AP News Digest 6:15 p.m.
Eds: Re-sending to add VIRUS OUTBREAK-UNFORGIVING APRIL.
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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NEW/DEVELOPING
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Adds VIRUS OUTBREAK-UNFORGIVING APRIL, VIRUS OUTBREAK-NURSING HOME TRACKING, VIRUS OUTBREAK-MILITARY, ELECTION 2020-BIDEN-FUNDRAISING, KOBE BRYANT CRASH-LAWSUIT, OBIT-PETER BEARD, OBIT-ROBERT LOOMIS, VIRUS OUTBREAK-SPORTS POLL.
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VIRUS OUTBREAK — Boeing and a small number of other manufacturers around the U.S. gear up to resume production this week amid pressure from President Donald Trump to reopen the economy and resistance from governors who warn there is not enough testing yet to keep the coronavirus in check. Elsewhere around the world, step-by-step reopenings are underway in Europe, where the crisis has begun to ebb in places like Italy, Spain and Germany. By Colleen Long, Gene Johnson and Mike Corder. SENT: 1,150 words, photos. With VIRUS OUTBREAK-GEORGIA — Georgia’s governor says some businesses ordered closed due to the pandemic may begin reopening statewide Friday. SENT: 580 words, photos; VIRUS OUTBREAK-SURGING MASSACHUSETTS — Massachusetts emerging as coronavirus hot spot. SENT: 690 words, photos; VIRUS OUTBREAK-WHAT'S HAPPENING (sent).
FINANCIAL MARKETS — Oil futures plunge below zero, the latest never-before-seen number to come out of the economic coma caused by the pandemic. Stocks and Treasury yields also drop on Wall Street, with the S&P 500 down 1.8%. By Stan Choe, Damian J. Troise and Alex Veiga. SENT: 910 words, photos.
CANADA-SHOOTING — Police fan out across more than a dozen crime scenes after a rampage by a gunman disguised as a police officer left at least 18 dead and homes in smoldering ruins in rural communities across Nova Scotia — the deadliest mass shooting in Canada’s history. Officials say the suspect, identified as 51-year-old Gabriel Wortman, is among the dead. Police do not provide a motive for the killings. By Rob Gillies. SENT: 780 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-WASHINGTON — A chorus of governors from both parties pushes back after President Trump accuses Democrats of playing “a very dangerous political game” by insisting there is a shortage of tests for the coronavirus. The governors counter that the White House must do more to help states do the testing that’s needed before they can ease up on stay-at-home orders. By Alan Suderman, John Hanna and Jill Colvin. SENT: 1.040 words, photos. UPCOMING: Developing from White House briefing now underway, 900 words by 8 p.m.
ISRAEL POLITICS — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his chief rival announce that they have forged a deal to form an “emergency” government, ending months of political paralysis. The deal averts what would have been a fourth consecutive election in just over a year as the country fights its coronavirus outbreak. By Tia Goldenberg. SENT: 860 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-NO SYMPTOMS — A flood of new research suggests that far more people have had the new coronavirus without any symptoms. That means the virus may turn out to be much less lethal than originally feared. By Chief Medical Writer Marilynn Marchione. SENT: 900 words, photo.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-LOSING FACE — Smile, they say, and the world smiles with you. Unless you’re wearing a mask. Then the world can’t see your smile, much less smile back. The rise of the protective face mask has abruptly removed half the face from our human interactions. By National Writer Ted Anthony. SENT: 1,040 words, photos. With VIRUS OUTBREAK-A WEEK-PHOTO GALLERY — A week of images from the pandemic. SENT: 200 words, photos.
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-CLEANING POISONINGS — Reports of accidental poisonings from cleaners and disinfectants are up sharply, and researchers believe it’s related to the coronavirus epidemic. SENT: 260 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-MARIJUANA HOLIDAY — 4/20 fizzle: Pot industry tested as virus slams economy. SENT: 930 words, photos.
HARRY AND MEGHAN — The Duke and Duchess of Sussex announce they will no longer cooperate with several British tabloids. SENT: 400 words, photo.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-ONE GOOD THING-A KIND VOICE — Stepping up: Mets PA announcer offers kind voice amid virus. SENT: 560 words, photos.
OBIT-PETER BEARD — Wildlife photographer Peter Beard is found dead in a wooded area three weeks after being reported missing from his cliff-side home at the tip of Long Island. He was 82. SENT: 360 words, photos.
