Lauren Silverman

Reporter/Blogger

Lauren Silverman is the Health, Science and Technology reporter/blogger for KERA News. Before joining KERA, she worked at NPR’s Weekend All Things Considered in Washington D.C. Lauren produced national stories on everything from the politics of climate change to the future of online education, including a piece on neighborhood farms in Compton, Cal., that won a National Association of Black Journalism’s ‘Salute to Excellence Award.’

As a freelance reporter, Lauren has written and recorded stories in English and Spanish for a variety of news outlets, including American Public Media’s Marketplace, NPR’s Morning Edition, All Things Considered and Latino USA.

Pages

All Tech Considered
6:46 am
Sat November 29, 2014

In 'Disaster City,' Learning To Use Robots To Face Ebola

Since it was built by the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service in 1998, 90,000 emergency responders have come to "Disaster City" to climb over mangled steel and through derailed chemical trains.
Lauren Silverman KERA

Originally published on Sat November 29, 2014 11:05 am

About three hours southeast of Dallas, there's a city that's been hit by almost every disaster you could imagine including earthquakes, hurricanes and even bombs. It's appropriately called Disaster City.

It's a training site for first responders, but the facility is looking ahead to a different kind of disaster — infectious diseases like Ebola, and robots may play a key role.

One of the first things you see when you enter Disaster City is an enormous pile of rubble.

Read more
Business/Economy
6:50 am
Wed November 26, 2014

Chaplains For The Factory Floor And Company Cubicle

Hiring spiritual support, in the workplace?

Companies across the country have hired thousands of chaplains to offer spiritual support to employees. They say it's good for workers, and the bottom line.

Read more
Business/Economy
1:40 pm
Fri November 21, 2014

This Dallas Startup Just Won $50,000

Rollout

Dallas startup Rollout walked away from a small business contest with $50,000 Thursday night. The company, founded in 2013, provides mobile tools for architects and construction teams to access digital documents and drawings.

Read more
Health/Science
1:14 pm
Wed November 19, 2014

This 'City' Trains First Responders For Bombs, Tornadoes And Even Ebola

KERA News

In College Station, there’s a city that’s been hit by disasters. Earthquakes, hurricanes, even bombs. It’s called Disaster City. This 72-acre site is helping people, and robots, train for the next major disaster.

Read more
Business/Economy
3:11 pm
Tue November 18, 2014

Two Billion Ways To Order A Pie? Pizza Hut Tries A Spicy Makeover

Pizza Hut is trying to make a splash with dozens of new ingredients, crust flavors and drizzles.
Lauren Silverman KERA News

Pizza Hut, the nation’s biggest pizza chain, is overhauling its brand. There’s a new logo, a more casual uniform, and fresh leadership. But the biggest upgrade is the menu.  

Read more
Health/Science
11:05 am
Mon November 17, 2014

Who Needs To Enroll For Health Insurance This Year?

Shutterstock

It's week one of signups for health care on the federal marketplace. Should you enroll? What's the penalty for opting out? 

Read more
Health/Science
7:10 am
Fri November 14, 2014

Open Enrollment For Obamacare Is Back

Sandra Luz is the lead health care navigator at the Community Council of Greater Dallas.
Lauren Silverman KERA News

Despite a very rocky start to open enrollment last year, more than 733,000 Texans bought insurance through the federal marketplace.

Still, Texas remains the state with the highest percent of uninsured people in the country. Will open enrollment this year change that? 

Read more
Business/Economy
9:54 am
Thu November 13, 2014

Angel Investors Land In Dallas, Where Startups Are Booming

The National Angel Summit opening at the Dallas Entrepreneur Center.
Lauren Silverman KERA News

A group of angels is descending on Dallas this week -- angel investors. 

Read more
Health/Science
9:46 am
Wed November 12, 2014

A Taste Of African Heritage In Dallas

Michaela Taylor cooks a cauliflower and brown rice dish as part of a cultural cooking class.
Lauren Silverman KERA News

Dallas residents are dipping into the dishes that gave rise to Soul Food. They're part of a cultural cooking class that aims to bring back traditional, healthy recipes from the African Diaspora.

Read more
Veterans Coming Home
4:33 pm
Mon November 10, 2014

Veterans Court Helps Texas Vets Stay Out Of Prison

Keith McDonald speaks with Judge Carr at Veterans Court in Tarrant County.
Lauren Silverman KERA News

This story is the third in KERA's series on veterans, part of the public media initiative "Veterans Coming Home."

This isn't your typical courtroom. People are laughing, smiling, even joking around. Dressed in suits and buttoned-up shirts, dozens of veterans squeeze into the wooden benches. There’s a sense of camaraderie in Tarrant County’s Veterans' Court.  

Read more

Pages