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AP News Digest 2 p.m.

| June 23, 2020 11:04 AM

Here are the AP’s latest coverage plans, top stories and promotable content. All times EDT. For up-to-the minute information on AP’s coverage, visit Coverage Plan at https://newsroom.ap.org.

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ONLY ON AP

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AP POLL-RACIAL INJUSTICE-POLICING — Americans overwhelmingly want clear standards on when police officers may use force and consequences for officers who do so excessively, according to a new poll that finds nearly all Americans favor at least some level of change to the nation’s criminal justice system. By Colleen Long and Hannah Fingerhut. SENT: 948 words, photos, graphics.

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TOP STORIES

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VIRUS OUTBREAK —The government’s top infectious disease expert tells Congress he is cautiously optimistic that there will be a COVID-19 vaccine by the end of the year or early 2021, and warns that the next few weeks will be critical to tamp down coronavirus hot spots around the country. Dr. Anthony Fauci also rejects President Donald Trump’s suggestion that the country do less testing for coronavirus. By Lauran Neergaard and Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar. SENT: 900 words. UPCOMING: Developing, 990 words by 5 p.m., photos, video.

Find more all-format coverage on the Virus Outbreak featured topic page in AP Newsroom.

ELECTION 2020 — Overwhelmed Kentucky and New York officials face a deluge of mail-in votes likely to delay results for days after high-profile primaries Tuesday, contests testing if establishment Democratic congressional candidates can withstand challengers fueled by voter fury over racism. By Alan Fram. SENT: 730 words. UPCOMING: Developing from various poll closings, starting at 6 p.m., 980 words by 7 p.m., photos, video. With ELECTION 2020-THE LATEST, developing.

RACIAL INJUSTICE-CONGRESS — Congress reaches a crossroads as it decides whether to take on the hard job of negotiating a compromise on policing legislation, with an impasse between Democrats and Republicans threatening to turn the nationwide protests over George Floyd’s death into another moment that galvanizes the nation but leaves lawmakers unable to act. By Lisa Mascaro. SENT: 552 words. UPCOMING: Developing, 800 words by 5 p.m., photos, video. WITH: RACIAL INJUSTICE-POLICING BILLS – A side by side comparison of the Democratic and Republican Bills. By Colleen Long and Michael Balsamo. SENT: 960 words, photos.

POLICE SHOOTING-ATLANTA —Scores of mourners, some dressed all in white and others wearing Black Lives Matter shirts, filed into the historic Atlanta church that was once the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s pulpit for a funeral for the Black man whose killing by police in a fast-food parking lot stoked protests across the U.S. against racial injustice.By Kate Brumback. SENT: 500 words, photos, developing.

RACIAL INJUSTICE-WHITE PARENTS-BLACK CHILDREN -- The Associated Press discussed race with six white couples who have adopted or have custody of Black children. The topic has more layers since George Floyd’s death has inspired protests and led to changes in police procedures. These parents are trying to help their children understand race in America while getting an accelerated course themselves. By Cliff Brunt. SENT: 995 words, photos.

Find more coverage of Racial Injustice on AP News.

BILL COSBY — In a stunning decision that could test the legal framework of #MeToo cases, comedian Bill Cosby has won the right to fight his 2018 sexual assault conviction in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. The 82-year-old Cosby has been imprisoned in suburban Philadelphia for nearly two years after a jury convicted him of drugging and sexually assaulting a woman at his home in 2004. He’s serving a three- to 10-year sentence. By Maryclaire Dale. SENT: 680 words, photos.

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WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

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ODD-PIZZA-FROZEN IGUANA — File it under pizza toppings only offered in Florida. State inspectors say they found an 80-pound iguana stashed in the freezer at a local pizza joint. SENT: 175 words.

RACIAL INJUSTICE-30 ROCK -- At the request of co-creator Tina Fey, four episodes of the comedy “30 Rock” are being removed from circulation because they featured characters performing in blackface. SENT: 250 words, photos.

RACIAL-INJUSTICE-SEATTLE — Seattle police are investigating another shooting that happened near the city’s “occupied” protest zone. SENT: 125 words, photos.

BBO--SCHOTT NAME REMOVED -- The University of Cincinnati is removing Marge Schott’s name from its baseball stadium and a library archive in light of her racist comments while owner of the Cincinnati Reds. SENT: 450 words, photos.

STARBUCKS-IMPOSSIBLE SAUSAGE — Starbucks is adding plant-based meat to its U.S. menu for the first time. The coffee chain says a breakfast sandwich made with imitation sausage from California-based Impossible Foods is now available at a majority of its U.S. restaurants. SENT: 175 words, photos.

