AP News Digest 7:20 a.m.
Columbia Basin Herald | UPDATED 4 years, 9 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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VIRUS OUTBREAK-AMERICA’S FAILURES — The United States spends more money on health care than any other country. But in the coronavirus pandemic, it’s not getting top results. An Associated Press review finds a system plagued with chronic shortages, spot shortages, calcified bureaucracy or some combination. How has it come to this? By Calvin Woodward. SENT: 1,620 words, photos. An abridged version of 900 words is also available.
VIRUS OUTBREAK — Discouraging results from a study into a possible coronavirus treatment and fresh data showing one in six American workers have lost their jobs tempers relief over the passage by Congress of a nearly $500 billion spending package to help embattled businesses and hospitals. By David Crary, Regina Garcia Cano and Elaine Kurtenbach. SENT: 1,110 words, photos. With VIRUS-OUTBREAK-THE-LATEST.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK-IMMIGRANT-JOBS — The coronavirus pandemic has devastated sectors of the economy dominated by immigrant labor: Restaurants, hotels, office cleaning services, in-home childcare and hair and nail salons, among others, have seen businesses shuttered as nonessential. By Claudia Torrens and Gisela Salomon. SENT: 880 words, photos.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK-BRITAIN-NURSING HOMES — The coronavirus pandemic is taking a huge emotional and physical toll on staff in Britain’s nursing homes, who often feel like they’re toiling on a forgotten front line. By Jo Kearney and Jill Lawless. SENT: 960 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-SCRAMBLE FOR GEAR — As Africa braces for a surge in coronavirus cases, its countries are dangerously behind in the global race for scarce medical equipment. Outbid by richer countries, and not receiving medical gear from top aid donor the United States, African officials scramble for solutions as virus cases climb past 25,000. By Cara Anna. SENT: 1,070 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-CONTRASTING GOVERNORS — Mostly Republican governors in a handful of states are racing ahead with reboots to their economy before they have met key health benchmarks recommended to control the coronavirus outbreak. By Meg Kinnard. SENT: 1,050 words, photos. With VIRUS-OUTBREAK-STATE-LAWMAKERS — Virus pits health vs. public duty for some state lawmakers. See VIRUS OUTBREAK-TRUMP-GEORGIA and MORE ON THE VIRUS OUTBREAK below.
Find more all-format coverage on the Virus Outbreak featured topic page in AP Newsroom.
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MORE ON THE VIRUS OUTBREAK
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VIRUS OUTBREAK-MALARIA — The World Health Organization is warning that the battle against malaria in sub-Saharan Africa could be set back by 20 years as countries focus energy and resources on containing the coronavirus. SENT: 530 words, photo.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-CHINA’S WARRIOR DIPLOMATS — Chinese envoys set off diplomatic firestorms overseas with a combative defense whenever their country is accused of not acting quickly enough to stem the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. SENT: 1,030 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-PROTESTS-GOP — The latest demonstration by right-wing groups and small-government protesters against measures to contain the coronavirus will be held Friday in Wisconsin, but the state’s most prominent Republicans will be noticeably absent. SENT: 990 words, photos. With ELECTION 2020-VIRUS FALLOUT — Swing-state Republicans pin virus fallout on Democrats (sent).
VIRUS OUTBREAK-CONGRESS — President Donald Trump holds a signing ceremony for a bill providing a nearly $500 billion infusion of coronavirus spending, rushing new relief to employers and hospitals buckling under the strain of a pandemic that has claimed almost 50,000 American lives and one in six U.S. jobs. SENT: 1,060 words, photos, video. UPCOMING: 900 words after White House signing at noon.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-TRUMP-DOCTORS — It’s becoming a kind of daily ritual: Trump and a phalanx of doctors file into the White House briefing room each evening to discuss the coronavirus, producing a display of rhetorical contortions as the medical officials try to stay true to the science without crossing the president. SENT: 1,250 words, photos, video. With VIRUS OUTBREAK-TRUMP-SUNLIGHT — Trump showcases idea heat, humidity could help fight virus.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-TRUMP-GEORGIA — Trump praised Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s aggressive plan to allow businesses to reopen in private discussions before pulling an about-face and publicly bashing it, according to two administration officials not authorized to discuss the conversations. By Jonathan Lemire and Ben Nadler. SENT: 970 words, photos, video.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-VETERANS-FACT CHECK — Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie is taking advocacy of an unproven drug for the coronavirus even further than Trump, claiming without evidence that it has been effective for young and middle-aged veterans in particular. SENT: 710 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-NEWSOM AND TRUMP — The coronavirus pandemic brings a strange political twist: California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Trump are getting along. SENT: 860 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-LIVES LOST-HERO IN SCRUBS — A 55-year-old Sudanese-born doctor became one of the first doctors in Britain’s National Health Service to succumb to COVID-19 and a symbol of the acute danger all health workers brave. SENT: 970 words, photos.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK-GREEN CARDS — Trump hints that he might extend a 60-day hold on green cards for foreign workers that he ordered to protect American jobs during the coronavirus outbreak. SENT: 910 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-ASIA — Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte angrily threatens to declare martial law after accusing communist rebels of killing two soldiers who were escorting food and cash deliveries during a coronavirus quarantine. SENT: 1,020 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-MIDEAST — Authorities closed all entrances to a Palestinian refugee camp in eastern Lebanon on Friday after four more people tested positive for the coronavirus, heightening concerns the virus could further spread among its overcrowded population. SENT: 420 words, photo.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-HONG KONG EXAMS — Hong Kong students begin taking university entrance examinations with masks, temperature checks and social-distancing measures in place after a one-month delay. SENT: 280 words, photos.
