Deep South News Digest Advisory

Good evening! Here’s a look at how AP’s news coverage is shaping up today in the Deep South. Questions about today's coverage plans are welcome and should be directed to:

The Atlanta AP Bureau at 404-522-8971 or [email protected]

The Columbia AP Bureau at 803-799-5510 or [email protected]

The Montgomery AP Bureau at 334-262-5947 or [email protected]

The New Orleans AP Bureau at 504-523-3931 or [email protected]

The Jackson AP Bureau at 601-948-5897 or [email protected]

For up-to-the minute information on AP's coverage, visit Coverage Plan at newsroom.ap.org.

Deep South Editor Jim Van Anglen can be reached at 1-800-821-3737 or [email protected]. Administrative Correspondent Rebecca Santana can be reached at 504-523-3931 or [email protected]. A reminder: this information is not for publication or broadcast, and these coverage plans are subject to change. Expected stories may not develop, or late-breaking and more newsworthy events may take precedence. Advisories and digests will keep you up to date.

Some TV and radio stations will receive broadcast versions of the stories below, along with all updates.

GEORGIA (All times Eastern)

TOP STORIES:

XGR-ONLINE SALES TAXES-GEORGIA

ATLANTA — Georgia lawmakers say they're near a deal to tighten tax collections on some online sales. The state House of Representatives sent House Bill 276 to a conference committee with senators on Tuesday to work out differences left over from the 2019 session. By Jeff Amy. SENT: 595 words.

AP Photos transref:GAJA109.

PEOPLE-TYLER PERRY

NEW YORK — The lack of diversity and notable snubs in this year's Oscar nominations left Tyler Perry annoyed, but he says it’s not worth getting upset because it’s a system that is not going to change. “There is no need in going back and forth, or fighting, or protesting. It is what it is. This is how it is in Hollywood, and it’s how it will always be,” Perry told The Associated Press on Monday hours after the nominations were announced. By John Carucci. SENT: 486 words.

AP Photos transref:NYEA113, transref:NYEA116, transref:NYEA111, transref:NYEA101, transref:NYEA105, transref:NYEA115.

BOARD OF EDUCATION APPOINTMENTS

ATLANTA — Gov. Brian Kemp is appointing three new members to seven-year terms on the Georgia state Board of Education, which makes policy for the state's nearly 1.8 million public school students. Kemp on Tuesday named Martha Zoller, a former aide who lives in Gainesville, to a seat representing the 9th Congressional district in northeast Georgia. Zoller was an aide to U.S. Sen. David Perdue from 2014 to 2018 and then worked on Kemp's campaign and briefly as director of Kemp's state and regional outreach officer. Last year, she returned to hosting a conservative talk radio show. SENT: 241 words.

IVANKA TRUMP-HUMAN TRAFFICKING

ATLANTA — Ivanka Trump says the White House is committed to ending human trafficking, which she called “modern day slavery." President Donald Trump's daughter and adviser made the comments during a trip to Atlanta on Tuesday. She visited nonprofit groups that help victims of human trafficking. SENT: 205 words.

AP Photos transref:GAATJ503, transref:GAATJ501, transref:GAATJ502.

FATAL ROBBERY-TEEN

LITHONIA, Ga. — A man was charged with murder for killing a 14-year-old Atlanta-area boy whose friend stole the man's phone and ran, authorities said. Ricarrio Hale was killed Sunday and a 16-year-old friend of his was also hospitalized after being shot, DeKalb County police told news outlets. SENT: 224 words.

IN BRIEF:

— XGR-NEW CITIES-SAVANNAH — Two Georgia state lawmakers say they won't support a bill this year that would create a new city in coastal Georgia.

— XGR-GEORGIA SENATE-RETIREMENT — A longtime state senator from northwest Georgia has said that he won’t seek reelection in November.

— ELECTIONS 2020-CONGRESS — A Georgia physician is running for a U.S House seat being vacated by retiring Republican Tom Graves.

IN SPORTS:

BKN--SUNS-HAWKS

ATLANTA — Devin Booker will face Trae Young in a matchup of high-scoring guards when the Phoenix Suns visit the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday night. By Charles Odum. UPCOMING: 650 words, photos. Game starts at 7:30 p.m.

