AP News Digest 2 p.m.
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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ELECTION 2020 — New York billionaire Mike Bloomberg suspends his presidential campaign and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren reassesses her candidacy after Super Tuesday primaries that fueled Joe Biden’s resurgence in the Democrats’ 2020 nomination fight. Rival Bernie Sanders seizes the biggest prize with a win in California, ensuring that he and Biden will drive the contest for the foreseeable future. By Steve Peoples and Will Weissert. SENT: 1250 words. UPCOMING: Developing, 1200 words by 5 p.m., photos, video, audio.
ELECTION 2020-WOMEN — Democratic women voters across the country are coming to terms with a new, and for some a painful reality: The top of the ticket seems certain to be male. If 2019 was the Year of the Woman, with a record number of women sworn into Congress and then a record number launching presidential campaigns, 2020 is another Year of the Man. By Jocelyn Noveck. UPCOMING: 800 words by 5 p.m., photos.
ELECTION 2020-TRUMP — As Joe Biden surges and Mike Bloomberg folds, perhaps the most interested political analyst is watching from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. President Donald Trump is recalibrating his reelection campaign strategy, eager to sow dissension among Bernie Sanders’ backers and zero in on Biden’s vulnerabilities. By Jonathan Lemire and Zeke Miller. UPCOMING: 900 words by 5 p.m., photos, video.
Find more coverage on the 2020 U.S. Elections featured topic page in AP Newsroom.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK-OUTLOOK — Declining coronavirus cases in China offer a glimmer of hope that the global outbreak can be contained, but whether that can happen anytime soon without drastic measures remains to be seen, public health authorities say. By Lindsey Tanner. UPCOMING: 950 words. WITH: MED--VIRUS OUTBREAK-DEATH Q&A — Virus death rate still uncertain as mild cases are missed. SENT: 915 words, photos.
Find more all-format coverage on the coronavirus outbreak featured topic page in AP Newsroom.
SUPREME COURT-ABORTION — The Supreme Court appears divided in its first major abortion case of the Trump era, leaving Chief Justice John Roberts as the likely deciding vote. Roberts did not say enough to tip his hand in an hour of spirited arguments. By Mark Sherman. SENT: 735 words. UPCOMING: 790 words by 4 p.m., photos, video.
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MORE ON 2020 ELECTION
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ELECTION 2020-BLOOMBERG — Over the course of 101 days Michael Bloomberg spent over $500 million of his own fortune in a quixotic bid for the presidency that collapsed in stunning fashion Tuesday night, when he won just one U.S. territory, American Samoa. SENT: 830 words. UPCOMING: Developing from mid-afternoon Bloomberg event, 920 words by 5:30 p.m., photos, video.
ELECTION 2020-WARREN — Elizabeth Warren huddles with her campaign advisers to determine if there was a reason to stay in the race after her Super Tuesday wipe-out and a tepid weak third in her home state of Massachusetts. SENT: 590 words. UPCOMING: Developing, time uncertain.
ELECTION 2020-SANDERS’ CEILING — A closer look at AP's VoteCast data suggests Sanders may have hit a ceiling of support --- and what that means for his candidacy moving to the next round of primary voting. UPCOMING: 790 words by 6 p.m., photos.
ELECTION 2020-MONEY — Joe Biden's Super Tuesday wins are fueling a big influx of needed campaign cash, and Mike Bloomberg's endorsement could mean huge support with ad spending. UPCOMING: 800 words by 5 p.m., photo.
ELECTION 2020-RELIEVED DEMOCRATS — Mainstream Democrats rejoice over Joe Biden's rousing Super Tuesday performance that bolstered his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination, easing worries over the havoc they fear awaits down-ticket moderates should Sen. Bernie Sanders become the party's standard-bearer. SENT: 628 words, photo.
ELECTION 2020-VOTING-TEXAS - Voters hoping to cast ballots in Texas’ Democratic primary endured hours-long wait times or had to switch polling places, problems that mostly affected minorities in urban counties. A voting-rights group said some people were so discouraged they gave up and didn’t cast a ballot. UPCOMING: 900 words, photos by 5 p.m.
ELECTION 2020- CALIFORNIA - A surge in voters, same-day registration and new voting machines in the most populous county in the nation, all meant to make it easier to vote, led to long lines and frustration in California’s primary, which was moved up from June to give voters more say in the primary process. UPCOMING: 700 words by 4 p.m.
ELECTION 2020-VOTECAST — Many Democratic voters in Super Tuesday's presidential primaries made up their minds just before casting a ballot — a sign of fluidity in a race recently upended by Joe Biden's blowout in South Carolina. SENT: 840 words, photos. With ELECTION 2020-VOTECAST-STATE SNAPSHOT — What matters to voters in Super Tuesday states.
