AP News Digest 4 a.m.

APTOPIX Supreme Court Barrett (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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ONLY ON AP

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VIRUS-OUTBREAK-NEVADA-UAE-CHINA — U.S. diplomats and security officials privately warned the state of Nevada not to use Chinese-made coronavirus test kits donated by the United Arab Emirates over concerns about patient privacy, test accuracy and Chinese government involvement, documents obtained by The Associated Press show. By Jon Gambrell and Michelle L. Price. SENT: 1,970 words photos. An abridged version of 960 words is available.

WILDFIRES-DEADLY SMOKE — Wildfires churning out dense plumes of smoke as they scorch huge swaths of the U.S. West Coast have exposed millions of people to hazardous pollution levels, causing emergency room visits to spike and potentially thousands of deaths among the elderly and infirm, according to an Associated Press analysis of pollution data and interviews with physicians, health authorities and researchers. By Matthew Brown and Camille Fassett. SENT: 1,980 words, photos, video. Also see CALIFORNIA-WILDFIRES below.

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TOP STORIES

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ELECTION 2020 — President Donald Trump and challenger Joe Biden compete for TV audiences in dueling town hall meetings. Instead of meeting face-to-face in their second debate, as scheduled, they’ll be in different cities on different networks: Trump’s in Miami on NBC, Biden’s in Philadelphia on ABC. By Zeke Miller, Bill Barrow and Aamer Madhani. SENT: 1,050 words, photos, video. UPCOMING: Town halls begin at 8 p.m.

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

SUPREME COURT-BARRETT — The Senate Judiciary Committee is poised to take the first steps toward approving Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett following two long days of Senate testimony in which she stressed that she would be her own judge and sought to create distance between herself and past positions. By Mark Sherman, Lisa Mascaro and Mary Clare Jalonick. SENT: 1,070 words, photos, video. UPCOMING: 990 words after meeting begins at 9 a.m. With SUPREME COURT-BARRETT-CLIMATE CHANGE — Barrett deflects senators’ questions on climate change.

VIRUS-OUTBREAK-ROMA-RESTRICTIONS — Human rights activists and experts say local officials in several European countries with significant Roma populations have used the pandemic to unlawfully target the minority group. By Maria Cheng and Teodora Barzakova. SENT: 1,140 words, photos.

POSTAL-SERVICE-STATES-LAWSUIT — The U.S. Postal Service agrees to reverse changes that slowed mail service nationwide. The changes included reduced retail hours, and removal of collection boxes and mail sorting machines. The agreement also requires the Postal Service to prioritize election mail. By Iris Samuels. SENT: 440 words, photo. Also see EXPLAINING-ELECTION-2020-POSTAL-SERVICE below.

THAILAND-PROTESTS — Thai authorities declare a strict new state of emergency for the capital, a day after a student-led protest against the country’s traditional establishment saw an extraordinary moment in which demonstrators heckled a royal motorcade. By Grant Peck and Chris Blake. SENT: 990 words, photos.

VIRUS-OUTBREAK-KANSAS — Rural areas in Kansas are seeing large spikes in coronavirus cases, and Gove County in the northwestern part of the state has been among the hardest hit. By Andy Tsubasa Field and John Hanna. SENT: 1,000 words, photos.

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MORE ON THE VIRUS OUTBREAK

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VIRUS OUTBREAK-INDIA-CINEMAS REOPEN — After seven months of total blackout, cinemas reopen in several parts of India with few older titles on the marquee and shows limited to half the capacity. SENT: 610 words, photos.

VIRUS-OUTBREAK-VIRAL-QUESTIONS-FLU — The flu vaccine doesn’t affect chances of getting COVID-19. SENT: 250 words, graphic.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-CHINA — Two health officials in the northern Chinese city of Qingdao have been fired after China’s latest coronavirus outbreak, authorities say. SENT: 290 words, photos.

VIRUS-OUTBREAK-BELGIUM — One of Belgium’s main universities is moving to online education whenever possible and another is getting ready to follow suit because the coronavirus is continuing to soar across the nation that hosts the European Union headquarters. SENT: 240 words, photos.

VIRUS-OUTBREAK-ASIA — South Korea has reported 110 new cases of the coronavirus, half of them linked to a hospital in Busan. SENT: 380 words, photos. With VIRUS-OUTBREAK-THE-LATEST.

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-MELANIA-TRUMP — First lady: Son Barron had coronavirus, but no symptoms. SENT: 610 words, photos.

