AP News Digest 3:45 a.m.

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

President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020, in Johnstown, Pa. (AP PhotoEvan Vucci)

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LOOKING-FOR-AMERICA-SUNDOWN-TOWNS — In an America struggling over questions of race, police brutality and justice, The Associated Press made its second stop in an Illinois town to look at an open secret of segregation that spilled across much of the nation. Tim Sullivan and Noreen Nasir. SENT: 2,360 words, photos, video. An abridged version of 1,070 words is available.

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Attendees wearing face masks to protect against the coronavirus ride in a virtual reality simulator at the PT Expo in Beijing, Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2020. The expo, which showcases Chinese and foreign telecommunciations firms, comes as China has once again begun holding trade fairs and exhibitions after having largely controlled the spread of COVID-19 domestically and comes amid a push by Chinese President Xi Jinping to build homegrown technology champions. (AP PhotoMark Schiefelbein)

TOP STORIES

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SUPREME COURT-BARRETT — Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett returns for another day of questioning at her Senate confirmation hearings. She has been firm in her conservative convictions but light on specifics as senators try to pin her down on abortion, health care and disputes that might arise from the upcoming presidential election. By Lisa Mascaro, Mark Sherman and Laurie Kellman. SENT: 1,170 words, photos, video. UPCOMING: 990 words after hearings resume at 9 a.m.

A woman wearing a face mask to help curb the spread of the coronavirus is reflected on a window panel as she walks by a retailed shop displaying Chinese calligraphy fonts in Beijing, Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2020. (AP PhotoAndy Wong)

ELECTION 2020 — Three weeks before Election Day, President Donald Trump is playing Electoral College defense with a trip to Iowa, a state he won handily in 2016 but where Democrat Joe Biden is making a late push. Trump’s heavy travel this week, including his rally in Des Moines, reflects his uphill climb. By Will Weissert, Jonathan Lemire, Kevin Freking and Bill Barrow. SENT: 980 words, photos, video.

ELECTION 2020-HOUSE-TOUGH DISTRICTS — Democrats make a run at a Republican-held House district in rural Virginia that until this spring wasn’t considered competitive. It’s one of many GOP-held seats in play, opportunities fed by a Democratic money-raising advantage and the widespread unpopularity of Trump. By Alan Fram and Sarah Rankin. SENT: 990 words, photos.

ELECTION-2020-RACE-ON-THE-BALLOT — The Black Lives Matter movement isn’t named in any of the 120 statewide ballot measures up for a vote on Nov. 3. But this year’s nationwide protests over police brutality and racial injustice are major factors in the campaigns in several states for measures with distinctive racial themes. By National Writer David Crary. SENT: 990 words, photos.

Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., arrives on Capitol Hill for the confirmation hearing of Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020, in Washington. (AP PhotoJacquelyn Martin)

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

ARMENIA-AZERBAIJAN-LOOMING-ESCALATION — A Russian attempt to broker a cease-fire to end the worst outbreak of hostilities over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh in more than a quarter-century has failed to get any traction, with rivals Azerbaijan and Armenia trading blame for new attacks. The escalation of fighting raises the specter of a wider conflict that could draw in Russia and Turkey and threaten Caspian Sea energy exports. By Vladimir Isachenkov. SENT: 1,050 words, photos.

VIRUS-OUTBREAK-DIVIDED-ISRAEL — Israel has had one of the largest income gaps and poverty rates among developed economies, even before the coronavirus pandemic. The country has a few high earners concentrated in the lucrative high-tech sector, while many Israelis barely get by as civil servants, in service industries or as small business owners. Those gaps have widened as the second nationwide virus lockdown was imposed last month. By Josef Federman. SENT: 1,130 words, photos.

Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., puts his hand under his face mask during a confirmation hearing for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Kevin DietschPool via AP)

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MORE ON THE VIRUS OUTBREAK

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VIRUS-OUTBREAK-WORLD-BANK — The World Bank has approved $12 billion in financing to help developing countries buy and distribute coronavirus vaccines, tests and treatments, aiming to support the vaccination of up to 1 billion people. SENT: 260 words, photo.

A teacher leads a lesson outdoors at the school Hipólito Yrigoyen in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020. For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, in-person classes in the capital for students in their last year of primary and secondary school have restarted, but outdoors. (AP PhotoVictor R. Caivano)

VIRUS-OUTBREAK-ASIA — India has confirmed more than 63,000 new cases of the coronavirus, an increase of over 8,000 from the previous day but still far fewer than it was reporting a month ago, when the virus was at its peak in the country. SENT: 290 words, photos. With VIRUS-OUTBREAK-THE-LATEST.