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MORE ON VIRUS OUTBREAK
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VIRUS-OUTBREAK — Saudi Arabia banned citizens from performing the Muslim pilgrimage in Mecca, Italy ordered schools to close nationwide and Iran canceled Friday prayers for a second week as nations scrambled Wednesday to control the coronavirus outbreak. SENT: 1,250 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-CONGRESS — Capitol Hill negotiators reach agreement on an $8.3 billion measure to battle the coronavirus outbreak that's spreading and threatening a major shock to the economy and disruptions to everyday life in the U.S. A House vote is expected later Wednesday, and Senate leaders want a vote before week’s end. SENT: 390 words. UPCOMING: Developing, timing of House vote uncertain, 790 words by 5 p.m., photos, video.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-HAND SANITIZER-SHORTAGE — Fear of the coronavirus has led people to stock up on hand sanitizer, leaving store shelves empty and online retailers with sky-high prices set by those trying to profit on the rush. SENT: 875 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-MIDEAST - The coronavirus outbreak disrupted Islamic worship in the Middle East as Saudi Arabia banned its citizens and other residents of the kingdom from performing the pilgrimage in Mecca, while Iran canceled Friday prayers in major cities. SENT: 1,060 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-ECONOMY — Jerome Powell is confronting his stiffest test yet as head of the Federal Reserve in an atmosphere vastly altered from what his predecessors faced. It makes an uncertain situation even more challenging. SENT: 1,200 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-TRAVEL — A steep drop in business trips is dealing a gut punch to a travel industry already reeling from the virus outbreak. SENT: 970 words, photos. WITH: VIRUS OUTBREAK-TRAVEL POLICIES — What to know if you're planning a trip. SENT: 735 words, photos.
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WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
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TV-ALEX TREBEK — Alex Trebek marked his one-year battle against pancreatic cancer with candor about how hard it’s been and a vow to keep going. SENT: 310 words, photo.
FILM-JAMES BOND-CORONAVIRUS — The release of the James Bond film “No Time To Die” has been pushed back several months because of concerns about coronavirus and its impact on the global theatrical marketplace. SENT: 275 words, photo.
TWITTER-DISAPPEARING TWEETS - Twitter is starting to test tweets that disappear after 24 hours, although initially only in Brazil. SENT: 320 words.
TUMOR-NEW JERSEY-GOVERNOR — New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy will undergo surgery to remove what he has said is probably a cancerous tumor on his kidney. SENT: 140 words.
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PBS-HOST FIRED-LAWSUIT — A jury has found former television talk show host Tavis Smiley, who was fired amid allegations of workplace sexual misconduct at the height of the #MeToo movement, must pay about $1.5 million to his former employer the Public Broadcasting Service. SENT: 370 words, photo.
MELANIA TRUMP — Melania Trump draws parallels between her youth welfare initiative and the efforts of a group of women from around the world receiving the State Department's International Women of Courage Award. SENT: 250 words, photo, video.
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MIDEAST-SYRIA SUMMIT - A summit between the Turkish and Russian leaders may be the last chance to work out a deal that avoids further calamity in Syria’s northwest. Faced with mounting losses for his troops in Syria's Idlib province and a potential wave of refugees fleeing the fighting, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is eager for a cease-fire, and Vladimir Putin is ready to bargain. SENT: 1,025 words, photos.
SYRIA — Two more Turkish soldiers were killed in a Syrian government attack in Syria's northwest, the country's Defense Ministry said, as steady clashes between the two national armies continued to rack up casualties. SENT: 680 words, photo.
TURKEY-GREECE - Greek authorities fired tear gas and stun grenades to drive away a crowd of migrants making a push to cross the border from Turkey, as pressure on Greece continued after Turkey declared its previously guarded gateways to Europe open. SENT: 1,145 words, photos.
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SEVERE WEATHER-TENNESSEE —Billy Dyer's cellphone blared out an emergency alert, then his wife Kathy's phone followed, giving them just enough time to get downstairs and flip on a TV to check the news. Then the tornado hit. When the sun rose, the Dyers emerged to find the walls around their corner bedroom gone. Their mattress was perched precariously on their bed's headboard, with only sky all around. SENT: 835 words, photos, video.
FOOD-STAMPS — From Hawaii to Pennsylvania, states are scrambling to curb the impact of a new Trump administration rule that could cause nearly 700,000 people to lose food stamp benefits. SENT: 1,260 words, photos.
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HEALTH/SCIENCE
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MED--GENETIC FRONTIERS-GENE EDITING-BLINDNESS — Scientists say they have used the gene editing tool CRISPR inside someone's body for the first time, a new frontier for efforts to operate on DNA, the chemical code of life, to treat diseases. SENT: 900 words, photos.
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FINANCIAL MARKETS — Stocks marched sharply higher, clawing back much of their sharp losses from the day before, as Wall Street's wild, virus-fueled swings extend into a third week.Health care stocks led the market's spurt after a strong performance by Joe Biden in state primaries on Tuesday moved him to top-tier status for the Democratic presidential nomination. SENT: 975 words, photos.
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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, Phil Holm (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.