U.S. death toll now approaching 500,000; Texas braces for surge of storm insurance claims Source

The power is back on for most Texas residents, but the winter blast has left millions with unprecedented storm damage. Massive electricity bills, broken water pipes and flooding could leave many in financial turmoil. CBS News correspondent Janet Shamlian joined “CBSN AM” from Houston to discuss. Source

Ambassador Luca Attanasio, Italy’s ambassador to the country since 2017, carabinieri officer Vittorio Iacovacci and their driver were killed. Source

The Supreme Court declined to revive the defamation lawsuit filed by Daniels, who Mr. Trump called a “con job” in a tweet. Source

While more than 60 million vaccine doses have been administered in the U.S., the country of Zambia has not yet received any vaccines. According to international vaccine equity initiative COVAX, unchecked infection anywhere in the world may give rise to further mutations that threaten health globally. CIDRZ lead laboratory scientist Michelo Simuyandi joins “CBSN AM” on the phone from Lusaka, Zambia, to talk about the situation in Sub-Saharan Africa. Source

President Biden’s pick for Attorney General, Judge Merrick Garland, is set to face lawmakers for his confirmation hearing Monday. It comes five years after Republicans blocked his nomination to the Supreme Court. CBS News congressional correspondent Nikole Killion joined ‘CBSN AM” with the latest. Source

George, a Heisman Trophy winner at Ohio State, and Henry, who won the Heisman Trophy at the University of Alabama, went back and forth texting leading up to the Alabama-Ohio State National Championship Game last month. The Titans running backs then decided to make a friendly wager on the game. Source

Garland’s hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee comes five years after his nomination to the Supreme Court was blocked by Republicans. Source

Judge Esther Salas’s son Daniel was murdered by a lawyer who held a grudge against the U.S. District Court judge, as threats against judges and their family members have risen continuously for years. Judge Salas joined “CBS This Morning” to discuss her push for greater protections for judiciary members, and why threats against judges are a threat against democracy. Source

As Texas works to restore power and clean water to all 29 million residents, some say they’ve received bills of thousands of dollars for just a few days’ worth of service during last week’s deadly winter storm. Dallas Morning News staff writer Maria Halkias joins CBSN’s Lana Zak with more on the state’s independent power grid and the steep price hikes. Source