Five stories that have North Texas talking: strong storms overnight leave thousands without power; the latest on the new Dallas Ebola patient; a big day for Dallas Love Field; and more.
Thousands of homes and businesses have lost electricity as thunderstorms soaked parts of North Texas overnight. Oncor reports about 23,000 customers were without power Monday morning. Most of the outages are concentrated in Dallas-Fort Worth, where scattered street flooding and downed power lines were also reported. About 1,600 power outages were reported in the Waco area. Forecasters issued a wind advisory for Fort Worth and neighboring areas through early Monday night. The National Weather Service reports sunny skies should return to North Texas by Tuesday. [Associated Press]
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed Sunday that a health care worker at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas has tested positive for the Ebola virus. It is the first known case of Ebola being contracted in the U.S. On Sunday evening, crews started decontaminating the health care worker's apartment in the M streets. She remains in isolation at Presbyterian. She’s in stable condition. She had extensive contact with Thomas Duncan, the Dallas Ebola patient who was treated at Presbyterian but died on Wednesday. Catch up on Sunday’s developments here.
- At Dallas Love Field, starting today, you are now free to move about the country nonstop on Southwest Airlines and Virgin America. The Wright Amendment flight restrictions are expiring. KERA’s BJ Austin reports: “The 1979 federal amendment, named for Fort Worth Congressman Jim Wright, placed restrictions on air travel at Love Field. The idea was to protect the new DFW International Airport, which had opened five years earlier.” There will be more routes out of Love Field starting today. Read more here.
- The Dallas Cowboys scored a big win in Seattle on Sunday, beating the Seahawks 30-23.ESPN reports: “The Cowboys didn't get flustered when they fell behind by 10 points early against a team that had won 17 of its previous 18 home games. And they didn't flinch when Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner's devastating hit left Tony Romo crumpled on the turf midway through the first quarter. They just kept playing with ruthless efficiency until they finally forced the Seahawks to submit.” Read more here.
- What is it with Texas and mums? KERA’s Dianna Douglas explores the power of this annual fall football tradition. “All of America has homecoming football games, parades, pep rallies and dances, but no place has a tradition quite like the Texas homecoming mum. This is no demure flower with a couple of ribbons. It’s a full-body shield of plastic flowers and sparkly ribbons and teddy bears with graduation caps. And, this time of year, Texas students try to outdo each other with the biggest, wildest mum creations. They are practically works of art.” Check out some cool photos of mums and learn more here.
