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 in AP Newsroom.
——————————————
Click to Gallery
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 in AP Newsroom.
Protesters for a cease-fire in support of Gaza lie down in the intersection of NE 3rd Street and northbound Biscayne Boulevard and were later arrested by Miami Police, Monday, April 15, 2024, in downtown Miami. (Carl Juste/Miami Herald via AP)
An Israeli soldier holds a country's flag on top of an armoured personnel carriers (APC) near Israel's border with Gaza, in southern Israel, Monday, April 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Displaced Palestinians trying to walk back from central Gaza Strip to northern Gaza Strip , Sunday, April 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Republican presidential candidate, former President Donald Trump leaves State Supreme Court in Manhattan, on Monday, April 15, 2024, in New York, after the first day of his trial on charges of falsifying business records. (Jefferson Siegel/The New York Times via AP, Pool)
NEW/DEVELOPING
——————————————
BKN--LAKERS-PELICANS; BKN--WARRIORS-KINGS; OLY--PARIS-100 DAYS-OVERVIEW; RACIAL-INJUSTICE-POLICE-SHOOTING-OHIO; FEDERAL-RESERVE-POWELL; BKL-CAITLIN-CLARK-FEVER; SEVERE-WEATHER; ABU-GHRAIB-LAWSUIT; ISRAEL-IRAN-EXPLAINER; ELECTION-2024-TRUMP; CONGRESS-IRAN
———————————-
ONLY ON AP
————————————
AP POLL-TRUMP TRIALS — The first criminal trial facing Donald Trump is also the one in which Americans are least convinced he committed a crime, a new AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll finds. Only about one-third of U.S. adults think Trump did something illegal in the hush money case, while close to half think he did something illegal in the other three criminal cases pending against him. By Thomas Beaumont and Amelia Thomson-DeVeaux. SENT: 1,030 words, photos.
——————————
TOP STORIES
——————————
TRUMP-HUSH MONEY — The first seven jurors for Donald Trump’s hush money trial have been seated after lawyers grilled the jury pool about their social media posts, political views and personal lives to decide who can sit in fair judgment of the former president. The panelists who were selected are an information technology worker, an English teacher, an oncology nurse, a sales professional, a software engineer and two lawyers. By Michael R. Sisak, Jennifer Peltz, Jake Offenhartz and Alanna Durkin Richer. SENT: 1,170 words, photos, video, audio. WITH: TRUMP-HUSH-MONEY-THE-LATEST; TRUMP-HUSH-MONEY-EXPLAINER — Why can’t Americans see or hear what is going on inside the courtroom? SENT: 1,030 words, photos.
SUPREME COURT-CAPITOL RIOT-OBSTRUCTION — The Supreme Court has questioned whether federal prosecutors went too far in bringing obstruction charges against hundreds of participants in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. But it wasn’t clear how the justices would rule in a case that also could affect the prosecution of former President Donald Trump, who faces the same charge for his efforts to overturn his election loss in 2020. By Mark Sherman. SENT: 1,100 words, photo. WITH: MIKE-LINDELL-SUPREME-COURT — The U.S. Supreme Court has denied a petition by MyPillow founder Mike Lindell to consider his challenge to the legality of the FBI’s seizure of his cellphone. SENT: 300 words, photo. WITH: SUPREME-COURT-THOMAS — Justice Thomas returns to Supreme Court after 1-day absence. SENT: 170 words, photo.
CONGRESS-UKRAINE-ISRAEL — Defiant and determined, House Speaker Mike Johnson has pushed back against mounting Republican anger over his proposed U.S. aid package for Ukraine, Israel and other allies. He also rejected a call on Tuesday to step aside or risk a vote to oust him from office. Johnson said he is “not resigning,” after a testy morning meeting of House Republicans at the Capitol. By Lisa Mascaro. SENT: 1,060 words, photos, video.
VENEZUELA-ECUADOR-MEXICO — Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has ordered the closure of his country’s embassy and consulates in Ecuador in solidarity with Mexico in its protest over a raid by Ecuadorian authorities on the Mexican embassy in Quito. Venezuela also “fully supports” Mexico’s request to have the United Nations suspend Ecuador from the world body, Maduro said during a virtual meeting of the leaders of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States. By Regina Garcia Cano. SENT: 650 words, photos.