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MORE ON THE VIRUS OUTBREAK
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VIRUS OUTBREAK-UNFORGIVING APRIL — For a generation, mid-April has delivered some of American life’s most difficult moments. Now it's necessary to add the coronvirus to that disturbing list. By National Writer Ted Anthony. SENT: 1,000 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-NURSING HOME TRACKING — Federal officials say they plan to start tracking and publicly sharing information on infections and deaths at nursing homes nationwide to help spot trends and signs of spread in communities. SENT: 560 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-CONGRESS — Late-stage negotiations on new funding for a small business rescue program drag on, with the Trump administration and key lawmakers claiming they are close to a pact. SENT: 780 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-MILITARY — The Pentagon extends its restrictions on troop travel through the end of June indicating concern that the coronavirus will remain a threat to the health of military members. SENT: 270 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-BRAZIL-AMAZON — The health care system in the Brazilian Amazon city of Manaus was already strained before the coronavirus pandemic. Now it is buckling under an onslaught of COVID-19 patients. SENT: 1,100 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-MIDEAST — Iran begins opening intercity highways and major shopping centers to stimulate its sanctions-choked economy, gambling that it has brought under control its coronavirus outbreak, one of the worst in the world. SENT: 920 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-COLLEGE SENIORS — Thousands of college seniors sent home when the coronavirus outbreak closed their campuses have been forced to delay their planned launch into independence. SENT: 830 words, photos.
AP’S CORONAVIRUS PODCAST, “Ground Game: Inside the Outbreak,” today is about “One Good Thing,” a weekday AP feature that highlights the kindness of individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Listen to the podcast at https://appodcasts.com/category/ground-game/. Embed code is available on AP Coverage Plan.
Eds: A separate wire advisory has also been sent detailing AP’s complete coronavirus coverage.
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SUPREME COURT-NON-UNANIMOUS JURIES — The Supreme Court rules that juries in state criminal trials must be unanimous to convict defendants, settling a quirk of constitutional law. SENT: 710 words, photos.
ELECTION 2020-BIDEN-FUNDRAISING — With many out of work, there are signs that the army of grassroots political donors who fueled the campaign of Bernie Sanders one $5 contribution at a time are being squeezed. UPCOMING: 800 words by 7 p.m., photos. With ELECTION 2020-BIDEN-BLACK CAUCUS — The Congressional Black Caucus PAC endorses Biden. SENT: 570 words, photos.
Find more coverage on the 2020 U.S. Elections featured topic page on APNewsroom.
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SEVERE WEATHER-SOUTH — Suspected tornadoes kill at least two people as severe weather blasts the Deep South, and a house fire believed to have been caused by lightning claims a third person, officials say. SENT: 390 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-ABORTION — A federal appeals court says Texas can now ban medication abortions as part of the state’s emergency effort to fight the spread of the new coronavirus. SENT: 270 words.
KOBE BRYANT CRASH-LAWSUIT — Family members of four of the people killed in a helicopter crash with Kobe Bryant and his daughter are suing the companies that owned and operated the aircraft. SENT: 310 words.
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ISRAEL-WORLD ANTISEMITISM — Israeli researchers say the global coronavirus outbreak has sparked a rise in anti-Semitic expression blaming Jews for the spread of the disease and the economic recession it has caused. SENT: 560 words, photo.
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VIRUS OUTBREAK-SHAKE SHACK — Some big restaurant chains have obtained loans from the government under a small-business relief program, leading business groups to cry foul even though the loans are within the guidelines of the lending program. SENT: 690 words, photo.
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VIRUS OUTBREAK-SPORTS POLL — A poll finds that 72% of Americans wouldn’t feel safe attending games without a vaccine for the new coronavirus. SENT: 670 words, photos.
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OBIT-ROBERT LOOMIS — Literary editor Robert Loomis, whose authors included William Styron and Maya Angelou, has died at age 93. SENT: 750 words.
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HOW TO REACH US
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At the Nerve Center, Mike Stewart can be reached at 800-845-8450 (ext. 1600). For photos, ext. 1900. For graphics and interactives, ext. 7636. Expanded AP content can be obtained from http://newsroom.ap.org. For access to AP Newsroom and other technical issues, contact apcustomersupport(at)ap.org or call 877-836-9477.