BC-AP News Digest 2 pm
Here are the AP’s latest coverage plans, top stories and promotable content. All times EDT.
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— Most Americans oppose funding President Donald Trump’s wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, according to a poll released by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. By Andrew Taylor and Emily Swanson. SENT: 920 words, photos. With ; (both sent).
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— Republicans invoke the “nuclear option” in the Senate, rewriting the chamber’s rules to allow President Donald Trump’s nominee to ascend to the Supreme Court. Democrats are furious they failed to block Judge Neil Gorsuch. By Erica Werner and Mary Clare Jalonick. SENT: 940 words, photos, video. UPCOMING: 800 words with new approach by 4 p.m., photos, video. With ; ; — Dems in Trump states pressured from both sides on court pick (both sent).
TRUMP RUSSIA — The Republican chairman steps aside from leading a congressional investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, citing ethics complaints that he mishandled classified information. By Deb Riechmann and Eileen Sullivan. SENT: 800 words, photos, video. UPCOMING: 900 words with new approach by 4 p.m., photos, video. With — Trump’s hopes of better ties with Russia face a test when Tillerson visits Moscow next week. UPCOMING: 700 words by 3 p.m., photos.
— Investigators are rushing to Turkey to meet survivors of the chemical attack in northern Syria and collect samples that might reveal the nature of the toxins, the means of delivery and ultimately the culprit. By Philip Issa. UPCOMING: 900 words by 4:30 p.m., photos, video. With SYRIA — Turkey: Syria autopsies show chemical weapons used in attack; SYRIA-THE LATEST; RUSSIA-SYRIA — AP Interview: Kremlin support for Assad not unconditional (all sent).
SYRIA-THE VICTIMS — Residents and doctors of the northern Syrian town struck by chemical gas describe a ghost town three days after the attack. Many have left their homes or are afraid to return because of the lingering toxic fumes and doubts their hometown will ever be safe again. Others are struggle to cope with the grief, shock and physical symptoms. By Sarah El Deeb and Zeina Karam. UPCOMING: 950 words by 4 p.m., photos, video.
— The Trump Justice Department expresses “grave concerns” about an agreement the Obama administration reached to overhaul to Baltimore’s police department in the wake of the Freddie Gray case. Baltimore residents, meanwhile, line up to endorse the plan and complain of brutality and racism by police. By Juliet Linderman. SENT: 430 words, photos. UPCOMING: 650 words with new approach by 4 p.m., photos, video.
— Allegations of sexual harassment at Fox News, Uber and the parent company of the Kay and Jared Jewelers chains that have filled the headlines recently can make the companies seem like outliers. But three decades after the Supreme Court declared sexual harassment a violation of civil rights, it continues to fester. By National Writer Adam Geller. UPCOMING: 1,000 words by 3 p.m., photos. With TV-FOX NEWS — Bill O’Reilly’s newest book offers advice to men on how to treat women. UPCOMING: 600 words by 4 p.m., photos.
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WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT
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FACEBOOK-FALSE NEWS — Facebook launches resource to help spot misleading news. SENT: 390 words, photo.
MAXINE WATERS-O’REILLY — U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters: Bill O’Reilly “needs to go to jail” over sexual harassment allegations. SENT: 160 words, photo.
JOHN-GLENN — Famed astronaut John Glenn laid to rest at Arlington. SENT: 510 words, photos, video.
POSTAL-DOG ATTACKS — The number of dog attacks on postal workers rose last year to the highest in decades. SENT: 750 words, photos, video, graphic.
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WASHINGTON & POLITICS
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UNITED STATES-CHINA — President Donald Trump opens a high-stakes summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, with the urgent threat of North Korea’s nuclear ambitions and tensions over trade on the agenda. UPCOMING: 800 words by 4 p.m., photos. With TRUMP-XI-CLIMATE — As Trump hosts Xi, the world’s two largest economies and carbon polluters are taking dramatically divergent paths on climate policy (sent).
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ARKANSAS EXECUTIONS — A federal judge blocks the execution of one of the eight inmates Arkansas planned to put to death this month, throwing into question the state’s aggressive timetable for carrying out multiple lethal injections before a key drug expires. SENT: 400 words, photo. UPCOMING: 550 words with new approach by 4 p.m., photo. With
— The compromise by politicians on North Carolina’s “bathroom bill” is helping return collegiate sporting events to the state, but several big-city mayors still don’t want employees traveling there after the replacement law. SENT: 620 words, photos.
— The National World War I Museum and Memorial hosts a centennial observance of the day the U.S. begrudgingly waded into the global conflict that President Woodrow Wilson had sought to avoid. SENT: 590 words, photos. UPCOMING: 650 words by 4 p.m., photos, video.
AARON HERNANDEZ — Prosecutors and defense attorneys for ex-NFL star Aaron Hernandez make their closing arguments in his double-murder trial. By Legal Affairs Writer Denise Lavoie. SENT: 290 words, photos. UPCOMING: Developing. With
$35 MILLION BAIL — A San Francisco area woman accused of killing the father of her two children posts an unprecedented $35 million bail raised by wealthy friends, family and business associates with ties to China. SENT: 550 words, photos.
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IRAQ-HAMDANIYA — Five months on from its capture by Iraqi troops, Hamdaniya — which lies between Irbil and Mosul — stands as a near-deserted example of the immense task of reconstruction facing authorities. SENT: 540 words, photos, video.
— Opposition leaders call on Venezuelans to take to the streets once again to protest what they say is an attempted coup. SENT: 580 words, photos. UPCOMING: Developing.
— While zoos in other countries may have specialized facilities for raising baby animals, in Cuba the job falls to Marta Llanes, a 62-year-old zoologist who has cared for 10 baby chimps in her Havana apartment since she started work at the city zoo in 1983. SENT: 500 words, photos.
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ANCIENT CANNIBALISM — You know those snacks that are OK if they’re handy, but not worth the bother if you have to go track them down? Our Stone Age forerunners may have felt the same way about eating each other — they probably didn’t hunt their own kind, but practiced cannibalism only if convenient or as part of a ritual. By Science Writer Malcolm Ritter. SENT: 560 words, photo.
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— Snoop Dogg and other rappers and hip-hop stars are capitalizing on the widening intersection between food and music with shows like “”Martha and Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party,” and rappers like 2 Chainz are dropping cookbooks along with their albums. SENT: 750 words, photos.
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GLF–MASTERS — The Masters begins with uncertainty over Dustin Johnson’s back injury from a staircase tumble, and swirling wind that makes Augusta National an even more formidable place to play. By Golf Writer Doug Ferguson. UPCOMING: 800 words by 7 p.m., photos. With GLF–MASTERS-DUSTIN’S BACK — Dustin Johnson goes from golf’s best player to golf’s biggest mystery after injuring his back. UPCOMING: 700 words by 8 p.m., photos.
— The number of blacks and women hired in college sports is declining. The annual report card from The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport gives college sports a C+ for racial hiring and a C for gender hiring. Richard Lapchick, the report’s primary author, calls this “disheartening.” UPCOMING: 650 words by 3 p.m.
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At the Nerve Center, Alina Heineke can be reached at 800-845-8450 (ext. 1600). For photos, Alyssa Goodman (ext. 1900). For graphics and interactives, Phil Holm (ext. 7636). Expanded AP content can be obtained from For access to AP Exchange and other technical issues, contact [email protected] or call 877-836-9477.