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MORE ON THE VIRUS OUTBREAK

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VIRUS OUTBREAK-MISSOURI -- Pastor Joshua Manning is waiting for test results, but he’s pretty sure he has the coronavirus, and so do his wife, their three kids and many members of his small Baptist church. The Tyson chicken processing plant in tiny Noel, Missouri, employs the vast majority of the town’s 1,800 workers, and an outbreak of the virus that is soaring through the plant is affecting many others in the community, too. UPCOMING: 900 words, photos by 5 p.m.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-GLOBAL— The number of global coronavirus cases continued to surge in many large countries that have been lifting lockdowns, including the U.S., even as new infections stabilized or dropped in parts of Western Europe. India has been recording about 15,000 new infections each day, and some states Tuesday were considering fresh lockdown measures to try to halt the spread of the virus in the nation of more than 1.3 billion. The government earlier lifted a nationwide lockdown in a bid to restart the ailing economy, which has shed millions of jobs. SENT: 700 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-IMMIGRATION DETENTION - The isolation of at least three families at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s detention center in Dilley, Texas, has raised new fears of the coronavirus spreading through the facility. SENT: 825 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-VACATION HOTSPOTS — People are flocking to South Carolina’s beaches for vacation after being cooped up by COVID-19 for months. But the coronavirus is taking no vacation. The state now has the fourth-highest new infection rate in the nation when adjusted for population, trailing just Arizona, Arkansas and Alabama. One hot spot is around Myrtle Beach, which has seen COVID-19 cases jump from less than 300 at the start of June to nearly 1,600. By Jeffrey Collins. SENT: 1,102 words, photos.

VIRUS-OUTBREAK-DIARY-COPING NOT COPING -- For those who’ve found it hard to cope with coping during the pandemic, one writer decided to journey inside her own head to find some answers. She says there are no real shortcuts to figuring this odd period out. But she has a few ideas — including talking about struggles, silencing the “inner critic” and getting outside with your thoughts when you can. SENT: 580 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-VIRAL QUESTIONS-SUPPORT BUBBLE -- Is it safe to form a COVID-19 “support bubble” with friends? Yes, if done correctly. SENT: 300 words, photos.

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MORE ON RACIAL INJUSTICE

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RACIAL INJUSTICE-BLACK BIRDERS --A video of a white woman targeting an African American bird watcher in New York’s Central Park has drawn attention to how the great outdoors can be far from great for Black people. Worries about discrimination, racial profiling and even subtle aggression keep some away. Those fears can perpetuate the stereotype that hiking, camping and even bird watching are “white” activities. Black birders say the issue is access. As the Black Lives Matter movement grows, environmental organizations like the National Audubon Society have made supportive statements. But some say they must address the fact that Black people don’t enjoy the same privilege outdoors. SENT: 1,140 words, photos.

RACIAL-INJUSTICE-VIOLENT SUMMER? — A spate of shootings around the country has law enforcement worried that this summer could be a violent one. The shootings are happening in a turbulent brew of a pandemic that has left many without jobs, racial unrest and a rancorous election season. Added to this mix are many new gun purchases, judging by historic numbers of background checks. Gun-rights advocates say the times show that Americans need to be prepared to defend themselves. Gun-control advocates say the surge in firearm sales could lead to more violence. One silver lining: This year is on pace to have half as many mass shootings as the record-breaking 2019. SENT: 1,000 words, photos, videos.

GEORGE FLOYD-MINNEAPOLIS POLICE — Leaders of the Minneapolis police union acknowledged that bystander video of the police encounter with George Floyd was “horrific” but said they’ve been denied the chance to look at body camera video that could shed more light on what happened before Floyd ended up on the ground. SENT: 330 words, photos.

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WASHINGTON/POLITICS

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ELECTION 2020-TRUMP — Regrouping after a humbling weekend rally, President Donald Trump faces another test of his ability to draw a crowd during a pandemic as he visits Arizona and tries to remind voters of one of his key 2016 campaign promises. By Jonathan Lemire. SENT: 970 words. UPCOMING: Developing from 2:20 p.m. Yuma event, 5:40 p.m. Phoenix event, 980 words by 6 p.m., photos, video.

TRUMP-MONUMENTS — As America wrestles with its racist past, President Trump digs in on his opposition to efforts to destroy or remove symbols of that history, promising executive action to “reinforce” a federal law that prescribes up to 10 years in prison for “these vandals and these hoodlums and these anarchists and agitators” who tamper with monuments. SENT: 234 words. UPCOMING: 800 words by 5 p.m., photos.

ELECTION 2020-BIDEN OBAMA — Barack Obama makes his return to the presidential campaign trail with a grassroots fundraiser for Joe Biden that’s expected to raise millions. But Obama’s reemergence also offers President Donald Trump’s campaign an opportunity to resurface some of their favorite attacks on the Obama Administration’s policies. SENT: 711 words. UPCOMING: Developing from late-afternoon event, 890 word by 7 p.m., photos.

