AP News Digest 2 p.m.
Here are the AP’s latest coverage plans, top stories and promotable content. All Times EST. 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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MINNESOTA-JUVENILE-LIFER — An independent panel of national legal experts who reviewed the conviction of an African American man sentenced as a teenager to life in prison for the murder of a little girl has recommended his release. In a 57-page report, the panel said police suffered from “tunnel vision” in investigating the case, ignoring witnesses and evidence that might have helped clear Myon Burell, then 16 of the murder of 11-year-old Tyesha Edwards in 2002. By Robin McDowell and Margie Mason. UPCOMING: 1,680 words, photos by 4 p.m.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK-UNDER-THE-KNIFE — Hospitals in Europe are now better able to treat virus patients and better equipped for the double challenge of fighting COVID-19 while also doing other medicine. One of the biggest hospitals in Paris this month reopened all 22 of its operating rooms. It is again performing surgeries that were stopped during virus surges that pushed France’s death toll past 55,000. By John Leicester. SENT: 1,130 words, photos.
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VIRUS OUTBREAK — A retired British shop clerk received the first shot in the country’s COVID-19 vaccination program Tuesday, the start of an unprecedented global immunization effort intended to offer a route out of a pandemic that has killed 1.5 million. Margaret Keenan, who turns 91 next week, got the shot at 6:31 a.m. on what public health officials have dubbed “V-Day.” By Danica Kirka. SENT: 1,090 words, photos.
MED-VIRUS OUTBREAK-VACCINE — U.S. health regulators say in their initial review that the vaccine from Pfizer is 95% protective against COVID-19. The review posted by the Food and Drug Administration offers the world the first detailed look at the evidence behind the shot, which was co-developed with BioNTech. The FDA review comes before a Thursday meeting where a panel of independent experts will scrutinize the data and vote on whether to recommend use of the vaccine. The vote isn’t binding but the FDA usually follows the group’s guidance. A U.S. decision to allow use of the vaccine is expected within days. By Matthew Perrone and Lauran Neegaard. SENT: 600 words, photos. WITH: VIRUS OUTBREAK-ASTRAZENECA VACCINE —New results on a possible COVID-19 vaccine from Oxford University and drugmaker AstraZeneca suggest it is safe and about 70% effective. SENT: 425 words, photos. WITH: MED--VIRUS OUTBREAK-FDA-VACCINE STEPS —EXPLAINER: Final steps in U.S. review of COVID-19 vaccine. SENT: 450 words, photo.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-TRUMP VACCINE — President Donald Trump is taking a victory lap ahead of the expected approval of the first U.S. vaccine for the coronavirus. But as the massive logistical undertaking prepares to get underway, the White House also must instill confidence in a vaccine process that will largely be executed by President-elect Joe Biden. By Zeke Miller and Jonathan Lemire. SENT: 980 words. UPCOMING: Developing from 2 p.m. event, 990 words by 5 p.m., photos, video.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-US SURGE — Deaths from COVID-19 in the U.S. have soared to more than 2,200 a day on average, matching the frightening peak reached last April, and cases per day have eclipsed 200,000 on average for the first time on record, with the crisis all but certain to get worse because of the fallout from Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s. By Lisa Marie Pane. SENT: 585 words, photos.
ELECTION 2020-TRUMP-STATE LAWMAKERS — Despite weeks of failure, President Trump’s campaign to overturn the will of voters and reverse his election loss is finding support among Republicans in state legislatures -- demonstrating Trump’s power to bend the GOP to his will even as he leaves office. By Nomaan Merchant and Tom Beaumont. UPCOMING: 880 words by 5 p.m., photos.
FORT HOOD-VIOLENCE — The Army fires or suspends 14 officers and enlisted soldiers at Fort Hood, Texas, and orders policy changes to address chronic leadership failures at the base that contributed to a widespread pattern of violence including murder, sexual assaults and harassment. By Lolita C. Baldor. SENT: 415 words. UPCOMING: 700 words by 4 p.m., photos.
OBIT-CHUCK YEAGER — Retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Charles “Chuck” Yeager, the World War II fighter pilot ace and quintessential test pilot who showed he had the “right stuff” when in 1947 he became the first person to fly faster than sound, has died. He was 97. SENT: 1,290 words, photos.
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WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT
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SIRUSXM-STERN — The satellite radio company SiriusXM has locked up its most valuable asset, Howard Stern, for five more years in a deal announced Tuesday. SENT: 225 words, photos.
LETTER JACKET-RECOVERED — 92-year-old man finds his college jacket with social media's help. SENT: 300 words, photo.
BRITAIN-OBIT DOUG SCOTT — Doug Scott, who was part of the first British team to climb Mount Everest in 1975, has died. He was 79. SENT: 245 words.
WOODROW WILSON HOME RENAMED: Caretakers of former President Woodrow Wilson’s teenage home in South Carolina have renamed the landmark site to more accurately reflect the era that formed 28th president's segregationist views. SENT: 430 words, phots.
