AP News Digest 6 p.m.

Here are the AP’s latest coverage plans, top stories and promotable content. All Times EST. For up-to-the minute information on AP’s coverage, visit Coverage Plan at https://newsroom.ap.org.

Man ruled insane, not guilty in shooting near a Waffle House

A man accused of shooting and wounding a police officer outside a Waffle House restaurant in Florida has been found not guilty by reason of insanity, court records show.

Chicago mayor apologizes to woman for wrongful police raid

CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot apologized Wednesday to a social worker whose home was wrongly raided by police officers who did not allow the woman to put on any clothes before handcuffing her.

Flint water settlement borrowing plan approved by lawmakers

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan legislators on Wednesday finalized a plan to borrow $600 million to finance the state’s proposed settlement with the residents of Flint, whose water was contaminated with elevated lev…

Justice Department sues Vermont medical center over abortion

The U.S. Justice Department filed a civil lawsuit Wednesday against the University of Vermont Medical Center alleging it forces staff members who object to abortion on religious grounds to participate in abortion p…

AP News in Brief at 6:04 p.m. EST

A pandemic atlas: How COVID-19 took over the world in 2020

BC-150-actives-f

Alleged Boogaloo member pleads guilty to terrorism charge

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A North Carolina man and self-described member of an anti-government extremist group who authorities say traveled to Minnesota during protests following the death of George Floyd pleaded guilty W…

Biden picks deal-makers, fighters for climate, energy team

WASHINGTON (AP) — Joe Biden is picking deal-makers and fighters to lead a climate team he’ll ask to remake and clean up the nation’s transportation and power-plant systems, and as fast as politically possible.

California reports record virus death count as cases spiral

LOS ANGELES (AP) — California reported more than 53,000 new coronavirus cases and 293 deaths on Wednesday, setting new daily records as hospitals struggled to keep up with the surge.

Health officials track safety as COVID-19 vaccines roll out

As COVID-19 vaccinations roll out to more and more people, health authorities are keeping close watch for any unexpected side effects.

Cardinal Pell on Trump, Benedict XVI and a plot against him

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis' former treasurer, Cardinal George Pell, praised President Donald Trump’s “splendid” Supreme Court appointments and defense of Christian values but questioned his effort to sow doubt in the…

US Forecast

US Forecast for Thursday, December 17, 2020

NYC cathedral gunman's note says he planned to take hostages

NEW YORK (AP) — The man killed by police Sunday after he opened fire on the steps of a landmark New York City cathedral had a note in his pocket that said he had planned to take hostages and use them as leverage to…

Texas had fewest executions since 1996 due to pandemic

HOUSTON (AP) — Texas, the nation’s busiest capital punishment state, carried out the fewest executions in nearly 25 years mainly because of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a report released Wed…