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AP News Digest 6 p.m.

| September 7, 2020 12:06 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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NEW/DEVELOPING

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Adds ELECTION 2020-VOTING-REJECTED BALLOTS, VIRUS OUTBREAK-LABOR DAY, ELECTION 2020-VACCINE, SPACE-MIGHTY MICE, US OPEN.

US OPEN — Night session starts 7 p.m.

BYU-NAVY — Game starts 8 p.m.

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ONLY ON AP

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ELECTION 2020-VOTING-REJECTED BALLOTS — An Associated Press analysis of absentee ballot rejections finds the number of ballots that could go uncounted this year in some key battleground states could be up to three times higher than during the last presidential election four years ago. By Christina A. Cassidy and Frank Bajak. SENT: 1,100 words, photos.

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TOP STORIES

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ELECTION 2020-LABOR DAY — Joe Biden and President Donald Trump spend Labor Day diminishing each other’s credentials on the economy and ability to understand American workers. Biden says Trump “lives by a code of lies, greed and selfishness,” while Trump says Biden and his running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris, would “destroy this country and would destroy this economy.” By Noreen Nasir, Alexandra Jaffe and Kathleen Ronayne. SENT: 890 words, photos.

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

VIRUS OUTBREAK — At the height of the coronavirus lockdown, President Donald Trump and his top health advisers trumpeted a new test that would help Americans reclaim their lives — one that would tell them if they already had the virus and were protected from getting it again. Months later, the U.S. is awash in the tests but the bold predictions about their usefulness have yet to materialize. By Health Writer Matthew Perrone. SENT: 1,090 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-LABOR DAY — The Lost Summer of 2020 is drawing to a close with many big Labor Day gatherings canceled across the U.S. and health authorities pleading with people to keep their distance from others so as not to cause another surge in coronavirus cases like the one that followed Memorial Day. By Jeffrey Collins. SENT: 550 words, photos.

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

CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES — Wildfires have burned more than 2 million acres in California this year, setting a record even as crews battle dozens of growing blazes across the state. Officials say the most striking thing about the record is how early it was set — with the most dangerous part of the year ahead. By Marcio Jose Sanchez and Christopher Weber. SENT: 790 words, photos. With CALIFORNIA WILDFIRE-GENDER REVEAL — California fire sparked by device to reveal baby’s gender. SENT: 530 words, photos.

SAUDI-KHASHOGGI KILLING — A Saudi court issues final verdicts in the case of slain Washington Post columnist and Saudi critic Jamal Khashoggi, with no defendant receiving more than 20 years in prison. The case continues to cast a shadow over the international standing of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whose associates have been sanctioned by the U.S. and the U.K. for their alleged involvement in the brutal killing. By Aya Batrawy. SENT: 900 words, photos.

GERMANY-RUSSIA-NAVALNY — Poisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s condition has improved, allowing doctors to take him out of an induced coma, the German hospital treating him says. Navalny, a fierce, high-profile critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, was flown to Germany last month after falling ill on a domestic flight in Russia. By Frank Jordans. SENT: 760 words, photos.

CONGRESS RETURNS — At least there won’t be a government shutdown. But as lawmakers return to Washington for an abbreviated preelection session, hopes are dimming for another coronavirus relief bill — or much else. By Andrew Taylor. SENT: 740 words, photos.

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WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

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BRITAIN-PRINCE HARRY — Prince Harry repays 2.4 million pounds ($3.2 million) in British taxpayers’ money that was used to renovate the home in Windsor intended for him and his wife Meghan before they gave up royal duties. SENT: 200 words, photos.

TROPICAL WEATHER — Two tropical storms form in the Atlantic, including Rene, off the coast of Africa. Rene is the earliest “R-named” storm in a record-setting hurricane season. SENT: 150 words. With WEST-AFRICA-FLOODING — Senegal’s capital gets year’s worth of rain in single night. SENT: 190 words.

FRANCE-HORSES KILLED — French investigators have made numerous arrests since a macabre series of attacks left scores of horses mutilated or killed, the interior minister says. SENT: 320 words, photos.

PHILIPPINES-US MARINE-KILLING — The Philippine president pardons a U.S. Marine in a surprise move that will free him from imprisonment in the 2014 killing of a transgender Filipino woman. SENT: 660 words, photo.

BYU-NAVY — BYU and Navy meet for the first time since 1989, playing in an empty stadium and on national TV in a college football matchup that stems from a schedule upended by COVID-19. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos. Game starts 8 p.m.

