AP News Digest 6 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.
ADDS VIRUS OUTBREAK-VACCINES, FATAL POLICE SHOOTING-COLUMBUS, AIRLINE DEATH-SICK HERO, UNITED STATES-AFGHANISTAN, SYRIA SANCTIONS, VIRUS OUTBREAK-FEDERAL PRISONS, ISRAEL POLITICS, TRUMP-TOXIC LEAD PIPES, BIDEN-IMMIGRATION and TRUMP-RUSSIA PROBE
NOTE VIRUS OUTBREAK-ANTIBODY PROTECTION, which was promised on the 2 p.m. digest, will not move Tuesday. It is embargoed for Wednesday at 5 p.m. and will be filed then.
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ONLY ON AP
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SOUTH AFRICA-CHILD KILLINGS — Official crime figures show around 1,000 children are murdered every year in South Africa, nearly three a day. But that horrific statistic may be an undercount. Child welfare experts say many more children are victims of homicides that are not investigated properly, not prosecuted or are completely missed by authorities. Nationwide child death reviews are common in developed countries but not in South Africa. So, one researcher carried out her own child death reviews. As she feared, the findings of those first such studies were grim. By Gerald Imray and Bram Janssen. SENT: 950 words, photos.
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VIRUS OUTBREAK —Over 2,800 stranded truck drivers hoped to get the green light to leave Britain and get back home for Christmas as the country found itself increasingly isolated and its trade bottled up, cut off by neighbors afraid of a new strain of the coronavirus circulating in England. More than 630 trucks snaked along a major highway in southeast England near the English Channel ports, while almost 2,200 others crowded into an unused airport on Day 2 of an ordeal that began when dozens of nations banned flights from the U.K. and France barred entry to its trucks. By Pan Pylas. SENT: 830 words, photos.
MED-VIRUS OUTBREAK-DEADLIEST YEAR — This is the deadliest year in U.S. history, with deaths expected to top 3 million for the first time — due mainly to the coronavirus pandemic. Final mortality data for this year will not be available for months. But preliminary numbers suggest that the United States is on track to see more than 3.2 million deaths this year, or at least 400,000 more than in 2019. By Mike Stobbe. SENT: 725 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-VACCINES -- The U.S. government is negotiating with Pfizer to acquire tens millions of additional vaccine doses in exchange for helping the pharmaceutical giant gain better access to manufacturing supplies. By Jonathan Lemire and Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar. UPCOMING: 630 words by 6:30 p.m.
PANDEMIC-GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAINS — The coronavirus pandemic has crushed global supply chains and wreaked havoc for millions of workers at both ends. The U.S. is one of the world’s top importers of clothing. At the beginning of the pandemic in March, U.S. retailers canceled or failed to pay for existing orders worth billions of dollars, the effects quickly rippled down the supply chain. Thousands of garment factories around the world closed leading to widespread lay-offs and suspensions of employees, most of them women. From January to June of this year, imports of garments in the U.S. dropped by 26%, a loss of $17 billion for factories around the world. By LOUISE DONOVAN/The Fuller Project. SENT: 2,065 words, photos. Eds: An abridged version of 875 words is available.
WALMART-OPIOID LAWSUIT — The Justice Department is suing Walmart, alleging the company unlawfully dispensed controlled substances through its pharmacies, helping to fuel the opioid crisis in America. By Michael Balsamo. SENT: 250 words, photos. Developing.
BIDEN — President-elect Joe Biden on Tuesday assailed the Trump administration for failing to fortify the nation’s cyber defenses, and called on President Donald Trump to publicly identify the perpetrator of a massive breach of U.S. government agencies — a hack some of Trump’s top allies have blamed on Russia. By Alexandra Jaffe and Meg Kinnard. SENT: 780 words, photos.
BIDEN-CONGRESS — For President-elect Joe Biden, Washington’s year-end burst of deal-making brought renewed hope for action during his first 100 days in office. The city’s fever broke as longtime combatants finally forged a COVID-19 deal that carried with it dozens of smaller bills, offering proof that robust legislating is still possible. But the torturous path to an agreement also showed the obstacles ahead as Biden tries to find common ground with Republicans in the Senate. By Andrew Taylor. UPCOMING: 800 words by 6 p.m., photos.
