AP News Digest 6:20 p.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 in AP Newsroom.

——————————-

NEW/DEVELOPING

——————————-

ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS, SEVERE-WEATHER, SEVERE WEATHER-TEXAS TOWN, RUSSIA-UZBEKISTAN, IRELAND-PLANE-TURBULENCE, SUNDAY-MORNING-BEACH-CLOSURE, FRANCE- GIANT PICNIC, PERU-BUS-TRAIN-CRASH, ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS-CAMPUS PROTESTS, HAITI-US-MISSIONARIES KILLED-THINGS TO KNOW, INDY 500, FRENCH OPEN

————————————————-

WEEKEND COVERAGE

————————————————-

For weekend stories, please click here for the Weekend Lookahead digest.

——————————

TOP STORIES

——————————

ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS — Palestinian health workers said Israeli airstrikes killed at least 35 people and hit tents for displaced people in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, and “numerous” others were trapped in flaming debris. Gaza’s Health Ministry said women and children made up most of the dead and dozens of wounded. By Wafaa Shurafa, Tia Goldenberg and Samy Magdy. SENT: 940 words, photos, videos, audio. See more on the Israel-Hamas war below.

SEVERE WEATHER — Powerful storms killed at least 15 people and left a wide trail of destruction across Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas after obliterating homes and destroying a truck stop where dozens sought shelter in a restroom during the latest deadly weather to strike the central U.S. By Sean Murphy and Julio Cortez. SENT: 1,050 words, photos, video, audio. With SEVERE WEATHER-TEXAS TOWN — In a north Texas county, dazed residents sift through homes mangled by a tornado; SEVERE WEATHER-TORNADO SAFETY — What you can do to try to stay safe when a tornado hits, and also well beforehand.

TRUMP-HUSH MONEY-WITNESSES — After 22 witnesses, including a porn actor, tabloid publisher and White House insiders, testimony is over at Donald Trump’s criminal trial in New York. Prosecutors called 20 witnesses. The defense called just two. Trump decided not to testify on his own behalf. The trial now shifts to closing arguments, scheduled for Tuesday. By Mike Sisak, Jennifer Pelts and Jake Offenhartz. SENT: 2,050 words, composite photo.

ELECTION 2024-BIDEN-ECONOMY — President Joe Biden is campaigning on how his policies helped pump hundreds of billions of dollars in private and federal investment into companies. So far this election year there is little evidence from polling that Americans are giving Biden credit for the gains as voters still focus instead on inflation still climbing at 3.4% annually. By Josh Boak. SENT: 1,360 words, photos.

PAPUA-NEW-GUINEA-LANDSLIDE — The International Organization for Migration increased its estimate of the death toll from a massive landslide in Papua New Guinea to more than 670 as emergency responders and traumatized relatives gave up hope that any survivors will now be found. By Rod McGuirk. SENT: 770 words, photos.

MURRAY’S DEATH — Grayson Murray’s parents say their 30-year-old son took his own life. Murray died on Saturday, one day after he withdrew from a PGA Tour event at Colonial. Eric and Terry Murray are asking for privacy and that people honor Murray by being kind to one another. By Golf Writer Doug Ferguson. SENT: 1,020 words, photos.

————————————————-

SPOTLIGHTING VOICES

————————————————-

SPELLING-BEE-IMMIGRATION — Since 1999, 28 of the last 34 Scripps National Spelling Bee champions have been Indian American. And most of those winners are the offspring of parents who arrived in the United States on student or work visas. The experiences of first-generation Indian Americans and their spelling bee champion children illustrate the economic success and cultural impact of the nation’s second-largest immigrant group. By Ben Nuckols. SENT: 930 words, photos.

————————————————

ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR

————————————————

EUROPE-ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS — The European Union’s foreign policy chief insisted that Israel must abide by the U.N. top court’s rulings and end its offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah and, at the same time, questioned the possible involvement of authorities in the settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. SENT: 780 words, photos.

