AP News Digest 2:10 p.m.

Election 2020 California Votes Photo Gallery (Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

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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TOP STORIES

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ELECTION 2020 — President Donald Trump is appealing to voters in the closing days of the election with the promise of getting the country “back to normal” after a devastating pandemic and months of economic misery. It’s a tantalizing message eschewed by his rival, Democrat Joe Biden who is promising to “level” with the nation about tough days ahead even if he wins. By Zeke Miller, Alexandra Jaffe and Thomas Beaumont. SENT: 1,040 words. UPCOMING: 1,050 words by 4 p.m., with updates from Trump events at 4 p.m. and 6:45 p.m., Biden events at 4:45 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., photos video, audio. With: ELECTION 2020-THE LATEST, developing.

ELECTION 2020-BIDEN-IOWA — Joe Biden faltered in the February Iowa caucuses, but he returns to the state as the Democratic presidential nominee, believing he’s just days away from becoming president-elect. By Alexandra Jaffe. UPCOMING: 780 words by 4 p.m., photos.

ELECTION 2020-TEXAS — Texans have already cast more ballots in the presidential election than they did during all of 2016, an unprecedented surge of early voting in a state that was once the country’s most reliably Republican, but may now be drifting toward battleground status. By Will Weissert and Paul Weber. SENT: 794 words, photos.

Find more coverage on the 2020 U.S. Elections featured topic page in AP Newsroom.

VIRUS OUTBREAK — The current phase of the virus outbreak in the U.S. has marked an abrupt departure from earlier when leaders took aggressive action to require masks, impose stay-at-home orders and close bars and restaurants. With hospitalizations, cases and deaths setting records across the Midwest and Rockies, governors this time around have shown little willingness to take such measures, reflecting the conservative leanings and virus fatigue among their residents. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos by 4:30 p.m.

CONSUMER SPENDING — U.S. consumers increased their spending by 1.4% in September, a modest gain but far less than the big increases of late spring, adding to concerns that Americans remain cautious with the viral pandemic resurging across the country and impeding the economy. By Martin Crutsinger. SENT: 400 words, photo.

WESTERN-GRAY-WOLF-25-YEARS — Wolves have repopulated the mountains and forests of the American West with remarkable speed since their reintroduction 25 years ago, expanding to more than 300 packs in six states. Now voters in Colorado are poised to give the predators another boost in their rebound from extinction in the region last century, through an initiative that would reintroduce them on the state’s Western Slope. Cattle ranchers and hunting guides see the return of wolves as a threat to their industries. By Matthew Brown, James Anderson and Christina Larson. SENT: 1,460 words, photos. An abridged version is also available.

FBC--T25-CLEMSON-REPLACING LAWRENCE — With Trevor Lawrence out with the coronavirus, top-ranked Clemson turns to freshman quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei against Boston College on Saturday. The Tigers, however, do not lack for star power. They have another Heisman Trophy candidate in running back Travis Etienne. By Pete Iacobelli. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos by 4 p.m.

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WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

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NOT-REAL-NEWS — In the final days leading up to the U.S. election, social media users shared a range of false claims about the candidates. Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s tax plan would not raise taxes on a majority of Americans as social media posts stated, nor did he stop campaigning in-person. SENT: 2,110 words, photos.

COLLEGE ADMISSIONS BRIBERY — Authorities say “Full House” actress Lori Loughlin has reported to a federal prison in California to begin serving her two-month sentence for her role in the college admissions bribery scandal. SENT: 220 words, photo.

EBAY-EMPLOYEES-CYBERSTALKING — Two more former eBay Inc. employees have admitted to their roles in a campaign to terrorize a Massachusetts couple with threatening social media messages and disturbing deliveries of things like live spiders sent to their home. SENT: 240 words, photos.

FALL BACK — It’s time for a change for most of the United States. The clock is running out once more for daylight saving time. A new term begins for standard time at 2 a.m. local time Sunday. SENT: 200 words, photo.

MCRIB-THE-RETURN — McRib, the fast food sandwich that went viral before viral was a thing, is back. McDonald’s has announced that it was bringing its barbeque slathered sandwich with the cult following back nationwide starting Dec. 2, the first time in eight years it will be on the menu. SENT: 262 words, photo.

GERMANY-DRUGS-ONLINE — Germany shuts down Telegram-based drugs marketplaces. SENT: 100 words.

TURKEY-OBIT-YILMAZ — Former Turkish PM and veteran politician Mesut Yilmaz dies. SENT: 250 words, photos.

GERMANY-WIRECARD — Report: Fugitive tech boss was Austrian spy agency informant. SENT: 270 words, photo.

