AP News Digest 2 p.m.
Columbia Basin Herald | UPDATED 6 years, 5 months AGO
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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ONLY ON AP
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AP POLL-VIRUS OUTBREAK-TRUMP — Only about a quarter of Americans say they regularly seek out or trust information they get from President Donald Trump about the coronavirus outbreak, a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds. Confidence in Trump is higher among his supporters, though only about half of Republicans say they have a lot of trust in Trump’s information on the pandemic. By Julie Pace and Hannah Fingerhut. SENT: 940 words, photos, graphic.
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VIRUS OUTBREAK — Unemployment in the U.S. has swelled to levels last seen during the Great Depression of the 1930s, with 1 in 6 American workers thrown out of a job by the coronavirus. More than 4.4 million laid-off workers applied for unemployment benefits last week, the government said. In all, roughly 26 million people — more than the population of the six biggest U.S. cities combined — have now filed for jobless aid in five weeks. By David Crary, Kathy Gannon and Angela Charlton. SENT: 775 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-NURSING HOME TESTING -- After two months and more than 10,000 deaths that have made the nation’s nursing homes some of the most terrifying places to be during the coronavirus crisis, most of them still don’t have access to enough tests to help control outbreaks among their frail, elderly residents. Neither the federal government nor the leader in nursing home deaths, New York, has mandated testing for all residents and staff. By Bernard Condon, Matt Sedensky and Jim Mustian. SENT: 1,265 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-STATE STOCKPILES -- Before the coronavirus outbreak, many states had only a modest supply of protective medical equipment. An Associated Press review of more than 20 states found that many were still storing items that were left over from an influenza pandemic a decade ago and long since expired. Many states had not freshened their supplies because of a decline in public health funding and a growing dependence on just-in-time delivery in the health care industry. By David A. Lieb and Cuneyt Dil. SENT: 1,370 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-CONGRESS — A nearly $500 billion measure helping businesses and hospitals cope with the coronavirus’ devastation edges toward House passage, as lawmakers’ face masks and bandannas added an eerie tone to Congress’ effort to aid a staggered nation. By Andrew Taylor and Alan Fram. SENT: 840 words. UPCOMING: Developing from afternoon votes, 890 words by 5 p.m., photos. WITH: VIRUS OUTBREAK-CONGRESS-SCENE — If the threat of coronavirus is ebbing, as President Donald Trump suggests, you wouldn’t know it from watching Congress. A month ago, masks and gloves were the exception when lawmakers convened. No more. Now, nearly everyone, from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to the clerks, wears protective gear and sits four seats apart in the House chamber. By Laurie Kellman. UPCOMING: 850 words by 6 p.m. With AP photos.
Find more all-format coverage on the Virus Outbreak featured topic page in AP Newsroom.
ELECTION 2020-VIRUS OUTBREAK-FALLOUT — With legions out of work, Republicans across critical battleground states are increasingly blaming the economic wreckage of the coronavirus outbreak on Democratic governors, ramping up a political strategy that is likely to shape the debate in the run-up to presidential election. By Marc Levy, David Eggert and Scott Stroud. UPCOMING: 930 words by 4 p.m., photos.
Find more coverage on the 2020 U.S. Elections featured topic page on APNewsroom.
FBN-NFL DRAFT — When Commissioner Roger Goodell begins the NFL draft, look for him to mention the names Joe Burrow and Chase Young with the first two selections. After that, it’s game on in this most unusual of drafts. By Pro Football Writer Barry Wilner. UPCOMING: 1,000 words, photos. Draft begins 8 p.m. WITH: FBN--DRAFT-PROSPECTS AT HOME -- Fifty-eight prospects will take part remotely in the NFL draft, which has gone virtual because of the coronavirus pandemic. SENT: 830 words, photos.
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MORE ON THE VIRUS OUTBREAK
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VIRUS OUTBREAK-VETERANS AFFAIRS — The Veterans Affairs Department, responsible for 9 million military veterans, says it was prepared for an onslaught of patients from the coronavirus. But interviews with nurses at facilities around the country, internal memos and a report for the agency’s inspector general tell another story. SENT: 1,380 words, photos. An abridged version of 1,030 words has also been sent.
