Texas gov. bans Covid vaccination mandates, Gruden out in Vegas and why Southwest is so vulnerable to disruptions

To ensure delivery to your inbox add email@mail.nbcnews.com to your contacts Today's Top Stories from NBC News TUESDAY, October 12, 2021 Good morning, NBC News readers.     Texas Gov. Abbott issued an executive order banning Covid-19 vaccination mandates, in a rebuke of the Biden administration but also as the Lone Star State continues to see a rise in cases and deaths. Plus, Las Vegas Raiders coach Jon Gruden is out after racist and homophobic emails were revealed.     Here's what we're watching this Tuesday morning.     Texas Gov. Abbott bans Covid vaccination mandates in rebuke of Biden Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order Monday prohibiting any entity, including private businesses, from imposing Covid-19 vaccination requirements on employees or customers.   "The Covid-19 vaccine is safe, effective, and our best defense against the virus, but should remain voluntary and never forced," Abbott said in a statement.   Abbott, a Republican, said in his order that it was prompted by the Biden administration's vaccination mandate, which he said was federal overreach.   The Labor Department has yet to release details of the emergency rule, but naming, shaming and fines could be part of how the mandate gets enforced.    Abbott, who tested positive for Covid in August, has also resisted mask mandates and requiring proof of vaccination.   Texas has continued to experience a rise in Covid cases and crowded hospitals. The state has reported 68,067 Covid-19 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic, the second highest state death toll in the U.S., and has the highest number of deaths out of any state in the country in the last seven days, according to NBC News' count.  Tuesday's Top Stories Raiders coach Jon Gruden resigns over racist, homophobic, misogynistic emails "I'm sorry, I never meant to hurt anyone," Gruden said Monday night. His resignation comes in the fourth year of a 10-year, $100 million contract he signed with the Raiders in 2018. READ MORE Why Southwest Airlines could be vulnerable to mass disruptions Experts and aviation consultants say Southwest is particularly susceptible to service disruption because it operates along what's known as a "point-to-point route network." READ MORE Murder, rape and dismemberment plague Mexico — but nearly 95 percent of crimes go unpunished Two investigations warn about the shortcomings of the country's judicial system and the rise of extreme violence and "atrocities" by organized crime groups.  READ MORE OPINION Dave Chappelle's 'The Closer' Netflix special is no laughing matter to LGBTQ people I don't want Chappelle to be canceled. I want him to pull out the threads of homophobia and transphobia that run through the quilt of his otherwise brilliant work, culture critic Michael Crawford writes in an opinion piece.  READ MORE Also in the News Showing off weapons, North Korea's Kim Jong Un vows to build 'invincible' military Trump's presidency linked to LGBTQ mental distress, studies find Wildfire closes parts of famed U.S. Highway 101 near Santa Barbara, California Miami to oust police chief who said city was run by 'Cuban mafia' Lego vows to remove gender bias from its toys Second-longest winning streak on 'Jeopardy!' ends at 38 Editor's Pick Trans-Alaska Pipeline faces increasing threats from floods. Is there a long-term solution? As flood threats grow due to climate change, experts say mitigation measures need to be planned rather than applied like Band-Aids as the damage materializes. READ MORE Select From stemware and decanters to wine delivery services, here are some great gift options for wine lovers during the holiday season and beyond. One Fun Thing Woman catches baseball with prosthetic leg at Chicago White Sox game "Five beers in, and taking my leg off to catch a ball seemed like a great idea," Shannon Frendreis wrote in a recent TikTok post.   Turns out, it was a good idea.   The Chicago White Sox fan lent her prosthetic leg to a friend who used it as a glove to make a remarkable catch, which was captured on video and has gone viral.   "It started out as a joke to see if we could get the attention of anyone in the bullpen," she said. "We had the leg up in the air for a couple of minutes."   The video was posted to TikTok on Oct. 2, during the White Sox's series against the Detroit Tigers. It has racked up 3.3 million views on TikTok.    Read the full story here and watch the incredible catch here. Thanks for reading the Morning Rundown.    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