Here’s a look at how AP’s general news coverage is shaping up for select stories. For up-to-the minute information on AP’s complete coverage of North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland and Delaware, and the rest of the world, visit Coverage Plan at newsroom.ap.org
Questions about coverage plans are welcome and should be directed to 919-510-8937, 202-641-9660, 410-837-8315, 804-643-6646 or metro@ap.org. Mid-South Assistant News Director Jonathan Drew can be reached at 919-510-8937 or jdrew@ap.org.
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This information is not for publication or broadcast, and these coverage plans are subject to change. Expected stories may not develop, or late-breaking and more newsworthy events may take precedence. Coverage Plan will keep you up to date. All times are Eastern unless specified otherwise.
NORTH CAROLINA
HOUSE SPEAKER-NORTH CAROLINA
RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina’s state House speaker is being sued for damages by a local elected official who alleges the powerful Republican ruined his marriage by having an affair with his wife. Lawyers for Scott Lassiter claim in the Wake County lawsuit that for more than three years Speaker Tim Moore “willfully interfered in the marital relationship.” Moore and Lassiter’s wife are rejecting the lawsuit claims. The Lassiters are separated. Moore has been speaker since 2015. North Carolina is one of a handful of states where jilted spouses can seek damages under what’s known as claims of “alienation of affection” and “criminal conversation.” By Gary Robertson. SENT: 600 words, photo.
TRANSGENDER RIGHTS-NORTH CAROLINA
RALEIGH, N.C. — Transgender rights are taking center stage Tuesday in North Carolina as the GOP-controlled General Assembly considers legislation restricting gender-affirming health care and trans participation in sports. Hours after the House Health Committee advanced a bill banning state facilities from treating trans minors with puberty blocking drugs, hormone therapies and gender-affirming surgeries, the Senate will vote whether to ban trans girls from playing on the school sports team that align with their gender identity. By Hannah Schoenbaum. UPCOMING: 600 words by 1:30 p.m.
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SOUTH CAROLINA
XGR-SOUTH CAROLINA BUDGET
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster issues budget vetoes Tuesday. They aren’t expected to be huge chunks of the state’s $13 billion budget. The governor works with lawmakers on the spending plan and mostly targets local spending he doesn’t think has enough public scrutiny. In fact, the vetoes are expected to be so minor that legislators are discussing not coming back into session to deal with them in 2023. By Jeffrey Collins. UPCOMING: 500 words, photo by 5:30 p.m.
IN BRIEF: — POLICE SHOOTINGS-SOUTH CAROLINA — Authorities say sheriff’s deputies in South Carolina killed armed men in two different shootouts over the weekend.
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VIRGINIA
ELECTION 2023-VIRGINIA
RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia voters are choosing their party’s nominees in a primary election that features dozens of state legislative races, many of them hotly contested. Both parties and both General Assembly chambers have competitive contests on Tuesday, including in some of the swing districts that will help determine the balance of power come November. An unusually high number of sitting officeholders are also facing serious challenges in an election season that’s been upended by new political maps. It could add to significant turnover already driven by a wave of retirements come January. By Sarah Rankin. SENT: 850 words, photos. Will be updated.
GANNETT-GOOGLE
Gannett is suing Google and its parent company Alphabet, claiming that they unlawfully acquired and maintain monopolies on the advertising technology tools that publishers and advertisers use to buy and sell online ad space. The publisher of USA Today alleges in the suit that Google controls how publishers sell their ad slots and forces them to sell an increasing amount of ad space to Google at lower prices. This in turn results in less revenue for publishers and Google’s ad-tech rivals and more money for Google. Gannett CEO Mike Reed said in an opinion piece published Tuesday in USA Today that the company wants to “restore fair competition in a digital advertising marketplace that Google has demolished.” By Michelle Chapman. SENT: 430 words, photo.
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MARYLAND/DELAWARE
HUNTER BIDEN
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden’s son Hunter will plead guilty to federal tax offenses and avoid prosecution on a separate gun charge in a deal with the Justice Department that likely spares him time behind bars. Hunter Biden will plead guilty to the misdemeanor tax offenses as part of the agreement made public Tuesday. The agreement will spare him prosecution on a charge of illegally possessing a firearm as a drug user if he adheres to certain conditions. The White House says the president and the first lady “love their son and support him as he continues to rebuild his life.” Ex-President Donald Trump likens the Hunter Biden deal to a “mere traffic ticket.” By Lindsay Whitehurst. SENT: 1,330 words, photos, video, audio. With: HUNTER BIDEN-EXPLAINER
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SPORTS
BBA–ORIOLES-RAYS
Baltimore plays Tampa Bay at Tropicana Field. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos.
BBN–CARDINALS-NATIONALS
St. Louis plays Washington at Nationals Park. UPCOMING: 650 words, photos. By Byron Kerr.
BKN–NBA DRAFT-BIGS
Victor Wembanyama’s long frame and versatile game has him as the headliner among the bigs in this year’s NBA draft. The 19-year-old frenchman headlines the list of bigs in the draft with his incomparable skillset. The position also includes Duke’s Dereck Lively II and Indiana’s Trayce Jackson-Davis. By Aaron Beard. UPCOMING: 750 words and photos by noon.
CAR–NASCAR-MARKS-CHICAGO XFINITY
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Trackhouse Racing owner Justin Marks will drive for Kaulig Racing in the Xfinity Series race on the Chicago Street Course next week. It will be the first Xfinity Series start for Marks since 2018. He has 35 career Xfinity starts, including a victory at Mid-Ohio in 2016. By AP Auto Racing Writer Jenna Fryer. 400 words. Sent.
