AP News Digest 6:05 p.m.
Columbia Basin Herald | UPDATED 5 years, 9 months AGO
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.
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NEW & DEVELOPING
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Adds: BIDEN-PENTAGON, MINNESOTA-JUVENILE-LIFER, VIRUS OUTBREAK-FEDERAL EXECUTIONS, VIRUS OUTBREAK-ITALY, VIRUS OUTBREAK-WASHINGTON MONUMENT, VIRUS OUTBREAK-DC SCHOOLS, HEALTH CARE-SIGNUPS, FEDERAL RESERVE-BANK STRESS TESTS, UNITED STATES-VOICE OF AMERICA, SPACE FORCE, POLICE-ACCOUNTABILITY-NEW-YORK.
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VIRUS OUTBREAK-CONGRESS — With a key issue proving difficult to resolve, a midnight government shutdown looms ominously with congressional negotiators tantalizingly close to agreement on an almost $1 trillion COVID-19 economic relief package. An air of exhausted frustration infuses the Capitol. By Andrew Taylor. SENT: 1,010 words, photos. UPCOMING: Developing throughout the night, 1,100 words by 11 p.m.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-TRUMP — Vice President Mike Pence became the highest ranking U.S. official to receive the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in a live-television event aimed at reassuring Americans the shot is safe. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell also receive vaccinations. By Zeke Miller and Jill Colvin. SENT: 1,120 words, photos, video. (Incorporates VIRUS OUTBREAK-CONGRESS-VACCINES from previous digest.)
VIRUS OUTBREAK-VACCINE — The U.S. stands on the verge of adding a second vaccine to its arsenal as the coronavirus outbreak descends deeper into its most lethal phase yet. The Food and Drug Administration is evaluating a shot developed by Moderna Inc. and the National Institutes of Health, and a decision could clear the way for its use as early as Monday. By Lauran Neergaard and Matthew Perrone. SENT: 730 words, photos.
MED-VIRUS OUTBREAK ANTIBODY DRUGS — U.S. health officials rushed out supplies of COVID-19 medicines that may help infected people stay out of the hospital, but now see an astonishing lack of demand in many states. The drugs supply antibodies to help people fight off the coronavirus but must be given soon after infection to do much good. Red tape, staff shortages, testing delays and skepticism are keeping patients and doctors away from them. By Marilynn Marchione. SENT: 985 words, photos.
IRAN — Iran has begun construction on a site at its underground nuclear facility at Fordo amid tensions with the U.S. over its atomic program, satellite photos obtained by The Associated Press show. Iran has not publicly acknowledged any new construction at Fordo, whose discovery by the West in 2009 came in an earlier round of brinkmanship before world powers struck the 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran. By Jon Gambrell. SENT: 820 words, photos.
THE MAGIC OF UTAH — When it comes to politics, Utah has long claimed things are different there. Political viciousness is for other places, many politicians will tell you. Legislators are more polite, more willing to compromise. The deep conservativism, the folklore says, includes a powerful strain of compassion. It might make you wonder: With U.S. politics so divided that millions of voters are lost in a maze of conspiracy theories and outright lies, could this idiosyncratic state in the heart of the Rockies show America a better way? Ehhhhhhh. Sort of. By Tim Sullivan. SENT: 1,850 words, photos. Eds: An abridged version of 990 words is available.
MINNESOTA-JUVENILE-LIFER — Myon Burrell spent 18 years behind bars for a crime that he said he didn’t commit. In the wake of an investigation by The Associated Press and APM Reports that raised grave doubts about his conviction, the Minnesota Board of Pardons said he could go home. In his first interview, Burrell says it feels like bricks are being removed from his shoulders. SENT: 1,230 words, photos.
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WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT
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SEWAGE-WINERY — An Alabama sheriff’s office says it’s busted an illegal winery that was operating at a city’s sewage plant. SENT: 210 words, photos.
PORN COLLECTION PARENTS — A man who sued his parents for getting rid of his pornography collection has won a lawsuit in western Michigan and can seek compensation. SENT: 155 words.
