Deep South News Digest Advisory

| January 9, 2020 4:35 PM

Good evening! Here’s a look at how AP’s news coverage is shaping up today in the Deep South. Questions about today's coverage plans are welcome and should be directed to:

The Atlanta AP Bureau at 404-522-8971 or [email protected]

The Columbia AP Bureau at 803-799-5510 or [email protected]

The Montgomery AP Bureau at 334-262-5947 or [email protected]

The New Orleans AP Bureau at 504-523-3931 or [email protected]

The Jackson AP Bureau at 601-948-5897 or [email protected]

For up-to-the minute information on AP's coverage, visit Coverage Plan at newsroom.ap.org.

Deep South Editor Jim Van Anglen can be reached at 1-800-821-3737 or [email protected]. Administrative Correspondent Rebecca Santana can be reached at 504-523-3931 or [email protected]. A reminder: this information is not for publication or broadcast, and these coverage plans are subject to change. Expected stories may not develop, or late-breaking and more newsworthy events may take precedence. Advisories and digests will keep you up to date.

Some TV and radio stations will receive broadcast versions of the stories below, along with all updates.

GEORGIA (All times Eastern)

TOP STORIES:

MLK COMMEMORATION

ATLANTA — As the nation prepares for the Martin Luther King Jr. national holiday amid a “dire” election year, the Atlanta center named for him will offer nonviolence training, voter registration and visits from politicians, entertainers and sports figures, King’s daughter said Thursday. The impeachment of President Donald Trump and a tumultuous climate in the United States make this year's commemorative event all the more crucial, Bernice King told reporters. By Ron Harris. SENT: 311 words.

AP Photos transref:GARH101, transref:GARH105, transref:GARH104, transref:GARH103, transref:GARH102.

SOUTHERN STORMS

UNDATED — A storm system expected to strike southern states from Texas to Georgia this weekend is looking more and more menacing, bringing the potential for devastating tornadoes and 80-mph wind gusts. The national Storm Prediction Center said more than 18 million people in Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma will be at an enhanced threat of storms that could include strong tornadoes and flooding rains. By Jeff Martin. SENT: 361 words.

RIGHT WHALES-INJURED CALF

SAVANNAH, Ga. — A newborn right whale spotted off the coast of Georgia was suffering from deep cuts on either side of its head, dismaying conservationists who closely monitor the southeast U.S. coast during winter for births among the critically endangered species. The S-shaped gashes, roughly 2 feet (0.6 meters) apart, were likely inflicted by the propeller of a fishing boat or similar vessel, said Barb Zoodsma, who oversees the right whale recovery program in the U.S. Southeast for the National Marine Fisheries Service. By Russ Bynum. SENT: 507 words.

AP Photos transref:FLHO101.

WRONGFUL CONVICTION

DOUGLAS, Ga. — A Georgia man has been released from prison after spending more than a third of his life incarcerated for a crime he didn't commit. Kerry Robinson, 44, walked out of a South Georgia prison Wednesday after 17 years behind bars and hugged his relatives, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. SENT: 213 words.

TV-FX-ATLANTA

PASADENA, Calif. — Donald Glover’s “Atlanta” is returning with new episodes, but not for another year. FX Networks Chairman John Landgraf said Thursday that star and creator Glover is making a total of 18 new episodes. Ten of them will air in January 2021, with the rest to follow later that year, in the fall. By Lynn Elber. SENT: 326 words.

AP Photos transref:NYET410, transref:CACP101.

IN BRIEF:

— MORRIS BROWN DEBT — A church denomination has forgiven $4 million in debt owed by a college it founded in Atlanta

— ELECTION 2020-GEORGIA SPECIAL ELECTION — Two Republicans and a Democrat are running in a special election in a south Georgia state Senate seat.

— STUDENT DIES — A Georgia high school student died Thursday after passing out at school.

— BURGLAR-NAP — Taco Bell wasn't open on Christmas Day but a burglar in Georgia decided he wanted a festive feast anyway — and to take a nap while he was at it.

— HBCU DONATION-CHARLES BARKLEY — Charles Barkley has donated $1 million to historically black Miles College. AP Photos transref:NYDD207.

