AP News Digest 2 p.m.

| October 13, 2020 11:06 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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AP POLL-VIRUS OUTBREAK-CAREGIVING — The coronavirus pandemic has thrust many Americans into the role of caring for an older or disabled loved one for the first time, a new poll finds. The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll finds that 17% of Americans say they are providing ongoing caregiving, part of an informal volunteer corps. About 1 in 10 caregivers has begun since the virus outbreak, and about half of those say they are providing care specifically because of the pandemic. By Emily Swanson and Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar. SENT: 1038 words, photo, graphic.

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TOP STORIES

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SUPREME COURT-BARRETT — Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett bats back senators’ questions about abortion, gun rights and the November election in lively testimony before her Senate confirmation hearing. The 48-year-old appellate judge insists she brings no “agenda” to the court but takes a conservative approach to the law and decides cases as they come. By Mark Sherman, Lisa Mascaro and Mary Clare Jalonick. SENT: 1020 words. UPCOMING: 900 words by 3 p.m., photos, video, audio, with updates expected throughout the day as hearing extends into the evening. WITH: SUPREME COURT-BARRETT-THE LATEST, SUPREME COURT-BARRETT-TAKEAWAYS, both developing.

ELECTION 2020 — With Election Day just three weeks away, President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden concentrate on battleground states both see as critical to clinching Electoral College victories — tailoring their travel to best motivate would-be supporters to cast potentially decisive ballots. By Will Weissert and Jonathan Lemire. SENT: 880 words. UPCOMING: Developing from Biden afternoon events in Florida, Trump 7 p.m. rally in Pennsylvania. With: ELECTION 2020-THE LATEST, developing. ELECTION 2020-BIDEN-COURT PACKING — Joe Biden says he is “not a fan” of adding seats to the Supreme Court, after weeks of avoiding questions about the proposal that’s been pushed by progressives and used by Republicans to attack him. SENT: 430 words, photo.

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

VIRUS OUTBREAK — Governments across Europe are ratcheting up restrictions in an effort to contain the spread of coronavirus. The continent recorded its highest weekly number of new infections since the start of the pandemic. The World Health Organization said Tuesday that there were more than 700,000 new COVID-19 cases reported in Europe last week, a jump of 34% compared to the previous week. Britain, France, Russia and Spain accounted for more than half of new infections seen in the region. Wary of hurting already fragile economies, European governments have tried to walk a fine line between keeping the virus under control and stifling business activity. By Jamey Keaten and Frank Jordans. SENT: 960 words, photos.

VIRUS-OUTBREAK-LANDLORD-SQUEEZE -- When it comes to sympathetic figures, landlords aren’t exactly at the top of the list. But they, too, have fallen on hard times, demonstrating how the coronavirus outbreak spares almost no one. The stakes are particularly high for small landlords. Many were cushioned by a federal stimulus package that helped struggling businesses and the unemployed pay the rent. But now that the aid has expired, with Congress unlikely to pass a new package before Election Day, renters are falling behind. And landlords are having trouble paying the mortgage on their properties. By Anne D’Innocenzio. SENT: 940 words, photos.

SOCIAL SECURITY-COST OF LIVING — Social Security recipients will get a modest 1.3% cost-of living-increase in 2021, but that might be small comfort amid worries about the coronavirus and its consequences for older people. By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar and Andrew Taylor. SENT: 790 words, photos.

MICHIGAN-GOVERNOR-KIDNAPPING-PLOT — Members of anti-government paramilitary groups discussed kidnapping Virginia’s governor during a June meeting in Ohio, an FBI agent testified during a court hearing in Michigan. Special Agent Richard Trask also revealed more detail about investigators’ use of confidential informants, undercover agents and encrypted communication to arrest and charge six men last week with plotting to kidnap Michigan’s Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. By David Eggert and Katherine Foody. SENT: 675 words, photos.

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MORE ON THE VIRUS OUTBREAK

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VIRUS OUTBREAK-MELANIA TRUMP — President Trump and his wife Melania got their positive COVID-19 tests on the same day. He’s already back to campaigning but there have been no sightings yet of the first lady. It’s been more than a week since she last updated the nation on her health and the White House has given no indication when her next public appearance might be. UPCOMING: 750 words by 5 p.m., photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-VIRTUAL SCHOOL RULES — Toys that look like weapons. Barefoot students. Disruptive imagery in the background. Pets roaming the room. All a clear violation of rules inside most American classrooms. But that was when most American students were inside schools. How do standards like these translate when everyone is logging on from home? Schools are struggling to figure it out this fall — yet another adaptation demanded of educators during the coronavirus pandemic. SENT: 940 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-BRITAIN — Britain’s government defended its new three-tier system of COVID-19 risks and restrictions but critics suggested it was too little, too late amid reports that government’s own scientific advisers had recommended tougher action three weeks ago. SENT: 680 words, photos.

