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AP News Digest 2:15 p.m.

| October 23, 2020 11:33 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.

Eds: Adds VIRUS OUTBREAK.

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ONLY ON AP

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RACIAL-INJUSTICE-MAYFLOWER-LEGACY — Four centuries after white Europeans stepped off the Mayflower and onto America’s shores, some descendants of the colonists are wrestling with the complicated legacy of their ancestors amid a global racial reckoning. For some, the devastating impact that the Pilgrims’ landing in New England had on Native Americans weighs heavily in this moment of unrest over systemic racism. By David Goldman and Alanna Durkin Richer. SENT: 940 words, photos.

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TOP STORIES

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ELECTION 2020 — Their final debate behind them, President Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden are packaging their divergent personal styles and policy prescriptions into closing messages for the final sprint to Election Day. By Zeke Miller, Jonathan Lemire and Will Weissert. SENT: 560 words. UPCOMING: 750 words by 4 p.m., with updates from Biden 2:30 p.m. remarks, Trump 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. rallies in Florida, 900 words by 8 p.m., photos, video. With ELECTION 2020-THE LATEST, developing.

UNITED STATES-SUDAN-ISRAEL — President Donald Trump announces that Sudan will start to normalize ties with Israel, making it the third Arab state to do so as part of U.S.-brokered deals in the run-up to Election Day. By Deb Riechmann and Matthew Lee. SENT: 790 words, photos. Incorporates BC-US-UNITED STATES-SUDAN.

VIRUS OUTBREAK — The resurgent coronavirus is creating new problems across the United States. Northeastern states are considering quarantine requirements because of rising cases, overwhelmed Idaho hospitals are airlifting patients out of state, patience is running out over anti-mask sentiment and Texas is sending medical reinforcements to the besieged border city of El Paso. By Rebecca Boone and David Crary. UPCOMING: 1,000 words by 3 p.m., photos.

ELECTION 2020-LEGAL TEAMS — President Donald Trump’s and Democratic rival Joe Biden’s campaigns are assembling armies of powerful lawyers for the possibility that the race for the White House is decided not at the ballot box but in court. By Alanna Durkin Richer and Eric Tucker. SENT: 856 words, photos. With: ELECTION 2020-LEGAL TEAMS-GLANCE — A look at some of the top lawsuits in battleground states. SENT: 1200 words, photos.

ELECTION 2020-POSTAL DELIVERY — U.S. Postal Service records show delivery delays have persisted across the country as millions of Americans are voting by mail, raising the possibility of ballots being rejected because they arrive too late. By Anthony Izaguirre. SENT: 832 words, photos, graphic

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

UN-LIBYA-CEASEFIRE —The United Nations says the two sides in Libyan military talks reached a “historic achievement” with a permanent cease-fire agreement across the war-torn North African country. But skepticism over whether the agreement would hold began emerging almost immediately. By Jamey Keaten and Isabel Debre. SENT: 540 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-PERU-DENGUE — As Peru grapples with one the world’s worst COVID-19 outbreaks, another viral epidemic is starting to raise alarm: It’s dengue, sometimes known as bonebreak fever. Health officials have reported over 35,000 cases in Peru this year, largely in the Amazon. By Rodrigo Abd. SENT: 630 words, photos.

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MORE ON ELECTION

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ELECTION 2020-ENERGY POLICY — Joe Biden said the quiet part out loud on climate change, spelling out for American voters that staving off the deadliest impacts of global warming will require winding down the oil and gas industry within decades. The Nov. 3 vote will test if American voters are ready for that directness, especially in battleground oil states. UPCOMING: 800 words by 3 p.m., photos.

ELECTON-2020-BALLOT-DROP-BOXES — The fight over Ohio’s limit on ballot drop boxes has ended after a coalition of voting rights groups opted to drop their lawsuit, leaving in place an election chief’s order that was derided by three separate courts. SENT: 360 words, photo.

ELECTION-2020-NEBRASKA-MAINE — Nebraska and Maine aren’t exactly swing states in the race to pick the next president, but each one has something to offer next month that could give them a huge amount of sway: a single electoral vote. SENT: 850 words, photos.

ELECTION 2020-SENATE-SPENDING — Republicans and Democrats are unleashing millions in eleventh-hour spending to contest Senate seats in states that read like a list of reliable GOP strongholds: Alaska. Arizona. Georgia. Iowa. Kansas. Montana. South Carolina. Texas. The reason: States in many traditionally conservative areas are in play next month and both sides know it. SENT: 930 words, photos.

ELECTION 2020-SENATE-SOUTH CAROLINA — U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham has continued to rake in campaign cash in the closing days of his bid for a fourth term, raising about $1 million a day for the first two weeks of October. SENT: 700 words, photos.

