AP News Digest 3:30 a.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.
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VIRUS OUTBREAK — U.S. officials were deciding where to dock a cruise ship in California with 21 virus cases aboard and four American universities canceled in-person classes as sweeping efforts to contain the outbreak that started in China spread to the West. By Joe McDonald. SENT: 1,040 words, photos.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK-US — Thousands of people were confined to a cruise ship circling in international waters off the San Francisco Bay Area after 21 passengers and crew members tested positive for the new coronavirus. The Grand Princess was forbidden to dock in San Francisco amid evidence that the vessel was the breeding ground for a deadly cluster of more than 10 cases during its previous voyage. By Olga R. Rodriguez. SENT: 1,320 words, photos.
Find more all-format coverage on the coronavirus outbreak featured topic page in AP Newsroom.
TRUMP-CHIEF OF STAFF — President Donald Trump makes a major staff overhaul, announcing that Rep. Mark Meadows will be replacing Mick Mulvaney as his chief of staff. Trump announced the surprise reshuffle in a series of Friday night tweets, saying Mulvaney would become the U.S. special envoy for Northern Ireland. By Zeke Miller, Jill Colvin and Jonathan Lemire. SENT: 990 words, photos.
ELECTION 2020-TRUMP'S ACT — The Donald Trump Show has a consistent script, with villains, nicknames, grievances and the same hero: himself. As he seeks reelection, his challenge is to make sure, like a great entertainer, that the act isn’t getting old. By Aamer Madhani. SENT: 1,100 words, photos.
ELECTION 2020-BIDEN-CLYBURN — The Joe Biden bounce-back began with South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn. The support of the highest-ranking black member in Congress seems to have been the endorsement that brought Biden’s candidacy back from the brink following lackluster performances in other early states. By Meg Kinnard and Laurie Kellman. SENT: 930 words, photo. With ELECTION 2020-BIDEN'S COMEBACK — Biden’s comeback was aided by rivals who stepped aside and urged their supporters to back him, and by a growing fear among more moderate Democrats that Biden was the party’s last best hope to stop Bernie Sanders from clinching the nomination. SENT: 1,740 words, photos.
Find more coverage on the 2020 U.S. Elections featured topic page in AP Newsroom.
ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS-JERUSALEM RAIDS — For the last nine months, Israeli police have raided the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Issawiya nearly every day. They've searched houses, issued fines and detained youths as young as 10 on suspicion of stone-throwing. The operations frequently ignite clashes, with local youths throwing rocks and firebombs, which police say justifies their heightened presence. By Joseph Krauss. SENT: 980 words, photos. This story has moved as the Sunday Spotlight.
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MORE ON VIRUS OUTBREAK
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VIRUS OUTBREAK-IRAN-PENITENT GUARD — In declaring war on the coronavirus, Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard is now seeking absolution from a public still angry over it accidentally shooting down a Ukrainian jetliner. The Guard has been increasingly and publicly involved in the fight against the virus outbreak. By Jon Gambrell. SENT: 1,030 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-ITALY-ECONOMY — Italy is taking an almighty hit to its already weak economy from being the focal point of the coronavirus emergency in Europe. The country risks falling back into recession as spooked foreign tourists stay away from its cultural treasures and the global market shrinks for prized Italian products, from fashion to design. SENT: 1,010 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-PENCE — Vice President Mike Pence takes pains to avoid contradicting President Trump's questionable public health pronouncements and tries to foster bipartisan cooperation for a “whole of America” approach to the coronavirus outbreak. SENT: 1,080 words, photos, video.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK-PRISONS — The nation’s jails and prisons are on high alert for the new coronavirus. The fear that COVID-19 will spread through vast inmate populations has prompted the mass sanitizing of jail cells and intensified prisoner screenings. SENT: 1,030 words, photo.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK-FLORIDA — Two people who tested positive for the new coronavirus have died, marking the first deaths on the East Coast attributed to the outbreak in the U.S., health officials said Friday. SENT: 470 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-SXSW — The organizers of South By Southwest — which draws hundreds of thousands of visitors and some of Hollywood and music's biggest stars — announce they had cancelled the annual arts and technology festival, saying they're “devastated" but recognize it is necessary to prevent a serious threat of contagion. SENT: 670 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-MIDEAST — The United Arab Emirates reported 15 additional cases of a new and fast-spreading virus, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 45. SENT: 340 words, photos.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK-AIPAC — Two people who attended the American Israel Public Affairs Committee conference in Washington earlier this week have tested positive for the coronavirus, the group tweets. SENT: 340 words, photos.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK-UN-PEACEKEEPING — Nine countries that contribute troops and police to the United Nations’ far-flung peacekeeping operations are delaying bringing in replacements for three months because of the new coronavirus, the United Nations say. SENT: 200 words.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK—CRUISE SHIP — Vice President Mike Pence says 21 people on a cruise ship being held off San Francisco have tested positive for coronavirus. He also urged older Americans to “use caution” in planning any cruise ship vacation. SENT: 120 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-NCAA-Q&A — Less than two weeks away from the start of the NCAA Division I men's and women's basketball tournaments, the association is considering how to proceed safely amid an outbreak of coronavirus. The AP interviewed NCAA chief medical officer Dr. Brian Hainline and advisory board member Dr. Carlos del Rio, chairman of the Hubert Department of Global Health at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health. This is an edited version of the highlights of that interview. By College Sports Writer Ralph D. Russo. SENT: 790 words, photos.
