Afghan fallout adds to issues for overstretched FEMA, what's next for abortion after Texas and a medical miracle

To ensure delivery to your inbox add email@mail.nbcnews.com to your contacts Today's Top Stories from NBC News Monday, September 6, 2021 Good morning, NBC News readers.     Happy Labor Day. Hope you get a chance to enjoy the unofficial last day of summer.    After a year of disasters, FEMA is feeling overstretched as it gets ready to add the Afghan resettlement program to its to-do list. Reproductive rights advocates are bracing themselves for what could come next in the wake of Texas' strict anti-abortion law. And a medical miracle in Israel.    Here's what we're watching this Monday morning.     'Not designed to be America's 911':  Afghan resettlement adds to crushing workload for beleaguered FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency officials say the cascade of emergencies over the last 18 months — from hurricanes and wildfires to Covid-19 — has stretched the agency thin.   Now they expect to be drawn deeper into the nationwide effort to resettle Afghan refugees, adding another complex challenge to a crushing shower of disasters that has cascaded down on the beleaguered agency in recent months.   "FEMA is stretched thin, relying on an overworked workforce," said an agency official who spoke on condition of anonymity. "We were not designed to be America's 911."   Meantime, one woman in California is hoping her husband soon joins the resettlement program after his lucky escape out of Kabul saw him narrowly avoid becoming a victim off the ISIS-K suicide bombing that killed over 100.    And China is keeping a close eye on developments in Afghanistan, as Taliban rule in its backyard brings both opportunity and risk to Beijing, NBC News' Janis Mackey Frayer reports.  Monday's Top Stories 'Just the beginning': After Texas victory, anti-abortion rights activists could restrict other reproductive rights The ripple effect from Texas' highly restrictive anti-abortion law could include not only copy-cat legislation in other states, but also efforts to restrict contraceptive access or in-vitro fertilization choices, reproductive rights experts say. READ MORE HBCUs grapple with vaccination mandates as students return to campus Many historically Black colleges and universities are in Southern states where cases are rising and GOP governors have resisted vaccination mandates.  READ MORE China's Communist Party wants billionaires to give back in new vision for society Communist China has relentlessly pursued economic growth for decades, creating more billionaires than the U.S. and lifting 800 million people out of poverty. But now Beijing is planning what some experts say would be a dramatic about-face: cracking down on the country's newly minted super-rich.   READ MORE OPINION How ESPN accidentally revealed one of high school football's dirtier secrets The problem is not that Bishop Sycamore did something so different than what other academies pretending to be "high schools" are doing. The problem is that they were so bad at the grift that they gave up the game, sports writer Will Leitch writes in an opinion piece.  READ MORE Also in the News South Carolina lawyer Alex Murdaugh suffered 'superficial' injuries in shooting, authorities say Soldiers detain Guinea's president, dissolve government U.S. cracks down on imported goods made by Uyghurs and other victims of forced labor Brazil-Argentina soccer match suspended after 3 players didn't comply with Covid rules Time's Up board members Shonda Rhimes, Eva Longoria step down amid shakeup Angelina Jolie opens up on Harvey Weinstein, Brad Pitt custody battle in new interview Editor's Pick Podcast  "Southlake" episode 3: The Not-So-Silent Majority In Episode 3, the Southlake Families PAC raises more than $100,000 to fight against what the group calls a "liberal takeover" of the schools — and starts building an army. READ MORE Shopping Where to find all the best Labor Day sales right now.  One Amazing Thing Conjoined twins meet face to face for the first time after surgery One-year-old Israeli twin girls met face to face for the first time after an international team of specialists spent more than 12 hours separating them from their conjoined skull. Thanks for reading the Morning Rundown. Now go get in your last swim of the summer for me!   If you have any comments — likes, dislikes — send me an email at: petra@nbcuni.com   If you're a fan, please forward it to your family and friends. They can sign-up here.    Thanks, Petra Cahill     FOLLOW US     Want to receive NBC Breaking News and Special Alerts in your inbox? SIGN UP HERE Check out all of NBC Newsletters here.     Get the NBC News Mobile App   30 Rockefeller Plaza New York, NY 10112 View in browser | Unsubscribe | Manage Subscription | Contact | Privacy