Texas News Digest

Good morning! Here's a look at AP's general news and sports coverage in Texas at this hour. Questions about coverage plans are welcome and should be directed to the Dallas AP at 972-991-2100, or, in Texas, 800-442-7189. Email: [email protected]. Jill Bleed is at the desk after 5:30 a.m.

Reminder: This information is not for publication or broadcast, and these coverage plans are subject to change.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. All times are Central.

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

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

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TOP STORIES:

SOUTHWEST-BOEING-PLANE

DALLAS — Southwest Airlines is pulling the Boeing 737 Max out of its schedule for another two months. The Max is now off Southwest's schedules until early June as the airline waits to see when the grounded plane will be approved to fly again. In the meantime, Southwest is canceling about 330 flights a day. That's more than 8% of its usual schedule. SENT: 240 words, photos. Moved on general and financial news services.

TEXAS-GUN LOCKS

AUSTIN, Texas — A firearms trade association distributing taxpayer-funded gun locks to Texas residents to prevent accidental shootings advised the Austin Police Department not to give any to a woman affiliated with a gun control advocacy group, emails show. SENT: 370 words. Moved on general and political news services.

ALSO OF NOTE:

STARBUCKS-UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES

DETROIT — Starbucks has a point to prove: There's more to the company than selling $4 lattes to rich people. The Seattle-based coffee giant that has cultivated a reputation for being socially responsible said Thursday it is expanding its effort to put more coffee shops — and create more jobs — in poor neighborhoods. Starbucks opened its first community store in Ferguson, Missouri, in 2016. It has added 13 more locations since then, including stores in Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas, New Orleans and Jonesboro, Georgia. By Dee-Ann Durbin. SENT: 990 words, photos. Moved on general and financial news services.

GREEN-CONVICTION-HOUSE

BOISE, Idaho — The Idaho House of Representatives on Thursday expelled one of its members a day after he was convicted of conspiring to defraud the U.S. government. The House voted 65-0 to expel Republican Rep. John Green of Post Falls. It is the first ever expulsion from the Idaho Legislature, state officials said. Green was convicted Wednesday on charges stemming from helping a wealthy Texas couple hide assets to avoid paying income taxes when Green worked as an attorney there. Green maintains his innocence. By Keith Ridler. SENT: 460 words. Moved on general and political news services.

MULTIRACIAL CHURCHES

KELLER, Texas — For four hours at a megachurch outside of Dallas, pastors of color shared their personal stories of leading a multiethnic church. Those leaders, who met at Mosaix Global Network’s Multiethnic Church Conference in November, are part of a decades-long, still burgeoning movement to integrate Christian worship services, aiming to refute the oft-quoted saying by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. that Sunday mornings are the most segregated time of the week in the United States. By Adelle M. Banks, Religion News Service. SENT: 1500 words, photos. Moved on general and religion news services.

IN BRIEF:

— MEXICO-VIOLENCE — Mexican soldiers killed 11 attackers near the Mexico-Texas border Thursday, Tamaulipas state authorities said. SENT: 120 words.

COMING THIS WEEKEND:

GALVESTON-PLAGUE ANNIVERSARY

GALVESTON, Texas — It’s been 100 years since the Black Death came to Galveston A seaport city that has seen more than its share of death and destruction, the island is approaching one of the most gruesome anniversaries in its long history: a 1920 plague outbreak that left more than a dozen people dead, sent a bolt of cold fear through the populace and led the city to declare war on rats. By John Wayne Ferguson of the Galveston Daily News.

IN SPORTS:

Football

FBC—BAYLOR-ARANDA

Baylor hired LSU defensive coordinator Dave Aranda as its new head coach Thursday, three days after the Tigers completed their undefeated national championship. Aranda, a head coach for the first time, takes over a Big 12 program in much better shape than it was when Matt Rhule got there more than three years ago. By Stephen Hawkins. SENT: 610 words, photos.

FBN—COWBOYS-MCCARTHY'S STAFF

FRISCO, Texas — Kellen Moore is staying as offensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys, and new coach Mike McCarthy says the plan is for Moore to continue calling plays. Moore was promoted to his current job in the final season under former coach Jason Garrett, whose contract wasn't renewed after the Cowboys fell short of expectations in a make-or-break season for him. While McCarthy doesn't have his entire staff in place, he confirmed many of the hires in a meeting with reporters Thursday, a little more than a week after he was introduced as Garrett's replacement. By Pro Football Writer Schuyler Dixon. SENT: 400 words, photos.

Basketball

BKN—ALL-STAR VOTING

MIAMI — LeBron James still leads Luka Doncic in the race to become the leading Western Conference vote-getter and one of the two captains for next month’s All-Star Game, the NBA announced Thursday. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds. SENT: 370 words, photos.

Also:

— BKW—T25-TEXAS A&M-KENTUCKY — Rhyne Howard scored 16 of her 24 points in the second half and No. 11 Kentucky beat 12th-ranked Texas A&M 76-54. SENT: 150 words.

— BKC—RICE-LOUISIANA TECH — Mubarak Muhammed recorded 10 points and 10 rebounds to lead Louisiana Tech to a 72-56 win over Rice, the Bulldogs' ninth consecutive home victory. SENT: 120 words.

— BKC—NORTH TEXAS-SOUTHERN MISS — Javion Hamlet had 13 points and 10 assists as North Texas easily defeated Southern Miss 72-52. SENT: 120 words.

— BKC-TEXAS STATE-LOUISIANA-MONROE — Nijal Pearson had 23 points as Texas State edged past Louisiana-Monroe 64-63. SENT: 130 words.

— BKC-TEXAS-ARLINGTON-LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE — TiAndre Jackson-Young hit four 3-pointers and scored 18 points off the bench and Jabari Narcis had a double-double to lead Texas-Arlington to an 81-65 win over Louisiana-Lafayette. SENT: 170 words.

— BKC—TEXAS RIO GRANDE VALLEY-SEATTLE — SENT: 120 words.

Hockey

HKN—SABRES-STARS

DALLAS — Rasmus Dahlin scored the tiebreaking goal in the second period, Linus Ullmark made 28 saves and the Buffalo Sabres beat the Dallas Stars 4-1. SENT: 700 words, photos.

Baseball

BBN—METS-BELTRÁN OUT

NEW YORK — Carlos Beltrán is out as manager of the New York Mets before a single game. It's the latest fallout from the Houston Astros’ sign-stealing scandal that has rocked Major League Baseball. The Mets announced the decision Thursday in a news release, saying Beltrán and the team “agreed to mutually part ways.” The move came two days after Boston cut ties with manager Alex Cora, who was Houston’s bench coach in 2017 when Beltrán played for the Astros. A day before that, manager AJ Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow were fired by Houston soon after they were suspended for the 2020 season by Commissioner Rob Manfred for their roles in the cheating scheme. By Baseball Writer Mike Fitzpatrick. SENT: 1300 words, photos. Moved on sports and general news services.

With:

— BBA—RED SOX MANAGER — The Boston Red Sox say the turmoil in the manager's office isn't a reason to give up on this season and trade outfielder Mookie Betts. By Jimmy Golen. SENT: 650 words, photos.

BBA—ASTROS-SPRINGER

HOUSTON — George Springer, the World Series MVP of the tainted 2017 Houston Astros, and the team settled on a $21 million, one-year contract Thursday. Springer had asked for $22.5 million in salary arbitration last week and the Astros offered $17.5 million, making the settlement $1 million over the midpoint. He made $12.15 million last year. SENT: 290 words, photos.

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