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MORE ON THE VIRUS OUTBREAK

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VIRUS-OUTBREAK-LEARNING-LOSS — Primary and secondary schools around the country are debating how important it is to measure what’s known as learning loss caused by pandemic-related closures. SENT: 1,420 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-NEW YORK-PREPAREDNESS — Like battle-hardened veterans, New York City hospitals and nursing homes are bracing for a potential resurgence of coronavirus patients, drawing on lessons learned in the spring when the outbreak brought the nation’s largest city to its knees. SENT: 970 words, photos, video.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-ANTIBODY DRUG — For the second time, a study testing an experimental antibody drug for COVID-19 has been paused to investigate a possible safety issue in hospitalized patients. SENT: 440 words, photo.

SWM--ITALY-VIRUS CASES — Much of the Italian swimming team has been locked in tiny hotel rooms in the Alps for nearly two weeks with the coronavirus. Olympic medal contender Gabriele Detti says training camp has become “a bit like home arrest.” SENT: 900 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-BELGIUM — Belgian coronavirus cases have continued their record rise ahead of a government meeting to consider even tougher restrictions on movements that would amount to a quasi-lockdown. SENT: 250 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-ASIA — Japan’s coronavirus cases have topped 100,000, nine months after the first case was found in mid-January, the health ministry says. SENT: 720 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-PANDEMIC LEARNING-PHOTO GALLERY — When New York schools reopened in September it was anything but business as usual. With state guidelines for social distancing making it impossible for all students to attend classes in person at the same time, educators prepared for a hybrid model of instruction. SENT: 200 words, 25 photos.

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

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WASHINGTON/POLITICS

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ELECTION 2020-TRUMP RALLIES-END OF AN ERA — As President Donald Trump battles for reelection, what’s become a fixture of American politics for the last five years also hangs in the balance: the Trump campaign rally. The events have spawned friendships, businesses and a way of life for Trump’s most dedicated supporters, who have traveled the country to be part of what they describe as a movement that could outlive Trump’s presidency. By Jill Colvin. UPCOMING: 1100 words by 2:30 p.m., photos.

ELECTION 2020-RUSSIAN INTERFERENCE — Russian interference has been minimal so far in the most tempestuous U.S. presidential election in decades. But that doesn’t mean the Kremlin can’t inflict serious damage. The vulnerability of state and local government networks is a big worry. By Frank Bajak. SENT: 1090 words, photo.

ELECTION 2020-SUPREME COURT POLITICS — More than 70 million Americans have already voted in the presidential election, but President Donald Trump thinks he can count on one hand the votes that will determine the outcome. The Supreme Court, with three members appointed by Trump, has already been involved in election litigation and could be pulled into more. By Jessica Gresko and Mark Sherman. UPCOMING: 800 words by 4 p.m., photos.

ELECTION 2020-DC PROTESTS — Activists in the nation’s capital are conducting dozens of protest training sessions and gaming a wide variety of potential election scenarios, from an extended Supreme Court standoff to President Donald Trump summoning supporters and militias to the capital. By Ashraf Khalil. UPCOMING: 750 words by 4 p.m., photos.

ELECTION 2020-TEXAS-24-HOUR VOTING — The most populous county in Texas is making a concerted effort to increase voter turnout by offering eight 24-hour polling places. SENT: 800 words, photos.

2020-ELECTION-CUBANS-FOR-TRUMP — A Cuban salsa song is all the rage in Miami, where Cuban Americans form a powerful Republican voting bloc. SENT: 1,100 words, photos.

UNITED STATES-ASIA — U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo wraps up a five-nation, anti-China tour of Asia in Vietnam with a call for regional unity to counter Beijing’s growing assertiveness, as the fierce American presidential election race entered its final stretch. By Matthew Lee. SENT: 882 words, photos.

A separate wire advisory has moved outlining our complete Election 2020 coverage.

Find more coverage on the 2020 U.S. Elections featured topic page in AP Newsroom.

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NATIONAL

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TROPICAL WEATHER — Trees on top of buses and cars. Roofs ripped off homes. Boats pushed onto the highway by surging seawater. Hundreds of thousands of people left in the dark. The remnants of Hurricane Zeta were far from land over the Atlantic, but people across the South were still digging out from the powerful storm that killed six people. SENT: 840 words, photos.

POLICE SHOOTING-WISCONSIN — An Illinois judge says he will decide late Friday afternoon whether a 17-year-old accused of killing two demonstrators in Kenosha, Wisconsin, should be extradited across the border to stand trial on homicide charges. SENT: 730 words, photos.

KENNEDY COUSIN — A prosecutor has said that Kennedy cousin Michael Skakel will not face a second trial in the killing of Martha Moxley, an announcement that came 45 years to the day after the teenager was found bludgeoned to death in her wealthy Connecticut neighborhood. SENT: 610 words, photo.