IN SPORTS:

BKW--T25-GEORGIA TECH-FLORIDA ST. Upcoming: 150 words. Game starts at 7 p.m.

FBC—GEORGIA-MAYS TRANSFER

UNDATED — Offensive lineman Cade Mays is leaving Georgia and returning to his hometown to continue his college football career at Tennessee, where he will have an opportunity to play alongside his younger brother. Tennessee announced Thursday that it had added Mays, who has spent the last two seasons at Georgia. Tennessee sent out a tweet with the Knoxville Catholic graduate's picture along with the message, “Welcome #HomeSweetHome, Cade!” By Charles Odum. SENT: 850 words.

AP Photos transref:GAATH201.

SOUTH CAROLINA (All times Eastern)

TOP STORIES:

SHERIFF INDICTED-SC

COLUMBIA, S.C. — A suspended South Carolina sheriff already facing federal charges was indicted Thursday on state charges that he took money meant to pay overtime for his deputies and had officers convert his barn into a flashy man cave while they were on the clock, prosecutors said. Chester County Sheriff Alex Underwood and his chief deputy also altered travel and expense receipts for a conference they attended with their wives in Reno, Nevada, then inflated their county reimbursement by lying and saying two other officers joined them on the trip, prosecutors said. By Jeffrey Collins. SENT: 567 words.

AP Photos transref:RPJC101, transref:RPJC103, transref:RPJC102.

ELECTION 2020-DEBATE-STEYER

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Billionaire Tom Steyer qualified Thursday for next week's Democratic presidential debate, putting him on stage in Iowa alongside five other candidates. “This campaign has a fair bit of momentum right now,” he said while campaigning in New Hampshire after learning he'd qualified. By Kathleen Ronayne. SENT: 434 words.

AP Photos transref:CAJL132.

NUCLEAR WEAPONS-PLUTONIUM

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The agency that oversees the United States’ nuclear arsenal says it doesn’t need to do any broad environmental reviews of a proposal that calls for ramping up production of plutonium triggers at federal installations in New Mexico and South Carolina. The National Nuclear Security Administration on Wednesday released a supplemental analysis related to the project, saying the determination was made after reviewing extensive documentation and public comments that were received last year. By Susan Montoya Bryan. SENT: 588 words.

PRE-KINDERGARTEN EXPANSION

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Gov. Henry McMaster wants to expand full-day pre-kindergarten for low-income 4-year-olds to every school district across South Carolina. The program was created in 2006 in response to a lawsuit by poorer, more rural school districts and didn't cover all the districts in the state. SENT: 507 words.

VIRTUAL HEALTH CARE

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The Medical University of South Carolina is providing free urgent care visits online for people on the state's health care plan. People needing medical care for things like colds, stomach viruses and other minor ailments can go to www.musc.care or call 843-261-5940 and arrange a visit with a doctor or nurse practitioner. SENT: 222 words.

IN BRIEF:

— SOLDIER DEATH-SOUTH CAROLINA — A 19-year-old Army National Guard soldier from Minnesota was found dead at a South Carolina training base, officials confirmed.

— SCHOOL-GUNS — A man exercising at a South Carolina high school has been arrested after he had two guns inside a bag he left behind after he worked out, authorities said.

IN SPORTS:

FBC—CFP CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW CAPSULE

No. 1 LSU and Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow faces No. 3 Clemson, the defending national champions, in the College Football Playoff title game. Clemson has won 29 straight games and another title would make the Tigers just the fourth program since 1936 to win three in four years. LSU is seeking its fourth national title overall and first since 2007. Burrow has thrown a Southeastern Conference record 55 touchdown passes. Clemson has yet to lose when sophomore quarterback Trevor Lawrence starts, going 25-0. By College Football Writer Ralph Russo. SENT: 489 words.

BKW--T25-ARKANSAS-SOUTH CAROLINA

COLUMBIA, S.C. — No. 21 Arkansas will look to accomplish what few programs have the past five years — beat No. 4 South Carolina in consecutive meetings when the teams play Thursday night. UPCOMING: 500 words, photos. Game starts at 7 p.m.

