Deep South News Digest
Good afternoon! 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 A reminder: this information is not for publication or broadcast, and these coverage plans are subject to change.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:
GEORGIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY
ATLANTA — Georgia’s Capitol buzzed back to life Monday as the state’s 236 lawmakers gathered to kick off an election-year session that could be dominated by budget, education and gambling issues. By Jeff Amy and Ben Nadler. SENT: 750 words, photos.
DEATH PENALTY-GEORGIA
ATLANTA — Lawyers for a Georgia man set to be executed this week want the state parole board to convert his sentence to life without the possibility of parole, arguing that's what the jury would have chosen if given the chance. By Kate Brumback. SENT: 750 words.
RIGHT WHALES-ENDANGERED CALF
SAVANNAH, Ga. — An endangered newborn right whale spotted with grievous injuries to its head off the Georgia coast is unlikely to survive, though scientists may try to inject the calf with antibiotics using a syringe fired from an air gun if they can safely get close enough, government experts said Monday. By Russ Bynum. SENT: 472 words.
IN BRIEF:
— HOSPITAL RENOVATION-FLOODING — The largest safety-net hospital in Georgia said it will take most of the year to gut and rebuild three floors of the facility damaged by flooding.
— IVANKA TRUMP-SEX TRAFFICKING — Ivanka Trump is expected to travel to Atlanta on Tuesday to tour facilities that help human trafficking survivors.
— HUMAN TRAFFICKING — Georgia is offering a new online training course to educate people on how to recognize human trafficking and how to take action if someone spots it.
— DATE RAPE DRUG-ARRESTS — Two Alabama women were arrested after a vehicle search in Georgia uncovered about 2 gallons of a chemical commonly known as a date rape drug, authorities said Monday.
— OFFICER HIT BY TRAIN — Police in Georgia have released body camera video showing the moment an officer was hit by a train while on duty
— GERMANY-AIR BASE DEATHS — The U.S. Air Force is investigating the death of two servicemen who died at a base in Germany last week.
SOUTH CAROLINA (All times Eastern)
TOP STORIES:
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET
COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster wants to give back nearly a quarter of the state's almost $2 billion surplus through rebate checks based on how much tax someone pays and a five-year plan to cut income tax rates. By Jeffrey Collins. SENT: 512 words.
ELECTION 2020-DEMOCRATS
DOVER, N.H. — The Democrats standing in a cold New Hampshire parking lot are desperate for change after years of Donald Trump's turbulent presidency. But like Democratic voters across the country, they're grappling with a core question as they size up their party's leading candidates just three weeks before primary voting begins: How much change is too much in 2020? By Steve Peoples. SENT: 1,250 words, photos.
WIFE SLAIN-CHARGES DROPPED
OZARK, Ala. — Authorities dropped charges against a man arrested in South Carolina in the slaying of his wife after another suspect admitted to the 1990 killing on the eve of the trial, prosecutors said Monday. SENT: 351 words.
IN BRIEF:
— OFFICER FIRED — A South Carolina sheriff's employee has been fired following a roadway incident involving a gun.
— CRIME-NEIGHBORHOOD CAMERAS — Dozens of cameras are being installed in a South Carolina city to help curb crime.
SPORTS:
FBC--CFP CHAMPIONSHIP
NEW ORLEANS — Ed Orgeron and top-ranked LSU look to cap off one of the most impressive seasons in school history when they take on Dabo Swinney and Clemson in the CFP national championship game. By College Football Writer Ralph Russo. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos. Game starts at 8 p.m. ET
With:
— FBC--CFP CHAMPIONSHIP-THE LATEST. Real-time updates from the College Football Playoff championship showdown between LSU-Clemson.
— Sidebars on merit
FBC--PAUL NEWBERRY-CFP CHAMPIONSHIP
NEW ORLEANS — AP Sports Columnist Paul Newberry writes from the national championship game between LSU and Clemson. By Sports Columnist Paul Newberry. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos. Game starts at 8:15 p.m. EST.
FBC—T25-COLLEGE FOOTBALL POLL
NEW ORLEANS — The final AP college football poll is released. By College Football Writer Ralph D. Russo. UPCOMING: 400 words, with photos. Poll expected to be released about two hours after the national championship game ends.
ALABAMA (All times Central)
TOP STORIES:
WIFE SLAIN-CHARGES DROPPED
OZARK, Ala. — Authorities dropped charges against a man arrested in the slaying of his wife after another suspect admitted to the 1990 killing on the eve of the trial, prosecutors said Monday. SENT: 351 words. UPCOMING: AP Photo.
REFUGEE SETTLEMENTS
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey is remaining uncommitted on whether Alabama will accept the resettlement of new refugees under a new Trump administration order that requires state consent, a spokeswoman said Monday. SENT: 200 words.
