AP News Digest 2:20 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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VIRUS OUTBREAK — Italy took a page from China’s playbook, locking down around 16 million people — more than a quarter of its population — for nearly a month to halt the relentless march of the new coronavirus across Europe. Weddings, museums, shopping malls, and even restaurants are all hit by the new restrictions. From Venice to Milan, confusion reigned as residents and tourists tried to figure out when and how the new measures were coming into effect. Travelers crammed aboard standing-room only trains, tucking their faces into scarves and sharing sanitizing gel. By Frances D'Emilio and Angela Charlton. SENT: 1,150 words, photos. With VIRUS OUTBREAK-THE LATEST (sent).
VIRUS OUTBREAK-ESCAPE FROM PADUA — I was out to dinner in the medieval city of Padua when the text messages and phone calls started pouring in: The last train out leaves at 11:31 p.m. Get back to Rome before the military blocks the roads. “The decree goes into effect at midnight. Hurry!” With those warnings, a weekend visiting my college-age daughter turned into a panicked, eight-hour overnight escape as the government sought to limit travel into and out of much of northern Italy, including Padua, in a bid to contain the coronavirus. By Trisha Thomas. SENT: 830 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-GLOBAL ECONOMY — Since breaking out of China, the coronavirus has breached the walls of the Vatican. It's struck the Iranian holy city of Qom and contaminated a nursing home in Seattle. And around the world, it's carrying not just sickness and death but also the nagging anxiety and paralysis that can smother economic growth. By Paul Wiseman. SENT: 1,320 words, photos.
Find more all-format coverage on the coronavirus outbreak featured topic page in AP Newsroom.
ELECTION 2020-SANDERS-YOUNG PEOPLE — Young voters have been Bernie Sanders' most enduring supporters as he tries to win the Democratic presidential nomination over Joe Biden. But those voters weren't enough for Sanders to stop Biden from leapfrogging him in the delegate count on Super Tuesday. According to AP VoteCast surveys of eight states, Sanders had support from 57% of voters under 30. But they made up just 15% of the vote. That's putting pressure on Sanders to broaden his appeal as the race moves this week to states such as Michigan. By Sara Burnett. SENT: 1,170 words, photos.
Find more coverage on the 2020 U.S. Elections featured topic page in AP Newsroom.
UNITED STATES-CHINA-UIGHURS — People from western China who are targets of a Chinese government crackdown say they’ve been threatened and harassed in the United States. Those fleeing the crackdown on the predominantly Muslim Uighur ethnic group typically receive U.S. asylum. But Uighurs tell The Associated Press and human rights groups they’re still afraid amid threats aimed at them and their families back in China. The Chinese government has denied claims it mistreats Uighurs in China and abroad. But the complaints of threats and harassment are credible enough that nearly all members of Congress from both parties back legislation that would require the FBI to help protect Uighurs. By Ben Fox and Christina Larson. SENT: 1,270 words, photos.
BRITAIN-ARTISTS VS SURVEILLANCE — Every month, a group of London artists paint their faces with randomly colored shapes and patterns aimed at defying facial recognition cameras. Then they lead a walk silent walk through various parts of the city to provoke discussion about the growing use of the controversial technology. By Business Writer Kelvin Chan. SENT: 710 words, photos. This is the Monday Spotlight.
