AP News Digest 2:10 p.m.
Here are the AP’s latest coverage plans, top stories and promotable content. All times EDT. For up-to-the minute information on AP’s coverage, visit Coverage Plan at https://newsroom.ap.org.
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ONLY ON AP
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TRUMP-TOXIC COMPOUNDS — The Trump White House intervened to significantly weaken one of the few public health protections pursued by its own administration, a rule to limit the use of a toxic industrial chemical in consumer products, according to communications between the White House and Environmental Protection Agency. By Ellen Knickmeyer. UPCOMING: 800 words by 2:30 p.m., photos.
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VIRUS OUTBREAK — One day after laying out a roadmap for gradually reviving economic activity, President Trump urged his supporters to “LIBERATE” three states led by Democratic governors, in effect encouraging protests against the stay-at-home restrictions aimed at stopping the coronavirus. The president took to Twitter with the kind of rhetoric some of his supporters have used to demand the lifting of the orders that have thrown millions of Americans out of work. By Zeke Miller, Artiz Parra and Ken Moritsugu. SENT: 990 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-TESTING TROUBLES — More than three months into the U.S. coronavirus outbreak, government officials are still struggling to conduct the millions of tests that public health experts say are essential to tracking and controlling the virus, even as President Donald Trump pushes to reopen parts of the country by May 1. By Matthew Perrone and Michelle R. Smith. UPCOMING: 1,200 words, photos by 3 p.m. Abridged version also planned.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-NURSING HOMES — The despair wrought on nursing homes by the coronavirus was laid bare in a state report identifying numerous New York facilities where multiple patients died over the past few weeks. Nineteen of the state’s nursing homes have each had at least 20 deaths linked to the pandemic, the report said. Five reported 40 or more. One had 55. By Marina Villeneuve. SENT: 600 words, photo.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-TRUMP-ANALYSIS — President Donald Trump came down firmly on the side of those pushing to quickly reopen the economy with his new guidelines on how to ease up on social distancing. But he also created a structure that pushes responsibility to the states, giving him a way to shift the blame if things go badly. By Aamer Madhani and Michael Stobbe. UPCOMING: 800 words by 4 p.m., photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-NYC PARAMEDIC RIDE ALONG — The Associated Press followed a Fire Department paramedic through her shift Wednesday to see how the coronavirus pandemic is affecting first responders. Elizabeth Bonilla has been trying to remain strong for her patients, their families and for her own loved ones. She says the weight of each difficult day hits her at night, prompting her to sleep with the lights on and play gospel music until morning. Emergency calls nearly doubled in volume at the pandemic’s peak in New York, and the FDNY’s 4,000 medical emergency workers are still straining to meet demand. By Jake Seiner. SENT: 1,390 words, photos, video.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-INDIA LOCKDOWN — As governments debate ways to slow the spread of coronavirus, India has launched one of the most draconian social experiments in human history, locking down its entire population — including hundreds of millions of people who struggle to survive on a few dollars a day. SENT: 3,140 words, photos, 1,040-word abridged version. With VIRUS OUTBREAK-INDIA-PHOTO GALLERY — A lonely burial in India amid virus lockdown (sent).
Find more all-format coverage on the Virus Outbreak featured topic page in AP Newsroom.
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WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT
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VIRUS OUTBREAK-DR OZ— Television’s “Dr. Oz” Mehmet says he misspoke during a Fox News Channel appearance this week where he said reopening schools was a “very appetizing opportunity” despite the coronavirus epidemic. SENT: 330 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-GEORGIA — A major U.S. meat producer says four of its poultry workers in Georgia have died after becoming infected by the coronavirus. SENT: 527 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-COMIC CON — This year’s San Diego Comic-Con has been canceled due to coronavirus-related restrictions around large gatherings. SENT: 310 words.