THE COPYRIGHT CONUNDRUM — We were already living in an era teeming with remixes and repurposing, fan fictions and mashups. Then began a parade of characters and stories, led by a Winnie the Pooh slasher movie with many more to follow, marching into the public domain, where anyone can do anything with anything and shape it into a new generation of stories and ideas. Will it be all be a bonanza for makers, or a plummet in intellectual property values as audiences get sick of seeing variations of the same old stories? By Andrew Dalton. SENT: 1,480 words, photos. An abridged version of 1,060 words is also available.
—————————————————
ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS
—————————————————
ISRAEL-IRAN-EXPLAINER — Israel is vowing to retaliate against Iran even though such a mission carries many risks. Any direct attack on Iranian soil would risk prompting an all-out war between the two foes at a time when Israel is focused on defeating Hamas in Gaza. It would also risk isolating Israel internationally. Analysts tell The Associated Press that Israel is enjoying a moment of international support after putting down Iran’s attack over the weekend in tandem with a coalition of international allies. SENT: 1,080 words, photos.
CONGRESS-IRAN — Iran’s attack on Israel spurs a flurry of bipartisan action in Congress, seeking to publicly condemn Iran and punish it financially. UPCOMING: 600 words, photo by 7 p.m.
YELLEN-GLOBAL-ECONOMY — Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is warning of potential global “economic spillovers” from rising tensions in the Middle East. She’s also pledging that the U.S. and its allies won’t hesitate to use their sanctions powers to address Iran’s “malign and destabilizing activity” in the region. Yellen made her remarks Tuesday as global finance ministers and central bankers gather for meetings in Washington this week to discuss the global economic challenges of the day. SENT: 600 words, photo.
—————————————————
RUSSIA-UKRAINE-WAR
—————————————————
RUSSIA-UKRAINE-WAR — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed a controversial law, days after it was passed by parliament, potentially helping Kyiv to boost conscription to replenish depleted forces to fend off Russia’s continued aggression. SENT: 290 words, photos.
CHINA-GERMANY — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told Chinese leader Xi Jinping who hosted him in Beijing that Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine threatens global security, in an apparent call for China to apply greater pressure on its neighbor and close strategic partner to resolve the conflict. SENT: 610 words, photos.
———————————
MORE NEWS
———————————
RACIAL-INJUSTICE-POLICE-SHOOTING-OHIO — The retrial of a former Ohio sheriff’s deputy who was charged with murder in the killing of a 23-year-old Black man is scheduled for this fall. SENT: 390 words, photo.
BKL-CAITLIN-CLARK-FEVER — She’s cemented her place as a college basketball legend. Now, Caitlin Clark is heading for the WNBA following her draft by the Indiana Fever. Fans in the basketball-loving state are eagerly awaiting her debut. SENT: 730 words, photos, video.
SEVERE-WEATHER — Strong storms caused damage in parts of the middle U.S. and spawned tornadoes in Kansas and Iowa, including one that left two people hurt. SENT: 300 words, photos.
ABU-GHRAIB-LAWSUIT — An Army general who investigated the abuse of prisoners 20 years ago at Iraq’s infamous Abu Ghraib prison has testified that a civilian contractor instructed prison guards to “soften up” detainees for interrogations. SENT: 610 words, photos.
BRITAIN-SCHOOL-PRAYER-RULING -- A London court rules against a Muslim girl who wanted to pray at a school known for strict rules. SENT: 500 words, photo.
———————————————————
WASHINGTON/POLITICS
———————————————————
BIDEN-STUDENT-LOANS -- President Biden’s latest plan for student loan cancellation is moving forward as a proposed regulation, offering him a fresh chance to deliver on a campaign promise and energize young voters ahead of the November election. The Education Department filed paperwork for a new regulation that would deliver the cancellation the Democratic president announced last week. SENT: 770 words, photos.