SNOW RESCUE — Authorities say a New York State Police sergeant rescued a man stranded for hours in a car covered by nearly 4 feet of snow thrown by a plow during this week’s storm. SENT: 350 words, photos.
WRONGFUL CONVICTION-MAN FREED — A man who was sentenced to life without parole in an arson fatality has been freed after 38 years in a Michigan prison after a woman admitted that she lied under oath during his 1983 trial. SENT: 560 words, photos.
VANESSA BRYANT-MOTHER’S LAWSUIT — Kobe Bryant’s widow has denounced a lawsuit from her mother claiming she is owed years of pay for working as an unpaid assistant and support promised by the basketball legend, who was killed in a helicopter crash in January. SENT: 350 words, photos.
SWEDEN FERRY-DISASTER — Sweden’s government wants divers to go down to the wreck of one of Europe’s deadliest peacetime maritime disasters, the sinking of a ferry in the Baltic Sea in 1994 that killed 852 people, in order to check claims of a large hole in the hull. SENT: 355 words, photo.
MICK JAGGER-HOME PURCHASE — Is Mick Jagger now a Florida Man? The Rolling Stones front man recently purchased a mansion south of Tampa as a Christmas present for his girlfriend, ballet dancer Melanie Hamrick. SENT: 140 words, photos.
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VIRUS OUTBREAK-PRISONS — One in every five state and federal prisoners in the United States has tested positive for the coronavirus, a rate more than four times higher than the general population. In some states, more than half of prisoners have been infected, according to data collected by The Associated Press and The Marshall Project. By Beth Schwartzapfel and Katie Park of The Marshall Project and Andrew DeMillo of The Associated Press. SENT; 1,530 words, photos.
NOT REAL NEWS — As health care workers received the first U.S. doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, social media users injected the internet with false claims about the shots. SENT: 2,430 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS — As the coronavirus sidelines huge numbers of educators, school districts around the country are aggressively recruiting substitute teachers, offering bonuses and waiving certification requirements in order to keep classrooms open. Coming to the rescue in many cases are college students who are themselves learning online or home for extended winter breaks. SENT: 940 words, photos.
MED-VIRUS-OUTBREAK — Experts are debating who should be next in line for COVID-19 vaccines when more doses become available. So far, the limited number of doses are mostly going into the arms of health-care workers and nursing home residents. SENT: 1,170 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-FRANCE — French President Emmanuel Macron blamed his COVID-19 on a combination of negligence and bad luck, urging his compatriots to stay safe as critics called out slip-ups in his behavior to prevent infection, from a close-quarters handshake to repeated big-group meals over the past week. SENT: 745 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-WHO VACCINES — The head of the World Health Organization says the U.N. health agency’s program to help get COVID-19 vaccines to all countries in need has gained access to nearly 2 billion doses of several “promising” vaccine candidates. SENT: 365 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK- SWEDEN — Sweden, which has stood out among European nations for its comparatively hands-off response to the pandemic, tightens restrictions. SENT: 400 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-WINTER TRAVEL — Tens of millions of people are expected to travel to family gatherings or winter vacations over Christmas, despite pleas by public health experts who fear the result could be another surge in COVID-19 cases. SENT: 1,240 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-BRITAIN — The U.K. has entered the final week before Christmas with the country bracing for post-celebration coronavirus fallout and Prime Minister Boris Johnson refusing to rule out a fresh national lockdown after the holiday. The government plans to relax restrictions on socializing and travel for five days before and after Christmas. SENT: 575 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-CANADA-VACCINE — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada will be getting 500,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine in January and said Canadians will be soon be saying “good riddance to 2020.” SENT: 210 words, photos.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK-CALIFORNIA-CRISIS — Gov. Gavin Newsom’s dire view of California’s out-of-control surge of coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and deaths is based partly on projection models that he says are becoming alarmingly more accurate. SENT: 910 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-ITALY — Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte has announced there will be a partial lockdown nationwide for most of the Christmas holiday season, citing concerns that gatherings of families and friends could re-ignite the virus’s spread. SENT: 400 words, photos.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK-ITALY-CHRISTMAS NURSES-PHOTO GALLERY — Italy ICU nurse couple bring family love to ward. SENT: 380 words, photos.
