AP News Digest 6:30 p.m.

| March 2, 2020 3:30 PM

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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NEW/DEVELOPING

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Adds VIRUS OUTBREAK-EMPTY SPACES-PHOTO GALLERY, RUSSIA PUTIN, VATICAN-MEXICO-SEX ABUSE, CIA-HACKING TOOLS, LEANING TOWER OF DALLAS, CONSTRUCTION SPENDING, CLIMATE BEACHES, GRAMMYS-OUSTED CEO.

ELECTION 2020-TRUMP — Rally in North Carolina at 7 p.m.

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TOP STORIES

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ELECTION 2020 — Amy Klobuchar and Pete Buttigieg unite behind Joe Biden's presidential bid as the Democratic Party's moderate wing scrambles to boost the former vice president just hours before voting begins in high-stakes Super Tuesday states. The urgency of the moment reflects deep concerns from the Democratic establishment that Bernie Sanders, a polarizing progressive, is positioned to seize a significant delegate lead when 14 states, one U.S. territory and Democrats abroad vote Tuesday. By Steve Peoples, Bill Barrow and Brian Slodysko. SENT: 1,070 words, photos, videos. UPCOMING: 1,600 words after 8:30 p.m. Biden rally. With ELECTION 2020-KLOBUCHAR — Amy Klobuchar, after outlasting several better-known and better-funded Democrats, is ending her Democratic presidential campaign. SENT: 1,040 words, photos; ELECTION 2020-DELEGATES — More than one-third of the delegates needed to win the nomination are up for grabs on Super Tuesday; ELECTION 2020-KEY QUESTIONS, ELECTION 2020-WHAT TO WATCH (all sent).

Find more coverage on the 2020 U.S. Elections featured topic page in AP Newsroom.

VIRUS-OUTBREAK — The coronavirus spreads to ever more countries and world capitals — and the U.S. death toll climbs to six — even as new cases in China drop to their lowest level in over a month. Hundreds of patients are released from hospitals at the epicenter of the outbreak in China, while the World Health Organization reports that nine times as many new infections have been recorded outside the country as inside it over the past 24 hours. By Adam Geller and Carla K. Johnson. SENT: 900 words, photos. With VIRUS-OUTBREAK-US — An increase in testing for the coronavirus is shedding light on its spread in the U.S. SENT: 1,000 words, photos.

Find more all-format coverage on the Virus Outbreak featured topic page in AP Newsroom.

FINANCIAL MARKETS — The Dow Jones index soars nearly 1,300 points, or 5%, as stocks roar back from a seven-day rout on hopes that central banks will take action to shield the global economy from the effects of the coronavirus outbreak. The huge gains claw back some of the ground lost in a massive sell-off that gave stocks their worst week since the financial crisis of 2008. By Business Writer Alex Veiga. SENT: 1,200 words, photos. With EUROPEAN-CENTRAL BANK — ECB's chief: “Ready to take targeted action” on economy. SENT: 300 words, photo.

ISRAEL-ELECTION — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holds a solid edge over his main rival in Israel’s third election in under a year, exit polls indicate, but it is unclear whether he can clinch the parliamentary majority needed to claim victory. By Aron Heller. SENT: 910 words, photos. With ISRAEL-ELECTION-AP EXPLAINS; ISRAEL-ELECTION CONTENDERS (both sent).

TURKEY-GREECE — A child dies when a boat full of migrants heading to a Greek island capsizes, part of a wave of thousands trying to push through Greece's land and sea borders. The child's death is the first since neighboring Turkey announced last week it was easing restrictions on those wishing to cross to Europe, and thousands of migrants began massing at the frontiers with Greece. By Costas Kantouris and Elena Becatoros. SENT: 1,200 words, photos.

SUPREME COURT-ABORTION — The Hope Medical Group for Women in northern Louisiana fields phone calls every day from anxious pregnant women who ask if abortion is still legal and if the clinic, one of only three that provides abortions in the state, is still open. The answers are yes and yes. But a Supreme Court case to be argued Wednesday could change that and more. By Rebecca Santana and Mark Sherman. SENT: 1,120 words, photos. This is the Tuesday Spotlight.

ELECTION 2020-BUTTIGIEG’S IMPACT — Pete Buttigieg’s presidential candidacy has ended far short of its goal. But it will likely go down in history books as proof of the remarkable advances made by LGBTQ Americans in their quest for equality and acceptance. By National Writer David Crary. SENT: 960 words, photos.

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WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT

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APPLE-BATTERYGATE-SETTLEMENT — IPhone owners could get $25 from Apple after the company agrees to pay up to $500 million to settle claims over intentionally slowing down older phones to preserve older batteries. SENT: 220 words, photo.

DRUG PRICE FIXING — The Justice Department says pharmaceutical company Sandoz will pay a $195 million penalty to resolve criminal charges of conspiring to fix prices and rig bids for generic drugs. SENT: 400 words, photo.

BOOKS-WOODY ALLEN — Long-rumored Woody Allen memoir coming in April. SENT: 550 words, photos.

AT&T-NEW TV SERVICE — AT&T is launching a new internet-delivered TV service as it struggles with a shrinking DirecTV satellite business. SENT: 300 words, photo.

PUBLIC ENEMY-SANDERS — Public Enemy abruptly fires founding member Flavor Flav. PSENT: 210 words, photo.

OBIT-JAMES LIPTON — James Lipton, longtime host of “Inside the Actors Studio,” dies at age 93. SENT: 300 words, photos.

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