AP News Digest 4 a.m.

Virus Outbreak US Surge (Wisconsin State Journal)

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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ONLY ON AP

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VIRUS OUTBREAK-NURSING HOME NEGLECT — As more than 90,000 of America’s long-term care residents have died in the coronavirus pandemic, advocates for the elderly say a tandem wave of death separate from the virus has quietly claimed tens of thousands more, often because overburdened workers haven’t been able to give them the care they need. An expert who conducted an analysis of nursing home deaths for the AP believes that non-COVID excess deaths, beyond what is normal, could total 40,000 this year. By Matt Sedensky and Bernard Condon. SENT: 2,400 words, photos video. An abridged version of 890 words is available.

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TOP STORIES

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VIRUS-OUTBREAK-US-SURGE — Overwhelmed hospitals are converting chapels, cafeterias, waiting rooms, hallways, even a parking garage into patient treatment areas. Staff members are desperately calling around to other medical centers in search of open beds. Fatigue and frustration are setting in among front-line workers. Conditions inside the nation’s hospitals are deteriorating by the day as the coronavirus rages across the U.S. at an unrelenting pace and the confirmed death toll surpasses 250,000. By Paul J. Weber and Sarah Rankin. SENT: 1,020 words, photos.

TRUMP-ANALYSIS — President Donald Trump has turned the nation’s free and fair election into a muddled mess of misinformation, specious legal claims and baseless attacks on the underpinnings of American democracy. The resulting chaos isn’t the byproduct of Trump’s post-defeat strategy — it is the strategy. By Washington Bureau Chief Julie Pace. SENT: 900 words, photos.

TRUMP-VOTE CERTIFICATIONS — Finding no traction in the courts, Trump’s scattershot effort to overturn President-elect Joe Biden’s victory shifts to obscure election boards, as he seeks sympathetic allies to upend routine but important steps in the electoral process, sow chaos and perpetuate unsubstantiated doubts about the vote. By Zeke Miller, Christina A. Cassidy and Colleen Long. SENT: 1,260 words, photos. With ELECTION 2020-LEGAL SCORECARD — A look at Trump’s long-shot legal challenges.

VIRUS-OUTBREAK-SYRIA-IDLIB-ON-THE-BRINK — The staff at a hospital in the city of Idlib in northwestern Syria is overwhelmed with coronavirus patients. Although a shaky cease-fire in the civil war has temporarily halted fighting, the wards are still filled — this time with elderly patients gasping for air. Health authorities worry that the territory which is home to 4 million people who are mostly displaced from elsewhere in the war-torn country, is on the brink of an emergency. By Ghaith Alsayed and Sarah El Deeb. SENT: 1,170 words, photos.

G-20-A-DISCONNECTED-SUMMIT — This weekend’s summit of leaders from the Group of 20 stands out more for what it is not than for what it is. Held online this year because of the coronavirus, the gathering of leaders of the world’s preeminent rich and developing nations will not be an opportunity for kings, presidents and prime ministers to conduct the intimate diplomacy of closed-door meetings or pose for memorable photo-ops. By Aya Batrawy. SENT: 1,050 words, photos.

SENATE-GEORGIA-2024 — Even as votes are still being tallied in the 2020 election, Georgia’s two high-profile Senate contests are drawing top GOP politicians to the state to campaign, network and raise their profiles for possible 2024 presidential runs. By Bill Barrow. SENT: 910 words, photos.

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WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

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NAYA-RIVERA-DEATH — Wrongful death lawsuit filed over Naya Rivera’s drowning. SENT: 400 words, photo.

HOLIDAY-HOOT — Owl found in Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. SENT: 160 words, photos.

NATIONAL BOOK AWARDS — Charles Yu novel, Malcolm X bio win National Book Awards. SENT: 680 words, photo.

MUSIC-APPLE MUSIC AWARDS — Lil Baby, Roddy Ricch, Taylor Swift win Apple Music Awards. SENT: 130 words, photos.

2020-OUT100-LIST — Out magazine names Lizzo, Monae, Maddow to its Out100 list. SENT: 150 words, photo.

FLAMETHROWER STUNT — Rapper with flamethrower in custody over NYC bus stunt. SENT: 210 words.

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MORE ON ELECTION 2020

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TRUMP-REPUBLICANS — Though a growing number of Republicans have quietly acknowledged the result of the election, few are publicly challenging Trump, allowing the outgoing incumbent to make baseless claims that could fuel suspicions about the outcome and Biden’s legitimacy. SENT: 1,100 words, photos.