FBC—PICK SIX-2020 LOOKAHEAD

UNDATED — Six story lines that will define 2020: TREVOR VS. JUSTIN By Ralph D. Russo. SENT: 746 words.

AP Photos transref:AZCC174, transref:AZCC121, transref:NY163, transref:NY156, transref:CAOR116, transref:LAGH127, transref:NCCS113.

BKL—WNBA-CBA

NEW YORK — The WNBA and its union announced a tentative eight-year labor deal Tuesday that will allow top players to earn more than $500,000 while the average annual compensation will surpass six figures for the first time. The contract, which begins this season and runs through 2027, will pay players an average of $130,000 and guarantees full salaries while on maternity leave. The collective bargaining agreement also provides enhanced family benefits, travel standards and other health and wellness improvements. By Doug Feinberg. SENT: 998 words.

AP Photos transref:NY151, transref:NY150.

BBN—BRAVES-STADIUM NEW NAME

ATLANTA — Truist Park is the new name of the Atlanta Braves' stadium, replacing SunTrust Park. Atlanta announced the change Tuesday following SunTrust bank's merger with BB&T to form Truist Financial Corp. The stadium in Cobb County, north of downtown Atlanta, opened in 2017. SENT: 108 words.

FBN—FALCONS-NEW UNIFORMS

ATLANTA — The Atlanta Falcons will have new uniforms for the 2020 season. That's all the team is disclosing for now. SENT: 137 words.

AP Photos transref:TPS122.

SOUTH CAROLINA (All times Eastern)

TOP STORIES:

XGR-SOUTH CAROLINA LEGISLATURE BEGINS

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Senate spent its first day of the 2020 session Tuesday preparing for what could be a long and contentious debate over education. Senators voted to place a 60-plus-page education bill passed by the House last March up for immediate debate starting Wednesday. By Jeffrey Collins. SENT: 672 words.

AP Photos transref:RPMK204, transref:RPMK207, transref:RPMK103, transref:RPMK102, transref:RPMK206, transref:RPMK205, transref:RPMK203, transref:RPMK201, transref:RPMK202, transref:RPMK101.

PROLIFIC MAIL THIEF

RALEIGH, N.C. — A North Carolina man was sentenced to more than three years in prison for roaming neighborhoods after dark, stealing mail from mailboxes and then cashing thousands of dollars in pilfered checks, prosecutors said Tuesday. Since at least 2016, Erik Magana's scheme targeted affluent neighborhoods in several North Carolina towns including Charlotte, Davidson and Gastonia as well as Fort Mill, South Carolina, according to court documents. Authorities say he would drive up to mailboxes, reach his hand through the window of the car and take mail that residents had failed to bring inside after daytime delivery. Authorities documented mail stolen from at least 1,300 victims. By Jonathan Drew. SENT: 467 words.

AP Photos transref:NCHO201, transref:NCHO202.

WOMAN INSIDE-TRASH COMPACTOR

ROCK HILL, S.C. — A sanitation worker's routine trash pickup in South Carolina turned into an investigation when he heard screaming coming from the compactor. A city worker collecting trash from outside an elementary school Monday morning found a woman inside the garbage truck's compactor, The Rock Hill Herald reported. SENT: 217 words.

IN BRIEF:

— TEACHER-STUDENT SEX — A high school teacher in South Carolina has been arrested after being accused of having sex with a student

— TV SHOW CASTING-OVERTIME — A former casting director for the television series “Mr. Mercedes" says she wasn't paid for overtime work for the show that filmed in South Carolina and aired on Audience

— HIGH SCHOOL-TORNADO — The National Weather Service says a small tornado tossed around cars and damaged athletics fields outside a South Carolina high school. AP Video.

IN SPORTS:

FBC—T25-AP TOP 25-REALITY CHECK

UNDATED — The final Associated Press Top 25 of the season has a familiar look. LSU is No. 1 after winning the national championship. Add Clemson, Ohio State, Georgia, Florida, Oklahoma and Alabama and you have seven of the preseason top 10 teams finishing in the top 10 five months later. By Ralph D. Russo. SENT: 1,539 words.

AP Photos transref:CFP241, transref:CFP197, transref:AZCC121, transref:GAATJ, transref:CATA128.