VIRUS-OUTBREAK-TRAVEL-RULES — European Union countries approve a series of guidelines aimed at facilitating free movement across the bloc and avoiding further disruption during the coronavirus pandemic. SENT: 460 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-ASIA — Authorities in the eastern Chinese port city of Qingdao say that they have completed coronavirus tests on more than 3 million people following the country’s first reported local outbreak of the virus in nearly two months. SENT: 580 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-LIVES LOST-THE RABBI — British Rabbi Avrohom Pinter gave his life to save his neighbors. SENT: 880 words, photos.

VIRUS-OUTBREAK-VIRAL-QUESTIONS-ILLNESS — How long can I expect a COVID-19 illness to last? It depends. SENT: 300 words, graphic.

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

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WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

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SOC-RONALDO VIRUS — The Portuguese soccer federation says Cristiano Ronaldo has tested positive for the coronavirus. The federation says Ronaldo is doing well and has no symptoms SENT: 385 words, photos.

NORWAY-ELECTRIC-SCOOTER — Oslo police seize e-scooter that can go three times the speed limit. SENT: 120 words.

AMAZON PRIME DAY — Halloween is still weeks away, but retailers are hoping you’ll start your holiday shopping now. The big push is coming from Amazon, which is holding its annual Prime Day sales event Tuesday and Wednesday, kickstarting the holiday shopping season. SENT: 305 words, photos.

CHEVY BOLT-FIRE INVESTIGATION — The U.S. government’s road safety agency is investigating complaints that the Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicle can catch fire. SENT: 390 words, photo.

IKEA USED FURNITURE — Flat-pack furnishings retailer Ikea said that will offer to buy back thousands of pieces of used Ikea furniture in 27 countries, for resale, recycling or donation to community projects. SENT: 265 words.

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WASHINGTON/POLITICS

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VIRUS OUTBREAK-CONGRESS — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell schedules a procedural vote on a GOP COVID-19 relief bill for later this month, saying aid to hard-hit businesses shouldn’t be held up by gridlock involving other aid proposals. By Andrew Taylor. SENT: 500 words. UPCOMING: Developing, 690 words by 5 p.m., photo.

ELECTION 2020-VOTING-MISINFORMATION — Social media influencers, partisan news outlets and politicians are driving the spread of misinformation around voting and the U.S. election as millions of Americans are casting ballots around the country, a group of misinformation researchers finds. By Amanda Seitz. UPCOMING: 600 words, photo, by 4 p.m.

ELECTION 2020-IOWA-ERNST — GOP Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst is in a difficult reelection struggle. A devout supporter of President Trump, who won comfortably here in 2016, she’s finding her fate tied directly to Trump, who’s facing an uphill battle nationally and in some key battleground states. Several other GOP senators share her predicament. By Thomas Beaumont. UPCOMING: 900 words by 5 p.m., photo.

SUPREME COURT-TRUMP EMOLUMENTS — The Supreme Court declines to revive a lawsuit filed by members of Congress against President Donald Trump alleging that he illegally profits off the presidency. Trump still faces other lawsuits alleging he violated the emoluments clause of the Constitution by accepting payments from foreign and domestic officials who stay at the Trump International Hotel. SENT: 170 words, photo.

ELECTION 2020-EARLY VOTING GEORGIA — The secretary of state’s office says more than 128,000 Georgians went to the polls Monday, a record for the first day of early voting in the state. The high turnout saw eager voters waiting in hours-long lines across the state to cast their ballots. Election officials and advocacy groups have been pushing people to vote early, either in person or by absentee ballot, in anticipation of record turnout and concerns about coronavirus exposure. SENT: 670 words, photos.

ELECTION 2020-PORTLAND MAYOR — In most elections, America wouldn’t pay attention to the mayoral race in Portland, Oregon, but this isn’t a normal year. President Trump routinely derides Mayor Ted Wheeler as a weak liberal unable to stop racial injustice protests in his city — but the mayor also faces a political revolt at home from the opposite end of the ideological spectrum. As Election Day looms, Wheeler is trailing a far-left challenger who slams him for being overly aggressive with protesters and supports cutting police funds by $50 million. Hemmed in on all sides, Wheeler recently lent himself $150,000 to keep his campaign alive. SENT: 1,050 words, photos.

ELECTION 2020-VOTING TEXAS — Texas has seen record voter registration this year with competitive congressional and state legislative races on the line. The nation’s second most populous state has even hit the presidential radar as a potential battleground. But what it doesn’t have is expanded options to vote by mail. Early voting started Tuesday, with people heading to the polls in-person despite concerns over the spread of COVID-19, which has killed more than 16,500 people in Texas. SENT: 980 words, photos.

