What to expect as Texas lawmakers return for special session ... and more news

After a 140-day regular session that he described as the best of his 10 years as governor, Greg Abbott is calling the Texas Legislature back for overtime. While most special sessions are limited in scope with a small number of tasks, Abbott has loaded the agenda for this session with 18 items. In other news, the assigned seating era at Southwest Airlines finally has a precise date. Come January, the Dallas-based air carrier will end more than 50 years of the pick-your-spot philosophy that defined its history. Southwest will use assigned seating for flights starting Jan. 27; have you ever wondered how emergency alerts find you while you’re traveling? Curious Texas received that question from a and provided an answer. Emergency alerts go out to every phone in the area — no need to sign up; and if you’re feeling the pinch every time you pay at a Dallas-Fort Worth restaurant, you’re not alone. The National Restaurant Association reports that this year, 47% of its restaurant operators surveyed said they’d added discounts, deals or promotions to their menus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices