AP News Digest 3:40 a.m.
Here are the AP's latest coverage plans, top stories and promotable content. All times EDT. For up-to-the minute information on AP's coverage, visit Coverage Plan at https://newsroom.ap.org.
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VIRUS OUTBREAK — Three major American states are locking down their residents in the face of a rapidly advancing virus storm that is already severely straining health systems in parts of Europe. New York and Illinois announced they would largely restrict residents to their homes starting this weekend, after America's largest state, California, did so Friday. The three states have a combined population of more than 70 million people.By Tim Sullivan and Ken Moritsugu. SENT: 640 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-TRUMP-MARKETS — When President Donald Trump speaks, financial markets gyrate and quiver in real time. But that hasn't stopped the president from holding forth daily about the coronavirus pandemic and its economic implications without waiting until markets have closed for the day. By Aamer Madhani. SENT: 1,300 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-CONGRESS — Leaders from Congress and the White House toil in high-stakes negotiations on a mammoth $1 trillion-plus economic rescue package for individuals and businesses coping with the coronavirus pandemic. The ambitious federal effort goes on as President Trump lashes out at those questioning his handling of the outbreak. By Andrew Taylor and Lisa Mascaro. SENT: 1,100 words, photos, video.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-MEDICAL SUPPLY SHORTAGE — The Associated Press finds that the critical shortage of testing swabs, protective masks, surgical gowns and hand sanitizer can be tied to a sudden drop in imports of medical supplies. Disruptions in the supply chain half a world away and a lack of timely ordering are now leading to deadly delays in replenishing a rapidly dwindling stockpile. By Martha Mendoza and Juliet Linderman. SENT: 1,430 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-TRUMP-FAUCI — President Donald Trump and the government's top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, publicly spar over whether a malaria drug would work to treat people with coronavirus disease. By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar. SENT: 900 words, photos, video.With VIRUS OUTBREAK-TRUMP-PROMISES — Almost daily, Trump announces a dramatic new maneuver in the fight against the new coronavirus. Often, the reality falls short of the promise. SENT: 1,080 words, photos.
Find more all-format coverage on the Virus Outbreak featured topic page in AP Newsroom.
OBIT-KENNY ROGERS — Actor-singer Kenny Rogers, the smooth, Grammy-winning balladeer who spanned jazz, folk, country and pop with such hits as “Lucille,” “Lady” and “Islands in the Stream” and embraced his persona as “The Gambler” on record and on TV died Friday night. He was 81. By Kristin Hall. SENT: 1,050 words, photos.
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MORE ON VIRUS OUTBREAK
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VIRUS OUTBREAK-CHINA AID OFFENSIVE — As the fight against a new virus shifts to Europe and beyond, China is supplying millions of masks and other desperately needed items to struggling governments, hoping to build political ties and defuse criticism that it allowed the disease to spread early on. By Ken Moritsugu. SENT: 1,010 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-MIDEAST — Air raid sirens echoed across Jordan's capital to mark the start of a three-day curfew, the latest mass lockdown in the region aimed at containing the new coronavirus. SENT: 420 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-THAILAND — Kickboxing aficionados came from all over Thailand to attend a major Muay Thai match at Bangkok's indoor Lumpini Stadium on March 6. More than 100 went home unknowingly carrying the coronavirus. The wayward boxing fans led an inevitable rise in infections this month that forced the government to abandon its hesitant approach to combating COVID-19 that failed to inspire public confidence. SENT: 900 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-ITALY — Italy has recorded its highest day-to-day-rise in the number of deaths of people infected with the new coronavirus. Civil Protection Chief Angelo Borrelli said Friday the country recorded 627 more deaths in the 24 hours since Italy surpassed China on Thursday as the nation with the most COVID-19-related deaths. SENT: 250 words, photos. WITH: VIRUS OUTBREAK-ITALY-EPICENTER — The northern Italian city of Bergamo struggles with a huge toll — some of it hidden — as the epicenter of Italy's coronavirus epidemic. SENT: 1,220 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-UNITED STATES-MEXICO — Mexico and the U.S. restrict travel over their busy shared border as they try to control the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. By Ben Fox and Elliot Spagat. SENT: 810 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-TRUMP-PROMISES — Almost daily, President Trump announces a dramatic new maneuver in the fight against the new coronavirus. Often, the reality falls short of the promise. By Deb Riechmann. SENT: 1,080 words, photos.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK-HOME-INTERNET-Q&A — With so much of the U.S. workforce — and their families — now cooped up at home to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus, it's not a huge surprise that home internet is showing the strain. SENT: 540 words, photos.