ISRAEL POLITICS —- The Israeli Knesset spokesman’s office confirmed early Wednesday that the country is heading to its fourth elections in two years. A deadline for parliament to pass a new budget passed at midnight, forcing the Knesset to dissolve and automatically triggering new elections on March 23. SENT: 1,000 words, photos. Developing.
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WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT
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AIRLINE DEATH-SICK HERO - An emergency medical technician from Southern California says he is showing COVID-19 symptoms after performing CPR on a man who later died after going into cardiac arrest during a United Airlines flight from Florida to Los Angeles. SENT: 400 words.
PASSENGERS JUMP FLIGHT — A Delta spokesperson says a New York City flight was halted after a man and a woman carrying a service dog exited the aircraft using an emergency slide. SENT: 450 words.
HIGHWAY GUNFIRE — Authorities say a 7-year-old girl has been hospitalized for a gunshot wound she suffered during a shooting that closed off the northbound lanes of a highway in the Washington, D.C., area. SENT: 110 words.
LEATHER YOGA MAT-HINDU COMPLAINT — A Hindu activist is calling on luxury goods maker Louis Vuitton to pull a yoga mat made partly from cowhide leather, calling it “hugely insensitive.” SENT: 265 words.
FLINT WATER — The Flint City Council in Michigan has signed off on its portion of a $641 million settlement with residents who were exposed to lead-tainted water. SENT: 300 words, photo.
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MORE ON THE VIRUS OUTBREAK
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VIRUS OUTBREAK-ICU CHRISTMAS — Doctors and nurses caring for the sickest COVID-19 patients are doing what they can to get through the holidays. At one Alabama hospital, the intensive care unit is decorated with Christmas trees, snowman stickers and lights. Staff members at East Alabama Medical Center say Christmas just doesn’t feel right this year, but decorations lighten the mental load a little. SENT: 795 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-US SURGE — U.S. hospitals are becoming increasingly worried about the lack of nurses, doctors and other medical staff as COVID-19 cases are continuing to climb across the nation. SENT: 8,80 words, photos. WITH: VIRUS-OUTBREAK-THINGS TO KNOW — Deaths to set record, consumer confidence down. SENT: 880 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-SOUTH CAROLINA — South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster has tested positive for the coronavirus and was slated to receive outpatient antibody treatment for “mild symptoms.” His office said that the 73-year-old McMaster learned he’d tested positive late Monday following a test “due to coming into close contact with the COVID-19 virus.” SENT: 415 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-PUBLIC SCHOOL ENROLLMENT — Data from 33 U.S. states shows that K-12 public school enrollment has dropped across those states by more than 500,000 students, or 2%, since the same time last year. That is a significant shift considering that enrollment overall in those states has typically gone up by about half a percent in recent years. The data obtained by Chalkbeat and The Associated Press offers the clearest picture yet of the pandemic’s devastating toll on public school enrollment. The decline could eventually have dire consequences for already stressed school budgets that are based on headcounts. Even more alarming, educators say, is that some of the students who left may not be in school at all. By Kalyn Belsha and Gabrielle LaMarr Lemee of Chalkbeat, and Leah Willingham and Larry Fenn of The Associated Press. SENT: 1,200 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-FEDERAL PRISONS -- The Federal Bureau of Prisons says it has started to give the coronavirus vaccine to some high-risk inmates but won’t say how many inmates have been vaccinated or how it selects those to receive the vaccine. The revelation contradicts the agency’s previous policy that initial doses were for staff members. By Michael Balsamo. SENT: 340 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK CALIFORNIA - California has recorded a half-million coronavirus cases in the last two weeks, overwhelming hospitals in urban centers and rural areas. A medical center in Imperial County along the Mexican border warned Monday that it is fast running out of patient beds. SENT: 880 words, photos.