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MORE ON THE VIRUS OUTBREAK

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VIRUS OUTBREAK-INDIA — India’s increasing coronavirus caseload has made the Asian giant the pandemic’s second-worst-hit country behind the United States. SENT: 700 words, photos. With VIRUS OUTBREAK-BRITAIN — The U.K. records nearly 3,000 new coronavirus cases for the second day running. SENT: 550 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-PANAMA-MIGRANTS — Perhaps millions of migrants are stranded around the world because of border closures aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus. SENT: 930 words, photos. With VIRUS OUTBREAK-SOUTHERN AFRICA-HUNGER — Southern Africa’s hunger upsurge blamed on climate, COVID-19. SENT: 340 words.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-FOOD BANK — The federal government is preparing to spend another $1.5 billion on a program that has provided a key source of fresh food to charities this summer as they work to feed the hungry. SENT: 990 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-MISSISSIPPI-BLACK DOCTORS — During pandemic, Black families put trust in Black doctors. SENT: 1,060 words, photos.

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

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WASHINGTON/POLITICS

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ELECTION 2020-VACCINE — A vaccine to shield Americans from becoming infected with the coronavirus is emerging as the latest flashpoint in the race for the White House. SENT: 790 words, photos.

ELECTION 2020-CONGRESS — The battle for control of Congress is solidifying into a race about one man as Republicans hitch their fortunes to President Trump and Democrats position themselves as a bulwark against him — and partners in a potential Biden White House. By Congressional Correspondent Lisa Mascaro. SENT: 1,070 words, photos.

OFFSHORE DRILLING-SOUTH CAROLINA — Offshore drilling is surfacing as an issue in a political action committee’s effort to oust U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham. SENT: 610 words, photos.

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INTERNATIONAL

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BELARUS-PROTESTS — A leading opposition activist in Belarus and two other members of an opposition council are missing, raising fears they have been detained. SENT: 690 words, photos.

BRITAIN-ASSANGE — A British judge rejects a request to delay Julian Assange's extradition hearing to give his lawyers more time to respond to U.S. allegations that the WikiLeaks founder conspired with hackers. SENT: 540 words, photos. With BRITAIN-ASSANGE-TIMELINE (sent).

BREXIT — The European Union warns the British government that any attempt to renege on commitments made ahead of its departure from the bloc could put at risk the hard-won peace in Northern Ireland. SENT: 810 words, photos.

TURKEY-ISTANBUL-NIGHTCLUB ATTACK — A Turkish court sentences an Islamic State group suspect to life in prison over an attack on a nightclub in Istanbul that left 39 people dead in 2017. SENT: 240 words, photos.

EUROPE-SERBIA-KOSOVO — The European Union warns Serbia and Kosovo that they could undermine their EU membership hopes by moving their Israeli embassies to Jerusalem. SENT: 890 words, photos.

CHINA-US JOURNALISTS — China is delaying the renewal of press cards for at least five journalists working at four U.S. media outlets, an organization of foreign correspondents says. SENT: 640 words, photos.

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NATIONAL

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ROCHESTER POLICE DEATH — Protesters demonstrate outside Rochester’s police headquarters naked except for “spit hoods” in reference to the killing of Daniel Prude. SENT: 360 words.

PORTLAND-PROTESTS — A fire started outside a police precinct on Portland’s north side results in about 15 arrests during protests, police say. SENT: 350 words, photos.

RECORD HEAT-HOMELESS — Extreme temperatures across the Southwest and a record-breaking summer in Phoenix pose additional threats during the pandemic, especially for people living on the street. SENT: 800 words, photos.

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BUSINESS/ECONOMY

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THEME PARKS-SLOW REOPENING — U.S. theme parks are still finding it tough to bring back guests this summer despite the wide number of pandemic-related safety measures they’ve put in place. SENT: 650 words, photos.

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HEALTH/SCIENCE

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SPACE-MIGHTY MICE — Scientists who sent bulked-up, mutant “mighty mice” to the International Space Station say the animals held onto their muscle during the monthlong flight. That’s promising news for future astronauts traveling to Mars. By Aerospace Writer Marcia Dunn. SENT: 440 words, photos.

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SPORTS

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US OPEN — Serena Williams has reached the quarterfinals at the U.S. Open for a 12th consecutive appearance — but it didn't come easily. By Tennis Writer Howard Fendrich. SENT: 600 words, photos. UPCOMING: Developing from night session starting at 7 p.m.

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HOW TO REACH US

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