ATLANTA STUDENT MOVEMENT — Sixty years have passed since Roslyn Pope came home from Europe to a segregated South and channeled her frustrations into writing “An Appeal for Human Rights.” The document she wrote as a Spelman College senior first appeared as a paid advertisement in Atlanta newspapers on March 9, 1960, and became a manifesto for college students challenging racial segregation. In an Associated Press interview, Pope said she's still frustrated about racial inequalities, and deeply concerned that her generation's achievements are slipping away. By Michael Warren. SENT: 900 words, photos. With AP WAS THERE-ATLANTA STUDENT MOVEMENT, ATLANTA-STUDENT MOVEMENT-PHOTO GALLERY (both sent)
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MED-VIRUS OUTBREAK-VACCINE RACE — Dozens of research groups around the world are racing to create a vaccine as coronavirus cases continue to grow. Early work in labs and in animals looks promising, and researchers hope to start first-step safety tests in young, healthy volunteers soon. Still, experts warn it likely will be more than a year before vaccines are ready for widespread use. By Lauran Neergaard. SENT: 1,280 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-US — A cruise ship hit by the new coronavirus is headed to the port of Oakland, California, the captain told passengers, though they were destined to stay aboard the ship for at least another day. By Daisy Nguyen and Janie Har. SENT: 790 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-CAMPAIGN — As the coronavirus hits more states, Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders says his campaign is gauging when it may become necessary to cancel the large campaign rallies that public health experts say could be breeding grounds to spread the potentially deadly illness. As health officials note that the average age of death for people from the virus is 80, while for those needing medical attention, it is 60, neither President Trump nor his two remaining major Democratic rivals have cut back on big campaign events. Each candidate is in his 70s. By Will Weissert and Hope Yen. SENT: 680 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-NURSING HOMES — From Miami to Seattle, nursing homes and other facilities for the elderly are stockpiling masks and thermometers, preparing for staff shortages and screening visitors to protect a particularly vulnerable population from the coronavirus. SENT: 870 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-NATION'S CAPITAL — A prominent Episcopal church in Washington is suspending all activities after announcing that its rector is the first person in the nation’s capital to test positive for the coronavirus. SENT: 550 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-TRAVEL ADVICE — The White House overrules health officials who wanted to recommend that elderly and physically fragile Americans be advised not to fly on commercial airlines because of the new coronavirus, a federal official tells The Associated Press. SENT: 900 words, photo.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-MIDEAST — Formula One's Bahrain Grand Prix will run this month without spectators as the island kingdom fights an outbreak of the new coronavirus, organizers announced Sunday. Mideast stock markets fell sharply amid a plummeting demand for crude oil. By Jon Gambrell. SENT: 970 words, photos. With VIRUS OUTBREAK-HOLY LAND — A group of Christian pilgrims from Alabama is turning to prayer and positive thinking as they cope with an open-ended coronavirus quarantine, confined to their West Bank hotel rooms while they wait for clearance to return to the United States. SENT: 740 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-CHINA-HOTEL COLLAPSE — At least 10 people were killed in the collapse of Chinese hotel that was being used to isolate people who had arrived from other parts of China hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak, authorities say. SENT: 330 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-EMPTY STADIUMS — As U.S. sports leagues weigh whether to bar fans from ballparks and stadiums to help stall the coronavirus outbreak, San Francisco Giants pitcher Jeff Samardzija can tell them exactly what that looks like. He pitched for the Chicago White Sox in a 2015 game played without fans in Baltimore due to civil unrest in the city. “It’s not very fun,” he said. By Jake Seiner. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos by 6 p.m.
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CLEVELAND SHOOTING — Police: 1 killed, 17 wounded in Cleveland party shooting, SENT: 170 words.
ALPINE AVALANCHES — 6 killed in Alpine avalanches in Austria. SENT: 130 words.
YOGA BAN-ALABAMA — Alabama lawmakers might lift a decades old ban on yoga in public schools, though the bill would keep the greeting “namaste” on the forbidden list. SENT: 150 words.
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ELECTION 2020-DEMOCRATS — Joe Biden worships at a predominantly African American church in Mississippi and Bernie Sanders campaign in Michigan. Those are among the six states voting Tuesday in the Democratic presidential primary. SENT: 510 words, photos. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos by 5 p.m.
ELECTION 2020-ENDORSEMENT — Kamala Harris becomes latest dropout from the Democratic presidential race to endorse Joe Biden. Bernie Sanders picks up the support of Jesse Jackson. SENT: 500 words, photos.