FBC—PICK SIX-2020 LOOKAHEAD

UNDATED — Six story lines that will define 2020: TREVOR VS. JUSTIN By Ralph D. Russo. SENT: 746 words.

AP Photos transref:AZCC174, transref:AZCC121, transref:NY163, transref:NY156, transref:CAOR116, transref:LAGH127, transref:NCCS113.

FBC—CHAMPION LSU

NEW ORLEANS — LSU coach Ed Orgeron is already thinking about what comes next for his national champions. More specifically, who comes next. Orgeron and the top-ranked Tigers completed a 15-0 season with a dominating and decisive win over No. 3 Clemson, 42-25, on Monday night. By Pete Iacobelli. SENT: 679 words.

AP Photos transref:CFP109, transref:CFP112, transref:CFP106, transref:CFP241, transref:CFP240, transref:LABD111, transref:CFP236.

FBC—CFP CHAMPIONSHIP-TV

UNDATED — LSU's national championship game victory against Clemson drew nearly 26 million viewers to ESPN, up slightly from last year's final. ESPN said Tuesday that viewership for the three-game College Football Playoff increased 4% from last season, when Clemson beat Alabama in the championship. By Ralph D. Russo. SENT: 150 words.

AP Photos transref:CFP199, transref:CFP179, transref:CFP231, transref:CFP235, transref:LABD111.

CAR—NASCAR-SHORT TRACK RULES

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — NASCAR has changed the rules on its aerodynamic package for short tracks and road courses because the racing didn't improve at those venues under rules introduced last season. NASCAR had been fairly adamant the rules package would remain unchanged but reversed course late last season when it was evident the racing clearly had suffered at smaller tracks. The most glaring issue was a ho-hum penultimate race at Phoenix Raceway, which this season will host the championship finale. Jenna Fryer. SENT: 318 words.

BKC--T25-DUKE-CLEMSON

CLEMSON, S.C. — No. 3 Duke tries to stay undefeated in the ACC as the Blue Devils head to Clemson on Tuesday night. The Tigers are trying to do what they have done only once in their ACC history — beat North Carolina and Duke back to back. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos from 7 p.m. EST start.

ALABAMA (All times Central)

TOP STORIES:

ALABAMA PRISONS

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey's study commission on criminal justice policy will make recommendations that could including sentencing changes and expanding the use of pretrial diversion programs. The panel met for the final time Tuesday and will submit recommendations to state lawmakers ahead of the legislative session that begins Feb. 5. SENT: 515 words.

WIFE SLAIN-CHARGES DROPPED

OZARK, Ala. — An Alabama man cleared Monday of killing his wife in 1990 said his greatest wish is to be reconciled with his daughter. Developing.

HOMELESS COUNT

DOTHAN, Ala. — Volunteers are needed to assist in the annual count of homeless persons in southeastern Alabama. The Southeast Alabama Coalition for the Homeless has arranged for the count to take place on Saturday, Jan. 25, in the Dothan area. It takes roughly two hours starting at 10 a.m. SENT: 314 words.

IN BRIEF:

— AX SLAYING-GUILTY PLEA — An Alabama man has pleaded guilty to killing his roommate with an ax just before his trial was set to begin

— ALABAMA-NEW DORM — Construction is underway on the new $150 million Tutwiler Residence Hall on the University of Alabama campus.

IN SPORTS:

FBC—T25-AP TOP 25-REALITY CHECK

UNDATED — The final Associated Press Top 25 of the season has a familiar look. LSU is No. 1 after winning the national championship. Add Clemson, Ohio State, Georgia, Florida, Oklahoma and Alabama and you have seven of the preseason top 10 teams finishing in the top 10 five months later. By Ralph D. Russo. SENT: 1,539 words.

AP Photos transref:CFP241, transref:CFP197, transref:AZCC121, transref:GAATJ, transref:CATA128.

BKC—T25-STREAKING AUBURN

AUBURN, Ala. — The Auburn Tigers haven't missed a step — or lost a game — after losing their three best players from last season's Final Four team. The fourth-ranked Tigers have ascended 20 spots in the AP Top 25 since the season began, won their first 15 games and sailed through the opening games of Southeastern Conference play. By John Zenor.

AP Photos transref:ALJB110, transref:ALJB121, transref:ALJB126.