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WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

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NOT-REAL-NEWS — A variety of false claims circulated widely on social media this week in advance of the upcoming U.S. election: Comments by Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden during an Oct. 15 town hall on ABC were altered to suggest he expressed support for sex change medical procedures for young children. He said no such thing. Rappers Ice Cube and 50 Cent did not sport baseball caps that showed support for President Trump. SENT: 1,470 words, photos.

TRUMP-ELEPHANT-LAWSUIT — A high school student is suing his central Florida school district after his parking pass was revoked when he refused to remove a large elephant statue painted to promote President Donald Trump from the bed of his pickup truck. SENT: 370 words.

EUROPE-VEGGIE-BURGERS — Plant-based products that do not contain meat can continue to be labeled “sausages” or “burgers,” European lawmakers said Friday, when they rejected a proposal back by the meat industry to ban the terms. SENT: 330 words, photos.

BRITAIN-STOLEN VASE — British police say they have recovered a 15th-century Chinese vase valued at 2.5 million pounds ($3.3 million) that was stolen in Switzerland last year. SENT: 180 words, photo.

MURDER HORNETS-NEST — Scientists in Washington state have discovered the first nest of so-called murder hornets in the United States and plan to wipe it out Saturday to protect native honeybees. SENT: 450 words, photos.

CONFEDERATE MONUMENT REMOVED-ALABAMA — A 115-year-old Confederate monument that was the subject of protests in Alabama this year was removed from outside a county courthouse. SENT: 290 words, photos.

WHITE HOUSE-HALLOWEEN — Ghosts, goblins and other costumed kids are welcome to trick or treat at the White House on Sunday during a Halloween event that has been rejiggered to include coronavirus precautions. SENT: 220 words, photo.

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MORE ON THE VIRUS OUTBREAK

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VIRUS OUTBREAK-MONEY LAUNDERING — The international organization that monitors protections against money laundering and terrorism financing has said that fraud related to coronavirus is on the rise. SENT: 100 words.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-EUROPE — Cities from Rome to Paris are reining in nightlife as part of the increasingly drastic measures European nations are enforcing in an attempt to slow a resurgence of the coronavirus pandemic. SENT: 1,070 words, photos.

US-VIRUS-OUTBREAK — A group of scientific advisers say they’re concerned that the U.S. government’s plans to expedite COVID-19 vaccines could damage public confidence in the shots. SENT: 1,130 words, photos.

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

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WASHINGTON

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SUPREME COURT-BARRETT — The Senate heads into a rare weekend session to push ahead with President Donald Trump’s nominee to the Supreme Court, Amy Coney Barrett, as Republicans aim for a Monday confirmation—just a week before Election Day. SENT: 700 words. UPCOMING: Developments possible, 790 words by 5 p.m., photos.

SUICIDE DEATHS — The U.S. suicide rate fell slightly last year, the first annual decline in more than a decade. SENT: 530 words, photo.

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INTERNATIONAL

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ARMENIA-AZERBAIJAN — Heavy fighting has raged over Nagorno-Karabakh even as top diplomats from Armenia and Azerbaijan traveled to Washington for negotiations on settling the neighboring countries’ decades-long conflict. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s scheduled talks with Armenia and Azerbaijan’s foreign ministers follow two failed Russian attempts to broker a truce. SENT: 670 words, photos. WITH: UNITED STATES-ARMENIA-AZERBAIJAN — The Trump administration wades cautiously into international efforts to halt fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which are engaged in their worst conflict in more than 25 years. SENT: 420 words. UPCOMING: Developments possible, 550 words by 5 p.m., photos.

IRAQ-TROUBLED ECONOMY — Iraq’s government is struggling to pay the salaries of its public sector employees, its coffers drained because of this year’s plunge in oil prices. By Samya Kullab. SENT: 1,070 words, photos.

NIGERIA-POLICE-PROTESTS — The Nigerian president’s office says “many lives have been lost” in days of unrest, but authorities barely acknowledge reports of the military killing at least 12 peaceful demonstrators. SENT: 870 words, photos.

BOSNIA-CROATIA-MIGRANTS — Danish aid workers stationed in the Balkans have collected testimonies from dozens of migrants alleging they were brutalized by Croatian law-enforcement officers when they tried to cross into the country, then summarily expelled. SENT: 640 words, photos.

CHINA-US-NORTH KOREA — Chinese leader Xi Jinping has condemned what he called unilateralism, protectionism and extreme egoism in a jab at the United States made during a rally to mark the 70th anniversary of China’s entry into the 1950-53 Korean War. SENT: 670 words, photos.

EU-BREXIT-AP-EXPLAINS — More than four years after Britain voted to leave the European Union, the two sides are still arguing over their post-Brexit relations. SENT: 1,010 words, photos.

