AP News Digest 3:55 a.m.
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ONLY ON AP
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VIRUS OUTBREAK-CDC SIDELINED — The Trump White House has installed two political operatives at the nation’s top public health agency to try to control the information it releases about the coronavirus pandemic as the administration seeks to paint a positive outlook, sometimes at odds with the scientific evidence. By Jason Dearen, Mike Stobbe and Richard Lardner. SENT: 1,780 words photos. An abridged version of 1,010 words is also available.
DEA-DISCRIMINATION-CLAIMS — An Associated Press investigation found the Drug Enforcement Administration has received a string of recent discrimination complaints at its Quantico, Virginia, training academy, including allegations a white firearms instructor took to a loudspeaker to taunt Black trainees with “monkey noises.” Other trainees say they were held to a higher standard than whites. The complaints come as the DEA has struggled to bring diversity to its ranks. By Jim Mustian. SENT: 1,100 words, photos.
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TOP STORIES
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ELECTION 2020 — President Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden square off, in a way, in dueling televised town halls that showcase striking differences in temperament, views on racial justice and approaches to the pandemic that has reshaped the nation. By Jonathan Lemire, Will Weissert and Darlene Superville. SENT: 1,150 words, photos, video. With ELECTION 2020-FACT CHECK — Questionable claims on the economy, election fraud, crime.
SUPREME COURT-TRUMP — Controversial Trump administration policies on the census, asylum seekers and the border wall, held illegal by lower courts, are on the Supreme Court’s agenda. The most pressing case is the administration’s appeal to be allowed to exclude people living in the U.S. illegally from the nationwide census. By Mark Sherman and Jessica Gresko. SENT: 550 words.
ELECTION 2020-EARLY VOTE — A record-setting amount of early voting has changed the 2020 election. More than 17 million people have voted so far, which is about 12% of all votes cast in 2016. Experts predict there may be higher turnout in this election than in any presidential contest since 1908. By Nicholas Riccardi and Angeliki Kastanis. SENT: 1,080 words, photo.
Find more coverage on the 2020 U.S. Elections featured topic page in AP Newsroom.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK — Italy has two weeks to stop the rising rate of transmission of coronavirus or it risks “following in the footsteps” of European neighbors where exponential spreads have ushered back harsh restrictions, a virologist on the front lines says. Italian health officials have declared that the resurgence of COVID-19 has reached an “acute phase.” By Colleen Barry. SENT: 420 words, photos.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK-BRITAIN-NORTH-VS-SOUTH — Liverpool, the English port city that gave the world the Beatles, weathered decades of industrial decline before becoming a celebrated symbol of urban renewal. Now, the coronavirus is putting the city’s hard-won revival in jeopardy and raising tensions between the north of England and the wealthier south. By Jill Lawless. SENT: 1,180 words, photos.
MICHIGAN-GOVERNOR-KIDNAPPING-PLOT — Five of the men accused in a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will return to federal court as a hearing on whether there is enough evidence to charge them continues. SENT: 360 words, photos. UPCOMING: Hearing at 10 a.m.
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MORE ON THE VIRUS OUTBREAK
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VIRUS-OUTBREAK-HAWAII-TRAVEL-TESTING — About 8,000 people landed in Hawaii on the first day of a pre-travel testing program that allowed travelers to come to the islands without quarantining for two weeks if they could produce a negative coronavirus test. SENT: 990 words, photos, videos.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK-ASIA — Australia’s largest city Sydney lifts quarantine restrictions on travelers from New Zealand while the second largest city, Melbourne, marks the 100th day of one of the world’s longest pandemic lockdowns. SENT: 910 words, photos. With VIRUS OUTBREAK-THE LATEST.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK-LIVES-LOST-INMATE — Lives Lost: A woman of uncommon kindness, unshackled again. By National Writer Matt Sedensky. SENT: 1,110 words, photos.
Find more coverage on the Virus Outbreak on the featured topic page in AP Newsroom.
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WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT
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VIRUS OUTBREAK-TRUMP-CHRISTIE — Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says he was wrong not to wear mask in White House. SENT: 270 words, photos.
POLICE-SHOOTING-WISCONSIN — Illinois defends plan to send teen to Wisconsin in two deaths. SENT: 220 words, photos.