TRUMP-ST. PATRICK'S DAY — The White House says President Donald Trump will skip an annual bipartisan St. Patrick's Day lunch at the Capitol and blamed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. SENT: 400 words, photo.
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MIDEAST-SAUDI-ARRESTS — Saudi Arabia's King Salman was shown in state media in apparent good health and working, just days after the arrest of two senior princes triggered speculation about a possible coup attempt or a sudden deterioration in the king's health. Two people close to the royal family said Saturday that the two princes were under arrest for not supporting Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. SENT: 920 words, photo.
ISRAEL-POLITICS — Israel's parliament beefed up the security detail protecting Benny Gantz, the main electoral challenger to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after deeming various death threats against Gantz to be credible. The threats came in the wake of last week's volatile and inconclusive election, in which Netanyahu was unable to capture the parliamentary majority needed to form a government. SENT: 670 words, photos.
GREECE-TURKEY-MIGRANTS — A fire broke out at a refugee center on the Greek island of Lesbos, causing considerable damage to a warehouse but no injuries. Saturday's fire was the second blaze at an installation built for migrants. It came amid a tense standoff between between Turkey and the European Union over sharing responsibility for millions of migrants and refugees on Turkish territory. SENT: 710 words, photos.
BRITAIN-ROYAL FAREWELL — It’s definitely a farewell. But will it be fond? Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, will fulfill their final royal commitment when they appear Monday at the annual Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey in London. It's the last time they will be seen at work with the entire royal Windsor clan before they fly off into self-imposed exile in North America. SENT: 1,250 words, photos.
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY — From the streets of Manila to a school in East London, people around the world marked International Women’s Day with calls to end exploitation and increase equality. But tensions marred some celebrations, with police arresting demonstrators at a rally in Kyrgyzstan and separatists detonating a bomb during a ceremony in Cameroon. No one was hurt in the attack. SENT: 400 words, photos.
ETHIOPIA PLANE CRASH — When air safety investigators release an interim report on the crash of an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 Max sometime before Tuesday, they are likely to place the blame on the jet’s automated flight control system as well as on the pilots and their training. SENT: 850 words, photos.
NETHERLANDS-UKRAINE-PLANE — The families of people killed when a missile shot down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014 set out 298 white chairs outside the Russian Embassy in a silent protest against Moscow’s lack of cooperation in the investigation into the downing of the passenger jet. SENT: 650 words, photos.
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CONFEDERATE MONUMENTS-VIRGINIA — Some of Virginia's scores of Confederate monuments could soon be removed. The Democratic-led House and Senate have passed measures that would undo an existing state law that protects the monuments and instead lets local governments decide their fate. The bill's passage marks the latest turn in Virginia's long-running debate over how its history should be told in public spaces. SENT: 720 words, photos.
MARIJUANA-PINE RIDGE — Members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe will vote this week on legalizing medical and recreational marijuana on South Dakota's Pine Ridge Reservation in an initiative that many hope will bring economic development to one of the most impoverished areas in the country. SENT: 610 words, photo. With SWEAT LODGE SHUTDOWN — Some Native Americans in Fargo, North Dakota, are hoping to find a new location for a communal sweat lodge because city leaders shuttered the one that tribal members had been using for a decade. SENT: 900 words, photos.
HISTORIC ROUTE 20 — A national group is hoping to encourage travelers to visit small towns along the old Route 20 highway with a historic designation. SENT: 730 words, photos.
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FILM-BOX OFFICE — North American audiences are not staying away from theaters amid virus concerns, according to the weekend’s box office numbers. Disney and Pixar’s “Onward” topped the charts as expected and the Ben Affleck basketball drama “The Way Back” also opened normally. SENT: 640 words, photo.
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YESHIVA BASKETBALL-ADVANCES — Yeshiva University beat Penn State Harrisburg 102-83 to reach the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Division III Tournament for the first time in the history of the Jewish Orthodox institution. SENT: 610 words, photos.
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