VIRUS-OUTBREAK-AMERICAN-SAMOA-STRANDED — An estimated 600 residents of the U.S. territory of American Samoa were away when the governor closed its borders in March to keep the cluster of Pacific islands free from the coronavirus. SENT: 1,010 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-LIVES LOST-INDIAN DOCTOR — An Indian doctor killed by the coronavirus embodied his family’s dreams. SENT: 850 words, photos.

Vice President Mike Pence speaks at a campaign rally at Weldall Manufacturing Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020, in Waukesha, Wis. (AP PhotoMorry Gash)

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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Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah,, questions Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett during the second day of her confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020. (Stefani ReynoldsPool via AP)

OBIT-CONCHATA FERRELL — “Two and a Half Men" star Conchata Ferrell dies at 77. SENT: 280 words, photos.

FACEBOOK-VACCINE-ADS — Facebook bans anti-vaccination ads but not antivax posts. SENT: 390 words, photo.

AEW-ANNIVERSARY — Hulk Who? AEW dishes out punishment as it hits one-year mark. SENT: 930 words, photo.

Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett listens during a confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Erin SchaffThe New York Times via AP, Pool)

HFPA-GRANTS — Golden Globes group gives $5.1 million in grants. SENT: 470 words, photos.

DRIVING-WHILE-BLACK — “Driving While Black” shows history of US Black motorists. SENT: 200 words.

JAPAN-PANDEMIC-FILM — Japanese director known for single shots releases Zoom film. SENT: 730 words, photos.

Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett speaks during a confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Bonnie CashPool via AP)

JUDGE-POLICE-CONFRONTATION — Video shows shirtless New York judge shove police officer. SENT: 350 words, video.

MISSING-GIRL-REMAINS-FOUND — Former Idaho governor candidate indicted in 1984 killing. SENT: 730 words, photos.

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Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., returns to the room for the confirmation hearing for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett, before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Erin SchaffThe New York Times via AP, Pool)

INTERNATIONAL

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LEBANON-ISRAEL — Lebanon and Israel are to begin indirect talks over their disputed maritime border, with American officials mediating the talks that both sides insist are purely technical and not a sign of any normalization of ties. SENT: 750 words, photos.

NKOREA-KIM — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visits a typhoon-ravaged rural town and lambasts government agencies for “defeatism,” state media reports. SENT: 450 words, photos.

THAILAND-PROTESTS — Thai activists hoping to keep up the momentum in their campaign for democratic change launch a third major rally in Bangkok, amid concerns about possible confrontation with police or rival government supporters. SENT: 630 words, photo.

CHINA-XI — President Xi Jinping promises new steps to back development of China’s biggest tech center, Shenzhen, amid a feud with Washington that has disrupted access to U.S. technology and is fueling ambitions to create Chinese providers. By Business Writer Joe McDonald. SENT: 410 words, photo.

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NATIONAL

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CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES — Dry, windy weather posed an extreme wildfire risk in Northern California, where massive blazes already have cost hundreds of homes and killed or injured dozens of people. SENT: 620 words, photo.

PORTLAND SUSPECT KILLED — Four officers fired over 30 rounds at Portland, Oregon, fugitive Michael Reinoehl after they cornered him in his car Sept. 3 outside a Washington apartment complex where he had been hiding out, a sheriff’s official says in an update on the investigation. SENT: 330 words.

NYPD-OFFICIAL-QUITS — A top commander seen as a rising star in the leadership ranks of the New York Police Department abruptly gives notice that he is retiring, less than a year after taking the job. SENT: 420 words.

ANCHORAGE MAYOR-RELATIONSHIP — The mayor of Alaska’s largest city submits his resignation, four days after an anchorwoman at a local television station threatened to report he had posted nude photos of himself on a website. SENT: 530 words, photos.

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BUSINESS/TECH

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WALMART-BLACK FRIDAY — Walmart says it will spread out its traditional one-day Black Friday deals over three weekends in November in an effort to reduce crowds in its stores during a pandemic. By Retail Writer Anne D’Innocenzio. SENT: 480 words, photo.

FINANCIAL-MARKETS — Shares were mostly lower in Asia after pandemic concerns snapped a four-day winning streak on Wall Street. By Business Writer Elaine Kurtenbach. SENT: 730 words, photos.

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SCIENCE

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RUSSIA-SPACE STATION — A trio of space travelers launches successfully to the International Space Station, for the first time using a fast-track maneuver to reach the orbiting outpost in just three hours. SENT: 420 words, photos.

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SPORTS

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COACHING DIVERSITY-FELLOWSHIPS — The Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship is now in its fourth decade of providing opportunities for minorities. By Pro Football Writer Barry Wilner. SENT: 1,000 words, photos.

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HOW TO REACH US

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