Texas News Digest

Good morning! Here's a look at AP's general news and sports coverage in Texas at this hour. Questions about coverage plans are welcome and should be directed to the Dallas AP at 972-991-2100, or, in Texas, 800-442-7189. Email: [email protected]. Jill Bleed is at the desk after 5:30 a.m.

Reminder: This information is not for publication or broadcast, and these coverage plans are subject to change.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. All times are Central.

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

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

TOP STORIES:

SCHOOL SHOOTING-TEXAS

BELLAIRE, Texas — School officials say a student has been shot to death at a Texas high school, and a suspect was arrested hours later. Grenita Latham, interim superintendent of the Houston Independent School District, confirmed the victim of the Tuesday afternoon shooting at Bellaire High School had died. The district later issued a statement that Wednesday classes at the school were canceled. SENT: 240 words, photos.

IMMIGRATION-DEPORTED MEXICANS

PHOENIX — The Trump administration says it's sending Mexicans who cross the border in Arizona on flights to the central Mexico city of Guadalajara — roughly 1,000 miles away. The announcement Tuesday as more and more Mexicans have been coming to the border. Many are fleeing extreme violence and threats in southern Mexico. Mexicans accounted for half of the arrests and people stopped at the U.S. border in December, more than three times more than any other nationality and a shift from much of last year, when Guatemala and Honduras were the top countries of origin. By Astrid Galvan and Elliot Spagat. SENT: 360 words.

MEAT LOAF FALL-LAWSUIT

FORT WORTH, Texas — Meat Loaf has filed a lawsuit against a hotel at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and organizers of a horror convention held there, blaming them for negligence when he fell from a stage while answering questions from convention goers last May. The singer and actor, whose real name is Michael Lee Aday, and wife Deborah Lee Gillespie Aday filed the suit Monday in a state district court in Fort Worth, Texas, against the Hyatt Corp. and Texas Frightmare Weekend LLC. It alleges they hung curtains at the back edge of the stage at the Hyatt Regency DFW hotel that hid where the stage ended, creating a “hidden hazard.” The lawsuit alleges his injuries from the fall last May have prevented him from performing since. SENT: 220 words, photos. Moved on general and entertainment news services.

RED SOX-CORA FIRED

BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox have fired manager Alex Cora. The move came one day after baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred implicated him in the sport's sign-stealing scandal. Cora was the bench coach for the Houston Astros when they won the 2017 World Series and led Boston to the title the following year in his first season as manager. Astros manager AJ Hinch and GM Jeff Luhnow were fired on Monday, an hour after Manfred suspended them for the 2020 season for their role in the cheating scheme. By Jimmy Golen. SENT: 810 words, photos. Moved on sports and general news services.

With:

— ASTROS-WHAT'S NEXT? — Less than a month before the start of spring training, the American League champion Houston Astros are without a manager and general manager after AJ Hinch and Jeff Luhnow were suspended by Major League Baseball and then fired by team owner Jim Crane for a sign-stealing scheme. By Kristie Rieken. SENT: 760 words, photos. Moved on sports news services.

ELECTION 2020-DEMOCRATS-RACE

When Democratic candidates for president step up to debate Tuesday night in Iowa, there won't be any black faces on the stage. Sen. Cory Booker’s decision to drop out of the 2020 race on Monday leaves only three people of color — Asian American entrepreneur Andrew Yang, Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, a Samoan American, and black former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick — still campaigning. And none of them qualified for Tuesday's debate. The Democratic field's eroding diversity comes as the party is navigating broader debates over how to reflect and embrace the crucial role minority voters play in choosing a presidential nominee. With Harris, Booker and Castro no longer in the race, “it puts us where we started,” said Frederick Gooding Jr., an African American studies and honors college professor at Texas Christian University. By Corey Williams. SENT: 920 words, photos.

LIMITING REFUGEES

HOUSTON — Officials in Houston, one of the biggest hubs for immigrants in the nation, on Tuesday urged Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to reverse his decision to reject new refugees in the state. Abbott announced last week that Texas would no longer accept the resettlement of new refugees, making it the first state known to have done so under an executive order issued by President Donald Trump. Texas has historically led the U.S. in refugee resettlement, and Abbott argued that the state “has carried more than its share in assisting the refugee resettlement process.” Local officials have criticized Abbott, as have the state's Catholic bishops, who called his decision “deeply discouraging and disheartening.” Abbott is Catholic. By John L. Mone. SENT: 400 words.

