AP News Digest 6:10 p.m.

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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Adds VIRUS OUTBREAK-US STATES, VIRUS OUTBREAK-MIDEAST, VIRUS OUTBREAK-BUSINESS-FALLOUT, VIRUS OUTBREAK-CONGRESS, VIRUS OUTBREAK-FACT CHECK, CONGRESS-GUNS, DRY CALIFORNIA, SEXUAL MISCONDUCT-PLACIDO DOMINGO

VIRUS OUTBREAK-FACE MASK SHORTAGES, advertised on the 2 p.m. digest, will not move this cycle.

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ONLY ON AP

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AP POLL-ELECTION SECURITY — Americans have widespread concerns about the security and integrity of elections, with few saying they have high confidence that votes in the 2020 presidential election will be counted accurately. A poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds skepticism about the democratic process in the U.S. While a third of Americans say they have high confidence in an accurate count, roughly another third are only moderately confident and a remaining third say they have little confidence. By Mary Clare Jalonick and Hannah Fingerhut. SENT: 1,030 words, photo.

AP POLL-DESCRIBING THE CANDIDATES — What word or phrase comes to Americans’ minds when they think of top presidential candidates, including Donald Trump? A poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds that for several of the candidates, certain concepts stand out. A look at how Americans characterized the contenders. By Hannah Fingerhut. SENT: 970 words, photos.

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TOP STORIES _______________

VIRUS OUTBREAK-TESTING — Health officials confronted tough questions and doubts about testing to intercept the fast-spreading virus, with scrutiny focused on a four-day delay in screening an infected California woman despite her doctors’ early calls to do so. The questions are global: not just who, when and how to test for the illness, but how to make sure that working test kits get out to the labs that need them. All those issues apparently came in to play in the treatment of the woman in northern California, a case officials say may be the first community-spread instance of the disease in the U.S. By Mike Stobbe and Adam Geller. SENT: 1,390 words, photos. With VIRUS OUTBREAK — Countries take harsh steps as they struggle to contain virus. SENT: 900 words, photos; VIRUS OUTBREAK-WHAT'S HAPPENING — The world is scrambling to get on top of the new coronavirus outbreak that has spread from its epicenter in China to most corners of the planet. SENT: 870 words, photos.

ELECTION 2020-VIRUS OUTBREAK-DEMOCRATS — Democratic White House hopefuls are seizing on the coronavirus to paint President Donald Trump as inept and unprepared for a crisis. But some warn that politicizing the issue is unwise when the nation may soon have a public health crisis on its hands. By Alexandra Jaffe. UPCOMING: 1,090 words, photos by 7 p.m.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-PENCE-INDIANA — Some health experts and lawmakers are criticizing President Trump's pick of Vice President Mike Pence to oversee the nation's response to the new coronavirus threat, arguing he mishandled an HIV outbreak in southern Indiana while he was the state’s governor.. By Thomas Davies and Rick Callahan. UPCOMING: 1,200 words, photos by 7 p.m. With VIRUS OUTBREAK-PENCE — Pence moves to project calm in his new role. SENT: 630 words, photos, video; VIRUS OUTBREAK-FACT CHECK (sent)

ELECTION 2020-SUPER TUESDAY — The South Carolina primary is just two days away, but the race is quickly going national as candidates pivot to the 14 states that vote on Super Tuesday. About a third of the delegates needed to secure the Democratic nomination will be on the table. By Thomas Beaumont and Alexandra Jaffe. SENT: 900 words, photos.

For featured coverage of the South Carolina primary and Super Tuesday.

FINANCIAL MARKETS — The Dow Jones Industrial Average sank nearly 1,200 points, deepening a weeklong global market rout caused by worries that the coronavirus outbreak will wreak havoc on the global economy. By Stan Choe and Alex Veiga. SENT: 1,040 words, photos. With VIRUS OUTBREAK-BUSINESS-FALLOUT — The spread of the new coronavirus around the world is hitting companies hard as they suspend production, meetings, events and business travel. SENT: 580 words, photos.

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WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT

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SCI--BLACK HOLE EXPLOSION — Astronomers have discovered the biggest explosion seen in the universe, originating from a super-massive black hole. SENT: 310 words, photo.

STOLEN MORTUARY VEHICLE — Stolen hearse carrying casket recovered after freeway chase. SENT: 130 words, photos.

KIA ENGINE FIRES — Kia is recalling more than 193,000 cars and minvans in yet another move to fix nagging problems that could cause engine fires. SENT: 440 words, photo.

KOBE BRYANT AUCTION — Some key Kobe Bryant memorabilia, including two of his Los Angeles Lakers uniforms and handprints he left outside a Hollywood landmark, are going up for sale in April. SENT: 300 words, photo.

RESCUED SEA LIONS — Two sea lions rescued off the coast of California are making their debut at a new home in a Hawaii aquatic park. SENT: 315 words, photos.