—————————————————

RUSSIA UKRAINE WAR

—————————————————

RUSSIA-UKRAINE-WAR — President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Russia is preparing to intensify its offensive along Ukraine’s northern border, as the death toll rose to 14 in an aerial bomb attack on a large construction supplies store in Kharkiv. SENT: 400 words, photos. With RUSSIA-UZBEKISTAN — Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives in Uzbekistan on the third foreign trip of his new term.

—————————

MORE NEWS

————————-

IRELAND-PLANE-TURBULENCE — Twelve people injured after Qatar Airways plane hits turbulence on flight to Dublin. SENT: 270 words, photo.

SUNDAY-MORNING-BEACH-CLOSURE — Christian group temporarily opens beaches it has closed on Sunday mornings as court fight plays out. SENT: 390 words, photos, video.

FRANCE- GIANT PICNIC — Paris’ traffic-clogged Champs-Elysees turned into a mass picnic blanket for an unusual meal. SENT: 180 words, photos, video, audio.

PERU-BUS-TRAIN-CRASH Four people killed, more than 30 injured after a bus and a cargo train collide in Peru. SENT: 170 words, photo.

———————

NATIONAL

———————

ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS-CAMPUS PROTESTS — Protesters briefly disrupted an outdoor commencement address given by Brown University’s president. SENT: 330 words.

—————————————

INTERNATIONAL

—————————————

INDIA-CYCLONE — Bangladesh evacuated nearly 800,000 people from vulnerable areas as the country and neighboring India awaited the arrival of a severe cyclone that has formed over the Bay of Bengal. SENT: 280 words, video, photos, audio.

GERMANY-FRANCE — President Emmanuel Macron started the first state visit to Germany by a French head of state in 24 years, a three-day trip meant to underline the strong ties between the European Union’s traditional leading powers ahead of European Parliament elections in which far-right parties in both countries hope for gains. SENT: 460 words, photos.

HAITI-US-MISSIONARIES KILLED-THINGS TO KNOW — The bodies of a young missionary couple from the U.S. who were attacked and fatally shot by gang members in Haiti are expected to be transported to Missouri this week, a spokesperson for the families said. SENT: 840 words, photos, audio.

SYRIA-STRUGGLING-DONORS — Syria’s devastating civil war, now in its 14th year, remains largely frozen and so are efforts to find a viable political solution to end it. SENT: 890 words, photos.

SYRIA-SAUDI ARABIA — Saudi Arabia announced the appointment of its first ambassador to Syria since severing ties with Damascus in 12 years, marking an ongoing thawing in relations since the war-torn country was readmitted to the Arab League over a year ago. SENT: 340 words.

SOUTH AFRICA-ELECTIONS-OPPOSITION — South Africa’s main opposition party Democratic Alliance made its final appeal to South Africans to help it unseat the ruling African National Congress as it concluded its campaign ahead of elections this week. SENT: 520 words, photos.

LITHUANIA-ELECTION — Lithuanians returned to the polls for the second round of the Baltic country’s presidential election as incumbent President Gitanas Nausėda seeks to hold off Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė and secure another five-year term. SENT: 300 words, photo.

———————

ENTERTAINMENT

———————

FILM BOX OFFICE — Neither “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” nor “The Garfield Movie” could save Memorial Day weekend, which is cruising towards a two-decade low. By Film Writer Lindsey Bahr. SENT: 850 words, photos, audio.

———————

SPORTS

———————

INDY 500 — The Indianapolis 500 started after a rain delay of four hours with NASCAR star Kyle Larson still at the track and in the race. By Auto Racing Writer Jenna Fryer. SENT: 540 words, photos.

FRENCH OPEN-NADAL — The French tennis federation put off holding a ceremony to celebrate Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros this year, because he has said this might not necessarily be his final appearance at the tournament he has won a record 14 times. By Tennis Writer Howard Fendrich. SENT: 870 words, photos. With FRENCH OPEN — Stan Wawrinka, who is 39, beats Andy Murray, who is 37, at the French Open. Alcaraz and Osaka win; FRENCH OPEN-GUIDE.