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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BRITAIN-ROYALS — Meghan Markle’s lawsuit set for hearing in U.K. High Court. SENT: 240 words, photos.
ARCTIC EXPEDITION — Pandemic forces Arctic expedition to take 3-week break. SENT: 280 words, photo.
GOING LIVE IN VANUATU — Miss watching sports? Cricket final going live in Vanuatu. SENT: 590 words.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-MADRID CLOSED-PHOTO GALLERY — Madrid stores close, city falls quiet in pandemic. SENT: 210 words.
ELECTION 2020-BIDEN-MAIL VOTING — Joe Biden backs mail vote, says Trump’s opposition “un-American.” SENT: 510 words, photo.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK-IOWA-TESTING — Iowa governor: Tip from Ashton Kutcher led to testing deal. SENT: 780 words, photos.
TV-VIRUS-OUTBREAK-PARKS-AND-RECREATION — “Parks and Recreation” cast reunites for fundraising special. SENT: 260 words, photos.
DETROIT SCHOOLS-LITERACY — Appeals court: Detroit students have a right to literacy. SENT: 450 words.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-TURKEY — Turkey’s health minister has compared the city of Istanbul to Wuhan — the Chinese city where the novel coronavirus first emerged — as epicenter of infections in Turkey. SENT: 270 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-PANAMA-TRANSSEXUALS — Panama’s gender-based quarantine problem for transsexuals. SENT: 180 words.
CLIMATE-PROTEST — Climate activists take global protest online during pandemic. SENT: 130 words, photos.
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CALIFORNIA-AMMO-BACKGROUND-CHECKS — A federal judge blocks a California law requiring background checks for people buying ammunition, issuing a sharply worded rebuke of “onerous and convoluted” regulations that violate the constitutional right to bear arms. SENT: 790 words, photos.
ANDREW GILLUM — Photos released by Miami Beach police show what a luxury hotel room looked like when officers found former Florida gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum drunk and with two other men. SENT: 530 words, photos.
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RAMADAN — Millions of Muslims in Asia start the holiest month on the Islamic calendar under the coronavirus lockdown or strict social restrictions, deepening their anxiety over the disease. SENT: 750 words, photos.
CANADA-SHOOTING — Canada’s worst mass shooting erupted from an argument between the gunman and his girlfriend, who survived the attack, a police official says. SENT: 430 words, photos.
VENEZUELA-IRAN — As the Trump administration increases pressure on Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro, the socialist leader turns to Iran for help jump starting an aging refinery to prevent the South American nation with the world’s largest oil reserves from running out of gasoline, the AP has learned. By Scott Smith and Joshua Goodman. SENT: 560 words, photos.
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FINANCIAL-MARKETS — Global shares extended losses as hopes faded for a quick turnaround for the global coronavirus pandemic. By Business Writer Yuri Kageyama. SENT: 510 words, photos.
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TIM DAHLBERG-NFL DRAFT — Casual was the theme of the night as an NFL draft no one could have imagined even a few months ago played out across the nation before viewers starved for sports of any kind. By Sports Columnist Tim Dahlberg. SENT: 770 words, photos. With NFL DRAFT — For all the changes, NFL draft kind of looked, well, normal.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-EMPTY STADIUMS — The sight of soccer games taking place in empty stadiums is set to become the new norm as the sport attempts to resume from the global shutdown. By Sports Writers Steve Douglas and James Ellingworth. SENT: 990 words, photos.
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MEDIA-AXIOS-ON-HBO — No one can accuse Axios co-founder and CEO Jim VandeHei of small dreams for his bi-weekly news series on HBO, which is ramping up production to air nearly every two weeks for the rest of the year and moving to Monday nights. By Media Writer David Bauder. SENT: 620 words, photo.
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