to the Moody College of Communication. Last Wednesday, the college’s dean, Moody Foundation trustee...

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Malnutrition: The other side of the ‘freshman 15’

Hannah Ortega November 9, 2018

Radio-television-film freshman Alma Zamora has always struggled to maintain a healthy weight, so her mother hoped she would gain a few pounds when she came to UT. Instead, the opposite happened. Zamora...

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Hey, Curious Campus: Is the Church of Scientology just under construction or is it leaving the Drag?

Hannah Ortega October 31, 2018

The Church of Scientology on Guadalupe Street has been a familiar sight for students walking past ever since its purchase in 1979. But with new construction efforts, the building looks a bit different. So,...

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Peace Corps Prep Certificate program coming to UT-Austin

Hannah Ortega October 31, 2018

The Peace Corps Prep Certificate program is coming to UT in January and will help students take courses relevant to the service group. UT-Austin will join the University’s Dallas and El Paso locations...

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UT’s volunteering abroad programs offer unique look at culture

Hannah Ortega October 17, 2018

In a humid Colombian classroom during summer 2017, Christina Lopez played “Perfect Color” by SafetySuit for her students. She said she wanted them to listen for the colors woven throughout...

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UT students complete 2019-20 FAFSA

Hannah Ortega October 10, 2018

Students across campus now have access to the 2019-20 Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, following its release last Monday. When filling out FAFSA, students are applying for six types...

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UT freshman creates fashion brand with message of African beauty

Hannah Ortega October 9, 2018

As a child, Joyce Munia Kabwe felt shame about her foreign middle name. Now, she uses it as the moniker of her fashion brand. The clothing line was named Munia, which means sun in the African language...

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Landmarks, UT’s public art program, celebrates 10 years

Hannah Ortega October 1, 2018

From a contorted clock knot to a circle of concrete columns, Landmarks has provided public art to the UT campus for 10 years and now boasts 41 pieces. The program celebrated its 10th anniversary...

New student-run business delivers grilled cheese sandwiches straight to your door

Hannah Ortega September 25, 2018

A grilled cheese delivery service intended to provide cheap and accessible food is now making three freshmen a little more cheddar than they expected. GORT’S Grilled Cheese, created by Rithwik...

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Faculty brainstorms Walter Cronkite Plaza redesign at town hall meeting

Hannah Ortega September 20, 2018

Communications faculty members expressed their visions for a revamped, collaboration-friendly Walter Cronkite Plaza during a Wednesday meeting and brainstorming session at the Belo Center for New Media....

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