Daily Briefing: Tuesday, September 29, 2026

Gov. Greg Abbott activated additional state emergency resources Monday ahead of heavy rain and flash flooding from the tropical moisture of Hurricane Polo and an approaching low-pressure system, according to the governor’s office. Storms are forecast to begin in Far West Texas and spread across most of the state by midweek. More than 1,900 responders and 1,500 pieces of equipment are staged, including Texas A&M Task Force 1 swiftwater rescue teams and Parks and Wildlife game wardens with rescue helicopters.

Attorney General Ken Paxton issued a civil investigative demand to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas and its parent, Health Care Service Corporation, over reports that the insurer denied or delayed coverage for urgent and medically necessary care, his office announced Monday. One reported case involved a newborn whose transfer to a hospital able to treat the baby was held up by administrative denials. The office is examining possible violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.

Elections Alberta has received about 658,000 requests for special ballots for the October 19 referendum, more than 11 times the 59,589 requested for the 2023 provincial election, APTN News reported from the agency’s release. Nearly 100,000 have already been returned and approved. Voters will decide whether the province should begin the formal process toward a binding referendum on leaving Canada, along with nine other questions.

The Parti Québécois leads with 30 percent a week before the October 5 election, ahead of the Liberals at 26, the Conservatives at 18 and the governing Coalition Avenir Québec at 16, in a Leger poll for Le Journal and TVA reported by the Canadian Press. A separate Synopsis poll for La Presse found 25 percent of Quebecers would vote yes in a sovereignty referendum held today and 63 percent would vote no. Advance voting closed Monday.

President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro told the Council on Foreign Relations in New York that Türkiye, Egypt and other governments are lobbying African states against recognizing Somaliland, Hiiraan Online reported. “Türkiye has been visiting African countries and meeting their presidents,” Irro said. He did not name the governments he said had held back.

The Texas Nationalist Movement’s Caldwell County team is scheduled to go clipboarding at 5 p.m. Friday, October 2, at Lockhart City Hall as part of First Friday Lockhart, the TNM events page lists. Llano County volunteers follow Saturday morning with an information table on the Llano Courthouse Square, per the TNM calendar.