LAND O’LAKES-NATIVE AMERICAN —The Native American woman who has graced the packaging of Land O’Lakes butter, cheese and other products since the late 1920s has quietly disappeared. SENT: 254 words.
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MORE ON THE VIRUS OUTBREAK
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VIRUS OUTBREAK-DISTANCE LEARNING — Nearly a month after schools shut down to slow the spread of the coronavirus, many are struggling with distance learning. Some teachers are only seeing about half of their students log on. Many students still do not have laptops. Others are distracted, listening to teachers while babysitting siblings. By Julie Watson and Carolyn Thompson. SENT: 1,050 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-CONSPIRACY THEORIES — The coronavirus has breathed fresh life into old conspiracy theories and inspired a mishmash of new ones, with a cast of villains that includes Bill Gates, 5G wireless technology, the United Nations and President Donald Trump’s political foes. SENT: 940 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-BRAZIL-HEALTH MINISTER — After firing his popular health minister, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has made it clear that he wants his replacement to help protect the country’s economy. SENT: 870 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-WUHAN LAB — China is pushing back against President Donald Trump and some of his officials on the question of how the new coronavirus began to infect humans. SENT: 1,080 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-DIARY-WORRYING ABOUT MOM — When she found out that her mother might have caught the coronavirus, one South Korean woman embarked on a days-long journey of worry and anxiety — on behalf of her mother, her entire family and herself. Her parents prepared for the worst. She steeled herself. Then came the test, and the results. SENT: 640 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-ONE GOOD THING-ITALIAN CYCLIST — Professional cyclist Davide Martinelli is using his bike to help deliver medicine to elderly residents and others in need during the coronavirus pandemic. SENT: 650 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-MIDEAST-NO EXIT — Countries are considering how to ease coronavirus restrictions and start taking gradual steps toward reviving business and daily life. For developing nations in the Middle East and Africa, there is little room for any missteps. Easing lockdowns could cause infections to rise and quickly overwhelm hospitals with limited beds and breathing machines. But keeping restrictions in place risks social upheaval and more economic losses in nations battered by conflict, corruption or poverty. SENT: 990 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-FRANCE-AIRCRAFT CARRIER — The French Navy is investigating how the coronavirus infected more than 900 sailors aboard the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, which is undergoing a lengthy disinfection process since returning to its home base in Toulon five days ago. SENT: 570 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-VENEZUELA — Venezuela is going about testing its citizens unlike any other country, and coming up with lower numbers of infections. Doctors warn they could be missing untold numbers. SENT: 1,200 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-RESTAURANTS — Even as they scramble to cook takeout meals and set up curbside service lanes, U.S. restaurants are thinking ahead to the day when their dining room doors reopen to a changed world. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos by 4 p.m.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-FLORIDA BEACHES — Florida’s governor has given the green light for some beaches and parks to reopen if it can be done safely after being closed because of the coronavirus. SENT: 280 words.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-MICHAEL COHEN — President Trump’s former lawyer and longtime fixer Michael Cohen will be released from federal prison to serve the remainder of his sentence in home confinement because of the coronavirus pandemic. SENT: 600 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-ORTHODOX EASTER — For Orthodox Christians, this is normally a time of reflection and mourning followed by joyful release, of centuries-old ceremonies steeped in symbolism and tradition. But this year, Easter — by far the most significant religious holiday for the world’s roughly 300 million Orthodox — has essentially been canceled. SENT: 1,100 words, photos.
GROUND GAME — AP’s coronavirus podcast, “Ground Game: Inside the Outbreak,” today focuses on India, whose government has taken extreme measures to enforce the world’s largest lockdown in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Listen to the podcast after 3 p.m. at https://appodcasts.com/category/ground-game/. Embed code is available on AP Coverage Plan.
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WASHINGTON/POLITICS
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RUSSIA-US-ARMS CONTROL — The top American and Russian diplomats have discussed arms control and other issues as Moscow signals readiness to include some of its latest nuclear weapons in the last remaining arms control pact between the two countries. SENT: 310 words.