IN BRIEF:
— BURGLARIZED CHURCHES-BATMAN — Police in Alabama are looking for a man who disguised himself as Batman while stealing musical instruments from churches.
— DATE RAPE DRUG-ARRESTS — Two Alabama women were arrested after a vehicle search in Georgia uncovered about 2 gallons of a chemical commonly known as a date rape drug, authorities said Monday.
— ALABAMA SCHOOLS-TORNADO — A north Alabama school district is closing some of its schools this week after a tornado caused heavy damage at an elementary school.
— WAR MEMORIAL-CRASH — An Alabama memorial to the missing and dead of the Korean War was in pieces Monday after a vehicle being pursued by police crashed into the monument and burned.
SPORTS:
BOX-WILDER-FURY
LOS ANGELES — Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury are ready to do it again. The charismatic heavyweights have agreed to meet Feb. 22 in a rematch of their thrilling bout in December 2018. They're kicking off the promotion in downtown LA, across the street from the site of their thrilling draw. By Greg Beacham. UPCOMING: 500 words, photos.
LOUISIANA (All times Central)
TOP STORIES:
LOUISIANA LEGISLATURE
BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana's House and Senate elect their leaders Monday, with a competition for House speaker coming down to the wire amid intraparty Republican fighting.
LOUISIANA INAUGURATION
BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards began his second term Monday without the budget crises that crowded out other debates across his first four years, but with a more conservative Legislature that could create new clashes over spending. By Melinda Deslatte. SENT: 610 words, photos.
LOUISIANA LEGISLATURE
BATON ROUGE, La. — The Louisiana House elected Republican Clay Schexnayder to be its new House speaker Monday, spurning the lawmaker favored by Attorney General Jeff Landry and U.S. Sen. John Kennedy in an acrimonious public feud. By Melinda Deslatte and Kevin McGill. SENT: 676 words.
NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGES-SE LA
NEW ORLEANS — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing fees for using eight national wildlife refuges in southeast Louisiana, and is also considering lottery alligator hunts on six of its refuges. SENT: 369 words.
OPEN BURNING-PERMIT
BARON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana regulators have filed their intent to deny a permit to a company that burns explosive material unless it pursues more environmentally sound practices. SENT: 260 words.
IN BRIEF:
— BAR ASSOCIATION-LAWSUIT — A claim that Louisiana lawyers are unconstitutionally required to join and pay dues to the state bar association was rejected Monday by a federal judge.
— APARTMENT FIRE — The fire marshal's office in Louisiana is investigating a fire that destroyed a building at an apartment complex.
— CRIME REDUCTION — A law enforcement partnership is being credited as helping decrease homicides and violent crimes in a Mississippi city.
SPORTS:
FBC--CFP CHAMPIONSHIP
NEW ORLEANS — Ed Orgeron and top-ranked LSU look to cap off one of the most impressive seasons in school history when they take on Dabo Swinney and Clemson in the CFP national championship game. By College Football Writer Ralph Russo. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos. Game starts at 8 p.m. ET
With:
— FBC--CFP CHAMPIONSHIP-THE LATEST. Real-time updates from the College Football Playoff championship showdown between LSU-Clemson.
— Sidebars on merit
FBC--PAUL NEWBERRY-CFP CHAMPIONSHIP
NEW ORLEANS — AP Sports Columnist Paul Newberry writes from the national championship game between LSU and Clemson. By Sports Columnist Paul Newberry. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos. Game starts at 8:15 p.m. EST.
FBC—T25-COLLEGE FOOTBALL POLL
NEW ORLEANS — The final AP college football poll is released. By College Football Writer Ralph D. Russo. UPCOMING: 400 words, with photos. Poll expected to be released about two hours after the national championship game ends.
BKN--PELICANS-PISTONS
DETROIT — The Pistons and Pelicans have the same record (14-26) entering their matchup in Detroit. By Noah Trister. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos. Game starts at 7 p.m. ET.
MISSISSIPPI (All times Central)
TOP STORIES:
MISSISSIPPI INAUGURATION
JACKSON, Miss. — Republican Tate Reeves will face immediate problems as the new governor of Mississippi, including an understaffed prison system that was recently rocked by deadly violence. By Emily Wagster Pettus. SENT: 419 words, AP Photos.
IN BRIEF:
— LANDFILL DECISION — Mississippi's Department of Environmental Quality is set to decide on whether a controversial new landfill will be allowed in a county that already has two other trash dumping sites.
— CHILD PORN CONVICTION — A Mississippi man whose wife found images of nude children in their home was convicted of possessing child pornography.
— CRIME REDUCTION — A law enforcement partnership is being credited as helping decrease homicides and violent crimes in a Mississippi city.
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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]
The Montgomery AP Bureau: [email protected]
The New Orleans AP Bureau: [email protected]
The Jackson AP Bureau: [email protected]