AP News Digest 6:15 p.m.

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

Ex-NY Senate leader to leave prison after getting COVID-19

NEW YORK (AP) — Former New York state Senate leader Dean Skelos was expected to be released soon from prison to home confinement after testing positive for the coronavirus, prosecutors told a judge Wednesday.

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

US relief checks begin arriving as economic damage piles up

Honk if you love transit workers! Trains salute vital staff

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — U.S. train horns can deliver an ear-splitting jolt to drivers sitting in traffic or people drifting off to sleep at home, but on Thursday, they’ll be put to another use.

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Arkansas mayor has blunt message for residents on distancing

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — The mayor of an eastern Arkansas city has a pointed message for residents who he says aren’t following social distancing guidelines to curb the coronavirus.

UN chief: world faces misinformation epidemic about virus

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned Tuesday that the world is facing “a dangerous epidemic of misinformation” about COVID-19 and announced a U.N. campaign to flood the internet with…

Navajo Nation extends weekend lockdowns as virus cases rise

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation has extended its weekend lockdowns preventing people from leaving their homes, except in emergencies, on the vast expanse of land that has been harder hit by the coronaviru…

US accuses Iran of 'dangerous' harassment of US warships

WASHINGTON (AP) — A group of 11 Iranian naval vessels made “dangerous and harassing” maneuvers near U.S. ships in the Persian Gulf near Kuwait on Wednesday, in one case passing within 10 yards (meters) of a Coast G…

Powerful GOP allies propel Trump effort to reopen economy

WASHINGTON (AP) — Leading Republicans say the coronavirus shutdown cannot go on. Car-honking activists swarmed a statehouse Wednesday to protest stay-home restrictions. Capitol Hill staff are quietly drafting bills…

France urging top powers to endorse UN virus cease-fire call

PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron says he hopes that “in the coming days” the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council can discuss and endorse U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ call fo…

Hundreds protest Michigan governor's social distancing order

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Hundreds of flag-waving, honking protesters drove past the Michigan Capitol on Wednesday to show their displeasure with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s orders to keep people at home and businesses loc…

Mnuchin, Schumer rev up talks as small-business aid runs dry

WASHINGTON (AP) — With a key coronavirus rescue fund nearly exhausted, negotiations are accelerating in Washington over President Donald Trump’s $250 billion emergency request to help smaller employers across the c…

CEOs urge caution as Trump looks to reopen eocomy

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump consulted with dozens of high-profile CEOs, union officials and other executives Wednesday on how to get the nation’s economy moving again and received a mixed message from …

Lawyer for Hanukkah stabbing suspect seeks to exhume victim

RAMAPO, N.Y. (AP) — An attorney for the man accused of committing an anti-Semitic attack with a machete wants the body of the victim who later died to be exhumed.