ELECTION 2020-DEBATES —The nonpartisan commission that sponsors the formal election-year presidential debates announces that an October debate that had been set for Michigan will now take place in Florida. In a letter shared with the Commission on Presidential Debates, University of Michigan President Mark Schlissel suggested the decision was influenced by the work needed to prepare the campus for the fall semester during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. SENT: 239 words photos.

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INTERNATIONAL

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MEXICO-EARTHQUAKE -- A powerful earthquake centered near the resort of Huatulco in southern Mexico swayed buildings in Mexico City and sent thousands into the streets. Seismic alarms sounded midmorning with enough warning for residents to exit buildings. Power was knocked out to some areas, but there were no immediate reports of major damage or injuries. SENT: 425 words, photos.

LEBANON-AMERICAN UNIVERSITY — One of the Arab world’s oldest and most prestigious universities, which endured civil war, kidnappings of its staff members and various economic crises, is preparing for what may be the biggest challenge in its 154-year history. The American University of Beirut is confronting a global pandemic, a severe recession and the collapse of Lebanon’s currency — all at the same time. SENT: 850 words, photos.

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NATIONAL

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RACIAL INJUSTICE-SOUTH CAROLINA -- Officials in the historic city of Charleston, South Carolina, are expected to vote for the removal of a statue of former vice president and slavery advocate John C. Calhoun from a downtown square. SENT: 600 words, photos, developing.

MISSING KIDS-IDAHO — The case of two kids who were missing for months before they were found dead in rural Idaho has taken another bizarre twist, with new court documents alleging that their mother believed they were zombies and that she was on a mission to rid the world of such creatures. SENT: 1,000 words, photos.

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HEALTH/SCIENCE

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RUSSIA-ARCTIC HEAT -- The U.N. weather agency is investigating media reports suggesting a new record high temperature of over 38 degrees Celsius in the Arctic Circle amid a heatwave and prolonged wildfires in eastern Siberia. SENT: 300 words, photos.

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BUSINESS/ECONOMY

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FINANCIAL MARKETS — Stocks headed higher in midday trading on Wall Street Tuesday, adding to the market’s gains from a day earlier, as investors focused on the prospects for an economic recovery as more businesses reopen after being shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic. SENT: 625 words, photos. UPCOMING: Will be updated through trading, about 800 words by 5 p.m. WITH: NEW HOME SALES — US new home sales rise surprisingly strong 16.6% in May. SENT: 225 words, photos.

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ENTERTAINMENT

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RACIAL-INJUSTICE-TV — Jimmy Kimmel apologized for his 1990s blackface impressions of NBA player Karl Malone and other Black celebrities but said his delay in addressing the subject came in part to avoid handing a victory to his foes. “I apologize to those who were genuinely hurt or offended by the makeup I wore or the words I spoke,” the ABC late-night star said in a statement. By David Bauder. SENT: 420 words, photos.

PEOPLE-SARAH RAMOS-QUARANTSCENES -- Actor Sarah Ramos hasn’t let being stuck in quarantine stop her from acting. Ramos, whose TV credits include “American Dreams” and “Parenthood,” has spent her downtime recreating popular TV and movie scenes and posting them to social media. She calls them quarantscenes and aims to release one a week. SENT: 600 words, photos.

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SPORTS

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TEN--DJOKOVIC EVENT-VIRUS CASES —Top-ranked tennis player Novak Djokovic announces that he and his wife have COVID-19 after he played in a series of exhibition matches he organized in Serbia and Croatia with zero social distancing amid the coronavirus pandemic. Raising questions about the full-fledged return of tennis, including the U.S. Open, planned for August, Djokovic — who stands third in the history of men’s tennis with 17 Grand Slam titles — is the fourth player to test positive for the illness after participating in the matches held in Belgrade and Zadar, Croatia. SENT: 600 words, photos.

BBO--VIRUS OUTBREAK-MLB — Major League Baseball asked the players’ union to respond by 5 p.m. whether it will agree to health protocols for a 60-game regular season and whether players will agree to report for training by July 1. By Baseball Writer Ronald Blum. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos by 9 p.m.

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HOW TO REACH US

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At the Nerve Center, Richard A. Somma can be reached at 800-845-8450 (ext. 1600). For photos, Courtney Dittmar ext. 1900. For graphics and interactives, ext. 7636. Expanded AP content can be obtained from http://newsroom.ap.org. For access to AP Newsroom and other technical issues, contact apcustomersupport(at)ap.org or call 877-836-9477.