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TCU Education Project Changes Name To Avoid Confusion With Terrorist Group ISIS

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Five stories that have North Texas talking: Texas Christian University's education project changes its name for a good reason, the state's obesity rate is up, West Nile in Arlington, and more.

Texas Christian University's alternative education project has changed its name because it shares an unfortunate acronym with a major terrorist organization. Project ISIS – at least the one in TCU -- is a research-based pilot project which identifies different ways to enhance learning in school kids, such as more physical activity, a restructured school day, and different methods of assessment. Project director Debbie Rhea announced that the name would be changed to The LiiNK Project to avoid confusion with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.

  • The state's obesity rate is on the rise again. The Dallas Morning News reports, 30.9 percent of Texans were considered obese last year. That number is up from around 29 percent in 2012. For comparison, only 1 in 10 Texans were obese in 1990. Analysts with Trust for America’s Health says the increase wasn’t large enough to be statistically significant, but those surveyed in this report voluntary self-reported their weight, which may make the estimates conservative. The national obesity rate is 34.8 percent.

  • The city of Arlington has reported its first human case of West Nile.  NBC5 reports the person lives in the 76018 zip code, and was diagnosed with the more serious form of the disease. 

  • Local storytelling series Oral Fixation is selling out shows, and will expand to the suburbs. The live show is typically held in Dallas, but for the first time, Oral Fixation will host its “Best of Season 3” show on back-to-back nights: Sept. 15 at the Wyly Theatre and WaterTower Theatre in Addison on Sept. 16. Founder Nicole Stewart says she is open to expanding the series even further to possible venues in Oak Cliff and Fort Worth. "If what we are hearing is true, then there are different audiences in these neighborhoods, and if the demand is there, we are happy to meet it," she told CultureMap Dallas.

Former KERA staffer Krystina Martinez was an assistant producer. She produced local content for Morning Edition and KERANews.org. She also produced The Friday Conversation, a weekly series of conversations with North Texas newsmakers. Krystina was also the backup newscaster for the Texas Standard.