ELECTION 2020-VOTE COUNT — Biden’s winning tally is approaching a record 80 million votes as Democratic bastions continue to count ballots and the 2020 election cracks turnout records. SENT: 710 words, photo.

ELECTION 2020-GEORGIA GOVERNOR — Georgia’s Republican governor is staying on the sidelines amid a fight within his own party over unsubstantiated allegations that the state’s presidential election was tainted by fraud. SENT: 820 words, photos. With ELECTION-2020-GEORGIA — Georgia to release report on presidential race hand tally.

ELECTION-2020-WISCONSIN — The Wisconsin Elections Commission, after an hours long often-contentious debate, agree to issue an order to recount ballots cast in Milwaukee and Dane counties as requested by Trump. SENT: 500 words, photo.

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MORE ON THE VIRUS OUTBREAK

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VIRUS-OUTBREAK-AFRICA — The African continent surpasses 2 million confirmed cases as health officials warn of infections starting to creep up again into a second surge. SENT: 220 words, photo. With VIRUS-OUTBREAK-THE-LATEST.

VIRUS-OUTBREAK-JAPAN — Japan’s number of reported coronavirus infections hit a record high, and the prime minister urges maximum caution but stopped short of calling for restrictions on travel or business. SENT: 570 words, photos.

VIRUS-OUTBREAK-ASIA — The leader of the small Pacific nation of Samoa appeals for calm after the country reported its first positive test for the coronavirus, although a second test on the same patient returned a negative result. SENT: 580 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-GREECE — The head of the Orthodox Church of Greece has been hospitalized after being diagnosed with COVID-19. SENT: 410 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-ONE GOOD THING-EMIRATES — At a highway-side restaurant in the industrial outskirts of Dubai, workers methodically assemble packaged takeout meals of biryani rice, dal and brightly colored chicken curry for people in poverty and desperate to eat. SENT: 720 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-VIRAL QUESTIONS-IMMUNITY — Will social distancing weaken my immune system? In short, no. SENT: 200 words, graphic.

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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JUSTICE DEPARTMENT-CHINA — The focus of the Justice Department under a new Biden administration may not look radically different when it comes to China. SENT: 920 words, photo.

TRUMP-LAST-MINUTE ROLLBACKS — Down to its final weeks, the Trump administration is working to push through dozens of rollbacks that could weaken century-old protections for migratory birds, expand Arctic drilling and hamstring future regulation of public health threats. SENT: 800 words, photos.

VENEZUELA-US-AMBASSADOR — Washington has its first ambassador for Venezuela in a decade despite the U.S. having no diplomats at its Caracas embassy amid a breakdown in relations. SENT: 510 words, photo.

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NATIONAL

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FEDERAL EXECUTIONS — The federal government prepared to execute an inmate who was condemned for kidnapping and raping a 16-year-old Texas girl, bludgeoning her with a shovel and burying her alive. SENT: 800 words. UPCOMING: Execution scheduled for 6 p.m.

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INTERNATIONAL

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APEC — China’s President Xi Jinping spurns suggestions that his country might decouple or separate itself from the U.S. and other trading partners amid tension with Washington and Europe over technology and security. SENT: 720 words, photos.

EU-BUDGET-BATTLE — The European Union is being tested as Poland and Hungary block passage of its budget for the next seven years and an ambitious package aimed at rescuing economies ravaged by the coronavirus pandemic. SENT: 890 words, photos.

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BUSINESS/ECONOMY

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FINANCIAL-MARKETS — Most Asian stock markets followed Wall Street lower as anxiety about the economic fallout from rising coronavirus infections in the United States and Europe clashed with optimism about a possible vaccine. By Business Writer Joe McDonald. SENT: 460 words, photos.

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HEALTH

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HEALTH OVERHAUL-SIGN-UPS — A coalition of states, health care groups and activists is striving to drum up “Obamacare” sign-ups among millions of uninsured Americans as COVID-19 spreads uncontrolled in many communities. SENT: 530 words, photo.

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SPORTS

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NBA DRAFT — The Minnesota Timberwolves selected Georgia freshman guard Anthony Edwards with the No. 1 pick in the delayed NBA draft. By Basketball Writer Brian Mahoney. SENT: 900 words, photos.

NFL-COVID-19 — The NFL is placing all teams in intensive protocol beginning Saturday to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 as the number of cases rises around the country. By Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi. SENT: 740 words, photos.

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HOW TO REACH US

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