Find more coverage on the Virus Outbreak on the featured topic page in AP Newsroom.
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BIDEN-HOUSE DEMOCRATS — President-elect Joe Biden’s decision to tap several House Democrats for administration positions puts Speaker Nancy Pelosi in a politically tough spot. But Pelosi’s leadership team has a plan: staggering the confirmations so the nominees don’t all leave the House at once. By Lisa Mascaro. SENT: 910 words, photos.
BIDEN-PENTAGON — President-elect Joe Biden’s transition team expresses frustration with the level of cooperation they’re getting from political appointees at the Department of Defense, saying there has been “an abrupt halt in the already limited cooperation there.” By Kevin Freking and Lolita C. Baldor. SENT: 410 words, photo.
SUPREME COURT-CENSUS — The Supreme Court dismisses as premature a challenge to President Donald Trump’s plan to exclude people living in the country illegally from the population count used to allot states seats in the U.S. House. It’s not a final ruling on the issue, but if Trump doesn’t receive new census figures before he leaves office, it’s unlikely his plan would continue under Joe Biden. By Mark Sherman. SENT: 880 words, photo.
MILITARY DIVERSITY — The Pentagon endorses a new slate of initiatives to expand diversity within the ranks and reduce prejudice, calling for more aggressive efforts to recruit, retain and promote a more racially and ethnically diverse force. By Lolita C. Baldor. SENT: 880 words, photo.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-FEDERAL EXECUTIONS — Another federal inmate scheduled to be put to death next month in a series of executions by the Trump administration has tested positive for COVID-19. SENT: 540 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-WASHINGTON MONUMENT — The Trump administration has closed the Washington Monument because of an earlier visit by Interior Secretary David Bernhardt, who tested positive this week for the coronavirus. SENT: 480 words, photo.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-DC SCHOOLS — Teachers in the nation’s capital and the D.C. public school system reach an agreement on COVID-19 safety protocols, ending a monthslong standoff. SENT: 450 words, photos.
HEALTH CARE-SIGN-UPS — Enrollment in “Obamacare” health insurance plans is up more than 6% amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to preliminary government figures. UPCOMING: 300 words, photo by 7 p.m.
UNITED STATES-VOICE OF AMERICA — The head of U.S.-funded international broadcasting presses ahead with his shakeup of the Voice of America and sister outlets by naming new leaders for two of its main networks and moving to defund one of the federal government’s top democracy promotion initiatives. By Matthew Lee. SENT: 650 words, photo.
SPACE FORCE — The Trump administration celebrates the first birthday of the U.S. Space Force by announcing that its members will be known as “guardians.” SENT: 110 words, photo.
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NIGERIA-BOKO-HARAM-SCHOOL-ATTACK — More than 300 schoolboys kidnapped last week in an attack on their school in northwest Nigeria have arrived in the capital of Katsina state to celebrate their release. The boys were abducted one week ago from the all-boys Government Science Secondary School in Kankara in Katsina state village. SENT: 945 words, photos.
BREXIT — The European Union’s chief negotiator says that the bloc and the United Kingdom are starting a “last attempt” to clinch a post-Brexit trade deal, with EU fishing rights in British waters the most notable remaining obstacle to avoid a chaotic and costly changeover on New Year. SENT: 610 words, photos.
FRANCE-TRANSGENDER STUDENT — About 100 teenagers have rallied in northern France to pay homage to a transgender student who killed herself this week after facing tensions with school officials for wearing a skirt to class. SENT: 560 words, photos.
ONE GOOD THING-INDIA-POND MAN — Kalmane Kamegowda, a 72-year-old shepherd popularly known as “Pond Man” who lives in a nondescript village in southern India, has become something of a celebrity. SENT: 740 words, photos.
