AP News Digest 2 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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VIRUS OUTBREAK -- Thousands of oil and gas operations, government facilities and other sites won permission to stop monitoring for hazardous emissions or otherwise bypass rules intended to protect health and the environment because of the coronavirus outbreak, The Associated Press has found. By Ellen Knickmeyer, Cathy Bussewitz, John Flesher, Matthew Brown and Michael Casey. SENT: 1,530 words with photos. An abridged version of 950 words is also available.
AP POLL-ELECTION 2020-TRUMP — When President Donald Trump outlines his optimistic vision for America at this week’s Republican convention, he’ll be speaking to a public deeply pessimistic about the direction of the country and overwhelmingly dissatisfied with his and the federal government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Most Americans think there isn’t enough being done to help as the pandemic stretches on, according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. By Julie Pace and Hannah Fingerhut. SENT: 870 words, photos, graphics.
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ELECTION 2020-RNC — The Republican Party formally nominates President Donald Trump for a second term in the White House, one of the first acts of a GOP convention that has been dramatically scaled down to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Instead of the thousands of people who were expected to converge on this city for a week-long extravaganza, just 336 delegates participated in a roll-call vote from a Charlotte Convention Center ballroom. By Jill Colvin. SENT: 890 words, photos. UPCOMING: Developing from evening remarks, starting at 8:30 p.m., 1,100 words by 10 p.m., photos, video. With ELECTION 2020-RNC-THE LATEST (sent), ELECTION 2020-RNC-TAKEAWAYS (upcoming)
ELECTION 2020-RNC-REPUBLICANS — President Donald Trump will try to reintroduce himself — and his party — to voters this week at the Republican National Convention. It will be no easy task. By Steve Peoples. SENT: 1,130 words, photos. UPCOMING: Developing. With ELECTION 2020-RNC-MCCLOSKEYS — A white St. Louis couple criminally charged for waving guns during a Black Lives Matter protest outside their home will make the case in their opening night speech of the Republican National Convention that they had a “God-given right” to defend themselves and their property. SENT: 684 words, photo.
Find more coverage of the conventions and Election 2020 on the 2020 U.S. Elections featured topic page in AP Newsroom.
ELECTION 2020-POSTAL SERVICE — Postmaster General Louis DeJoy tells a contentious House hearing that recent Postal Service changes, which have sparked fears over November mail-in ballot disruptions, aren’t linked to the Trump presidential campaign – even as a Democratic committee chair threatens to subpoena DeJoy, a Trump donor, for internal documents. By Matthew Daly and Anthony Izaguirre. SENT: 990 words, photos. UPCOMING: Developing, 920 words by 4 p.m., photos, video.
POLICE SHOOTING-WISCONSIN — Kenosha became the nation’s latest flashpoint city in a summer of racial unrest after police shot and wounded a Black man as he leaned into his SUV while his three children sat in the vehicle. Protesters set cars on fire, smashed windows and clashed with officers in riot gear. By Scott Bauer and Morry Gash, SENT: 920 words, photos, video. With POLICE-SHOOTING-WISCONSIN-POLITICS — Police shooting lays bare Wisconsin’s deep partisan divide. SENT: 810 words, photos.
TROPICAL WEATHER — Tropical Storm Marco began falling apart, easing one threat to the Gulf Coast but setting the stage for the arrival of Laura as a potentially supercharged Category 3 hurricane with winds topping 110 mph. The two-storm combination could bring a history-making onslaught of wind and coastal flooding from Texas to Alabama, forecasters said. By Rebecca Santana and Seth Borenstein. SENT: 850 words, photos.
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WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT
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ZOOM OUTAGE — Zoom experienced partial outages during the first day of school for thousands of students who are relying on the video conferencing technology to connect with educators. SENT: 230 words, photo.
SCOTT PETERSON -DEATH PENALTY — The California Supreme Court overturned the 2005 death sentence for Scott Peterson in the slaying of his pregnant wife, but said prosecutors may try again for the same sentence if they wish. SENT: 260 words.
BERLIN-FILM-FESTIVAL — Berlin Film Festival to make acting prizes gender neutral. SENT: 270 words, photo.
OBIT-JUSTIN-TOWNES-EARLE — Musician Justin Townes Earle dead at age 38. SENT: 280 words, photos.
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TRUMP-FRAUD PROBE — New York’s Democratic attorney general asked a court to enforce subpoenas into an investigation into whether President Donald Trump and his businesses inflated assets on financial statements. SENT: 400 words, photo.
ELECTION 2020-RNC-POMPEO — Mike Pompeo’s planned speech to the Republican National Convention this week has sparked a fury of criticism for breaking decades of precedent for sitting secretaries of state avoiding overt partisan political activity. By Diplomatic Writer Matthew Lee. SENT: 783 words, photos.
OPERATION LEGEND — President Donald Trump and his attorney general have touted Operation Legend as a much-needed answer to spiking crime. By Michael Balsamo. SENT: 1,160 words, photos
MELANIA TRUMP — Melania Trump is marking the 100th anniversary of women gaining the right to vote with an art exhibit based on works by children from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. By Darlene Superville. SENT: 395 words, photo.