ONE GOOD THING-CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS TREES — A Virginia man has found a way to use Charlie Brown-style Christmas trees to benefit a middle school that provides scholarships for students from an impoverished area. Frank Pichel sold scrawny wild pine trees from land he owns to raise money for the Anna Julia Cooper Episcopal School in Richmond’s East End. The school was started in 2009 by parishioners and priests who wanted to help children from low-income families change their lives. Pichel has sold 180 trees and raised more than $5,000 for the school. Pichel’s customers say the imperfect trees seem appropriate in a year that saw the world struggle with the devastation caused by the coronavirus pandemic. SENT: 715 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-VIRAL-QUESTIONS-VACCINE EMPLOYERS — Can employers make COVID-19 vaccination mandatory? Yes, with some exceptions. Experts say employers can require employees to take safety measures, including vaccination. That doesn’t necessarily mean you would get fired if you refuse, but you might need to sign a waiver or agree to work under specific conditions to limit any risk you might pose to yourself or others. SENT: 230 words, photos.
Find more coverage on the Virus Outbreak on the featured topic page in AP Newsroom.
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CONGRESS-BUSINESS MEALS -- Stuffed into the new emergency relief package is a morsel that President Donald Trump has long had on the buffet of his economic wish list: restoring full tax breaks for restaurant business meals. But experts say it’s scant immediate help for an industry reeling from the pandemic as new virus cases surge, while critics deride it as an insensitive “three-Martini lunch” giveaway to business. By Marcy Gordon. SENT: 620 words, photos. WITH: CONGRESS-HORSE-RACING — A bill to ban race-day doping of horses and set national medication and track-safety standards for the horse-racing industry is nearing the finish line. Lawmakers gave final approval to the bill late Monday as part of the massive legislation on spending and pandemic relief. SENT: 600 words, photos.
BIDEN-EDUCATION-CARDONA — President-elect Joe Biden has chosen Miguel Cardona, the education commissioner for Connecticut and a former public school teacher, to serve as education secretary. SENT: 960 words, photo.
BIDEN-IMMIGRATION-- President-elect Joe Biden says it will take months to roll back some of President Donald Trump’s actions on immigration, offering a slower timeline than he promised on the campaign trail and one that may rile advocates pushing for speedy action on the issue. By Alexandra Jaffe. UPCOMING: 850 words by 6:30 p.m.
CALIFORNIA SENATE-APPOINTMENT — California Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed Secretary of State Alex Padilla as the state’s next U.S. senator to fill the seat being vacated by Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. SENT: 635 words, photos.
UNITED STATES-AFGHANISTAN -- Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller made an unannounced trip to Afghanistan on Tuesday, meeting top leaders during the American troop withdrawal. By Lolita C. Baldor. SENT: 400 words, photos.
SYRIA SANCTIONS -- The Trump administration on Tuesday announced more sanctions on Syria, intensifying pressure on President Bashar Assad to end the country’s vicious, nearly decade-long conflict. The new sanctions target Syria’s central bank, Assad’s in-laws, and others. By Ellen Knickmeyer. SENT: 420 words, photos.
TRUMP-TOXIC LEAD PIPES -- The Trump administration overhauled the country’s widely criticized, 29-year-old framework to eliminate toxic lead from drinking water on Tuesday, but critics charge that the new rule gives utilities far more time than before to finally replace old, lead-contaminated pipes. By Ellen Knickmeyer. UPCOMING: 430 words, photos by 6:30 p.m.
TRUMP-RUSSIA PROBE -- The special U.S. counsel investigating the origins of the FBI’s probe into the 2016 election now has the authority to use classified information indefinitely in his investigation, according to a memorandum issued Tuesday by President Donald Trump. It was a procedural step. UPCOMING: 400 words by 7 p.m.
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BREXIT — The European Union and the United Kingdom kicked efforts into higher gear to settle a fight over fishing quotas in British waters, the main dispute standing in the way of a trade deal that would avoid a chaotic New Year’s Day economic divorce between the two. SENT: 660 words, photos.