STOLEN-LEMUR — Lemur located after break-in at San Francisco Zoo. SENT: 180 words, photos.
PUERTO RICO-US-FATAL FALL — Grandfather pleads guilty in Puerto Rico cruise ship death. SENT: 340 words.
TARZAN-ACTOR-SON-KILLED — “Tarzan” actor challenges DA report in son’s shooting death. SENT: 280 words.
ELECTION-2020-TRUMP-SUPER-PAC — GOP megadonor Sheldon Adelson, wife finance anti-Biden group. SENT: 860 words, photos.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK-SUNY-ONEONTA — After COVID-19 outbreak, SUNY Oneonta president departs. SENT: 180 words.
CANADA-COLD-CASE-KILLING — Canadian police identify man who killed girl 36 years ago. SENT: 250 words.
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WASHINGTON/ POLITICS
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TRUMP-PRESCRIPTION DISCOUNT CARDS — Trump’s plan to mail millions of seniors a $200 prescription savings card hits legal and budget roadblocks, making it unlikely the government can carry it out before Election Day. SENT: 740 words, photo.
ELECTION-2020-BLACK-VOTERS — A group of U.S. Black scholars, activists and writers has launched a new project to combat misleading information online around voting, reparations and immigration. SENT: 310 words, photos.
ELECTION-2020-DUELING-TOWN-HALLS — Instead of the expected debate between Trump and Biden, television viewers were left with what an ABC anchor called “split-screen America.” By Media Writer David Bauder. SENT: 510 words, photos.
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INTERNATIONAL
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INDIA-AIR POLLUTION — The Indian capital’s air quality levels plunged to “very poor” and a smoggy haze settled over the city, days after the state government initiated stricter measures to fight chronic air pollution. SENT: 420 words, photos.
THAILAND-PROTESTS — Authorities in Thailand have filed the most severe charges yet in connection with ongoing pro-democracy demonstrations, charging two men under an article of the law covering violence against the queen. SENT: 540 words, photos.
MEXICO-GENERAL-ARRESTED — Former Mexican defense secretary Gen. Salvador Cienfuegos, who led the country’s army for six years under ex-President Enrique Peña Nieto, has been arrested on drug trafficking and money laundering charges at Los Angeles International Airport, U.S. and Mexican sources say. SENT: 570 words, photos.
NEW ZEALAND-ELECTION REFERENDUMS — New Zealanders are poised to decide on two landmark social issues during an upcoming election: whether to legalize recreational marijuana and whether to legalize euthanasia. SENT: 490 words, photos.
MALAYSIA-POLITICS — Malaysia’s opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim is set to be questioned by police over his claim that he has a list of lawmakers supporting his bid to oust the government. SENT: 420 words, photos.
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NATIONAL
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CALIFORNIA-WILDFIRES — Thousands of people in Northern California remain without power after a utility cut off service to prevent powerful winds from damaging equipment and sparking wildfires amid a fall heat wave. SENT: 650 words, photos.
PORTLAND-PROTESTS-LAWSUIT — Two U.S. cities have sued the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Justice Department, alleging that the agencies are overstepping constitutional limits in their use of federal law enforcement officers to tamp down on protests. SENT: 630 words, photos.
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BUSINESS/TECH
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SOCIAL MEDIA-LIMITING BIDEN STORY — When Facebook and Twitter moved quickly this week to limit the spread of an unverified political story published by the conservative-leaning New York Post, it led to predictable cries of censorship from the right. But it also illustrated the slippery hold even the largest tech companies have on the flow of information, particularly in the midst of a raucous presidential election campaign. By Technology Writer Barbara Ortutay. SENT: 660 words, photo. With YOUTUBE-QANON — YouTube follows Twitter and Facebook with QAnon crackdown.
FINANCIAL-MARKETS — Asian shares were mixed as investors weighed concerns about the U.S. presidential election and an economic stimulus package, on top of flaring outbreaks of coronavirus. By Business Writer Yuri Kageyama. SENT: 590 words, photos.
CRUISE-NO-HUMANS — General Motors’ Cruise autonomous vehicle unit says it will pull the human backup drivers from its vehicles in San Francisco by the end of the year. By Auto Writer Tom Krisher. SENT: 350 words, photo.
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