TIKTOK-TRUMP JUDGE — A federal judge has blocked President Trump’s attempts to ban TikTok. SENT: 370 words, photo.
NEW YEAR'S EVE HOSTS — Billy Porter to join New Year’s Eve show from Times Square. SENT: 180 words, photo.
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MORE ON THE VIRUS OUTBREAK
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VIRUS OUTBREAK-CONGRESS — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Trump administration officials discuss the path forward on government spending and COVID-19 relief as lawmakers search for a deal. Congressional leaders are already moving a key government shutdown deadline to the end of next week buy time for the talks, but progress is slow and key decisions are yet to be made. SENT: 830 words. UPCOMING: Developing, 890 words by 5 p.m., photos.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK-MOROCCO-VACCINES — Morocco is gearing up for an ambitious COVID-19 vaccination program, aiming to vaccinate 80% of its adults in an operation starting this month that’s relying initially on a Chinese vaccine that has not yet completed advanced trials to prove it is safe and effective. SENT: 820 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-INDIA VACCINES — India’s health ministry announced that some COVID-19 vaccines are likely to receive licenses in the next few weeks and outlined an initial plan to immunize 300 million people. SENT: 465 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-BRITAIN ROYAL TOUR — A national train tour by Prince William and his wife Kate has received a frosty welcome from leaders in Wales and Scotland, with one Welsh official saying he would rather “no one was having unnecessary visits” during the coronavirus pandemic. SENT: 335 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-GERMANY — Two German states moved closer to a “hard lockdown” as officials warned that continued high coronavirus infections could overwhelm hospitals and that too many people were ignoring existing pandemic restrictions. SENT: 565 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-ASIA — Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam says social distancing measures will be tightened as cases of the coronavirus continue to surge, with a ban on nighttime dining and more businesses ordered to close. SENT: 650 words, photos.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK-ITALY-POPE — Pope Francis made a surprise early morning visit to the Spanish Steps in Rome to pray for people worldwide struggling in the pandemic. SENT: 360 words, photo.
ONE GOOD THING-BRACELET FUNDRAISER — A 7-year-old from Chicago has spent most of the coronavirus pandemic crafting bracelets from colorful rubber bands as a fundraiser to buy personal protective equipment for a children’s hospital. The endeavor has generated nearly $20,000 for Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital. SENT: 620 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-VIRAL QUESTIONS-SURFACES — If you’re worried about the coronavirus on groceries or other packages, experts say to keep the risk in perspective. SENT: 250 words, graphic.
Find more coverage on the Virus Outbreak on the featured topic page in AP Newsroom.
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TRUMP-CONGRESS-DEFENSE BILL — The Democratic-controlled House is moving toward approval of a wide-ranging defense policy bill, even as President Donald Trump renews his threat to veto the bill unless lawmakers clamp down on social media companies he claims were biased against him during the election. Congressional leaders have signaled they will press ahead on the hugely popular bill — which provides pay raises for U.S. troops and other programs — despite the veto threat. By Matthew Daly. SENT: 800 words. UPCOMING: 850 words by 6 p.m., photo.
ELECTION 2020-SAFE HARBOR — It’s Safe Harbor Day. That’s a deadline set in federal law that essentially means Congress has to accept the electoral votes that will be cast next week and sent to the Capitol for counting on Jan. 6. Those votes will elect Joe Biden as the country’s next president. It’s a kind of insurance policy by which a state can lock in its electoral votes by finishing up certification of the results and any state court legal challenges. By Mark Sherman. SENT: 749 words. UPCOMING: 790 words with new approach by 5 p.m., photos.
BIDEN-DEFENSE — Democrats and Republicans express unease about President-elect Joe Biden’s pick of Lloyd Austin for defense secretary, fearing that confirmation of the recently retired Army general could further undermine the centuries-old principle of civilian control of the military. Austin, who would be the first Black defense secretary, would need a waiver approved by both the House and Senate to lead the Pentagon. By National Security Writer Robert Burns. SENT: 1,120 words. UPCOMING: 850 words by 5 p.m., photos.
BIDEN-HEALTH SECRETARY — President-elect Joe Biden introduces a health care team that will be tested at every turn as it strives to overcome the coronavirus pandemic and restore a sense of normalcy to the daily lives of Americans.. By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar. SENT: 1100 words. UPCOMING: Developing from early afternoon event, 990 words by 5 p.m., photos, video.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-FEDERAL EXECUTIONS — As the U.S. pushes ahead with federal executions in the midst of a global pandemic, the Justice Department discloses that eight staff members who took part in an execution last month tested positive for coronavirus and that five will return for executions this week. The decision is drawing criticism from advocates and lawyers for inmates who say the Bureau of Prisons isn’t doing enough to stop the spread of exploding coronavirus cases behind bars. UPCOMING: 800 words by 5 p.m., photo.
