Good morning. Here are some of the stories we're following today:
1. World Leaders Converge on U.N. General Assembly
A wide range of global issues — from the Iran nuclear deal to the refugee crisis — could be addressed during the U.N. General Assembly. All eyes are sure to be on the much-anticipated meeting between President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin — their first in nearly a year. Read more in NEWS.
2. Pope Francis: I Understand Anger of Abuse Victims
Pope Francis said he understands the anger of people who were sexually abused by priests, saying: "I pray for them. And I don't judge them." Francis met with abuse victims during his last day in the U.S. on Sunday. He also met with prisoners before heading back to Rome. Read more in NEWS.
3. Shell to Stop Off-Shore Arctic Oil Drilling in Alaska
Royal Dutch Shell PLC said it's going to stop exploration in offshore Alaska for the foreseeable future. Shell has spent about $7 billion on Arctic offshore development, which environmental groups oppose, in hopes that there would be oil and gas deposits worth pursuing. Read more in NEWS.
4. Downpours Trigger Flooding Along Gulf Coast
Torrential rainstorms in Florida and Alabama on Sunday flooded parking lots and roads and submerged cars — and it's not over yet. Parts of Alabama have already been drenched by 7.5 inches, while a separate system dumped heavy rainfall on Texas and Louisiana. Read more in WEATHER.
5. Carson and Trump Are Running Neck-and-Neck: NBC/WSJ Poll
Donald Trump and Ben Carson are running neck-and-neck in the Republican presidential race, while Carly Fiorina is now tied for third place with Marco Rubio, according to the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll. Hillary Clinton has lost more ground to Bernie Sanders on the Democratic side. Read more in Politics.
6. Woman Who Stopped to Help at Crash Site Falls to Death
Jessica Nicole Smith, 29, stopped at the scene of a truck crash in South Carolina late Saturday in an attempt to help any victims. A coroner said it appears Smith, a nursing assistant, leaned over a bridge to call for any survivors but ended up falling 23 feet over the bridge to her death. Read more in NEWS.
7. Eyes and Cameras Turn Toward Rare Lunar Eclipse
Beginning at 8:11 p.m. ET Sunday night, the moon — which was full and at the closest point in its orbit, making it a "supermoon" — entered the shadow of the Earth. Sky-watchers were smart to catch the gorgeous show because the phenomenon won't happen again until 2033. Read more in SCIENCE.
8. Nightly Spotlight: Group Makes Trek on Foot See Pope Francis
The faithful have come from around the country and around the world to see Pope Francis, but one group made the journey on foot, more than a hundred miles to see the pontiff.