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OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBING-25 YEARS LATER — Americans have been through a lot in the 25 years since the Oklahoma City bombing that killed 168 people, including foreign wars, mass shootings and the deadly Sept. 11 attacks. But on April 19, 1995, the attack on the nation’s heartland shocked Americans out of their sense of security. The Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum has canceled the ceremony for 25th anniversary remembrance amid the coronavirus outbreak, denying the chance to collectively grieve a past tragedy because a current one is unfolding. By Judy Gibbs. SENT: 850 words, photos. WITH: AP-WAS-THERE-OKLAHOMA-CITY-BOMBING — AP Was There: Oklahoma City Bombing story. SENT: 1,600 words, photos. WITH: OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBING–25 YEARS LATER–PRAYER -- On a somber Sunday 25 years ago, the late Rev. Billy Graham shook off the flu to try and explain how a loving God could have allowed the April 19, 1995, bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building to occur. SENT: 1,700 words, photo.
TRIBES-CORONAVIRUS RELIEF FUNDING — Several Native American tribes sued the federal government Friday, seeking to keep federal coronavirus relief for tribes out of the hands of for-profit Alaska Native corporations. SENT: 840 words, photos.
OBIT-JERRY GIVENS — A man who served as Virginia’s chief executioner for 17 years before going to prison and becoming a prominent voice against capital punishment has died. SENT: 520 words, photos.
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SCIENCE
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SPACE STATION — A U.S.-Russian crew landed safely in the steppes of Kazakhstan following a stint on the International Space Station and was greeted with extra precautions due to the coronavirus.. SENT: 645 words, photos.
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VIRUS OUTBREAK-RELIEF CHECKS-HOW HELPFUL? — Millions of Americans received government relief checks this week, and more are on the way. For some, the payment gets them to a more comfortable place financially; for others, the money just gets them to next month. SENT: 929 words, photos.
FINANCIAL MARKETS — Stocks around the world rose as investors latched onto strands of hope about progress in the fight against the coronavirus. SENT: 897 words, photos, developing.
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VIRUS OUTBREAK-THE ROLLING STONES — The Rolling Stones will join Lady Gaga, Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder and Billie Eilish for the upcoming TV special aimed at fighting the coronavirus pandemic. SENT: 220 words, photo.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-MEDIA — After John King described a video played at President Trump’s coronavirus briefing as propaganda, some asked: so why is CNN airing it? The debate over whether to air the briefings unfiltered is intensifying. By AP Media Writer David Bauder. SENT: 970 words, photo.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-BATTLE OF THE PRODUCERS — When pioneering producers like DJ Premier and RZA, Ne-Yo and Johnta Austin, and Lil Jon and T-Pain went head-to-head in recent days by playing some of their most impactful songs in battles on social media, in more normal times, it may have answered the hypothetical question many music fans have asked throughout the years: Who is the better beat-maker? SENT: 750 words, photo.
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BKL--WNBA DRAFT — Sabrina Ionescu of Oregon is expected to go No. 1 in the WNBA’s virtual draft. The New York Liberty hold the top choice and have five of the first 15 picks. Players will be at home, with coaches and general managers making selections from around the country. By Basketball Writer Doug Feinberg. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos. Draft starts 7 p.m.
SPORTS MOVIES-AP POLL-WHY WE WATCH — With fans stuck at home and no live sports to watch, the AP offers a different rankings list -- the Top 25 sports movies. Writers and editors from around the world voted on the best sports cinema. By Howard Fendrich. SENT: 750 words, photos.
FBN--DRAFT-BIGGEST LOSERS — Those college players who never got a full look — or even a glance — from NFL teams because of the pandemic could wind up sinking in the draft. Or they could fall out of it completely. By Pro Football Writer Mark Long. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos by 5 p.m.
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HOW TO REACH US
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