UN: World leaders eye money, not emissions cuts, to combat climate change

World leaders made “faint signs of progress” on the financial end of fighting climate change in a special United Nations feet-to-the-fire meeting Monday, but they didn't commit to more crucial cuts in emissions of the heat-trapping gases that cause global warming.

Third special session gets underway: What is on the agenda?

Governor Abbott identified 5 agenda items for the third special legislative session in his proclamation that announced he would convene another special session.

Poll: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s approval drops below 50 percent

54 percent of Texans say the state is on the wrong track, with 44 percent saying it’s on the right track. Among independents, a group that historically has swung toward the GOP in Texas elections, just 33 percent say the state is on the right track.

Texas Republicans have the redistricting tools to preserve their power

Lawmakers must redraw the state’s political maps to account for a decade’s worth of growth, but the process leaves enough room for political manipulation. Here’s how it’ll work.

Biden to convene virtual COVID-19 summit amid UN General Assembly

President Joe Biden will convene a virtual summit Wednesday on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly, the White House said on Friday.

Biden tasks OSHA with enforcing COVID-19 vaccine mandates

President Joe Biden directed OSHA to write a rule forcing employers with at least 100 workers to require staff get vaccinated or produce weekly test results showing they are virus free.

24 GOP state attorneys general threaten lawsuit over federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates

Two dozen Republican attorneys general are warning the White House of impending legal action if a proposed coronavirus vaccine requirement for as many as 100 million Americans goes into effect.

Texas abortion law strains clinics: 'Exactly what we feared'

One Texas woman traveled nearly 1,000 miles to Colorado for an abortion. Others are driving four hours to New Mexico. And in Houston, clinics that typically perform more than 100 abortions in a week are down to a few a day.

Blinken resumes testimony on Afghanistan withdrawal amid al-Qaida warning

Secretary of State Antony Blinken had mixed results in attempting to face down a second day of tough congressional questioning, this time from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

5 things to look for in California's gubernatorial recall

Most California Democrats vote by mail, and Republicans tend to vote in-person and have their ballots tallied faster. So whatever the results Tuesday night, they’ll likely become more and more Democratic as the counting continues.

After being banned on Alaska Airlines, state senator excused for travel challenges

Republican Sen. Lora Reinbold requested an excusal from the state Senate until mid-January, citing the challenges of traveling to Juneau from Anchorage after she was suspended from flying on Alaska Airlines.

Giuliani associate pleads guilty in campaign donation case

Igor Fruman, a Florida businessman who made headlines for helping Rudy Giuliani seek damaging information on Joe Biden in Ukraine, pleaded guilty in federal court in Manhattan.

President Biden visits DC middle school to talk COVID-19 vaccines, in-person learning

President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden joined D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser Friday morning at Brookland Middle School to tour a classroom, showcase safe, in-person learning and to promote COVID-19 vaccinations.

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn visits Dallas to discuss success of the Save Our Stages Act

Sen. Cornyn took part in a roundtable discussion with venue owners, artists, and entertainment staff to hear about how the pandemic affected the Dallas live music scene and entertainment industry and discuss how the Save Our Stages Act funding has helped. He also talked about the states’ controversial abortion law and the exit from Afghanistan.