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AP News Digest 6:15 p.m.

| September 1, 2020 3:27 PM

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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NEW/DEVELOPING

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Adds RACIAL INJUSTICE-BREONNA TAYLOR, VIRUS OUTBREAK-FLORIDA, VIRUS OUTBREAK-ASSISTED LIVING.

ELECTION 2020-MASSACHUSETTS SENATE — Polls close 8 p.m.

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ONLY ON AP

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BELARUS-ELECTION-FRAUD — Poll workers in Belarus provide details of vote-rigging in the Aug. 9 election that kept authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko in power. One worker in the capital tells the AP she was asked to sign a document with the vote totals left blank even before the election concluded. By Kostya Manenkov and Daria Litvinova. SENT: 1,300 words, photos.

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TOP STORIES

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ELECTION 2020-TRUMP — President Donald Trump stands at the epicenter of the latest eruption over racial injustice and comes down squarely on the side of law enforcement. He blames “domestic terror” for the violence in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and makes no nod to the underlying cause of anger and protests: the shooting of yet another Black man by police. By Zeke Miller and Jonathan Lemire. SENT: 1,210 words, photos, video. With TRUMP-PROTESTS-CONSPIRACY THEORY — Trump is recycling a baseless conspiracy theory to claim that recent protests have been orchestrated by powerful people in “dark shadows.” UPCOMING: 750 words by 7 p.m., photo; TRUMP-FACT CHECK — Trump’s descriptions of events in Kenosha are at odds with what the authorities say. SENT: 740 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK — The torrid coronavirus summer across the Sun Belt is easing after two disastrous months that brought more than 35,000 deaths. Whether the outbreak will heat up again after Labor Day and the resumption of school and football in the land of Friday Night Lights remains to be seen. By Matt Sedensky. SENT: 940 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-ECONOMIC AID-MNUCHIN — Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says the Trump administration remains willing to work on a bipartisan agreement to help small businesses, the unemployed, children and schools. Democrats insist that dire economic conditions persist and say a larger relief package is needed. By Business Writer Marcy Gordon. SENT: 720 words, photos. (Incorporates VIRUS OUTBREAK-SMALL BUSINESS AID from 2 p.m. digest.)

VIRUS-OUTBREAK-VACCINES — A handful of the dozens of experimental COVID-19 vaccines in human testing have reached the last and biggest hurdle — looking for the needed proof that they really work. AstraZeneca says its vaccine candidate has entered the final testing stage in the U.S. Two other vaccine candidates began final testing this summer. By Lauran Neergaard and Carla K. Johnson. SENT: 1,000 words, photos. With VIRUS OUTBREAK-ANTIBODIES — Large antibody study offers hope for virus vaccine efforts. SENT: 200 words, photo.

ELECTION 2020-MASSACHUSETTS SENATE — Massachusetts voters are set to decide one of the higher profile battles on this year’s primary ballot — the contest pitting incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Edward Markey against U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy III. By Steve LeBlanc. SENT: 560 words, photos. UPCOMING: Developing. Polls close 8 p.m.

Find more coverage on the 2020 U.S. Elections featured topic page on APNewsroom.

RACIAL INJUSTICE-BREONNA TAYLOR — A lawyer for Breonna Taylor’s family says a plea deal was offered to an accused drug dealer that would have implicated Taylor in a drug operation weeks after her killing by police. Louisville’s top prosecutor Tom Wine acknowledges the existence of the document but says it was part of preliminary plea negotiations. By Dylan Lovan. SENT: 600 words, photo.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-SCHOOLS — Millions of children return to school across Europe and beyond in a mass experiment aimed at bridging inequalities and resuscitating economies despite the persistent pandemic. Children kiss their parents goodbye in France, shyly greet their teachers in Israel, settle into spaced-out desks in England, and raise their hands in Russia. By Angela Charlton. SENT: 870 words, photos. With VIRUS OUTBREAK-NYC SCHOOLS — New York City delays the start of its school year amid the pandemic. SENT: 620 words, photos.

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WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

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TRUMP-HEALTH — A new book about President Trump revives questions about his unscheduled visit to Walter Reed military hospital last fall. SENT: 500 words, video.

FRANCE-ATTACKS-TRIAL — The French satirical paper whose staff was decimated in an attack by Islamic extremists in 2015 is reprinting caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad cited by the killers. SENT: 860 words, photos.

WHITE HOUSE-PUBLIC TOURS — Public tours of the White House, halted nearly six months ago due to the coronavirus outbreak, are set to resume this month. SENT: 250 words, photo.

FACEBOOK-RUSSIA-MISINFORMATION — Facebook axes small Russian troll network ahead of election. SENT: 500 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-DRAG QUEEN DELIVERY — Hungry and bored at home? A San Francisco nightclub will bring the food, booze and a drag show to you during the pandemic. SENT: 290 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-BIG TEN — President Trump calls on Big Ten Conference to play fall football. SENT: 400 words, photos.