VIRUS OUTBREAK NURSING HOME VISITS — France has started to break the seals on its locked-down nursing homes, allowing limited visitation rights for the families of elderly residents. The visits are proving bittersweet for some, too short and restricted to make up for weeks of isolation and loneliness. But they are shedding light on the immense emotional toll caused by locking down care homes. SENT: 870 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-TRUMP-DOCTORS — Every day, the doctors in President Trump’s orbit troop into the White House briefing room with him to discuss the coronavirus threat. Often, the result is a painful display of rhetorical contortions as the medical officials try to be true to the science without crossing the president. It’s a drama about life-and-death issues and the credibility of those delivering guidance to Americans looking for straight talk as they cope with COVID-19. UPCOMING: 800 words by 5 p.m., photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-DRIVE THRU TESTING — Feeling sick and stressed, people have continued to line up at drive-thru testing sites, hoping to get guidance about whether to seek treatment, or reassurance about possibly passing along an infection to newborn babies or grandparents. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos by 5 p.m.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-ONE GOOD THING-STUDENTS’ MASKS — A private school student in the nation’s capital wanted to help address the suffering created by the coronavirus pandemic. So Jonah Docter-Loeb decided to tap into the online community of 3D printer enthusiasts and found an open-source design for a welder’s mask-style face shield that he could print at home and provide to area hospitals. The project has printed 3,000 face shields and hopes to complete 10,000 in April. SENT: 540 words, photos, video.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-CONTRASTING GOVERNORS —Governors in a handful of states are racing ahead with reboots to their economy even before they meet the key markers set by recently released federal guidelines. Those decisions stand in stark contrast to other governors who continue to maintain a cautious approach to reopening and have said they will base their decision only on the public health data and their ability to keep the virus outbreak in check. UPCOMING: 900 words, photos by 4 p.m.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-GULF-TRAPPED LABORERS — Long a lifeline for families back home, migrant workers in oil-rich Gulf Arab states now find themselves trapped by the coronavirus pandemic, losing jobs, running out of money and desperate to return to their home countries as COVID-19 stalks their labor camps. SENT: 1,050 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-MEAT PROCESSING-SAFETY -- Dozens of U.S. meat-processing plants have been forced to close temporarily as the industry struggles to contain the spread of the coronavirus among employees who often stand side-by-side while cutting and packaging beef, pork and poultry. Giant slaughterhouses that employ thousands of people are designed to have workers close together, making it difficult to adhere to social distancing guidelines that advise people to stay 6 feet apart. SENT: 880 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-HAITI DEPORTEES RETURN — The United States has been returning Haitian migrants and prisoners back to the island for years. But now COVID-19 has many locals worried. A planeload of deportees arrives on Thursday amid growing calls to halt deportations after officials said three migrants sent home last week by the U.S. tested positive for coronavirus. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos by 4 p.m.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-VIRAL QUESTIONS-PETS— Can I get the coronavirus from my pet? There’s no evidence pets are spreading the virus to people. And there have been very few cases worldwide where animals likely got the virus from people, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. UPCOMING: 150 words, photo.
GROUND GAME — AP’s coronavirus podcast, “Ground Game: Inside the Outbreak,” today looks at a dilemma amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic: How will societies strike a balance between public health and individual privacy. Listen to the podcast after 3 p.m. at https://appodcasts.com/category/ground-game/. Embed code is available on AP Coverage Plan.
A separate advisory has been sent detailing AP's complete pandemic coverage.
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WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT
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ROLLING STONES NEW SONG — The Rolling Stones reveal a new song the band thinks is perfect for these coronavirus times. The legendary band released the four-minute slow-burning bluesy and harmonica-driven “Living in a Ghost Town.” SENT: 185 words, photo.
ST PATRICK’S CATHEDRAL ARREST — A man who was arrested for carrying gasoline and lighters into St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York died by suicide after he was released from a secure psychiatric hospital where the coronavirus was spreading, his lawyer said. SENT: 300 words, photo.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-WARREN-BROTHER — The oldest brother of Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Donald Reed Herring, dies from the coronavirus. SENT: 215 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-PERU-ZOOS -- Zoos and breeding centers in Peru say they’re running out of feed for their animals as quarantines keep paying customers at home during the new coronavirus pandemic. SENT: 387 words, photos.
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TRUMP-NUCLEAR — A Trump administration panel is urging government intervention to rescue U.S. uranium mining and nuclear power industries in a tough global marketplace, from making it easier to mine public lands out West to blockading some imports of foreign-mined uranium. SENT; 577 words, photo.
SUPREME COURT-CLEAN WATER ACT — The Supreme Court rules that sewage plants and other industries cannot avoid environmental requirements under landmark clean-water protections when they send dirty water on an indirect route to rivers, oceans and other navigable waterways. SENT: 430 words, photo.
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SEVERE WEATHER — Severe weather blew through the South after killing at least seven people in Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana, including a worker at a factory hit by an apparent tornado, a man whose car was blown off the road and a man who went outside to grab a trash can and was swept away in a flood. SENT: 577 words, photos, video.
NATION'S REPORT CARD — The latest Nation’s Report Card shows eighth-graders’ scores in U.S. history and geography declining since 2014, results Education Secretary Betsy DeVos called “stark and inexcusable.” Civics scores on the 2018 assessments were the same as in the last round of tests four years earlier, the newly released results show. SENT: 600 words, photo.
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INTERNATIONAL
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PERSIAN GULF TENSIONS — The leader of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard warned that he has ordered his forces to potentially target the U.S. Navy after President Trump’s tweet the previous day threatening to sink Iranian vessels. SENT: 775 words, photos.
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HEALTH & SCIENCE
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INSECT DECLINE — The world has lost more than one quarter of its land-dwelling insects in the past 30 years as the first big picture study of global bug decline showed an alarming feared so-called insect apocalypse is more nuanced, varying from place to place, according to the first big picture study of global bug decline. UPCOMING: 685 words by 3 p.m.
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FINANCIAL-MARKETS — Stocks push higher again, even as dismal data piles up. SENT: 820 words, photos.
AUTO WORKERS-MEDICAL GEAR — Hundreds of workers at Ford, General Motors, Toyota and other companies have offered to work in a wartime-like effort to stem shortages of protective medical gear and equipment. Even though most of their factories are shut down to slow the spread of coronavirus, they have stepped up to help fill a critical shortage. SENT: 736 words, photos.
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