Five stories that have North Texas talking: stigma follows the family of Ebola patient Thomas Duncan, storms delay Oncor’s efforts to restore power for customers, it’s the last day to register to vote before Nov. 4, and more.
As the CDC and local health officials are working to stop Ebola in Dallas, Thomas Duncan’s family has been facing stigma from the local Liberian community. The Washington Post reports some of Duncan’s family members have been in self-imposed isolation because the community fears they will spread the virus. Mawhen Jallah is the daughter of Louise Troh, one of the four people who have been quarantined. She told the newspaper her daughter’s babysitter, a friend, called her to demand she removed the girl from her home day care.
“My friend said, ‘I don’t want for your daughter to be here until everything is over,’ ” Mawhen said. “That broke my heart. But I cannot do anything, because I know everybody is afraid.” She also says her family has been the target of sharp Facebook comments and others have refused to come close to them.
KERA’s Lauren Silverman visited Troh’s church and spoke with her pastor, George Mason. “These are people with hopes and dreams,” he said. “Relationships of all kinds have been put on hold now as their life is hanging in the balance.” Mason says Duncan left Liberia to reunite and marry Troh before he was diagnosed with Ebola. (Photo by: Bob Booth/The Star-Telegram)
- Another round of storms moved across the North Texas region this morning. The National Weather Service reported heavy rainfall, some flash flooding, and winds below 50-60 mph. There are still 3,000 customers still without power from Friday’s storms. Today’s storms may delay Oncor’s hopes to get power up for these customers by noon, thanks to the early morning rain, hail and lightning.
- Today is the last day to register to vote before the Nov. 4 elections. Voter registration applications are available at city halls, libraries, post offices, courthouses, and county elections offices. People who have moved or changed their name after they’ve registered to vote must give election officials the new information. Early voting will run from Oct. 20 through the 31st. [The Star-Telegram]
- The Fort Worth Museum of Modern Art is starting an Instagram pilot program. Online magazine Glasstire reports Texas-based photographer Olaf Growald is assisting with the initiative, which will start today. Ten Instagrammers will have the chance to traipse through the Modern to show off different perspectives of the museum and its collections.
- The Dallas Symphony Orchestra will be a launching a scholarship to train the next generation of orchestra leaders. CultureMap Dallas reports the scholarship winners will come to Dallas and get the opportunity to rehearse and perform with the DSO and receive coaching from members while attending UT Dallas. Scholarship winners will start their residency in January.