CONGRESS-MAYORKAS IMPEACHMENT — House Speaker Mike Johnson says he is sending impeachment charges against Alejandro Mayorkas to the Senate, forcing senators to convene a trial on the allegations that the Homeland Security secretary has “willfully and systematically” refused to enforce existing immigration laws. SENT: 1,110 words, photo, audio, developing.
MILITARY RECRUITING — The Army and Air Force say they are on track to meet their recruiting goals this year, reversing previous shortfalls using a swath of new programs and policy changes. But the Navy, while improving, expects once again to fall short. The mixed results reflect the ongoing challenges for the U.S. military as it struggles to attract recruits in a tight job market, where companies are willing to pay more and provide good benefits without the demands of service and warfighting. Even the services that are meeting their goals say they are still finding it difficult to attract the dwindling number of young people who can meet the military’s physical, mental and moral standards. SENT: 1,090 words, photos.
BLACK-LUNG-SILICA-DUST — Coal miners will be better protected from poisonous silica dust that has contributed to the premature deaths of thousands of mine workers from a respiratory ailment commonly known as “black lung” disease, the Labor Department says as it issued a new federal rule on miners’ safety. SENT: 920 words, photos.
CONGRESS-CHINA-FENTANYL — A congressional committee is accusing China of fueling the fentanyl crisis in the U.S. A report released Tuesday by a House select committee says China is directly subsidizing the manufacturing of materials used by drug traffickers to make fentanyl outside the country. Committee investigators said they accessed a government website that revealed tax rebates for the production of specific fentanyl precursors as well as other synthetic drugs as long as those companies sell them outside of China. SENT: 640 words, photos.
UNITED-STATES-CHINA-MILITARY -- Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has spoken with China’s national defense minister in the latest in a series of U.S. steps to improve communications with the Chinese military and reduce unsafe and aggressive incidents in the Indo-Pacific. It is the first time Austin has talked to Adm. Dong Jun. And it’s the first time he has spoken at length with any Chinese counterpart since November 2022. SENT: 590 words, photo.
—————————
ELECTION
————————-
ELECTION-2024-TRUMP — Fresh from a Manhattan courtroom, Donald Trump plans to visit a New York bodega where a man was stabbed to death, a stark pivot for the former president as he juggles being a criminal defendant and the Republican challenger intent on blaming President Joe Biden for crime and inflation. Trump was expected to stop by Sanaa Convenient Store, a tiny bodega that sells chips, sodas and other snacks. SENT: 1,020 words, photo.
ELECTION 2024-BIDEN — President Joe Biden has made a nostalgic return to the house where he grew up in working-class Scranton, kicking off a multi-day swing through Pennsylvania where he called for higher taxes on the rich and tried to cast Donald Trump as an out-of-touch elitist — part of an attempt to blunt the populist appeal of his predecessor’s comeback bid. SENT: 940 words, photos.
Find the AP’s latest Election 2024 coverage plans, including live video and text plans, our explanatory journalism and highlights from previous cycles and candidate schedules in The Daily Rundown, which publishes around 10 a.m. EDT Monday through Friday.
—————————
NATIONAL
—————————
TRANSGENDER-SPORTS-WEST-VIRGINIA — West Virginia’s transgender sports ban violates the rights of a teen athlete under Title IX, the federal civil rights law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in schools, an appeals court has ruled. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 that the law cannot be applied to a 13-year-old who has been taking puberty-blocking medication and publicly identified as a girl since she was in the third grade. SENT: 940 words, photos.
HAWAII-WILDFIRES-FIRE-DEPARTMENT-REPORT — Additional equipment like fire trucks or water tankers would have helped the Maui Fire Department fight the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century last August, and crews used personal vehicles and even a moped to try to rescue residents from the flames, the agency says. Wildfires were burning in several locations in Maui on Aug. 8, 2023, stretching the department’s limited resources. A severe windstorm made battling the flames particularly difficult, and the blaze in Lahaina quickly tore through the historic town, killing 101 people and destroying thousands of homes. SENT: 820 words, photos.
PESTICIDES-LIABILITY-PROTECTION — Stung by paying billions of dollars for settlements and trials, chemical giant Bayer has been lobbying lawmakers in three states to pass bills providing it a legal shield from lawsuits that claim its popular weedkiller Roundup causes cancer. SENT: 1,120 words, photos.
