AP News Digest 2 p.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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ONLY ON AP
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VIRUS-OUTBREAK-STOCKPILE-SPENDING — States are spending billions of dollars stocking up on medical supplies such as masks and breathing machines during the coronavirus pandemic. But more than two months into the buying binge, many aren’t sharing details about how much they’re spending, what they’re getting for their money or which companies they’re paying. An Associated Press survey of all 50 states found a hodgepodge of public information about the purchase of masks, gloves, gowns and other hard-to-get equipment for medical and emergency workers. By David A. Lieb. SENT: 1,110 words, photos.
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VIRUS-OUTBREAK — Americans marked a Memorial Day like no other as the coronavirus pandemic upended traditional commemorations and forced communities to honor the nation’s military dead with smaller, more subdued ceremonies like car convoys instead of parades. By Menelaos Hadjicostis and Derek Gatopoulos. SENT: 1,150 words, photos. WITH: VIRUS-OUTBREAK-THE-LATEST (sent).
VIRUS OUTBREAK-TRUMP — President Donald Trump honors America’s fallen service members as he commemorates Memorial Day in back-to-back appearances in the midst of the pandemic. After a silent ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, he speaks at Baltimore’s historic Fort McHenry, saying, “Together we will vanquish the virus and America will rise from this crisis to new and even greater heights.” By Darlene Superville. SENT: 640 words, photos.
ELECTION 2020-BIDEN APPEARANCE — Joe Biden made his first in-person appearance in more than two months as he marked Memorial Day by laying a wreath at a veterans park near his Delaware home. Since abruptly canceling a March 10 rally in Cleveland at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee has waged much of his campaign from his home in Wilmington. When Biden emerged on Monday, he wore a face mask, in contrast to President Donald Trump, who has refused to cover his face in public as health officials suggest. By Will Weissert, SENT: 790 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-BRITAIN — British leader Boris Johnson’s powerful chief aide insisted that he wouldn’t resign for driving the length of England while the country was under strict lockdown — a trip he made without informing the prime minister first. The government is facing a tide of anger from politicians and the public over the revelation that Dominic Cummings traveled more than 250 miles (400 kilometers) from London to his parents’ home in Durham, northeast England at the end of March. By Jill Lawless. SENT: 760 words, photos.
Find more all-format coverage on the Virus Outbreak featured topic page in AP Newsroom.
GEORGIA SHOOTING-ARBERY PROFILE — Ahmaud Arbery was at a crossroads, his life stretching out before him, his troubles largely behind him. He had enrolled in a Georgia college, preparing to become an electrician, just like his uncles. But first, he decided to take a break. To help keep his head clear, he ran just about every day. Three months ago, he was shot during his run by a father and son who told police they believed he was responsible for break-ins in their neighborhood — a black man, killed by two white men. By Aaron Morrison. SENT: 1,670 words, photos. An abridged version of 1,050 words has also been sent.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-CAR THEFTS — The coronavirus hasn’t been kind to car owners. With more people than ever staying home to lessen the spread of COVID-19, their sedans, pickup trucks and SUVs are parked unattended on the streets, making them easy targets for opportunistic thieves. By Stefanie Dazio. SENT: 540 words, photos.
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MORE ON THE VIRUS OUTBREAK
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VIRUS OUTBREAK-DIARY-ALTERED MEMORIAL DAY — Almost every year since 2010, writer Gary Fields has visited the grave of Lance Corporal Kevin Adam Lucas, a U.S. Marine. Fields met Lucas’ family doing a story and began to visit his grave at Arlington National Cemetery. He’d take Dr. Pepper, Lucas’ favorite, and pour it on his grave. But not this year. Because of the pandemic, this year Fields can’t go. But he’ll be having that Dr. Pepper at home. SENT: 730 words, photo.
VIURUS OUTBREAK-GERMANY — Germany’s federal government and state governors squared up for a battle over plans to end pandemic-related restrictions despite fresh clusters of cases across the country. SENT: 690 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-FOOD BANKS — As food banks have struggled to meet soaring demand from people suddenly out of work because of the coronavirus pandemic, it has been especially troubling to see farmers have to bury produce, dump milk and euthanize hogs. Now some states are providing more money to help pay for food that might otherwise go to waste, the U.S. Agriculture Department is spending $3 billion to help get farm products to food banks, and a senator is seeking $8 billion more to buy farm produce for food banks. By Josh Funk. SENT: 920 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-HEALTH INSURANCE — Many laid-off workers who lost health insurance in the coronavirus shutdown soon face the first deadlines to qualify for fallback coverage under the Affordable Care Act. Taxpayer-subsidized health insurance is available for a modest cost — sometimes even free — across the country, but industry officials and independent researchers say few people seem to know how to find it. By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar. SENT: 835 words, photo.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-ASIA — South Koreans will be required to wear masks when using public transportation and taxis nationwide starting Tuesday as authorities look for more ways to slow the spread of the coronavirus as people increase their public activities. SENT: 940 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-JAPAN — Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe lifted a coronavirus state of emergency in Tokyo and four other remaining areas, ending the restrictions nationwide as businesses begin to reopen. SENT: 580 words, photos.