LOUISIANA (All times Central)

TOP STORIES:

XGR—LOUISIANA LEGISLATURE

BATON ROUGE, La. — Republicans on the losing side of the Louisiana House speaker’s vote bristled Tuesday in the aftermath of the divisive leadership competition, an indication the GOP may have difficulty capitalizing on its legislative gains from the fall elections. Though Republicans hold a strong 68 of 105 House seats, they split on who they supported for the chamber's top leadership job — giving Democrats the upper hand in determining the outcome of the competition. Democrats voted as a bloc Monday with a faction of Republicans to elect GOP Rep. Clay Schexnayder of Ascension Parish as House speaker. By Melinda Deslatte. SENT: 636 words.

AP Photos transref:LABD106, transref:LABD113, transref:LABD109, transref:LABD105.

HIGH SCHOOL 5TH YEAR

LAKE CHARLES — Some Louisiana students can spend an extra year in high school, working toward advanced credentials in a pilot program spreading from New Orleans to northwest and southwest Louisiana. Authorities say the Caddo and Calcasieu Parish “extension academies” will allow debt-free training for students who have enough credits to graduate but don't qualify for Louisiana's free college and technical school tuition program. SENT: 341 words.

CHRISTIAN SCHOOL-SEX ABUSE

WINNSBORO, La. — A former principal at a Louisiana Christian school pleaded guilty to five counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile stemming from encounters with underage male students, a district attorney announced. Stephen Couch of Winnsboro accepted a plea deal in 5th Judicial District Court on Monday, District Attorney Mack Lancaster said. Each count represents one victim in the case. SENT: 161 words.

IN BRIEF:

— ATM STOLEN — Louisiana authorities are searching for at least three people who reportedly rammed a vehicle into a truck stop and took the store's ATM.

— OBIT-AMITE MAYOR — The mayor of a Louisiana town has died after suffering head trauma in a fall last week.

— EXTORTION THREAT-BOMB — A Louisiana man was arrested and accused of detonating a pipe bomb in an attempt to scare and extort a pay-day loan business for $10,000.

— PAYPAL-CHARITY SETTLEMENT — The attorneys general of Nevada and 20 other states have reached a $200,000 agreement with PayPal Charitable Giving Fund Inc. to settle complaints over its handling of charitable contributions through the company's online fundraising platform.

IN SPORTS:

FBC—T25-AP TOP 25-REALITY CHECK

UNDATED — The final Associated Press Top 25 of the season has a familiar look. LSU is No. 1 after winning the national championship. Add Clemson, Ohio State, Georgia, Florida, Oklahoma and Alabama and you have seven of the preseason top 10 teams finishing in the top 10 five months later. By Ralph D. Russo. SENT: 1,539 words.

AP Photos transref:CFP241, transref:CFP197, transref:AZCC121, transref:GAATJ, transref:CATA128.

FBC—CHAMPION LSU

NEW ORLEANS — LSU coach Ed Orgeron is already thinking about what comes next for his national champions. More specifically, who comes next. Orgeron and the top-ranked Tigers completed a 15-0 season with a dominating and decisive win over No. 3 Clemson, 42-25, on Monday night. By Pete Iacobelli. SENT: 680— words.

AP Photos transref:CFP109, transref:CFP112, transref:CFP106, transref:CFP241, transref:CFP240, transref:LABD111, transref:CFP236.

FBC—CFP CHAMPIONSHIP-TV

UNDATED — LSU's national championship game victory against Clemson drew nearly 26 million viewers to ESPN, up slightly from last year's final. ESPN said Tuesday that viewership for the three-game College Football Playoff increased 4% from last season, when Clemson beat Alabama in the championship. By Ralph D. Russo. SENT: 150 words.

AP Photos transref:CFP199, transref:CFP179, transref:CFP231, transref:CFP235, transref:LABD111.

FBC—COLLEGE FOOTBALL-CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY

BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana State University fans reveling over the Tigers' College Football Playoff National Championship win can continue the party by snapping a photo with the championship trophy. The trophy will be displayed for fans in two Baton Rouge locations this week, news outlets reported. SENT: 166 words.

