AP News Digest 7 a.m.

| September 16, 2020 4:27 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.

-----------———-

ONLY ON AP

-----------———-

ELECTION 2020-AMERICA DISRUPTED-ECONOMY — In Appleton, Wisconsin, President Donald Trump’s promises of an economic revival have gone unfulfilled, and the area has lost about 8,000 jobs since he was elected. But these days the health of the economy isn’t judged on jobs, personal bank accounts or union contracts. Instead, it’s viewed through partisan lenses — filtered through the facts that voters want to see and hear, and those they don’t. By Josh Boak. SENT: 2,740 words, photos, graphics. An abridged version of 1,180 words is also available.

--------------———

TOP STORIES

-------------------

WESTERN-WILDFIRES-EXHAUSTED-RESOURCES — Firefighters battling the West Coast wildfires say this year’s blazes are some of the worst they have ever seen. They say the fires are taxing the human, mechanical and financial resources of the nation’s wildfire fighting forces to an extraordinary degree. And half of the fire season is yet to come. Heat, drought and a strategic decision to attack the flames early combined with the coronavirus to put a historically heavy burden on fire teams. By James Anderson and Matthew Brown. SENT: 1,100 words, photos. With ELECTION 2020-HARRIS — Kamala Harris, home in California, gets a look at wildfire damage.

TROPICAL WEATHER — Hurricane Sally makes landfall near Gulf Shores, Alabama, as a Category 2 storm, pushing a surge of ocean water onto the coast and dumping torrential rain that forecasters say would cause dangerous flooding from the Florida Panhandle to Mississippi and well inland in the days ahead. By Jay Reeves, Angie Wang and Jeff Martin. SENT: 920 words, photos, videos. With TROPICAL WEATHER-THE LATEST.

JAPAN-POLITICS-SUGA — Before he got Japan’s top government job officially, Yoshihide Suga was known as a “shadow” prime minister and the right-hand man for his long-serving predecessor. When Shinzo Abe announced last month he would resign due to ill health, his chief Cabinet secretary Suga said he would come forward to pursue Abe’s unfinished work. By Mari Yamaguchi. SENT: 870 words, photos. With JAPAN-POLITICS — Suga named Japan’s prime minister; SKOREA-JAPAN-REPAIRING TIES-ANALYSIS — With Abe’s exit, Seoul seeks to mend Japan ties; JAPAN-ECONOMY — End of Abe era leaves Japan still searching for way forward.

VIRUS-OUTBREAK-INDIA — India’s coronavirus confirmed cases crosses 5 million, still soaring and testing the country’s feeble health care system in tens of thousands of impoverished towns and villages. By Ashok Sharma. SENT: 640 words, photos. With VIRUS OUTBREAK-THE LATEST.

BOEING-MAX-CRASH-CAUSES — A House committee issues a scathing report questioning whether Boeing and government regulators have recognized the problems that caused two deadly 737 Max jet crashes and whether either will be willing to make significant changes to fix them. By Business Writer Tom Krisher. SENT: 1,130 words, photo.

LEBANON-DOCTORS UNDER PRESSURE — The massive explosion at Beirut’s port dealt yet another blow to Lebanon’s health system. Its hospitals and clinics were once considered among the best in the region. But in the past year they have struggled to stay afloat amid the country’s financial meltdown. Then they were hit by the coronavirus pandemic. Now the explosion damaged health facilities and overwhelmed the system. By Sarah El Deeb. SENT: 1,150 words, photos.

------------------------------------------------