CHINA-BRITAIN-HONG KONG — China’s foreign ministry says it may not recognize British-issued passports for Hong Kong residents in retaliation for London’s moves to open a path to citizenship for those holding the documents. SENT: 340 words, photo.

AUSTRALIA-VATICAN SCANDAL — Australian state police say they’re not investigating a transfer of money from the Vatican to Australia, throwing doubt on Italian media speculation that it might be linked to the overturned convictions of Cardinal George Pell for child sex abuse. SENT: 520 words, photos.

GERMANY-NAZI-AUCTION — Handwritten speech notes by Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler have been sold at auction in Munich despite concerns from Jewish groups they could encourage neo-Nazis. SENT: 100 words.

BOLIVIA ELECTION — A final official vote count has given leftist Luis Arce a smashing victory in Bolivia’s presidential election, a vindication for the Movement Toward Socialism party of ousted President Evo Morales, who was barred from running. SENT: 300 words, photos.

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NATIONAL

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2020-CENSUS — From tribal lands in the Southwest to storm-battered Louisiana, the U.S. Census Bureau did not achieve its goal of reaching 99% of households during the 2020 census. SENT: 1,040 words, photos.

RACIAL-INJUSTICE-SEATTLE-POLICE — A Seattle police officer who slammed a protester’s head to the ground, another who punched a demonstrator in the head a half dozen times and a third officer who put his knee on the necks of two looting suspects violated policies against using excessive force, an independent agency tasked with investigating police misconduct said. SENT: 1,030 words, photos.

MICHIGAN GOVERNOR-KIDNAPPING PLOT — A judge has slashed bond to $100,000 for a man accused of assisting in a scheme to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and commit other violence against state government. A defense attorney says Pete Musico’s alleged role was overstated by prosecutors. SENT: 260 words, photos.

WESTERN-WILDFIRES-COLORADO — In parts of Colorado, the sky has been gray, the sun hazy and the odor of a burning campfire has persisted for much of September and October. SENT: 950 words, photos.

SAN BERNARDINO ATTACK — The man who bought two rifles that a husband and wife used to kill 14 people in a Southern California terror attack was expected to be sentenced Friday. Enrique Marquez Jr. was expected to appear in federal court in Riverside in the case stemming from the attack in nearby San Bernardino. SENT: 400 words, photos. UPCOMING: Developing.

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BUSINESS/ECONOMY

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VIRUS OUTBREAK-CREDIT SCORES — Credit may not be top of mind for many consumers these days. But as the pandemic and its associated economic woes drag on, they may want to give it some attention, as some relief measures are expiring or have concluded. SENT: 900 words, photos.

ELECTION 2020-DEBATE-OIL INDUSTRY — Democrat Joe Biden’s remark that he would “transition” away from oil in the U.S. in favor of renewable energy drew quick attention from President Trump, who saw it as a boon to his election chances in key states. SENT: 720 words, photos.

FINANCIAL-MARKETS — U.S. stock indexes were modestly lower in midday trading as Wall Street weighs another batch of corporate results from the summer earnings period. The S&P 500 was down 0.2%, after shedding a slight early gain. SENT: 580 words, photos.

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ENTERTAINMENT

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TV-WOMEN REMAKING AMERICA — A PBS documentary airing next week details the power women are exerting on issues ranging from equal rights to Black Lives Matter to the environment. UPCOMING: 750 words by 4 p.m., photos.

TV-CHELSEA HANDLER — Chelsea Handler is vulnerable in her new standup special, “Evolution,” out Friday on HBO Max. Handler touches on topics such as her pursuit of therapy, why her messages are directed toward white women, and how the tragic death of her brother has defined much of her life. SENT: 800 words, photos and video.

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SPORTS

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BBO--WORLD SERIES — With the World Series even, Charlie Morton starts for the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 3 against Walker Buehler of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Morton can tie Orlando Hernandez’s record by winning his eighth straight postseason decision. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos. Game starts 8:08 p.m.

FBN--VIRUS OUTBREAK-NFL — The physical distress from COVID-19 felt by NFL players is accompanied by the anxiety of not being able to work. Zoom meetings are fine, but there’s no way to play virtually on game day. SENT: 950 words, photos.

FBC--TEXAS-SCHOOL SONG-ANALYSIS — Some University of Texas football players want no part of “The Eyes of Texas,” a traditional school song with links to minstrel shows. The school says there is no mandate to participate, although there is an “expectation.” SENT: 1,000 words, photos.

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HOW TO REACH US

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At the Nerve Center, Rob Jagodzinski can be reached at 800-845-8450 (ext. 1600). For photos, Donald E. King at (ext. 1900). For graphics and interactives, Phil Holm at (ext. 7636). Expanded AP content can be obtained from http://newsroom.ap.org. For access to AP Newsroom and other technical issues, contact apcustomersupport(at)ap.org or call 877-836-9477.