RUDOLPH AUCTION — Rudolph and his nose-so-bright into auction will take flight. SENT: 410 words, photos.

STOLEN-LEMUR — Lemur missing after break-in at San Francisco Zoo. SENT: 130 words, photo.

BAD-HOMBRES — “Bad Hombres” film uses baseball to show the game of borders. SENT: 430 words, photos.

BABY REMOVED FROM WOMB — Suspect in pregnant woman’s slaying removed to Texas jail. SENT: 200 words, photos.

MEXICO-MAYA TRAIN — Mexico experts find 2,000 ruin sites near Maya train route. SENT: 470 words, photo.

PETRIFIED FOREST NATIONAL PARK — Researchers discover fossils of new species in Arizona. SENT: 170 words.

HONG-KONG-JIMMY-LAI — Hong Kong police raids outspoken media tycoon’s office. SENT: 290 words, photos.

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WASHINGTON/ POLITICS

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ELECTION 2020-BIDEN-AP EXPLAINS — A simmering storyline involving Joe Biden and Ukraine resurrects itself in the pages of the New York Post. What is known and not known about the bizarre saga. SENT: 850 words, photos.

EXPLAINING-ELECTION-2020-POSTAL-SERVICE — Vision 2020: Can you trust the U.S. Postal Service to deliver your ballot on time? SENT: 470 words, graphic.

ELECTION-2020-ALABAMA-SENATE — U.S. Sen. Doug Jones of Alabama criticizes Republican challenger Tommy Tuberville’s financial record after reports emerged that the former college football coach’s nonprofit only gave a fraction of its money to charity while it spent tens of thousands of dollars to stage annual golf tournaments. SENT: 440 words, photos.

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INTERNATIONAL

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NEW-ZEALAND-ELECTION — In the final days of campaigning before New Zealand holds an election, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is being greeted like a rock star. SENT: 1,010 words, photos. With NEW-ZEALAND-ELECTION-GLANCE.

INDIA-AD-OUTRAGE — A popular Indian jewelry brand has withdrawn an advertisement featuring a Muslim man and his Hindu wife after a right-wing backlash on social media. SENT: 440 words, photo.

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NATIONAL

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CALIFORNIA-WILDFIRES — More than 50,000 utility customers were without power and others around California were urged to conserve electricity in the midst of a fall heat wave that brought another round of extreme wildfire danger. SENT: 660 words, photo.

ANCHORAGE-MAYOR-RELATIONSHIP — A stunning tale of inappropriate behavior between a politician and a television anchor, death threats and nude photos culminated in a joint police and FBI investigation, the arrest of the journalist and the resignation of the mayor of Anchorage. SENT: 910 words, photos.

SCOTT PETERSON-CONVICTION — The California Supreme Court orders a second look at Scott Peterson’s conviction for killing his pregnant wife and unborn son, less than two months after it overturned his death penalty. SENT: 330 words.

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BUSINESS/ECONOMY

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SMALL-BUSINESS-STRUGGLES-WINCHESTER — The viral pandemic has hammered small businesses across the United States — an alarming trend for an economy that’s trying to rebound from the deepest, fastest recession in U.S. history. By Economics Writer Paul Wiseman. SENT: 1,730 words, photos.

SKOREA-BTS-STOCK-MARKET-DEBUT — Powered by strong support from avid fans, shares of South Korea’s Big Hit Entertainment, the company that manages global pop sensation BTS, soars in their trading debut in Seoul. SENT: 380 words, photos.

FINANCIAL MARKETS Asian stocks followed Wall Street lower as hopes U.S. leaders will agree on a new economic stimulus before the Nov. 3 presidential election faded. By Business Writer Joe McDonald. SENT: 510 words, photos.

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ENTERTAINMENT

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MUSIC-BILLBOARD-AWARDS — Walking into the show with 16 nominations, Post Malone won nine honors at the 2020 Billboard Music Awards, where John Legend gave a heartfelt performance that was dedicated to his wife. By Music Writer Mesfin Fekadu. SENT: 890 words, photos. With MUSIC-BILLBOARD AWARDS-LIST.

TONY-NOMINATIONS — Broadway’s coronavirus-shortened season is getting an awards process that reflects this tumultuous year — incomplete, seemingly unfair and filled with loss. By Entertainment Writer Mark Kennedy. SENT: 790 words, photos.

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HOW TO REACH US

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