TRUMP-TELECOMS — The Senate is expected to vote on President Trump’s lame-duck nominee to become a member of the Federal Communications Commission. Approval of Nathan Simington would set up the telecoms agency for a stretch of partisan gridlock likely to stymie President-elect Joe Biden’s policies. UPCOMING: 500 words by 5 p.m.
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BREXIT — The leaders of Britain and the European Union will meet in the next 24 hours for a final push at a Brexit deal, as the two sides warned that the chances of a post-Brexit trade deal by a year-end deadline is slipping away. SENT: 865 words, photos.
NEW-ZEALAND-MOSQUE-SHOOTING-REPORT — There were no clear signs that an attack last year on two New Zealand mosques was imminent, but police should have done a better job vetting the lone gunman when he applied for a gun license, and intelligence agencies should have focused more on threats such as white supremacism, according to a new report. SENT: 930 words, photos.
ARMENIA-AZERBAIJAN — Dozens of protesters took to the streets of the Armenian capital, demanding the resignation of the country’s prime minister over his handling of the conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh. SENT: 475 words, photos.
AFGHANISTAN — A U.S.-based institute warned that there has been a dramatic increase in airstrikes conducted by Afghan government forces from July to September this year, attacks that have led to a sharp rise in civilian casualties. SENT: 500 words, photos.
ETHIOPIA MILITARY CONFRONTATION — Ethiopia’s government says its security forces shot at and detained United Nations staffers as they tried to reach part of the embattled Tigray region. SENT: 588 words, photos.
PHILIPPINES-US WEAPONS — The U.S. defense chief announced the delivery of nearly $30 million worth of weapons to the Philippines, which faces threats from Islamic State group-linked militants. Acting U.S. Defense Secretary Christopher Miller made the announcement during a brief visit to Manila, where he met with his Philippine counterpart and the foreign secretary. The weapons, including equipment for snipers and anti-bomb squads, were delivered ahead of Miller’s visit, officials said. SENT: 350 words, photos.
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OHIO GOVERNOR — Lethal injection is no longer an option for Ohio executions, and lawmakers must choose a different method of capital punishment before any inmates can be put to death in the future, Republican Gov. Mike DeWine said. SENT: 465 words, photos.
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HEALTH & SCIENCE
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SCI-ARCTIC REPORT CARD — A new report shows how warming temperatures in the Arctic are transforming the region’s geography and ecosystems. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s annual Arctic Report Card was published Tuesday. The report shows that the past year was the second warmest on record in the Arctic. The extent of snow on the ground in June across the Eurasian Arctic was the lowest recorded in 54 years. SENT: 500 words, photos.
INDIA MYSTERY ILLNESS — Over 500 people have been hospitalized and at least one person killed by an unidentified illness in southern India. Since Saturday evening, people have suddenly started to convulse. Symptoms such as nausea and loss of consciousness have been reported. But experts are still baffled by the cause. There doesn’t seem to be any common link among the hundreds of people who have fallen sick. The most recent hypothesis being tested is contamination of food by pesticides, but so far no hard evidence has been found. SENT: 400 words, photos.
AMERICAN RIVERS REPORT CARD — A new report card gives a low grade to the Mississippi River Watershed and cites a need for billions of dollars in new spending to address concerns like flooding and water quality involving the nation’s largest rivers. America’s Watershed Initiative released its first report since it gave the watershed a D+ grade in 2015. The 2020 report is only a slight improvement, to a C-. SENT: 360 words, photo.
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FINANCIAL-MARKETS —Stocks were slightly higher as investors worried that rising virus cases will delay a full economic recovery while the world waits for wide distribution of a vaccine. SENT: 320 words, photo.
INTERNET-DEVICES-VULNERABILITIES — Researchers at a cybersecurity firm say they have identified vulnerabilities in software widely used by millions of connected devices — flaws that could be exploited by hackers to penetrate business and home computer networks and disrupt them. By Technology Writer Frank Bajak. SENT: 500 words.
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YE-TOP 10 FILMS — AP’s film writers offer their lists of the top 10 films of 2020. By AP Film Writers Jake Coyle and Lindsey Bahr. UPCOMING: 1,200 words, photos.
Find more year-end coverage on the featured topic page in AP Newsroom.
FILM-GARY OLDMAN — Gary Oldman, who won the best actor Oscar two years ago for his Winston Churchill, acknowledges he’s “partial to a disguise.” But to play the alcoholic, acerbic screenwriter of “Mank,” David Fincher wanted a naked performance from Oldman, sans prosthetics or disguise. SENT: 1,115 words, photos.
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FBN-COWBOYS RAVENS — Cowboys face the Baltimore Ravens, who are looking to snap a three-game skid and stay relevant in the AFC playoff picture in a game postponed from last Thursday. By David Ginsburg. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos. Game starts at 8:05 p.m.
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HOW TO REACH US
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