REL-EID — Muslims in India and Bangladesh joined prayers to celebrate a subdued Eid-al Fitr, marking the end of the Ramadan holy month by seeking blessings for a world free from coronavirus. SENT: 520 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-PUBLIC POOLS — Public pools will look very different this summer if they open at all with the coronavirus threat still looming, as teenage lifeguards will be tasked with maintaining social distancing and spotting COVID-19 symptoms in addition to their primary responsibility of preventing drownings. SENT: 860 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-LEISURE SPORTS — Cooped-up Americans are finding ways to get fresh air while maintaining social distancing during the coronavirus outbreak. Golf and fishing as well as walking and running have proved to be popular diversions. Golf courses are reporting an influx of both beginners and players returning to the game. SENT: 980 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-ONE GOOD THING-INDONESIAN DANCERS — Two Indonesian choreographers are helping fellow dancers who lost their jobs due the COVID-19 outbreak in Indonesia. They set up Saweran Online on the Indonesia Dance Network YouTube channel as a platform where fellow dancers, choreographers and dance teachers can perform, then receive donation from viewers. More than 60 dance videos have been published by the dancers from various genres. By Edna Tarigan. SENT: 460 words, photos, video.
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WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT
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PEOPLE-BRIAN MAY — Queen guitarist Brian May reveals recent heart attack, says he’s good now. SENT: 190 words, photo.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-WHO-TRUMP DRUG — UN trial for virus therapies pauses testing on Trump’s drug. SENT: 360 words, photo.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-FRANCE-NURSING HOMES — Employees of a major group of French nursing homes took part in protests across France to call for better pay amid the coronavirus crisis. SENT: 260 words, photos.
FELONS VOTING-FLORIDA — Fed judge rules Florida can’t stop poor felons from voting. SENT: 350 words.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-RHINOS, INTERRUPTED — Groundbreaking work to keep alive the nearly extinct northern white rhino subspecies by in-vitro fertilization has been hampered by travel restrictions due to the coronavirus. And time is running out. SENT: 700 words, photos.
NEW ZEALAND-QUAKE — New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern barely skipped a beat when an earthquake struck during a live television interview. SENT: 265 words, photos.
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WASHINGTON/POLITICS
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ELECTION 2020-BIDEN — Calls for pragmatic centrism helped Joe Biden clinch the Democratic presidential nomination. But they left many of the party’s strongest liberals worried that little progress would be made toward their sweeping goals. Biden’s campaign now is discussing top issues with high profile, leading progressives to rectify that. The idea is to unify the party more than it was in 2016 when Donald Trump was elected, but any substantial move to the left may pull Biden away from the center that has defined a political career spanning nearly half a century. By Will Weissert and Bill Barlow. SENT: 1,050 words, photos.
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ISRAEL-ANNEXATION — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to annex parts of the occupied West Bank in the coming months, vowing to move ahead with the explosive plan despite a growing chorus of condemnations by key allies. SENT: 570 words, photos.
VENEZUELA-IRAN — Venezuelan authorities celebrated as the first of five Iranian tankers loaded with gasoline docked in the South American country, delivering badly needed fuel to the crisis-stricken nation that sits atop the world’s largest oil reserves. The gasoline shipments are arriving in defiance of stiff sanctions by the Trump administration against both nations, and they mark a new era in the burgeoning relationship between Venezuela and Iran, which is expanding its footprint in the Western Hemisphere. SENT: 560 words, photos.
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LUFTHANSA-BAILOUT — Germany approved a 9 billion-euro ($9.8 billion) aid package for stricken airline Lufthansa to keep a major employer going through the turbulence of the coronavirus pandemic. But officials said Berlin was still in talks with the European Union’s executive commission about possible conditions. SENT: 450 words, photos.
VOLKSWAGEN-DIESEL EMISSIONS — A German court has ruled that Volkswagen must buy back cars from owners of its diesel cars equipped with software that evaded emissions testing — but consumers must accept the current value of the car based on the mileage they drove since buying it, not the purchase price. SENT: 320 words, photos.
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SCIENCE
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SCI-HOME-LAUNCH-SPACE-CAPSULE — It’s back to the future as NASA astronauts launch again from the U.S. — aboard a retro-style “Right Stuff’ capsule. SpaceX’s sleek, new Dragon crew capsule outshines NASA’s old Apollo spacecraft in virtually every way. The Dragon’s clean lines and minimalist interior, with touchscreens instead of scores of switches and knobs, make even the space shuttles seem more yesteryear.. By Marcia Dunn. SENT: 660 words, photos.
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ATH--RUNNING ON EMPTY? — Nonprofit organizations across the country are scrambling to keep their causes prominent in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. Social distancing measures brought on by the coronavirus have forced nonprofits that use participatory events like charity walks and runs as fundraisers are getting creative. Many events have gone “virtual” for the time being. Organizers also say they are mindful when asking for donations in the midst of economic uncertainty. SENT: 940 words, photo. With ATH--RUNNING ON EMPTY-ALTERED EVENTS
SPAIN-RESTART — The president of the Spanish league says the competition could restart as early as June 11 with the Seville derby between Sevilla and Real Betis. By Tales Azzoni. SENT: 425 words, photos.
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HOW TO REACH US
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