VIRUS-ONE GOOD THING-POLAND — A popular Warsaw entertainment center looks empty and closed, but inside a cook is busy making savory pizzas for doctors at a nearby hospital who are doubling their efforts under the pressure of the spreading coronavirus. SENT: 845 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-IBUPROFEN — The World Health Organization and other leading agencies say there is no evidence to support the suggestion that ibuprofen might worsen the symptoms of COVID-19. SENT: 500 words.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-HAPPY-HOUR — With bars shuttered and stressed-out workers stuck at home, companies and friend groups across the U.S. are holding happy hours over video chat to commiserate and keep spirits high amid the new coronavirus pandemic. SENT: 600 words. Photos pursuing.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-TRAIN LIKE AN ASTRONAUT — Isolated at home? Then train like an astronaut. That's the inspirational advice from a public engagement specialist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. SENT: 300 words, photo.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-ORTHODOX JEWS — Orthodox Jewish representatives are urging congregants to heed social distancing rules designed to fight the coronavirus, a show of unity designed to underscore the importance of behavioral changes that create massive upheaval in their faith communities. SENT: 770 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-QUIRKY GAMES — Welcome to the Marble Universe. With sports on hiatus, it's time for the quirky sports to shine. Marble racing has exploded in popularity. Toilet paper tennis and window sill football are among the ways people are passing the time. UPCOMING. 900 words, photos by 7 p.m.
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WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
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NOT-REAL-NEWS — AP's news verification experts have examined a range of false news around the coronavirus as officials took actions aimed at stemming its spread in the U.S. SENT: 1,440 words, photos.
SEXUAL MISCONDUCT-PLACIDO DOMINGO — Superstar Plácido Domingo has resigned from the U.S. union that represents opera singers and will contribute $500,000 to sexual harassment eradication programs and a fund that helps opera employees in crisis, the union said Friday. SENT: 330 words, photo.
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CALIFORNIA-WILDFIRES-UTILITY — Pacific Gas & Electric and California Gov. Gavin Newsom announce a deal that removes one of the last hurdles for the nation's largest utility to emerge from a bankruptcy triggered by its massive liabilities from wildfires. SENT: 700 words, photos
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FINANCIAL MARKETS — Stocks sank to their worst week since the financial crisis of 2008 as traders went into full retreat out of fear that the coronavirus will plunge the U.S. and other major economies into deep recessions. The Dow industrials closed down more than 900 points, extending their weekly loss to 17%. By Alex Veiga. SENT: 890 words, photo. WITH: VIRUS-OUTBREAK-FEDERAL-RESERVE — The Federal Reserve moved with unprecedented force and speed Friday to pump huge amounts of cash into the financial system to ease disruptions that have escalated since the viral outbreak. By AP Economics Writer Christopher Rugaber. SENT: 880 words, photos.
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FBN--BUCCANEERS-BRADY — A new look for the NFL: Tom Brady in Tampa Bay pewter and red rather than Patriots red, white and blue. The six-time Super Bowl champion quarterback signed a two-year contract in free agency, embarking on a “new football journey” with the Buccaneers. By Fred Goodall. SENT: 760 words, photos.
AP ALL-AMERICA TEAM — In a college basketball season shut down in March, Dayton’s Obi Toppin is a unanimous AP All-American. He is joined on the first team by Iowa’s Luka Garza, Marquette's Markus Howard, Seton Hall’s Myles Powell and Oregon's Payton Pritchard. By Basketball Writer John Marshall. SENT: 800 words, photos.
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HOW TO REACH US
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