ARMENIA-AZERBAIJAN — Opposition supporters in Armenia ramped up the pressure on the prime minister to resign over his handling of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Azerbaijan, setting up a protest tent camp on the capital’s main square. SENT: 430 words, photos.
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ISLAMIC STATE-DIGITAL PRESENCE —A man supported the Islamic State group for years from a Portland, Oregon, suburb by helping the extremists maintain an online presence that encouraged attacks and sought recruits, federal agents and prosecutors said. SENT: 680 words, photos.
FATAL POLICE SHOOTING-COLUMBUS - The mayor of Ohio’s capital city says an officer who shot and killed a Black man holding a cell phone early Tuesday morning did not activate his body camera beforehand. SENT: 450 words, photo.
POLICE NAKED MAN — A 71-year-old Black man in South Carolina was embarrassed and feared for his life when a police officer looking for teens who might have been breaking in cars held him outside naked and at gunpoint after he peeked out his door to check on the disturbance, the man said in a lawsuit. SENT: 695 words.
IMMIGRATION-DEFERRED ACTION — A federal judge didn’t immediately issue a ruling following a court hearing on the fate of a U.S. program shielding immigrants brought to the country illegally as children. During a nearly 3 1/2 hour hearing on Tuesday, Texas and eight other states asked U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, which provides limited protections to about 650,000 people. SENT: 500 words, photo.
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HEALTH & SCIENCE
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VIRUS OUTBREAK-BIRX - The coordinator of the White House coronavirus response says she plans to retire. But first, Dr. Deborah Birx says, she’s willing to help President-elect Joe Biden’s team with its coronavirus response if needed. SENT: 470 words, photo.
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SMALL BUSINESS-MORE RELIEF MONEY — Congress is ready to provide nearly $300 billion in additional loans for small businesses pummeled by the virus pandemic as part of a broader package of relief measures. Hard-hit companies that already took a loan from the government could apply for a second one, but the question is whether the money will be enough for businesses such as restaurants and gyms to survive the severe restrictions on their operations. SENT: 1,080 words, photos.
ECONOMY-GDP — The U.S. economy expanded at a record 33.4% annual pace from July through September, the Commerce Department said, delivering the last of three estimates on the economy’s third-quarter performance. But it’s likely that a resurgence in coronavirus cases slowed growth sharply during the last three months of 2020. SENT: 270 words, photos.
FINANCIAL MARKETS —- A listless day on Wall Street left stocks mostly lower Tuesday, even as more gains by technology companies pushed the Nasdaq to an all-time high. SENT: 750 words, photos. WITH: CONSUMER-CONFIDENCE — A closely-watched gauge for U.S. consumer confidence tumbled to a reading of 88.6 in December as rising coronavirus cases tamped down American optimism to its lowest level since summer. SENT: 165 words, photo.
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YE-PERFORMING IN THE PANDEMIC — In 2020, the pandemic upended the entertainment world, driving thousands out of work, reshaping industries of culture and accelerating digital transformations. Perhaps no loss was felt as acutely as the near total absence of live performance. Broadway theaters were empty, comedy clubs silent, music halls quiet. The spark between performer and audience was nearly snuffed out, and with it a lifeblood of human connection. By Film Writer Jake Coyle. SENT: 1,380 words, photos.
Find more year-end coverage on the featured topic page in AP Newsroom.
FILM-WONDER WOMAN-PEDRO PASCAL — Pedro Pascal talks about his huckster Wonder Woman character, who, he says, isn’t entirely dissimilar to The Mandalorian. By Film Writer Lindsey Bahr. SENT: 645 words, photos.
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BKN-WARRIORS-NETS — Kevin Durant returns from an injury that sidelined him 18 months and faces his former team when the Brooklyn Nets host the Golden State Warriors in the NBA’s season opener. Durant won two titles in three seasons with Golden State. By Basketball Writer Brian Mahoney. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos. Game starts 7 p.m.
BKN-CLIPPERS-LAKERS — LeBron James and the NBA champion Lakers will receive their rings before opening the new season against Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers. The Staples Center rivals both look like two of the NBA’s best teams again this season. By Greg Beacham. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos. Starts 10 p.m.
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