CUT CABLE-VOTER WEBSITE -- A severed fiber optic cable shut down Virginia’s online voter registration system, the last day to register before the November general election. SENT: 140 words, developing.

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INTERNATIONAL

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ARMENIA-AZERBAIJAN — Death and injury tolls rose as fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces raged for a third week over the separatist territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, and the United States urged both sides to adhere to a cease-fire reached over the weekend. Nagorno-Karabakh military officials said 16 servicemen were killed, bringing the total number of dead among troops to 532 since Sept. 27, when the fighting flared up in the decades-old conflict. SENT: 450 words, photos.

SUDAN-FILMMAKER — More than a year after the overthrow of Sudanese strongman Omar al-Bashir, amid the promise of new leadership, Sudanese film director Hajooj Kuka was arrested during a theater workshop by the security forces that had served al-Bashir for years. He was tried and sentenced to prison on vague charges often used by the former government to enforce its conservative interpretation of religion. SENT: 1,030 words, photo.

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NATIONAL

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WWII FIGHTERS-CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL -- A World War II unit that spent months marching and fighting behind enemy lines in Burma has been approved to receive Congress’ highest honor. A bill has been sent to President Trump’s desk to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the unit nicknamed Merrill’s Marauders. Nearly 3,000 soldiers began the unit’s secret mission in Japanese occupied Burma in 1944. Barely 200 remained in the fight when their mission was completed five months later. Soldiers marched hundreds of miles through dense jungle on foot, fighting hunger and disease as well as enemy troops. Today only nine of the men are known to be still alive. SENT: 885 words, photos.

2020-CENSUS — The U.S. Census Bureau says it has counted 99.9% of the households in the U.S. during the 2020 census, but the nation’s largest statistical association, and even the bureau’s own census takers and partners, are raising questions about the quality of the data gathered for the nation’s once-a-decade head count. SENT: 825 words, photos.

GEORGE FLOYD-INVESTIGATION — Prosecutors have offered additional explanation about why they believe longer sentences should be given if four former Minneapolis police officers are convicted in the death of George Floyd. SENT; 310 words, photos.

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BUSINESS/TECH

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EARNS-DELTA AIR LINES — The summer travel season was even worse than expected for Delta Air Lines, which lost $5.38 billion in the third quarter as people hunkered down at home during the pandemic. By David Koenig. SENT: 700 words, photos.

APPLE-UNVEIL — Apple is unveiling its new iPhones in time for holiday shopping despite pandemic-caused production delays. By Tali Arbel. UPCOMING from event scheduled for 3 p.m.

FINANCIAL-MARKETS — Stocks are drifting lower on Wall Street as earnings reporting season gets underway for big companies. SENT: 850 words, photos.

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HEALTH & SCIENCE

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SCI-SPACE LAUNCH — Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin space company launched a New Shepard rocket for a seventh time from a remote corner of Texas, testing new lunar-landing technology for NASA that could help put astronauts back on the moon by 2024. SENT: 405 words, photos.

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ENTERTAINMENT

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FILM REVIEW-S---HOUSE -- You would assume a college comedy with the unprintable title of “S—-house” to be another sad, low-brow retread of “Animal House.” You would almost bet on it. But 22-year-old Cooper Raiff’s is not only not that film at all, it’s one of the freshest college movies in years, a nano-budget breakthrough of rare sensitivity that announces more than one new talent. SENT: 670 words, photos.

TV-BLACK-ISH PORTRAIT — When ABC decided the Johnsons of “black-ish” were due a portrait, it sought an artist who understands the family’s perspective. The task went to Kadir Nelson, a chronicler of contemporary African American experience and a fan of the sitcom. The result is a captivatingly sly, 70x70-inch oil-on-canvas work that depicts cast members including Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross in character as part of a riff on the “sipping tea” meme. By Lynne Elber. SENT: 640 words, photos.

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SPORTS

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BBN-NLCS — The Los Angeles Dodgers switch pitchers because of Clayton Kershaw’s back spasms, going with Tony Gonsolin in Game 2 after losing the NLCS opener. The Atlanta Braves start rookie Ian Anderson, who has struck out 17 in 11 2/3 scoreless innings this postseason. By Baseball Writer Stephen Hawkins. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos. Game starts 6:05 p.m.

BBA-ALCS — Charlie Morton and the Tampa Bay Rays try to take a 2-0 lead in the ALCS against the Houston Astros, who counter with Lance McCullers Jr. Morton helped the Astros win the World Series in 2017. By Bernie Wilsons. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos. Game starts 8:40 p.m.

FBN-NFL OWNERS — NFL owners are meeting virtually this week and the discussion is centered on health and safety and social responsibility. By Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos by 6 p.m.

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HOW TO REACH US

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