—————————————
INTERNATIONAL
—————————————
DENMARK-FIRE — A fire has swept through one of Copenhagen’s oldest buildings, causing the collapse of the iconic spire from the 17th-century Old Stock Exchange. Passersby rushed to help emergency services save priceless paintings and other valuables. The Danish culture minister said it was “touching” to see how many people helped. The fire began in the copper roof of the Old Stock Exchange. SENT: 910 words, photos, video, audio.
AUSTRALIA-CHURCH-STABBING — A teenager has been accused of wounding a Christian bishop and priest during a church service in a second high-profile knife attack to rock Sydney in recent days that authorities declared an act of terrorism. SENT: 770 words, photos, videos.
—————————
BUSINESS
—————————
FEDERAL-RESERVE-POWELL — Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell cautioned Tuesday that persistently elevated inflation will likely delay any Fed interest rate cuts until later this year, opening the door to a period of higher-for-longer rates. SENT: 550 words, photos.
———————
SPORTS
———————
BKN--LAKERS-PELICANS — The No. 8 seed Los Angeles Lakers visit the No. 7 seed New Orleans Pelicans in the opening game of the Western Conference play-in tournament. The winner captures the seventh seed in the NBA playoffs, while the loser hosts another play-in game on Friday night against the winner of No. 9 seed Sacramento and 10th seed Golden State. By Brett Martel. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos. Game starts at 7:30 p.m.
BKN--WARRIORS-KINGS — The Golden State Warriors visit the Sacramento Kings in an elimination game in the play-in tournament. The winner advances for a shot at the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference. By Josh Dubow. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos. Game starts at 10 p.m.
BBO-OBIT-WHITEY-HERZOG — Whitey Herzog, the gruff and ingenious Hall of Fame manager who guided the St. Louis Cardinals to three pennants and a World Series title and perfected an intricate, nail-biting strategy known as “Whiteyball,” has died. Herzog, affectionately nicknamed “The White Rat,” was a manager for 18 seasons, compiling an overall record of 1,281 wins and 1,125 losses. He was named Manager of the Year in 1985. Under Herzog, the Cardinals won pennants in 1982, 1985 and 1987 and won the World Series in 1982, when they edged the Milwaukee Brewers in seven games. He was 92. SENT: 1,090 words, photos.
OLY--PARIS-100 DAYS-OVERVIEW — The talk before the opening ceremony of the Paris Games should ideally be about its unprecedented backdrop: a summer sun setting on the Seine River as athletes drift by in boats and wave to cheering crowds. But behind the veneer security concerns are mounting, and around 30,000 police are to be deployed daily for the July 26-Aug. 11 Games. SENT: 1,300 words, photos.
———————————————
HOW TO REACH US
———————————————
At the Nerve Center, Jerome Minerva can be reached at 800-845-8450 (ext. 1600). For photos, ext. 1900. For graphics and interactives, ext. 7636. Expanded AP content can be obtained from AP Newsroom. For access to AP Newsroom and other technical issues, contact apcustomersupport@ap.org or call 844-777-2006.
The Sydney Opera House is illuminated with a black ribbon Monday, April 15, 2024, as part of the national day of mourning following the stabbing deaths of several people at a shopping mall on April 13. Australian police are examining why a lone assailant who stabbed several people to death in a busy Sydney shopping mall and injured more than a dozen others targeted women while avoiding men. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Protesters for a cease-fire in support of Gaza lie down in the intersection of NE 3rd Street and northbound Biscayne Boulevard and were later arrested by Miami Police, Monday, April 15, 2024, in downtown Miami. (Carl Juste/Miami Herald via AP)
An Israeli soldier holds a country's flag on top of an armoured personnel carriers (APC) near Israel's border with Gaza, in southern Israel, Monday, April 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Displaced Palestinians trying to walk back from central Gaza Strip to northern Gaza Strip , Sunday, April 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Republican presidential candidate, former President Donald Trump leaves State Supreme Court in Manhattan, on Monday, April 15, 2024, in New York, after the first day of his trial on charges of falsifying business records. (Jefferson Siegel/The New York Times via AP, Pool)