BOEING PLANES-AMERICAN AIRLINES

CHICAGO — Boeing orders have fallen to their lowest level since 2003 and cancellations are outnumbering sales. Those are signs of how badly the crisis surrounding the 737 Max has damaged the company. Boeing says it took 246 orders for new commercial airplanes in 2019, the lowest number since 2003. And deliveries are down too because Boeing halted shipments of the Max last spring. Its European rival Airbus has sprinted far ahead of Boeing in both orders and deliveries. Meanwhile, American Airlines is taking the Max out of its schedule for two more months, until early June, and canceling thousands more flights. SENT: 420 words, photos. Moved on general and financial news services.

RUSSELL STOVER CONSOLIDATION

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Russell Stover Chocolates plans to close some facilities and cut 400 jobs, which will be offset by new hires in some states. The company announced Tuesday it will close plants in Butler, Missouri, and Cookeville, Tennessee. The lost jobs will be offset by about 300 new jobs created by expansions in Abilene and Iola, Kansas, and Corsicana, Texas. SENT: 210 words.

IN BRIEF:

— MEXICO-MILITARY DROWNING — Four Mexican soldiers drowned Tuesday near the Rio Grande when their truck overturned into an irrigation canal, officials said. The Tamaulipas state security coordination group said the accident occurred in Reynosa across the border from Texas. SENT: 90 words.

— PAYPAL-CHARITY SETTLEMENT — The attorneys general of Texas and 20 other states have reached a $200,000 agreement with PayPal Charitable Giving Fund Inc. to settle complaints over its handling of charitable contributions through the company's online fundraising platform. SENT: 160 words.

— DES MOINES FLIGHTS — Allegiant Air has announced it will add three new nonstop flights — to Memphis, Tennessee; Austin, Texas; and Chicago — from the Des Moines International Airport. SENT: 140 words.

IN SPORTS:

Baseball

BBA--ASTROS-WHAT'S NEXT

HOUSTON — The Houston Astros look to move on and figure out what's next after manager AJ Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow were suspended by Major League Baseball and subsequently fired by team owner Jim Crane for the team's sign-stealing in 2017. By Kristie Rieken. SENT: 760 words, photos.

With:

— BBA—RED SOX-CORA FIRED — The Boston Red Sox have fired manager Alex Cora. The move came one day after baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred implicated him in the sport's sign-stealing scandal. Cora was the bench coach for the Houston Astros when they won the 2017 World Series and led Boston to the title the following year in his first season as manager. Astros manager AJ Hinch and GM Jeff Luhnow were fired on Monday, an hour after Manfred suspended them for the 2020 season for their role in the cheating scheme. By Jimmy Golen. SENT: 810 words, photos. Moved on sports and general news services.

FOOTBALL:

Basketball

BKN—MAVERICKS-WARRIORS

SAN FRANCISCO — SENT: 750 words, photos.

BKN—ROCKETS-GRIZZLIES

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Rookie Ja Morant had 26 points and eight assists, Dillon Brooks scored 24 points as the Memphis Grizzlies won their sixth straight, defeating the Houston Rockets 121-110. By Clay Bailey. SENT: 750 words, photos.

BKL—WNBA-CBA

NEW YORK — The WNBA and its players have reached a tentative deal on a collective bargaining agreement. The eight-year contract begins this season and runs through 2027. The league says it will increase salaries, marketing opportunities and revenue sharing. There are also enhanced travel standards, maternity and family planning benefits and health and wellness improvements. It will pay players an average of $130,000 annually. By Basketball Writer Doug Feinberg. SENT: 820 words, photos.

BKC—T25-TCU-WEST VIRGINIA

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Derek Culver scored 17 points, West Virginia’s bench provided a huge lift on the offensive end and the 12th-ranked Mountaineers stomped TCU 81-49. By John Raby. SENT: 700 words, photos.

BKC—T25-TEXAS TECH-KANSAS ST

MANHATTAN, Kan. — Kyler Edwards scored a career-high 24 points, Davide Moretti had 14 and No. 23 Texas Tech used a late push to beat Kansas State 77-63. By Dave Skretta. SENT: 750 words, photos.

BKC—LSU-TEXAS A&M

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Trendon Watford and Skylar Mays each scored 19 points and LSU defeated Texas A&M 89-85 in overtime. SENT: 600 words. Photos.

BKW—T25-BAYLOR-DEFENDING LADY BEARS

WACO, Texas — Baylor coach Kim Mulkey points out that the No. 2 Lady Bears' only loss — to now-No. 1 South Carolina — came in a mid-November game they played without standout post Lauren Cox. The preseason AP All-American is healthy now, and so are the defending national champions with another graduate transfer point guard. The focus now is on 10th consecutive Big 12 title. By Stephen Hawkins. SENT: 680 words, photos.

Hockey

HKN—STARS-AVALANCHE

DENVER — By Pat Graham. SENT: 750 words, photos

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