The House Democratic leader has asked rank-and-file members to sit quietly at the speech or skip it altogether, wary of creating a distraction.

The avalanche struck a guided backcountry skiing group near Truckee, Calif., near the end of a multiday trip, officials said. Six skiers have been rescued.

A shock Democratic victory in a Texas special election shows what the party needs to do to win more there — and many other places, too.