CAR–NASCAR-JGR-COMMANDERS
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Joe Gibbs has sold a minority stake in his eponymous NASCAR team to the group awaiting approval to take over ownership of the NFL’s Washington Commanders. Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment and Arctos Partners has reached an agreement to buy the Commanders from Dan Snyder pending approval. Gibbs will become a limited partner in Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, pending approval by the NBA and NHL. By AP Auto Racing Writer Jenna Fryer. 420 words. Sent. B
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LOCALIZATION:
HOUSING-EVICTIONS RISING-LOCALIZE IT: Eviction filings are far above average in some cities across the country as pandemic relief disappears and inflation causes rents to spike. According to the latest data from the Eviction Lab, filings in several cities are running as much as 50% above pre-pandemic averages. We provide tips on finding eviction rates for your states and cities and offer ideas for local reporting. Find the latest Localize It guides.
MEDICAID-STATES-LOCALIZE IT: Well over 1 million Medicaid recipients already have been removed from the rolls as states start enforcing eligibility rules for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic. States normally conduct periodic reviews to determine whether Medicaid recipients continue to meet the income thresholds and family circumstances required for the government health-care program for lower-income residents. But federal law barred states from dropping people from Medicaid during the coronavirus pandemic in exchange for additional federal funding. The enrollment freeze ended in April, and states are now plowing through a backlog of cases to determine whether people should remain on Medicaid. We offer tips for finding out what’s happening in your state and point you to sources for local data. Find the latest Localize It guides.
CONSUMER PRICES-LOCALIZE IT: Inflation is falling but remains high and still squeezing many Americans’ finances. We offer context and details, instructions on how to view inflation numbers in your community and ideas for interview questions. Find the latest Localize It guides.
PRIDE-TRANSGENDER-LOCALIZE IT: As LGBTQ+ communities and their allies hold Pride events this month, transgender people especially are in the spotlight. A driving force for attention for a minority group within a minority group is a bevy of state laws across the U.S. on treatment of transgender people. In some states, there are bans on gender-affirming medical care for minors, restrictions on which bathrooms they can use and whether they can play on girls and women’s sports teams. In other states, there’s been a move to protect some rights for transgender people. We offer ideas for local coverage. Find the latest Localize It guides.
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VIDEO
Search underway for sub missing near Titanic wreck
Hunter Biden strikes deal on tax, weapons charges
‘Ant-Man’ star Jonathan Majors arrives at court
4 dead in e-bike shop fire in New York City
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AUDIO
Hunter Biden charged with failing to pay federal income tax and illegally having a weapon
Rescuers race against time to find the missing sub in the Atlantic bound for the Titanic site
New study says high housing costs, low income push Californians into homelessness
Electric vehicle maker Rivian to join Tesla charging network as automakers consider company’s plug
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U.S. STORIES
TITANIC-TOURIST SUB — Rescuers in a remote area of the Atlantic Ocean are racing against time to find a missing submersible before the oxygen supply runs out for five people who were on a mission to document the wreckage of the Titanic. Authorities reported the carbon-fiber vessel overdue Sunday night, setting off an international rescue effort in waters about 435 miles (700 kilometers) south of St. John’s, Newfoundland. Aboard were a pilot, a renowned British adventurer, two members of an iconic Pakistani business family and a Titanic expert. The submersible named the Titan could run out of air by Thursday morning. SENT: 1,320 words, photos, video, audio. With: TITANIC TOURIST SUB-EXPLAINER
HUNTER BIDEN — President Joe Biden’s son Hunter will plead guilty to federal tax offenses and avoid prosecution on a separate gun charge in a deal with the Justice Department that likely spares him time behind bars. Hunter Biden will plead guilty to the misdemeanor tax offenses as part of the agreement made public Tuesday. The agreement will spare him prosecution on a charge of illegally possessing a firearm as a drug user if he adheres to certain conditions. The White House says the president and the first lady “love their son and support him as he continues to rebuild his life.” Ex-President Donald Trump likens the Hunter Biden deal to a “mere traffic ticket.” SENT: 1,320 words, photos, video, audio. With: HUNTER BIDEN-EXPLAINER
BIKE STORE FIRE — Authorities say a fire that started in a New York City e-bike shop spread to upper-floor apartments, killing four people and injuring several others. It appears to be the latest in a string of fires linked to lithium ion batteries in the city. The blaze was reported early Tuesday in the Chinatown neighborhood of Manhattan. Authorities say two men and two women died, and two other women were hospitalized in critical condition. Officials say battery charging and electrical violations were found at the shop last year and it was fined $1,600. A man who said he owns the shop told The Associated Press that no batteries were being charged there overnight. SENT: 730 words, photos.
BIDEN-NEVADA LITHIUM MINE — A huge lithium mine under construction in northern Nevada is at the center of a dispute over President Joe Biden’s clean energy agenda. The administration says the mine will produce battery material needed to meet Biden’s goal for half of all new vehicles sold in the U.S. to be electric by 2030. But Native American tribes and environmentalists say the mine at Thacker Pass will harm wildlife habitats, degrade groundwater and pollute the air in a remote area dotted with sagebrush. The mine also could destroy a sacred site where U.S. troops massacred dozens of Paiute tribal members after the Civil War. One activist calls the mine “green colonialism″ that will irreparably harm Indigenous people. SENT: 1,330 words, photos, video.
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