AP News Digest 3 a.m.
Columbia Basin Herald | UPDATED 6 years, 8 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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IRAN PLANE CRASH — Online videos purport to show Iranian police and security forces firing both tear gas and live rounds to disperse demonstrators who are protesting against the Islamic Republic's initial denial that it shot down a Ukrainian jetliner. The videos obtained by The Associated Press on Monday show protesters gathered near Tehran's Azadi, or Freedom, Square on Sunday night. By Jon Gambrell. SENT: 950 words, photos.
UNITED STATES-IRAN — Defense Secretary Mark Esper and other administration officials joined President Donald Trump in trying to draw attention to dissent in Iran instead of lingering questions about the scale of the threat used to justify a drone strike on Iran’s top military leader. By National Security Writer Robert Burns. SENT: 860 words, photos.
TRUMP-IMPEACHMENT — President Donald Trump said the Senate should simply dismiss the impeachment case against him, an extraordinary suggestion as the House is poised to transmit the charges to the chamber for the historic trial. By Congressional Correspondent Lisa Mascaro. SENT: 900 words, photos. With TRUMP-IMPEACHMENT-SENATE-WHAT TO WATCH — The articles of impeachment continue their slow-motion journey to the Senate this week after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says she’s ready, almost, to forward them this week. SENT: 1,230 words, photos.
PHILIPPINES-VOLCANO — Red-hot lava is gushing out of a Philippine volcano after a sudden eruption of ash and steam that forced villagers to flee and shut down Manila’s airport, offices and schools. SENT: 770 words, photos.
ELECTION 2020-DEMOCRATS — Democrats standing in a cold New Hampshire parking lot are desperate for change after years of Donald Trump's turbulent presidency, but they and other Democratic voters considering a presidential nominee are grappling with just how much change is too much in 2020. By National Political Writer Steve Peoples. SENT: 1,220 words, photos.
NAVAL AIR STATION SHOOTING — The United States is preparing to remove more than a dozen Saudi military students from a training program and return them to their home country after an investigation into a deadly shooting by a Saudi aviation student at a Florida navy base last month, a U.S. official told The Associated Press. By Eric Tucker and Mike Balsamo. SENT: 650 words, photos. The Justice Department scheduled a 2 p.m. EST news conference with Attorney General William Barr and Deputy FBI Director David Bowdich.
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BOOK CRITICS PRIZES — Ronan Farrow among nominees for book critic prizes. SENT: 240 words.
FLIGHT PASSENGER RAMS COCKPIT — Reports: Man rams cockpit; fights with officers at airport. SENT: 250 words.
TV-COLBERT-NEW SERIES — Colbert is 'Tooning Out the News' with new animated series. SENT: 160 words.
AMAZON DIRTY DIAPERS — Amazon package had dirty diapers in it, family says. SENT: 190 words.
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ELECTION 2020-IOWA — Presidential candidates have swarmed Iowa’s rolling landscape for more than a year, making their pitch to potential supporters on campuses, county fairgrounds and in high school gymnasiums. But three weeks before the caucuses usher in the Democratic contest, the battle for the state is wide open. By Thomas Beaumont and Alexandra Jaffe. SENT: 1,440 words, photos.
ELECTION 2020-WISCONSIN-EX-FELONS — Community activists believe there are thousands of former prisoners across Wisconsin who have the right to vote but don't know it. They say those people could be a factor next year in a state known for deciding elections by the narrowest of margins. SENT: 1,200 words, photos, video.
FACT CHECK-WEEK — President Donald Trump's relentless attacks on the impeachment investigation and Democrats' stance on Iran strained the truth on various fronts, from claiming that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi defended Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani to asserting that even Ukraine's president said Trump did nothing wrong in withholding military aid. By Hope Yen and Calvin Woodward. SENT: 3,280 words, photos.
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VATICAN-MARRIED PRIESTS — Retired Pope Benedict XVI has broken his silence to reaffirm the “necessity" of priestly celibacy. Benedict has co-authored a bombshell book at the precise moment Pope Francis is weighing whether to allow married men to be ordained to address the Catholic priest shortage. SENT: 950 words, photo.
SAUDI ARABIA-G20 BOYCOTT — Three leading international NGOs say they're boycotting meetings Saudi Arabia is holding with civil society groups ahead of hosting this year's Group of 20 summit. SENT: 590 words, photos.
BRITAIN-ROYAL RIFT — Ensconced with aides at her royal retreat, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II prepared Sunday for a crisis family meeting to work out a future for Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, after their dramatic decision to walk away from royal roles. By Jill Lawless. SENT: 850 words, photos.
NEW ZEALAND-VOLCANO ERUPTS — An Australian man who was injured in a volcanic eruption in New Zealand more than a month ago has died, becoming the 20th victim of the disaster. SENT: 390 words, photo.
KASHMIR-OFFICER ARRESTED — Police in Indian-controlled Kashmir have arrested a long serving counterinsurgency officer for allegedly having ties with rebels fighting against Indian rule in the disputed region. SENT: 760 words.
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BROKERAGES-SERIAL FRAUD— A former Pennsylvania stockbroker who was kicked out of the securities industry and ordered to pay millions of dollars in damages to customers he allegedly fleeced faces trial on criminal fraud charges. Anthony Diaz was fired by five brokerages and resigned from another amid persistent customer complaints and rules infractions. SENT: 500 words.
ABORTION-KANSAS — Top Kansas Republicans want to head off any push for an abortion ban in the state even as they make overturning a Kansas Supreme Court ruling that protects abortion rights a top priority. By AP Political Writer John Hanna. SENT: 780 words, photo.
HEMP REGULATIONS-WORRIED GROWERS — Hemp was ushered in as a federally legal agricultural crop under the groundbreaking 2018 Farm Bill. But now, draft rules for growing the cannabis plant closely related to marijuana have farmers up in arms. SENT: 1,130 words, photos.
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TV-CBS SHOWS — Billy Porter is among the stars who will be part of Jordan Peele’s “The Twilight Zone” anthology series next season. The CBS All Access streaming service said other actors who will each appear in one episode include Jenna Elfman, Chris Meloni and Tony Hale. SENT: 430 words, photo.
OSCAR NOMINATIONS — Who will be celebrating Oscar morning? Brad Pitt for sure. Jennifer Lopez almost certainly. And very possibly the Obamas, too. Nominations for the 92nd Academy Awards, which will begin at 8:18 a.m. EST Monday, should bring plenty of star power to the Feb. 9 ceremony — a good thing, too, since the show will for the second straight year go without a host. By Jake Coyle. SENT: 800 words, photos.
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FBN-SEAHAWKS-PACKERS — The Green Bay Packers have reached the NFC championship game by beating the Seattle Seahawks 28-23. Aaron Rodgers connected with Davante Adams eight times for 160 yards and two touchdowns for the Packers on Sunday night. They will play at top-seeded San Francisco for the conference title next weekend. By AP Pro Football Writer Dave Campbell. SENT: 950 words, photos.
FBN-TEXANS-CHIEFS — The Kansas City Chiefs overcome a 24-0 hole early in the second quarter to beat the Houston Texans 51-31 on Sunday and return to the AFC championship game. Patrick Mahomes led the comeback, which at one point included 41 unanswered points, by throwing for 321 yards and five touchdowns. By Dave Skretta. SENT: 1,370 words, photos.
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