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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ONLY ON AP

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SOUTH SUDAN-OIL POLLUTION — South Sudan’s oil regions are pocked by open waste pits and water and soil contaminated with chemicals and heavy metals. That’s according to four environmental reports commissioned by the government and the oil companies that operate there. The reports, which were obtained by the AP but have never been released publicly, also contain accounts by local residents of unexplained illnesses, miscarriages and severe birth defects. The toxins found in water and soil include mercury, arsenic and manganese, the reports show. By Sam Mednick. SENT: 3,640 words, photos, video. Abridged version available. With SOUTH SUDAN-OIL POLLUTION-GETTING THE STORY — Getting the story of South Sudan's oil pollution (sent).

TRUMP-OPPORTUNITY ZONE HERO — A formerly homeless drug addict got a standing ovation at the State of the Union after President Donald Trump described how he turned his life around thanks to a construction job at a company using the administration’s "opportunity zone" tax breaks targeting poor neighborhoods. But that's not quite true. Tony Rankins, a tradesman who has indeed moved out of his car and into an apartment since landing the job refurbishing a Nashville hotel two years ago, doesn't work at a site using the tax breaks and never has. And his boss acknowledged as much, even though he plans to take advantage of the program at another property next month. By Bernard Condon. UPCOMING: 1,215 words, photos by 4 p.m.

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TOP STORIES ————-—————

TRUMP-WAR POWERS-CONGRESS — A bipartisan measure limiting President Donald Trump's authority to launch military operations against Iran nears Senate approval. The resolution says Trump must have authorization from Congress before engaging in further military action against Iran. Trump says that if his ``hands were tied, Iran would have a field day.’’ By Matthew Daly. SENT: 690 words, photos. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos by 3 p.m.

ELECTION 2020-BUTTIGIEG-RECORD — After his strong showings in largely white Iowa and New Hampshire, Pete Buttigieg is facing increased scrutiny of his record on race and policing as the Democratic contest shifts to more diverse states. By Michelle R. Smith. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos by 5 p.m. WITH: ELECTION 2020-SUPER TUESDAY — Nevada votes next and then South Carolina at month’s end in the Democratic presidential race. But the biggest prize on the primary calendar comes soon after — Super Tuesday on March 3, when about one-third of the total delegates are at stake. Late-starting Michael Bloomberg has built his campaign around these contests. SENT: 850 words, photos.

Find more coverage on the 2020 U.S. Elections featured topic page in AP Newsroom.

TRUMP-KELLY — President Trump accuses former White House chief of staff John Kelly for being disloyal after the ex-adviser came to the defense of a former national security aide who offered key testimony in the impeachment inquiry. By Aamer Madhani. SENT: 680 words, photos.

CHINA-OUTBREAK — China reports a surge in deaths and infections from a new virus after changing the way the count is tallied, further clouding an epidemic that has stirred fear as it spread to more than two dozen countries. The spike in cases comes after two days in which the number of new infections dropped and brought little clarity for those desperate to understand the trajectory of the outbreak. By Yanan Wang. SENT: 1,000 words. UPCOMING: 1,000 words, photos by 3 p.m. WITH: MED--CHINA OUTBREAK-US EVACUEES — U.S. officials announced the country's 15th confirmed case of the new virus. SENT: 320 words, photo.

CHINA OUTBREAK-JAPAN VIRUS SHIP — Daily life on the cruise ship quarantined off a Japanese port can include fear, excitement and soul-crushing boredom. Life on the Diamond Princess, the cruise ship quarantined in a Japanese port with scores of cases of a new virus, means experiencing all these things, according to interviews by The Associated Press with passengers and a growing stream of tweets and YouTube videos. By Foster Klug. SENT: 1,480 words, photos.

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WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT

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ODD-RESCUED BEAR CUB — An orphaned black bear cub has been placed with a substitute mother this week after being saved by a dog and brought to safety. SENT: 265 words, photos.

FBN--KAEPERNICK MEMOIR —Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick to release memoir through his publishing company. SENT: 290 words.

MUSIC-JUSTIN BIEBER — Justin Bieber admits getting back in the studio to record his first album in five years wasn't easy. The singer said that fear kept him from getting back to music. SENT: 250 words, photos.

MUSIC-DARIUS-RUCKER — Country singer Darius Rucker was surprised to learn that his song “Wagon Wheel” is now among the top five most popular country songs ever. SENT: 490 words, photos.

JAMES BROWN-DEATH — A prosecutor in Atlanta is deciding whether to open a formal investigation into singer James Brown's death. SENT: 140 words, photo.

OHIO STATE-FOOTBALL PLAYERS CHARGED — Two former Ohio State football players pleaded not guilty to holding a woman against her will and raping her. SENT: 500 words, photos.

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WASHINGTON/POLITICS

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UNITED STATES-BEWARE CHINA — China and its increasingly sophisticated and far-flung military sit atop Defense Secretary Mark Esper's list of international security worries, but in Europe, the bigger concern is closer to home: Russia. The Trump administration has been trying since 2018 to reorient its defense strategy toward China, with reduced focus, when possible, on the insurgency wars in the greater Middle East. China was not on the formal agenda when Esper met with allies at NATO headquarters this week, but he made a point of publicly expressing American concerns about Chinese influence. SENT: 940 words, photos.

