Five stories that have North Texas talking: UT professor is leaving because of guns; Bevo XIV is ill; the Texas Rangers win a big game; and more.
A tenured professor at the University of Texas says he will not teach next year because the new campus-carry law allowing for concealed handguns at public universities has left him fearing for his safety. Economics Professor Daniel Hamermesh says he teaches required courses that draw hundreds of students and it would be difficult to identify one who may be disgruntled or has a mental disorder. The Austin American-Statesman reports that some faculty have threatened to leave over the law that takes effect Aug. 1, but Hamermesh appears to be the first to have followed through. He doesn't expect many professors to leave because of the law but says it will likely affect the hiring of academic leaders. The law allows campuses to carve out "reasonable" gun-free zones, provided they don't effectively ban guns entirely. KUT in Austin has more details. [Associated Press]
- The Texas Rangers scored a big win Thursday in Toronto in Game 1 of the American League Division Series. The Rangers beat the Blue Jays 5-3. ESPN reports: “The victory came at a price: Third baseman Adrian Beltre was forced to leave in the third inning with a back injury so painful that he had tears in his eyes when he left the field. Just how high a price that injury was will not be fully known until the Rangers determine when he can return to play. In the meantime, the rest of the Rangers more than compensated by beating up Cy Young candidate David Price. Texas scored five runs off Price, with Robinson Chirinos hitting a two-run home run in the fifth and Rougned Odor adding a solo homer in the seventh.” Game 2 is Friday in Toronto. Game 3 is Sunday night in Arlington.
- The University of Texas says longhorn steer mascot Bevo XIV has a "life-threatening condition." And he won't travel to Dallas for the team's rivalry game Saturday against No. 10 Oklahoma at the Cotton Bowl. The Silver Spurs organization that takes care of the mascot did not detail Bevo's illness Wednesday and said his condition was still being explored by veterinarians. Bevo XIV has been the school mascot since 2004. The steer weighs 2,100 pounds and has a horn span of 82 inches. Learn more about Bevo here. [Associated Press]
- Speaking of Texas-OU: The Dallas Morning News has this handy rundown of everything you want to know about the Red River Showdown. The game is 11 a.m. Saturday at the Cotton Bowl at Fair Park. The game will be on WFAA-TV (Channel 8).
- When Pope Francis flew around the United States, he flew on American Airlines. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports on the crew members who talk about a once-in-a-lifetime experience: “It was an airplane flight that changed Jeff Gross’s life. The 47-year-old flight attendant was one of several dozen American Airlines employees chosen to work on the chartered airplane that ferried Pope Francis around the United States — and back to Rome — late last month. ‘When he walked through the cabin, it was like seeing God,’ said Gross, of Euless, who helped staff the main cabin on the pope’s flights during his whirlwind trip to the United States.”
American has posted this video explaining its role:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpClPm4M1fc
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