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MORE ON THE VIRUS OUTBREAK
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VIRUS-OUTBREAK-CHILDREN — Just as millions of children are heading back to school, the World Health Organization says those aged 6 to 11 should wear masks in some cases to help fight the spread of coronavirus. SENT: 690 words, photo.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-PLASMA TREATMENT — The World Health Organization cautioned that using blood plasma from COVID-19 survivors to treat other patients is still considered an experimental therapy, voicing the concern as a U.S. boost for the treatment has many scientists afraid formal studies will be derailed. SENT: 570 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-ONE GOOD THING-BEIRUT SOULS — After a massive explosion ripped through Beirut this month, clinical psychologist Yorgo Younes knew he had to step forward and help his fellow citizens deal with the psychological toll. Online, Younes and others offered to help those grappling with the trauma of a blast that devastated a people already wearied by the coronavirus pandemic and severe economic turmoil. Younes says he has received dozens of calls in response to his offer of “psychological first aid.” SENT: 670 words, photos, video.
Find more all-format coverage on the Virus Outbreak featured topic page in AP Newsroom.
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CALIFORNIA-WILDFIRES — Firefighters battling three massive wildfires in Northern California got a break from the weather as humidity rose and there was no return of the onslaught of lightning strikes that ignited the infernos a week earlier. SENT: 850 words, photos.
PORTLAND PROTESTS — Police in Portland used tear gas to scatter demonstrators who marched on a precinct station in another night of violence — hurling rocks, bottles, commercial-grade fireworks at officers and setting fires in the streets. Twenty three people were arrested, police said in a statement. SENT: 310 words, photos.
RACIAL INJUSTICE-KENTUCKY ATTORNEY GENERAL — When he ran for attorney general of Kentucky, Daniel Cameron never expected to one day hear from Oprah Winfrey, Beyoncé and LeBron James. But now that the Republican has their attention, he says he remains committed to “doing the responsible thing” in the investigation into Breonna Taylor’s death. Cameron must decide whether three Louisville police officers will be criminally charged for their actions in the March shooting death of Taylor. SENT: 980 words, photos.
RACIAL INJUSTICE-POLICE SHOOTING-LOUISIANA — Protesters marched through a Louisiana city holding signs and at times blocking traffic in response to the fatal police shooting of a Black man that has heighten tensions between community activists and local leaders. SENT: 820 words, photos.
REL-JIM BAKKER-PPP LOANS — Jim Bakker and his Morningside USA ministry received hundreds of thousands of dollars in U.S. government pandemic hardship loans. That happened despite the fact that Bakker is targeted by two state attorneys general lawsuits alleging he engaged in deceptive practices by suggesting on his TV show that a silver product could be used to treat or prevent COVID-19 infection, something the FDA says is false. SENT: 1,030 words, photos.
LIBERTY-FALWELL — Jerry Falwell Jr., currently on a leave of absence as the leader of evangelical Liberty University, has released a statement saying that he is seeking help for the “emotional toll” of an affair his wife had with a man who he says later threatened his family. SENT: 620 words, photos.
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RUSSIA-NAVALNY — German Chancellor Angela Merkel called on Russian authorities to conduct a full investigation of the poisoning of dissident Alexei Navalny and to bring those responsible to justice. Tests conducted on Navalny at a German hospital indicate that he was poisoned. Doctors say his life is not in immediate danger. SENT: 920 words, photos.
BELARUS PROTESTS — Police in Belarus have detained several leading opposition activists who have helped spearhead a wave of protests challenging the reelection of authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko in balloting that his critics say was rigged. SENT: 1,110 words, photos.
MALI-CRISIS — The military junta that overthrew Mali’s president wants to put off new elections for three years, an official said, as the international community pressed for an immediate return to civilian rule. SENT: 480 words, photos.
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TIKTOK-TRUMP-LEGAL-CHALLENGE — Video app TikTok said it will wage a legal fight against the Trump Administration’s efforts to ban the popular, Chinese-owned service over national-security concerns. SENT: 500 words, photo.
APPLE-TIM-COOK-ANNIVERSARY — Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, who died in 2011, was a tough act to follow. But Tim Cook seems to be doing so well at it that his eventual successor may also have big shoes to fill. Initially seen as a mere caretaker for the iconic franchise that Jobs built before his 2011 death, Cook has forged his own distinctive legacy. SENT: 960 words, photos.
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MUSIC-Q&A-KATY PERRY — A decade ago, Katy Perry could sing the alphabet and top the music charts. Her name was synonymous with being No. 1 on the Billboard chart, as the pop star logged hit after hit after hit with anthems like “Teenage Dream,” “Firework,” “Roar” and more. But as the saying goes when you’re on top, the only way to go is down. That was part of Perry’s experience roughly three years ago when she released “Witness,” which had some success but didn’t dominate the charts like she’s used to doing. By AP Music Writer Mesfin Fekadu SENT: 1,250 words, photos.
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FBC-T25-COLLEGE-FOOTBALL-POLL — Clemson is the preseason No. 1 in The Associated Press Top 25, a poll featuring nine Big Ten and Pac-12 teams that gives a glimpse at what has already been taken by the pandemic from an uncertain college football season. SENT: 940 words, photos.
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