AP News Digest 7 a.m.

| October 1, 2020 4:30 AM

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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LOOKING FOR AMERICA-APPALACHIA — AP reporters have hit the road wanting to look at the issues that have exploded onto the national consciousness this year. First stop: the Appalachian foothills of southeast Ohio, looking for the echoes of a President Lyndon Johnson speech and the Great Society. It’s a region that has barely felt COVID-19 and protests for racial justice. Many people here view the rest of America from a distance as a place only explained with suspicion, anger and sometimes conspiracy theories. By Tim Sullivan. SENT: 3,150 words, photos, video. An abridged version of 980 words is also available.

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TOP STORIES

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ELECTION 2020-DEBATE-VOTERS — While President Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden debated, Americans cringed. In interviews with voters across key states, nearly all who watched recoiled from it. None said it would change their minds on how they planned to vote. By Michelle L. Price. SENT: 870 words, photos.

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

VIRUS OUTBREAK — An ambitious humanitarian project to deliver coronavirus vaccines to the world’s poorest people is facing potential shortages of money, cargo planes, refrigeration and vaccines themselves — and running into skepticism even from some of those it’s intended to help most. In one of the biggest obstacles, rich countries have locked up most of the world’s potential vaccine supply through 2021, and the U.S. and others have refused to join the project, called Covax. By Maria Cheng and Lori Hinnant. SENT: 1,190 words, photos.

GLOBAL-ECONOMY-JOBS — Unemployment rose for a fifth straight month in Europe in August amid concern that extensive government support programs won’t be able keep many businesses hit by coronavirus restrictions afloat forever. The jobless rate increased to 8.1% in the 19 countries that use the euro currency, up from 7.9% in July, official statistics showed. Some 13.2 million people were unemployed and the number of those out of work rose by 251,000. By David McHugh and Helena Alves. SENT: 600 words, photo. With VIRUS OUTBREAK-UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS — U.S. jobless claims likely remained high as layoffs persist.

MALAYSIA-US-PALM-OIL — Malaysian palm oil producer FGV Holdings Berhad vows to “clear its name” after the U.S. banned imports of its palm oil over allegations of forced labor and other abuses. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Trade issued the ban order against FGV, saying it found indicators of forced labor, including concerns about children, along with other abuses such as physical and sexual violence. By Eileen Ng. SENT: 590 words, photos.

RACIAL JUSTICE-FUNDING THE POLICE — The racial justice protests following the death of George Floyd earlier this year prompted calls to “defund the police” in cities across the country, a priority for activists that has now become a central point in the presidential contest. A review by The Associated Press finds that while local governments have trimmed police budgets over the past four months, the cuts have been mostly modest. They have been driven as much by shrinking government revenue related to the coronavirus pandemic as from the calls to rethink public safety. By Geoff Mulvihill. SENT: 1,110 words, photos.

GERMANY-RUSSIA-NAVALNY — Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who is recovering in Germany after being poisoned in Russia by a nerve agent, accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of being behind the attack. Navalny’s supporters have frequently maintained that such an attack could have only been ordered at the top levels, though the Kremlin has steadfastly denied any involvement in it. SENT: 600 words, photos.

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WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

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ELECTION 2020-TRUMP-PARSCALE — Brad Parscale steps back from Trump team after hospitalization. SENT: 150 words, photo.

RIDER-SUSPENDED — American cyclist suspended by team after pro-Trump comments. SENT: 230 words, photo.

EGYPT-LGBT-ARRESTS — Group: Egypt police arbitrarily arrest, torture LGBT people. SENT: 380 words.

BRITAIN-NAVAL-EXERCISE-WHALES — U.K. boats try to move whales away from huge naval exercise. SENT: 150 words.

MUSIC-DAVE BRUBECK — Last solo recording of jazz icon Dave Brubeck to be released. SENT: 330 words, photos.

SWEDEN-ALTERNATIVE-NOBEL — Belarus activist shares “Alternative Nobel” with three others. SENT: 460 words, photos.

FUNERAL HOME SHOOTING-MILWAUKEE — Seven injured in drive-by shooting at Milwaukee funeral home. SENT: 250 words.

HACKER-SENTENCED — Russian man sentenced for LinkedIn, Dropbox data breaches. SENT: 140 words.

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