FBC—CFP CHAMPIONSHIP--FALLEN JOURNALISTS

NEW ORLEANS — NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Superdome in New Orleans honored two sports journalists who recently died with a tribute Monday night in the press box during the College Football Playoff national championship game between Louisiana State and Clemson universities. Seats were reserved for Carley McCord and Edward Aschoff, the Lafayette Daily Advertiser reported. LSU won the title game over Clemson 42-25. SENT: 192 words.

AP Photos transref:LALAF801.

BKN—PISTONS-ROSE FINED

NEW YORK — Pistons guard Derrick Rose was fined $25,000 by the NBA on Tuesday for tossing a pen across the court during the end of Detroit's loss to New Orleans. With 37 seconds left in overtime and play stopped on Monday night, Rose sat slumped on a courtside table and flung the pen into the stands. The Pelicans beat the Pistons 117-110. SENT: 176 words.

AP Photos transref:MICO109.

BKC--LSU-TEXAS A&M. Upcoming: 500 words. Game starts at 6 p.m.

MISSISSIPPI (All times Central)

TOP STORIES:

XGR-MISSISSIPPI INAUGURATION

JACKSON, Miss. — As Republican Tate Reeves was inaugurated Tuesday as Mississippi's new governor, he pledged to provide economic opportunities for all people in the state and to defend a “loving culture that underpins our quality of life.” Reeves, 45, is the 65th governor of Mississippi. He succeeds Republican Phil Bryant, who served two terms. By Emily Wagster Pettus. SENT: 726 words.

AP Photos transref:MSRS101, transref:MSJAD103, transref:MSJAD102, transref:MSJAD105, transref:MSRS106, transref:MSRS110, transref:MSRS102, transref:MSRS104, transref:MSRS107, transref:MSRS105, transref:MSJAD201, transref:MSRS111, transref:MSRS112, transref:MSRS113, transref:MSRS108, transref:MSRS115, transref:MSRS114, transref:MSJAD106, transref:MSRS109.

PRISON UNREST-MISSISSIPPI

JACKSON, Miss. — More than two dozen Mississippi inmates sued the state Tuesday, saying understaffed prisons are “plagued by violence” and inmates are forced to live in decrepit and dangerous conditions. The federal lawsuit follows an outbreak of violence that killed five inmates and left an undisclosed number of others injured between Dec. 29 and Jan. 3. By Emily Wagster Pettus. SENT: 609 words.

AP Photos transref:NYHK203, transref:MSRS109, transref:MSRS108.

IMMINENT DAM BREAK

STARKVILLE, Miss. — Heavy rains could cause the failure of a dam in a rural northeastern Mississippi county as officials on Tuesday urged residents to evacuate as a precaution. Oktibbeha County Emergency Management Agency Director Kristen Campanella said the county engineer had inspected the Oktibbeha County Lake dam, reported extremely high water levels in the lake and noted the dam could fail at any time. SENT: 532 words.

AP Photos transref:MSSTK101.

FAKE CHECKS-HOMELESS

FLOWOOD, Miss. — A group of men are facing federal charges involving counterfeit checks after police say they were found with a typewriter, an embossing machine, and checks totaling $127,000 in Flowood. One of the men told authorities the scheme involved recruiting homeless people to walk inside banks and cash the fake checks. SENT: 197 words.

IN BRIEF:

— FIRE TRUCK CRASH-MISSISSIPPI — A lawsuit accuses a firefighter of recklessly driving a fire truck through a red light and causing a deadly crash on a Mississippi highway

— MAN SHOT-SENTENCE — A Mississippi woman has pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the 2018 shooting death of a man she found in her home with her girlfriend

— ENERGY SAVINGS — A Mississippi city is implementing energy efficiency measures that are estimated to save it more than $60,000 a year on utility bills.

IN SPORTS:

BKC--MISSISSIPPI-FLORIDA

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida looks to bounce back from its first loss in Southeastern Conference play when it hosts Mississippi, which is winless on the road this season. By Mark Long. UPCOMING: 600 words. Begins at 6 p.m.

BKC--MISSOURI-MISSISSIPPI ST

STARKVILLE, Miss. - Missouri seeks to build on the momentum from its blowout victory over Florida when it hosts Mississippi State, which is coming off a buzzer-beating loss to LSU. By Paul Jones. UPCOMING: 600 words. The game starts at 9 p.m.

___

If you have stories of regional or statewide interest, please email them them to:

The Atlanta AP Bureau: [email protected]

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