ALABAMA (All times Central)

SOUTHERN STORMS

MANSLAUGHTER-POOL PARTY

DOTHAN, Ala. — An Alabama man accused of trying to cover up the accidental shooting death of his best friend at a house party was sentenced Wednesday to 14 years in prison. Fisher Corbin Shipes, 20, had initially claimed an unknown black man had shot his friend, but he later admitted to the killing and pleaded guilty last year to manslaughter. Shipes is white. SENT: 236 words.

FATAL SHOOTING

GORDO, Ala. — Family members of a mentally ill man killed by police last year said they want answers about what happened to him. Wallace Wilder's family members, along with the Alabama NAACP, held a press conference Thursday, saying they have received little information since he was killed in August by law enforcement officers in Pickens County, and the state said they were investigating the officer-involved shooting. SENT: 258 words.

IN BRIEF:

— INMATE KILLED — The Alabama Department of Corrections is investigating the death of an inmate who officials say was assaulted by a fellow prisoner

— AIRBUS EXPANSION — European aircraft manufacturer Airbus will expand production at its plant on the U.S. Gulf Coast in Alabama, where it will spend $40 million to construct new facilities and add 275 jobs, the company said Thursday.

— HBCU DONATION-CHARLES BARKLEY — Charles Barkley has donated $1 million to historically black Miles College. The Basketball Hall of Famer and former Auburn star told interim president Bobbie Knight about the donation on Wednesday, news outlets reported. AP Photos transref:NYDD207.

— POLICE SHOOTING-ALABAMA — An Alabama deputy fatally shot a man who was threatening the officer with a hammer outside a Walmart store on Thursday, authorities said.

— MEDICAL MARIJUANA — The Alabama attorney general is opposing medical marijuana legislation expected to be introduced in the upcoming legislative session.

IN SPORTS:

BKW--T25-KENTUCKY-ALABAMA. Upcoming: 150 words. Game starts at 8 p.m.

LOUISIANA (All times Central)

TOP STORIES:

COLLEGE ADMISSIONS

BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana's top higher education board on Thursday postponed decision-making on a strengthening of its minimum admission standards for public colleges that would include new financial penalties for campuses that violate the policy. Commissioner of Higher Education Kim Hunter Reed and her staff spent months working on proposed changes to existing admissions standards first put in place 14 years ago. That wholesale review came after LSU sparked criticism for disobeying the requirements and granting more exceptions than allowed. By Melinda Deslatte. SENT: 531 words.

QUEEN BESS ISLAND

NEW ORLEANS — Louisiana is setting rules for a barrier island that's being restored to greatly increase the number of pelicans and other seabirds that can nest there. The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission made the island a wildlife refuge in November and approved rules for it on Thursday. SENT: 317 words.

VERMILLION SUPERINTENDENT

ABBEVILLE, La. — A Louisiana parish school district has named an interim superintendent, less than a month after a lawsuit by the former system leader was dropped. News outlets report Vermilion Parish School District board members approved Brad Prudhomme's nomination to the post this week. Prudhomme has worked for the district as supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance. He takes the place of Jerome Puyau, who served as superintendent from 2013 until his resignation in December. The Daily Advertiser reports Puyau filed a since-dropped federal lawsuit against the district in September arguing his civil rights were violated when he was suspended amid allegations of public concern about his behavior and management style. SENT: 210 words.

LOUISIANA HURRICANE PROTECTION STUDY

NEW ORLEANS — The federal government is reallocating $1.25 million to revise plans for a proposed south Louisiana hurricane protection project, two Republican congressmen from Louisiana said Thursday. The revision will reflect construction in Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes by local and state agencies and will also allow updated and more efficient designs, said a news release from U.S. House Republican Whip Steve Scalise and Rep. Garrett Graves. SENT: 219 words.

SOUTHERN STORMS

CENTURYLINK-SETTLEMENT-MINNESOTA

ST. PAUL, Minn. — CenturyLink has agreed to pay nearly $9 million to settle allegations the company overbilled Minnesota customers, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said Wednesday. Ellison said the settlement requires CenturyLink to pay more than $844,000 in refunds to more than 12,000 Minnesota customers who were promised a discount they did not receive. The company will pay an additional $8 million that Ellison's office will use to distribute refunds to other customers. The settlement also requires the Louisiana-based company to change its billing practices and to disclose the true price of its services at time of sale and in its advertisements. SENT: 343 words.