———————————————

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.

PSG's Kylian Mbappe is tossed into the air as he celebrates with teammates after the French Cup final soccer match between Lyon and PSG at the Pierre Mauroy stadium in Villeneuve d'Ascq, northern France, Saturday, May 25, 2024. PSG won the match 2-1. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

A woman wails during the funeral service for Saintus Leodens who was killed by unknown assailants, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Saturday, May 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Odelyn Joseph)

Military medics give first aid to a wounded Ukrainian soldier at a medical stabilisation point near Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Friday, May 24, 2024. (Iryna Rybakova via AP)

Demonstrators burn fire during a protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, and calling for the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip by the Hamas militant group, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Sunday, May 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

Police use water cannon to disperse demonstrators during a protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, and calling for the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip by the Hamas militant group, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday, May 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

Israeli soldiers walk in a staging area for their tanks near the Gaza border in southern Israel, Friday, May 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov)

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Maryland Gov. Wes Moore is scheduled to sign an executive order to issue more than 175,000 pardons for marijuana convictions Monday, the governor's office said.

The administration is describing the pardons as the largest state pardon to date. The governor's action regarding cases relating to use of paraphernalia make Maryland the first state to take such action, his office said.

The pardons will forgive low-level marijuana possession charges for an estimated 100,000 people, according to The Washington Post, which first reported on the order Sunday night.

Moore plans to sign the executive order Monday morning in the state Capitol in Annapolis with Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown in attendance.

Recreational cannabis was legalized in Maryland in 2023 after voters approved a constitutional amendment in 2022 with 67% of the vote. Maryland decriminalized possession of personal use amounts of cannabis on Jan. 1, 2023. Now, 24 states and the District of Columbia have legalized recreational cannabis.

“The Moore-Miller Administration is committed to promoting social equity and ensuring the fair and equitable administration of justice,” the governor's office said. “Because the use and possession of cannabis is no longer illegal in the state, Marylanders should not continue to face barriers to housing, employment, or educational opportunities based on convictions for conduct that is no longer illegal.”

Brown, a Democrat, described the pardons as “certainly long overdue as a nation” and “a racial equity issue.”

“While the pardons will extend to anyone and everyone with a misdemeanor conviction for the possession of marijuana or paraphernalia, this unequivocally, without any doubt or reservation, disproportionately impacts — in a good way — Black and Brown Marylanders,” Brown told the Post.

More than 150,000 misdemeanor convictions for simple possession of cannabis will be affected by the order, which also will cover more than 18,000 misdemeanor convictions for use or possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia, according to a summary by the governor’s office.

The pardons reflect the number of convictions. Some individuals may have had more than one conviction pardoned through the process.

The pardons will not result in anyone being released from incarceration.

After Moore signs the pardon, the Maryland Judiciary will ensure each individual electronic docket is updated with an entry indicating the conviction has been pardoned by the governor, a process that should take about two weeks, the governor's office said.

The governor's order also directs the state corrections department to develop a process to indicate a pardon in an individual’s criminal record, a process expected to take about 10 months to complete.

The pardons absolve people from the guilt of a criminal offense, and individuals do not need to take any action to receive the pardon.

A pardon is different from expungement. Although the Judiciary will make a note on the record that the offense has been pardoned, it will still show on the record. Expungement is the process by which a criminal conviction is destroyed and removed completely from the public record, which requires an additional step.

FILE - Maryland Gov. Wes Moore speaks during a visit to SOUTH Restaurant & Jazz Club with President Joe Biden, on May 29, 2024, in Philadelphia. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore is scheduled to sign an executive order to issue 175,000 pardons for marijuana convictions at a news conference on Monday morning, June 17, 2024, a newspaper reported. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)