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WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
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TRUMP-MEDAL OF FREEDOM — Trump to honor retired pro golfers with Medal of Freedom. SENT: 160 words, photos.
SAUDI ARABIA-ARRESTS — WSJ: Saudis arrest 2 princes for allegedly plotting coup. SENT: 250 words, photo.
SEXUAL MISCONDUCT-WEINSTEIN — Prosecutors say Harvey Weinstein deserves a harsh sentence. SENT: 340 words, photo.
JUSSIE SMOLLETT — Illinois court rejects actor’s attempt to throw out charges. SENT: 300 words, photo.
TRUMP-PUBLIC LANDS — Watchdog faults US land agency sending jobs out West. SENT: 250 words.
CHINA-US-LASER — China rejects report it fired laser at US Navy plane. SENT: 270 words, photo.
SEVERE WEATHER-TENNESSEE — Weather service: At least 6 tornadoes hit middle Tennessee. SENT: 140 words, photos.
SPRING FORWARD — Like clockwork, daylight saving time strikes again this weekend. Don't forget to set your clocks an hour ahead to avoid being late for Sunday morning activities. SENT: 170 words, graphic.
BOOKS-WOODY ALLEN — Woody Allen’s publisher cancels the release of the director's memoir “Apropos of Nothing." SENT: 280 words, photo.
SOC-RONALDINHO ARRESTED — Ronaldinho arrested in Paraguay in false passport case. By Sports Writer Mauricio Savarese. SENT: 170 words, photo.
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ELECTION 2020-SUPER TUESDAY — Former Vice President Joe Biden has won more Super Tuesday delegates than Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. The Associated Press delegate count shows Biden with a lead of 97 delegates over Sanders. By Seth Borenstein and Nicholas Riccardi. SENT: 580 words, photos.
CONGRESS-BURISMA — Utah Sen. Mitt Romney says he will support a subpoena to interview a witness and obtain records related to Burisma, the gas company in Ukraine linked to former Vice President Joe Biden’s son. The push comes as Biden has emerged as a front-runner to challenge President Donald Trump in November’s election. SENT: 540 words, photo.
NOT-REAL-NEWS — It's been another week of false information spreading online. One post falsely claimed that Democratic presidential hopeful Mike Bloomberg, who dropped out of the race after Super Tuesday, could have made us all millionaires if he'd divvied up his advertising money. SENT: 1,430 words, photos.
VIRGINIA REDISTRICTING — Virginia lawmakers approves a proposed change to the state's constitution that supporters said would curb political gerrymandering, prompting an outcry by some Democrats who called it harmful to African Americans. SENT: 530 words, photos.
PANIC BUTTONS — Florida lawmakers are on the verge of sending Gov. Ron DeSantis legislation that requires panic buttons at every school, the latest security measure being implemented on campuses after the Parkland school shooting two years ago that killed 17. SENT: 430 words, photo.
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MISSING-KIDS-MOM-ARRESTED — A judge reduces bail to $1 million for the mother of two missing children after her lawyer contended at her first hearing in Idaho that the amount had been set too high because of media attention. SENT: 600 words, photos.
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TURKEY-GREECE — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan plans to be in Brussels on Monday for a one-day working visit, his office said amid a charged conflict between Turkey and the European Union over migrants and refugees. SENT: 400 words, photos.
UNITED-NATIONS-UNITED-STATES — Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discussed global hot spots, while America’s top diplomat again expressed “outrage” at the U.N.’s publication of companies it says are operating in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank in violation of Palestinian human rights. SENT: 450 words.
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ECONOMY-SINKING-INTEREST-RATES — The response in stock markets to the growing risk from the coronavirus has been swift and fierce. But a better gauge of fear on Wall Street may be the bond market, where the moves over the past few weeks have been even more breathtaking. By Economics Writer Christopher Rugaber. SENT: 920 words, photos.
CHINA TRADE — China’s exports fell by double digits in January and February as anti-virus controls closed factories, while imports sank by a smaller margin. By Business Writer Joe McDonald. SENT: 510 words, photos.
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SCIENCE
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SPACE STATION — SpaceX successfully launched another load of station supplies for NASA and nailed its 50th rocket landing. The Falcon rocket blasted off with 4,300 pounds of equipment and experiments for the International Space Station. By Aerospace Writer Marcia Dunn. SENT: 470 words, photos.
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BKN--BUCKS-LAKERS — The Los Angeles Lakers beat the Milwaukee Bucks 113-103 in a matchup of the NBA's conference leaders. LeBron James had 37 points, eight rebounds and seven assists to win his showdown with fellow All-Star Game captain Giannis Antetokounmpo, who had 32 points and 12 rebounds. Anthony Davis had 30 points and the Lakers split their season series with the NBA-leading Bucks. By Sports Writer Greg Beacham. SENT: 550 words, photos.
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HOW TO REACH US
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