Five stories that have North Texas talking: Tesla doesn’t choose Texas for its massive factory; Michael Sam is a Dallas Cowboy; explore the secrets of the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center; and more.
The Fort Worth-trained doctor who contracted the Ebola virus says he relied on his faith to get through uncertain times. “Faith is central to my life. I am who I am, I do what I do because of my faith,” Kent Brantly told NBC’s Matt Lauer on the “Today” show. Brantly, a medical missionary, spoke publicly for the first time a couple weeks ago at an Atlanta hospital, where he had been treated after contracting Ebola in Liberia. “I felt like I was about to die,” Brantly told NBC. Brantly, who was trained at John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, was working with Ebola patients through Samaritan’s Purse, an aid relief group. Brantly told NBC he’s “100 percent” convinced he didn’t contract Ebola while treating patients who were infected. “He thinks he may have become infected by someone he saw while he wasn’t suited up in the personal protective equipment that doctors, nurses and other health care workers wear to treat sick Ebola patients,” NBC reports. Brantly’s full interview airs Friday night on NBC’s “Dateline.”
- Tesla Motors has selected Nevada over Texas for a massive $5 billion factory that it will build to pump out batteries for a new generation of electric cars. A person with familiar with Tesla's plans told The Associated Press Wednesday that Nevada beat out four states that were vying for the project. Work soon will resume on a site outside Reno. Learn more here. [Associated Press]
- Michael Sam's second chance will come with America's team. Coach Jason Garrett said Wednesday that the league's first openly gay player will be added to the Dallas Cowboys' practice roster. The Cowboys, who are seeking help with their pass rush because of injuries and the offseason release of franchise sacks leader DeMarcus Ware, added Sam four days after he was released by St. Louis. Sam isn't likely to be on the active roster for Sunday's season opener against San Francisco. Read more here. [Associated Press]
- Explore the secrets of the Meyerson. The Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center is marking its 25th anniversary. Learn how the hall came to life – backers persevered through two bond elections, a recession and public protests. As KERA’s Jerome Weeks reports, the planners wanted a better home for the Dallas Symphony. They got more than that. Delve into the Meyerson in this interactive Secrets of the Meyerson website from KERA and Art&Seek. Also, today at 1 p.m. on “Think,” host Krys Boyd talks about the concert hall with Weeks and author Laurie Shulman. That’s on KERA 90.1 FM. Here’s a video sneak peek:
- Tonight, KERA-TV will air the first episode of Frame of Mind. The 13-week series features some of the best independent films by Texas directors. This week, KERA’s Big Screen team talks to the curator of the series about what it says about the state of Texas filmmaking. Learn more on KERA’s Art&Seek.