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INTERNATIONAL

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FRANCE-ATTACK — Mourners lit candles and prayed silently to honor the three people killed in a French church by a young Tunisian extremist, as France heightened security at potential targets at home and abroad amid geopolitical tensions around published cartoons mocking the prophet of Islam. Tunisian anti-terrorism authorities have opened an investigation into a heretofore-unknown Tunisian extremist group in connection with the attack. By Angela Charlton and Daniel Cole. SENT: 890 words, photos. WITH: MIDEAST-FRANCE PROTESTS — Tens of thousands of Muslims, from Pakistan to Lebanon to the Palestinian territories, poured out of prayer services to join anti-France protests, as the French president’s vow to protect the right to caricature the Prophet Muhammad continues to roil the Muslim world. SENT: 1,050 words, photos.

TURKEY-EARTHQUAKE — A strong earthquake in the Aegean Sea between the Turkish coast and the Greek island of Samos collapsed buildings in western Turkey, killing 14 people and injuring over 400. Earthquake officials said a small tsunami struck the Seferisar district south of Izmir. SENT: 700 words. UPCOMING: Developing.

IVORY-COAST-ELECTION — Opposition activists are threatening to block access to polling stations Saturday in an effort to disrupt the presidential election in Ivory Coast, where incumbent Alassane Ouattara is seeking a controversial third term after nearly a decade in power. SENT: 790 words, photos.

EX-NISSAN BOSS-ESCAPE-ARRESTS — U.S. Department of Justice lawyers have urged a judge to deny a bid to block the extradition of two American men wanted in Japan for helping former Nissan Motor Co. boss Carlos Ghosn sneak out of the country in a box. SENT: 570 words, photos.

POLAND-ABORTION — Women’s rights activists are preparing for what they say will be the largest protest so far in over a week of mass nationwide street demonstrations in Poland. The street demonstrations have been triggered by a top court ruling banning abortions of congenitally damaged fetuses. SENT: 550 words, photos.

ELECTION 2020-CANADA — Canadians repeatedly absorbed President Trump’s insults against their prime minister and threats on their country’s trade policies. The unprecedented attacks on America’s closest ally left a bitter taste and most Canadians will be relieved if Trump is defeated in the election. SENT: 1,040 words, photos.

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BUSINESS/TECH

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FINANCIAL-MARKETS — Stocks have fallen again as Wall Street closes out a punishing week and its first back-to-back monthly loss since worries about the pandemic were peaking in March. The S&P 500 was 1.5% lower in afternoon trading and on pace for a 5.9% loss for the week, while the Dow was down more than 250 points. SENT: 830 words, photos.

CONSUMER SPENDING — U.S. consumers increased their spending by 1.4% in September, a modest gain but far less than the big increases of late spring, adding to concerns that Americans remain cautious with the viral pandemic resurging across the country and impeding the economy. By Martin Crutsinger. SENT: 400 words, photo.

THANKSGIVING-TURKEY PLANS — For the turkey industry, this Thanksgiving is a guessing game. Millions of Americans are expected to have scaled-down celebrations amid the pandemic, heeding official warnings against travel and large indoor gatherings. That leaves anxious turkey farmers and grocers scrambling to predict what people will want on their holiday tables. By Business Writer Dee-Ann Durbin. SENT: 930 words, photos.

EUROPE-ECONOMY — The European economy grew by an unexpectedly large 12.7% in the third quarter as companies reopened after severe coronavirus lockdowns, but the rebound is being overshadowed by worries that growing numbers of infections will cause a new downturn in the final months of the year. By David McHugh. SENT: 700 words, photos.

BRITAIN-UNEMPLOYMENT UNCERTAINTY — Hundreds of thousands of jobs hang in the balance as coronavirus cases surge in Britain and the government scales back its support for workers. By Pan Pylas. SENT: 860 words, photos.

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HEALTH & SCIENCE

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PLASTIC WASTE-HFR — The most comprehensive study of mismanaged plastic waste in the US finds that between 2.5 and 5 billion pounds of plastic in 2016 ended up as litter, dumped illegally or most likely shipped abroad and then mishandled. That’s as much as 15 pounds per person or the equivalent of more than 1,350 plastic grocery bags a year. It means the US is among the worst plastic waste managers in the world. By Seth Borenstein. UPCOMING: Hold For Release until 2:30 p.m.

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ENTERTAINMENT

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MUSIC-PARIS JACKSON — Paris Jackson has turned coping with the heartache of a recent break up into her debut solo album. The 22-year-old daughter of Michael Jackson has written 11 songs for the concept album “Wilted,” an ethereal acoustic sound which she calls alternative-folk. SENT: 720 words, photos.

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SPORTS

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BBN--METS SALE — Baseball owners are scheduled to vote on the proposed sale of the New York Mets from the Wilpon and Katz families to Steven Cohen. The deal values the team at more than $2.4 billion, a baseball record. UPCOMING: 500 words, photos. Meeting underway.

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HOW TO REACH US

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