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MORE ON THE VIRUS OUTBREAK

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VIRUS OUTBREAK-US STATES — With worries growing about the new coronavirus in the U.S., state officials are ramping up efforts to prepare for a possible outbreak while simultaneously trying to assure the public that they are well-positioned to handle it. SENT: 960 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-CONGRESS — Capitol Hill negotiations on emergency spending to combat the coronavirus are likely to produce a bill that's double or even triple the $2.5 billion plan requested by President Trump. By Andrew Taylor. SENT: 520 words, photo.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-MIDEAST — Saudi Arabia closed off the holiest sites in Islam to foreign pilgrims over the coronavirus, disrupting travel for thousands of Muslims already headed to the kingdom and potentially affecting plans later this year for millions more ahead of the fasting month of Ramadan and annual hajj pilgrimage. SENT: 1,250 words, photos. With VIRUS OUTBREAK-PILGRIMS' PAIN — Halt of Muslim pilgrimage over virus brings worldwide dismay. SENT: 790 words, photos; VIRUS-OUTBREAK-SAUDI PILGRIMAGE Q&A (sent)

SOC—VIRUS OUTBREAK-ASIAN CANCELLATIONS -- Baseball and basketball are played in empty stadiums. Soccer leagues delay play, and clubs left out of Asian competitions postpone or relocate games. The virus that has infected more than 81,000 people globally and left more than 2,800 dead threatens the Tokyo Olympics. SENT: 700 words, photos.

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WASHINGTON/POLITICS

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CONGRESS-GUNS — Frustrated Democrats lambaste Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell as they mark a year of Senate inaction since the House passed landmark gun control legislation. SENT: 810 words, photos.

TRUMP-BLACK HISTORY — President Trump hosts a White House reception marking African American history month. By Kevin Freking. UPCOMING: Developing from 6 p.m. event, 250 words, photos, video by 7 p.m.

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FORMER BALTIMORE MAYOR-SENTENCE — The disgraced former mayor of Baltimore was sentenced to three years in federal prison for arranging fraudulent sales of her self-published children’s books to nonprofits and foundations to promote her political career and fund her run for the city’s highest office. SENT: 820 words, photos.

BREWERY SHOOTING — Authorities identified the man who gunned down five co-workers at one of the nation’s largest breweries before taking his own life a 51-year-old electrician who had worked at the Milwaukee Molson Coors complex for 15 years. SENT: 480 words, photos, video.

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN-DOCTOR — The whistleblower whose letter to University of Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel alleging sexual assault sparked an investigation into a former school doctor says he was inspired by the women who testified against convicted Michigan State physician Larry Nassar. SENT: 700 words, photos.

DRY CALIFORNIA — A dry beginning of the year has left most of California abnormally parched and officials are bracing for the possibility of an early and more intense wildfire season amid record-breaking temperatures. SENT: 650 words, photos.

COLLEGE ADMISSIONS-BRIBERY — TV actress Lori Loughlin and her fashion designer husband, Mossimo Giannulli, will go on trial in October on charges that they bribed their daughters’ way into the University of Southern California, a federal judge said. SENT: 550 words, photo.

GUAM WAR SURVIVORS-COMPENSATION — More than 3,000 people in the U.S. territory of Guam are expecting to get long-awaited compensation from the U.S. government for their suffering at the hands of imperial Japan during World War II. SENT: 1,050 words, photos.

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SYRIA — Nearly two dozen Turkish soldiers were killed in an air strike by Syrian government forces in northeast Syria, a Turkish official says. The deaths mark a serious escalation in the direct conflict between Turkish and Russia-backed Syrian forces that has been waged since early February. SENT: 960 words, photos.

BRITAIN-HEATHROW — Heathrow Airport's plans to increase capacity of Europe's biggest travel hub by over 50% were stalled when a British court said the government failed to consider its commitment to combat climate change when it approved the project. SENT: 970 words, photos.

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SEXUAL MISCONDUCT-PLACIDO DOMINGO — Opera star Placido Domingo amended his apology to the multiple women who have accused him of sexual misconduct, adding several caveats Thursday to a statement two days earlier in which he said he took “full responsibility” for his actions. By Jocelyn Gekker and Aritz Parra. SENT: 840 words, photo.

TV-NAZISM ON SCREEN - Nazi Germany and its crimes against humanity are back on TV and movie screens, prompted both by history and current politics and with one drama series, “Hunters,” getting a mixed reception. By AP Television Writer Lynn Elber. SENT: 1,110 words, photos.

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SPORTS

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BBO--FLOOD-HALL OF FAME -- Members of Congress and union leaders from the four major U.S. team sports are calling for the late Curt Flood to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. His refusal to accept a trade from St. Louis to Philadelphia in 1969 ultimately ushered in baseball free agency. UPCOMING: 500 words, photos by 7 p.m.

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