AP Lifestyles Digest

Here is the AP Lifestyles digest for the week of Dec. 28.

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HOMES

Virus Outbreak-Evictions-Attorneys: As the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic stretch into 2021, millions of U.S. renters are bracing for the possibility of having to show up in housing court to avoid getting evicted. Unlike their landlords, only a small fraction of them will do so flanked by an attorney. For people struggling to make ends meet, an attorney is beyond their means. A growing number of cities are now granting tenants a right to an attorney in eviction cases. UPCOMING Thursday, photos.

HOLIDAYS

New Year-Eve: 2020 finally ending, but New Year’s revelries muted by virus. Story out Thursday, developing. Photos, video.

Virus Outbreak-Unfulfilled Resolutions: Remember those early-quarantine resolutions you made? The promise of all that down time to tackle big projects? They often didn’t get done because... 2020. When life is difficult, sustaining even a small amount of momentum can be tough. That’s something to keep in mind when shaking off this year and invoking fresh New Year’s resolutions for 2021. By Melissa Rayworth. SENT Tuesday, 900 words, photos.

Homes-Noon Years Eve: Don’t or can’t stay up till midnight on the last day of the year? Families, early sleepers, and those wanting to social distance might consider a midday celebration for December 31. It’s easy to bring the festive feeling of a nighttime soiree into the daylight hours. By Kim Cook. SENT Monday, 600 words, photos.

An American Crossroads: As most years wind to their ends, people in the United States press pause on life’s movie — if we can. We take stock, review successes and mistakes, make resolutions, vow it will be better this time. This year, buffeted by these December whirlwinds, Americans find themselves at a crossroads unlike any other in our history. SENT Monday, 1,250 words and photos. By National Writer Ted Anthony.

GARDENING:

Virus-Backyard Chickens: The pandemic is coming home to roost in America’s backyards. Forced to hunker down at home, more people are raising their own chickens. These COVID cluckers not only offer a steady supply of eggs but an earthy hobby and animal companionship. Businesses that sell chicks, coops and other supplies say they’ve seen a surge in demand since the pandemic started. SENT Wednesday, photos, video.

PETS

Virus Outbreak-Pandemic Pets: Ten months into quarantines and working from home because of the pandemic, household pets’ lives and relationships with humans have in many cases changed — not always for the better. With US-Virus Outbreak-Pandemic Pets-Advice. By Dan Sewell. SENT Thursday, 900 words, photos, video, sidebar.

With Pandemic Pets-Advice: How to prepare pets, what to watch for, for return to work. SENT Thursday.

FOOD

MED-Dietary-Guidelines: New US dietary guidelines: No candy, cake for kids under 2. SENT Tuesday.

TV-Best Leftovers Ever!: On the new Netflix food game show “Best Leftovers Ever!,” three skilled cooks make new dishes out of leftover food, hoping to walk away with $10,000. By Entertainment Writer Mark Kennedy. SENT Monday: 700 words, photos.

TRENDS

YE-Virus Outbreak-Year of the Fist Bump: 2020 was the year that the fist bump truly broke out of sports and youth culture and, thanks to an invisible virus, hit the mainstream with a vengeance. SENT Wednesday: 900 words and photos. By AP Sports Writer Tim Reynolds.

YE-Your-2020-Snapshot: It was a year like no other, and Americans shambled through 2020 the best they could, taking cellphone photos along the way. Behind those images are the stories of an era of pandemic and polarization and progress and upheaval. SENT Tuesday.

PARENTING

TV-Mallika Chopra: Mallika Chopra-- daughter of meditation and wellness expert Deepak Chopra-- is a “mindfulness consultant” on the new Apple animated children’s series “Stillwater.” She talks about what she adds to the show and how she’s helping others stay grounded during the pandemic. By Brooke Lefferts. SENT Tuesday, photos, video.

FAMILY

Virus Outbreak-Lives Lost-Coping and Remembrance: For those whose loved ones have died of COVID-19, the pain and devastation of 2020 will remain for years to come. Over the last year, Associated Press journalists around the world have profiled dozens of ordinary people who became victims of the pandemic. As the turbulent year comes to a close, the AP revisited some of their families and friends to see how they’re coping. SENT Wednesday, photos.

HEALTH

Virus-Outbreak-Viral-Questions-Variant-Vaccine: Will COVID-19 vaccines work on the new coronavirus variant? SENT Tuesday.

TRAVEL

Italy-Church Art-Photo Gallery: Rome churches beckon with art and no “hordes” of tourists. SENT Wednesday. Photos.

FASHION

Obit-Pierre Cardin: Famed French designer Pierre Cardin dies at 98. SENT Tuesday. Photos.

WEDDINGS

Hurricane-Wedding Delayed: Most couples might have wondered whether the forces of nature were against them after moving their wedding because the pandemic and then two hurricanes that hit almost the exact same spot within weeks of one another. SENT Tuesday, photos.

PERSONAL FINANCE

NerdWallet-Millennial-Money-New-Year: Setting a New Year’s resolution about improving your finances is an excellent way to start 2021. SENT Tuesday.

On The Money-NerdWallet-Credit Savvy Kids: Balancing checkbooks and paying in cash are out, credit cards and digital wallets are in. When today’s kids grow up, they’ll pay for things very differently than their parents and grandparents did. That’s why it’s important for parents to update the way they teach their children about money management. By Sara Rathner of NerdWallet. SENT Wednesday, 780 words, photo.

NerdWallet-Young-Drivers-Safe: It’s no secret that teens have high car insurance rates, and even though rates improve slightly for people in their early 20s, car insurance costs remain high. But drivers in their early 20s can still save money by driving safely, shopping around and building credit. Here’s how to lower your auto insurance costs in your early 20s. SENT Monday.

AP INVESTIGATION:

Fruits of Labor-The Children: An Associated Press investigation has found an army of children toiling beneath a canopy of towering palm oil trees in Indonesia and Malaysia, the main suppliers of the world’s most consumed vegetable oil. They are kept out of school and forced to work for free or for little pay, and routinely exposed to dangerous chemicals. Others are smuggled across borders and left vulnerable to trafficking or sexual abuse. The AP traced the fruits of their labor to the supply chains of popular cereals, candies and ice creams sold by Nestle, Unilever, Kellogg’s, PepsiCo and many other leading food companies. It also was linked to that most American of treats -- Girl Scout cookies. SENT Tuesday, photos, video.

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In case you missed it:

FOOD: Racial Injustice-Food-Recipe Repair.

TRAVEL: Writers-American Places; Virus Outbreak Holiday Travel.

FAMILY: Virus-Outbreak-Public-School-Enrollment.

HOLIDAYS: One Good Thing-Charlie Brown Christmas Trees; Virus Outbreak-Winter is Coming.

PETS: Virus Outbreak-One Good Thing-Four-Legged Comforts.

GARDENING: Winter-Young Trees.

ONE GOOD THING: Hospital-Holiday-Cards.

PERSONAL FINANCE: NerdWallet-Millennial-Money-Pandemic-Money-Talks; NerdWallet-Liz-Weston-Avoid-RV-Mistakes.

The AP

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