IN BRIEF:

— NICHOLLS ST- ATHLETIC DIRECTOR — Nicholls State University has named an interim director of athletics.

— ELECTION 2020-LOUISIANA — Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry submitted the paperwork Thursday to put President Donald Trump's name on the ballot in Louisiana.

IN SPORTS:

FBC—CFP CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW CAPSULE

BKW--T25-LSU-TEXAS A&M

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — No. 10 Texas A&M looks for its 10th straight win as the Aggies host LSU in an SEC matchup. UPCOMING: 600 words. By Brent Zwerneman. Game starts at 9 p.m.

MISSISSIPPI (All times Central)

TOP STORIES:

PRISON UNREST-MISSISSIPPI

Mississippi's prison system signed a 90-day contract to shift 375 inmates from the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman to a nearby private lockup, saying it doesn't have the guards to safely keep the inmates in state custody in the wake of recent violence. The state and CoreCivic announced the contract Thursday, a day after it was signed. The inmates were being shifted after violence led to three deaths at Parchman and an unknown number of injuries. Some inmates were earlier moved into a closed-down cell block to separate clashing gang members. By Jeff Amy. SENT: 775 words.

AP Photos transref:JX203.

SOUTHERN STORMS

MISSISSIPPI INAUGURATION

JACKSON, Miss. — Mississippi's new lieutenant governor, Republican Delbert Hosemann, said immediately after his inauguration Thursday that he wants to work with all lawmakers to improve education, enact pay raises for state employees and address problems in a state's prison system that has been rocked by deadly violence. “We're all in this together,” Hosemann told lawmakers and other officials in a crowded House chamber at the state Capitol. By Emily Wagster Pettus. SENT: 296 words.

AP Photos transref:MSRS107, transref:MSRS104, transref:MSRS117, transref:MSRS115, transref:MSRS116, transref:MSRS114, transref:MSRS113, transref:MSRS108, transref:MSRS111, transref:MSRS109, transref:MSRS106.

ELECTION 2020-MISSISSIPPI HOUSE

JACKSON, Miss. — A GOP city official says he will try to unseat one of Mississippi's Republican members of Congress. Biloxi City Councilman Robert Deming filed papers Thursday to challenge U.S. Rep. Steven Palazzo in south Mississippi's 4th Congressional District. Palazzo filed qualifying papers Wednesday. By Emily Wagster Pettus. SENT: 289 words.

AP Photos transref:MSGUL101.

IN BRIEF:

— XGR-MISSISSIPPI-TEACHER PAY — The Mississippi House voted Thursday to pay the full cost for this year's teacher pay raise.

IN SPORTS:

FBC—MISSISSIPPI STATE-LEACH

UNDATED — The pirate is heading to Starkvegas. Mississippi State hired Washington State's Mike Leach as its new head coach Thursday, bringing one of the nation's quirkiest and most successful coaches from the Pac-12 to the Southeastern Conference. By Ralph D. Russo. SENT: 883 words.

AP Photos transref:NY162, transref:AZRS101, transref:NY163, transref:NY161, transref:NY160.

FBC—MEMPHIS-MACINTYRE

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphis has hired former Colorado coach Mike MacIntyre as defensive coordinator after he filled the same role at Mississippi this past season. New Memphis coach Ryan Silverfield announced the hire Thursday and called MacIntyre “the perfect fit to lead our defense.” The move is pending completion of state hiring protocols. SENT: 266 words.

BKW--T25-TENNESSEE-MISSISSIPPI

OXFORD, Miss. - No. 23 Tennessee attempts to bounce back from a narrow road loss to No. 14 Kentucky when it visits Mississippi, which is seeking its first Southeastern Conference victory of the season. UPCOMING: 150 words. The game starts at 8 p.m.

BKW--T25-MISSISSIPPI ST-MISSOURI. Upcoming: 150 words. Game starts at 7 p.m.

___

If you have stories of regional or statewide interest, please email them them to:

The Atlanta AP Bureau: [email protected]

The Columbia AP Bureau: [email protected]

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The New Orleans AP Bureau: [email protected]

The Jackson AP Bureau: [email protected]