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REL-LOOKING-AHEAD-TO-2021— For many religious denominations in the United States, there were two shared preoccupations in 2020 beyond the usual matters of faith: How to cope with the coronavirus pandemic and how to respond to tumultuous political events. With Joe Biden replacing Donald Trump as president, and with vaccines eventually expected to ease the threat of COVID-19, the challenges for faith leaders in 2021 will shift. SENT: 910 words, photos.
NYC-SCHOOL-DESEGREGATION — New York City officials announced a series of admissions changes for hundreds of middle and high schools Friday in one of the most significant steps the nation’s largest school system has taken in years to address racial segregation. SENT: 365 words.
PUBLIC HOUSING-EVICTION — Public-housing authorities are often the last refuge for poor renters. But a new investigation shows they are also some of the most aggressive eviction filers, threatening families over small debts or using eviction courts as collection agencies. SENT: 1,660 words, photos.
POLICE-ACCOUNTABILITY-NEW-YORK — A new report finds that the New York Police Department was caught off guard by the size and scope of the spring protests sparked by the police killing of George Floyd. SENT: 860 words, photos.
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HEALTH & SCIENCE
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SCI-PLANETS MERGE — Jupiter and Saturn will merge in the night sky Monday, appearing closer than they have in centuries. The last time the two gas giants looked this close together was during Galileo’s time in the 17th century. SENT: 445 words, photo.
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FINANCIAL-MARKETS — Wall Street has capped a solid week of gains on a down note as the wait drags on to see if Congress can reach a deal to send more cash to struggling workers and businesses. SENT: 910 words, photos.
GOOGLE-ANTITRUST CASE — The U.S. government’s attempt to prove Google has been using its dominance of online search to stifle competition and innovation at the expense of consumers and advertisers won’t go to trial for nearly three years. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta on Friday set a tentative trial date of Sept. 12, 2023. SENT: 400 words.
FEDERAL RESERVE-BANK STRESS TESTS — The Federal Reserve said Friday that the 33 largest U.S. banks are in strong shape despite the pandemic’s economic shock. SENT: 250 words, photos.
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YE--ENTERTAINMENT-PHOTO GALLERY — 2020 started out with the usual flow of fashion shows and awards ceremonies, but as the coronavirus pandemic took root, Associated Press photographers documented the way the entertainment industry and its stars responded. SENT: 300 words, photos.
Find more year-end coverage on the featured topic page in AP Newsroom.
MEDIA-LESTER HOLT — In this troubled news year, NBC’s Lester Holt has decided that telling stories isn’t enough. He’s introduced commentaries to his normally straight newscast. SENT: 700 words, photos.
MEDIA-TIMES-CALIPHATE — After an internal investigation, The New York Times said it was wrong to trust a Canadian man whose account of Islamic State atrocities was a central part of its 2018 podcast “Caliphate” but could not be verified. SENT: 940 words, photos.
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FBC--T25-PAC-12 CHAMPIONSHIP — No. 13 Southern California (5-0), behind Kedon Slovis, goes for its second Pac-12 title in four years when it plays Oregon (3-2). Tyler Shough leads a Ducks team given a chance to win a second straight league crown after Washington dropped out. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos. Game starts 8 p.m.
FBC--VIRUS OUTBREAK-COLLEGE SPORTS — The Sun Belt Conference championship game became the latest and one of the biggest games of the season disrupted by COVID-19 when it was called off l Thursday night. With the regular season wrapping up, how close did the conferences come to getting in full seasons? UPCOMING: 700 words, photos by 6:30 p.m.
FBN--BILLS-25 YEARS — Ralph Wilson’s widow tells the AP that the Buffalo Bills founder would be “over the moon” with the team in position Saturday to win its first AFC East title in 25 years. SENT: 1,050 words, photos.
BOX--ALVAREZ-SMITH — Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, in his first bout of 2020, takes on a much bigger Callum Smith of England on Saturday in San Antonio. At stake are two super middleweight belts and a chance for Alvarez to show he still reigns supreme. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos by 9 p.m.
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HOW TO REACH US
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