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT-HUAWEI - The Justice Department has added new criminal charges against Chinese tech giant Huawei and two of its U.S. subsidiaries. SENT: 200 words, photos. Developing.

EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT-CONGRESS — In a bid to revive the Equal Rights Amendment, the House has approved a measure removing a 1982 deadline for state ratification and reopening the process to amend the Constitution to prohibit discrimination based on sex. ``There is no expiration date on equality,'' the sponsor says. Virginia lawmakers voted to ratify the amendment last month, becoming the 38th and final state needed. But the Justice Department has said it was too late. SENT: 700 words, photos.

ELECTION 2020-TRUMP-FUNDRAISING — Pro-Donald Trump groups raised more than $60 million in January and have more than $200 million on hand for this year's general election, shattering fundraising records on the path toward a goal of raising $1 billion this cycle. SENT: 250 words, photos.

ELECTION 2020-WARREN — Elizabeth Warren says she's raised about $6 million from online donors since last week's Iowa caucus, fueled by people who want to see her stay in the Democratic presidential primary despite an underwhelming performance there and in New Hampshire. SENT: 680 words, photo.

TRUMP-HICKS — One of President Donald Trump's most trusted and longest-serving aides is returning to the White House as his reelection campaign moves into high gear. Hope Hicks, a former communications director, will be a counselor to the president, working with presidential son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner. She had been an executive at Fox Corporation. SENT: 330 words, photos.

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INTERNATIONAL

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HAITI POLITICAL CRISIS — Thousands of young Haitians spent 2019 on the streets, demanding President Jovenel Moise resign over his government’s failure to prosecute years of unbridled corruption that siphoned billions in international aid into bank accounts overseas. For now, Moise's opponents have failed. SENT: 1,200 words, photos.

SUDAN — Sudan's transitional government said it has reached a settlement with families of the victims of the 2000 attack on USS Cole in Yemen, in a bid to have the African country taken off the U.S. terrorism list and improve relations with the West. SENT: 830 words, photos.

COLOMBIA-BUFFETT'S DRUG WAR — The eldest son of multi-billionaire investor Warren Buffett is spending $200 million to help Colombia kick its cocaine curse. For nearly two decades Howard Buffett has crisscrossed the world giving away part of his father’s fortune to promote food security, conflict mitigation and public safety. SENT: 1,625 words, photos.

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NATIONAL

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SEXUAL MISCONDUCT-WEINSTEIN — Harvey Weinstein’s lawyer told jurors that prosecutors in the rape case against him were acting like moviemakers, creating a world where “women are not responsible” for how they interact with men. SENT: 665 words, photos.

JUSSIE SMOLLETT-FOXX — The reaction this week by the first black woman to hold Chicago's top law enforcement job as word broke that a grand jury had restored charges accusing a Hollywood star of staging a racist, anti-gay attack against himself was to raise the specter of a establishment conspiracy against her. UPCOMING: 800 words by 4 p.m., photos.

DEATH PENALTY-OKLAHOMA — Oklahoma officials say the state is planning to resume executing death-row inmates, five years after lethal injections were put on hold following a series of death-chamber mishaps. SENT: 620 words.

PUERTO RICO-ONLINE-SCAM — An online scam that targeted Puerto Rican agencies attempted to steal more than $4 million, police said Thursday, deepening concerns about the management of local government finances during an economic crisis. SENT: 620 words, photos.

WINTER WEATHER — Students are staying home from school and several businesses are closed in the upper Midwest as arctic air pushes wind chill readings to more than 40 below zero in some areas. SENT: 310 words, photos, video.

SOUTHERN STORMS-FLOODING — Days of torrential rain across the Southeast left residents to deal with rising rivers, falling trees, weakened dams and mudslides. SENT: 470 words, photos.

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BUSINESS/ECONOMY

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401K RECORD BALANCES — Fidelity Investments says the average 401(k) balance rose to a record $112,300 last year, spurred by surging markets as stocks and bonds of all types rallied. By Business Writer Stan Choe. SENT: 530 words, photo.

CHINA OUTBREAK-BUSINESS IMPACT — The economic toll of China's viral outbreak continues to mount for corporations based in and outside of the country as factories are shuttered and the lives of their millions of Chinese customers are altered. SENT: 640 words, photos.

McCLATCHY-BANKRUPTCY — The publisher of the Miami Herald, The Kansas City Star and dozens of other newspapers nationwide is filing for bankruptcy protection. SENT: 680 words, photo. With McCLATCHY-BANKRUPTCY-GLANCE (sent).

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SPORTS

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BBA--ASTROS-SIGN STEALING — Alex Bregman and José Altuve say the Astros are sorry for their sign-stealing that was punished by MLB. Owner Jim Crane is unwilling to say if the scheme influenced games, and he will follow the commissioner’s lead by not punishing players. By Howard Fendrich. SENT: 350 words, photos. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos by 6 p.m.

BKN--ALL-STAR-CHICAGO STYLE — Guys from Chicago say the city breeds tough players. Doc Rivers, Dwyane Wade, Isiah Thomas and current All-Star Anthony Davis are part of its heritage of blue-collar ballers. And All-Star weekend in their city is a big source of pride. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos by 3 p.m.

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