A Texas nurse has agreed to self-quarantine at home after she returned from Sierra Leone earlier today. The nurse, who has not been identified, was working with Ebola patients in the West African country.

The Dallas Zoo’s 12-member giraffe herd has a new member: a newborn male giraffe.

On the first day of early voting, politics was not at the top of Dallas' concerns. Instead, residents were obsessed with Ebola, a disease less threatening to their lives, statistically, than the furniture in their homes. 

Five stories that have North Texas talking: A nurse and UT Arlington grad is pushing back against forced Ebola quarantines, Republican Dan Patrick has avoided the media in his campaign, what keeps affluent North Texans up at night, and more.

Today's top local stories from the KERA Newsroom: Lauren Silverman reports on an academic rehab program for concussion sufferers at Trinity Christian Academy. And Shelley Kofler looks into Republican Dan Patrick's recent "stealth campaign" tactics.

There’s been an uptick in early voting in Denton, as much as 6,000 compared to the last mid-term election, and many say it’s because of a proposal to ban fracking within city limits. The city that sits on top of 500 square miles of valuable gas reserves could become the first Texas town to prohibit hydraulic fracturing.

In the past month, Texas voters have seen a lot of Leticia Van de Putte, the Democrat running for lieutenant governor. But they haven't seen nearly as much of her Republican opponent, Dan Patrick. 

The top local stories this evening from the KERA Newsroom:Amber Vinson is now virus-free and returning home. Vinson spoke Tuesday at a press conference in Atlanta. She was transferred to Emory University Hospital on Oct. 15 after she tested positive for Ebola.

Dallas nurse Amber Vinson was discharged from Emory University Hospital in Atlanta and spoke at a noon press conference.

Five stories that have North Texas talking: nonprofits do not want donations from Ebola house decorator, Texas college students are wary of student loans, there’s a nine-year-old stand-up comedian in Dallas, and more.