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MORE ON THE VIRUS OUTBREAK

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VIRUS OUTBREAK-FLORIDA — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis says he will lift the state’s ban on visiting nursing homes that has cut off vulnerable seniors from family since mid-March over fears of spreading the coronavirus. SENT: 930 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-ASSISTED LIVING — Federal officials plan to ship rapid coronavirus tests to assisted living facilities, moving to fill a testing gap in care settings for older adults who don’t need the constant attention of a nursing home. SENT: 510 words, photo.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-INDIA — Many Indian states ease lockdown restrictions, allowing more businesses and public areas to reopen to reduce economic pain caused by the surging coronavirus. SENT: 500 words, photos. With RUSSIA-VIRUS OUTBREAK— Russia’s tally of confirmed coronavirus cases surpasses 1 million. SENT: 200 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-CUBA-QUARANTINE — Cuban authorities launched a strict 15-day lockdown of Havana in order to stamp out the low-level but persistent spread of the coronavirus in the capital. SENT: 400 words, photos.

PICTURES OF THE MONTH-RELIGION-PHOTO GALLERY- AP PHOTOS: Around the world, faith in the summer of COVID-19. SENT: 400 words.

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

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MORE ON RACIAL INJUSTICE

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PORTLAND PROTESTS — Black Lives Matter protesters in Portland, Oregon, shift their focus to the city’s mayor, and police declare a riot as people break windows, vandalize a business and set a fire inside the upscale apartment building where Mayor Ted Wheeler lives. SENT: 600 words, photos.

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WASHINGTON/POLITICS

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FBI-SURVEILLANCE — The Justice Department imposes new restrictions on how it conducts any secret national security surveillance of candidates for federal offices or their staff. SENT: 580 words, photo.

TRUMP-TAXES — A federal appeals court blocks a New York prosecutor from obtaining President Trump’s tax returns while the president’s lawyers continue to fight a subpoena seeking the records. SENT: 600 words, photos.

ELECTION 2020-CHAMBER-DEMOCRATS — The U.S. Chamber of Commerce decides to endorse 23 freshmen House Democrats in this fall’s elections, a bipartisan move by an organization that has long leaned strongly toward Republicans. SENT: 760 words, photos.

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NATIONAL

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SHERIFF’S DEPUTY SHOOTING-SUSPECT KILLED — Los Angeles sheriff’s deputies fatally shoot a Black man who ran away from officers, punched one of them and dropped a bundle that contained a gun, authorities say. The shooting set off a protest march to a sheriff’s station. SENT: 360 words, photos. UPCOMING: Developing.

BOY SCOUTS-BANKRUPTCY — Under the direction of a bankruptcy judge, the Boy Scouts of America launch a nationwide ad campaign notifying victims of decades-ago sex abuse by scout leaders that they have until Nov. 16 to file claims seeking a share of a proposed compensation fund. SENT: 750 words, photos.

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INTERNATIONAL

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BELARUS-PROTESTS — Police in Belarus detain scores of protesters in the capital of Minsk as university students take to the streets on the first day of classes to demand the resignation of authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko. SENT: 1,000 words, photos. With BELARUS-OPPOSITION — Ex-candidate says Belarusians will no longer obey president. SENT: 500 words, photos.

EMIRATES-ISRAEL — Jared Kushner and U.S. officials visit a major air base in the United Arab Emirates speaking to Emirati and American pilots on the tarmac, as Iran’s supreme leader calls the UAE’s recognition of Israel “treason that will not last for long.” SENT: 980 words, photos.

LEBANON — French President Emmanuel Macron issues a stern warning to Lebanon’s political class, urging them to commit to serious reforms. SENT: 790 words, photos. With LEBANON-MACRON-BLAST VICTIM — Beirut blast victim’s daughter gifts Macron a pin, gets a hug. SENT: 480 words, photos.

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BUSINESS/TECH

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WALMART-MEMBERSHIP — Walmart launches a membership service for shoppers that it hopes can compete with Amazon Prime. By Retail Writer Joseph Pisani. SENT: 380 words, photo.

ZOOM-STOCK SURGE — Zoom stock surges, with company's market value now topping Boeing, Starbucks. SENT: 290 words, photo.

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SPORTS

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ECONOMICS-STAYING PUT — As 67 players opted out of the NFL season due to the coronavirus pandemic, corporate partners, sponsors and advertisers did the opposite. They stood pat. By Pro Football Writer Barry Wilner. SENT: 850 words.

US OPEN — The Williams sisters both are scheduled to play in Arthur Ashe Stadium on Day 2 of the U.S. Open. UPCOMING: 800 words by midnight, photos.

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ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT

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MUSIC-CMA NOMINATIONS — Country star Miranda Lambert turns her “Wildcard” into an ace as she’s the leading nominee at the 2020 Country Music Association Awards. SENT: 400 words, photos.

ITALY-VENICE FILM FESTIVAL — Venice reclaims its place as a top cultural destination with the opening of the Venice Film Festival — the first major in-person cinema showcase of the coronavirus era. SENT: 830 words, photos, video.

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HOW TO REACH US

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