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.
For access to AP Newsroom and other technical issues, contact AP Customer Support at apcustomersupport@ap.org or 877-836-9477.
This information is not for publication or broadcast, and these coverage plans are subject to change.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
MIGRANT-WORKERS-HIT
LINCOLNTON, N.C. — Six migrant workers who were intentionally hit by an SUV in a Walmart parking lot in North Carolina have been released from the hospital, police said on Monday. SENT: 250 words.
XGR–STATE BUDGET
RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina Republicans say they are closing in on a final state budget that was supposed to be in place a month ago. House Speaker Tim Moore and Senate leader Phil Berger say a tax deal and other unnamed key differences have been worked out after fruitful negotiations late last week. More talks are ahead. Legislative leaders say the tax agreement would lower rates on individuals more deeply than current law directs. But those deeper reductions wouldn’t happen unless North Carolina state coffers meet revenue thresholds. Lawmakers aim to have final budget votes by mid-August. Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper would be asked to sign a final bill into law. By Gary D. Robertson. SENT: 640 words, photos. UPCOMING: 650 words by 4 p.m.
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SOUTH CAROLINA
COAST CRASH-SOUTH CAROLINA
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — A small plane carrying only the pilot crashed in the water off a South Carolina beach popular among tourists, officials said. SENT: 110 words.
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VIRGINIA
VA-XGR–VIRGNIA BUDGET
RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia Republicans’ top budget negotiator said Monday that he’s heard nothing from his Democratic colleagues since he put forward a counterproposal earlier this month he hoped could end the drawn-out stalemate over the spending plan. By Sarah Rankin. UPCOMING: 600 words, photo by 5 p.m.
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MARYLAND/DELAWARE
HORSESHOE CRAB BLOOD HARVEST
PORTLAND, Maine — The biomedical industry is adopting new standards to protect a primordial sea animal that is a linchpin of the production of vital medicines. But conservationists worry the approach doesn’t go far enough in protecting horseshoe crabs that are a food for a declining bird species. Drug and medical device makers depend on the valuable blue blood of the crabs to test for potentially dangerous impurities. The animals are drained of some of their blood and returned to the environment, yet some inevitably die. Regulators say recent revisions to the guidelines for handling the animals should keep more alive through the process. By Patrick Whittle. SENT: 1,160 words, photos, video, audio.
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SPORTS
BBA–ORIOLES-BLUE JAYS
Baltimore plays Toronto at Rogers Centre. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos.
BBN–BREWERS-NATIONALS
Milwaukee plays Washington at Nationals Park. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos.
FBN–PANTHERS-JACKSON’S RETURN
SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Donte Jackson was largely considered Carolina’s fastest player last season. Then came a season-ending torn Achilles tendon. But Jackson is back at training camp and some players still think he is the team’s fastest player. One this is for sure, the Panthers need their top cornerback to have success on defense this season. By Steve Reed. UPCOMING. 500 words, photos by 5 p.m. ET
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TORNADO-MANUFACTURED DANGER-LOCALIZE IT: The Associated Press analyzed tornado deaths and found that since 1996, 53% of the tornado deaths in people’s homes were in mobile or manufactured housing. That’s even though manufactured homes are less than 6% of the American housing stock. It’s more than 800 deaths in mobile or manufactured homes. And when tornadoes are weak — with winds of 135 mph or less — an even higher proportion of tornado deaths at home, 79%, are in mobile homes. This is a story that is easily localized, by looking at tornado deaths, mobile home rates and applicable federal rules in your state and counties. We provide data and reporting suggestions. Find the latest Localize It guides.
EDUCATION-STUDENT HOMELESSNESS-LOCALIZE IT: Federal data on homeless students, based on a count of children identified by schools nationwide, found the number fell 21% from the 2018-2019 school year to the 2020-2021 school year, during the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s a decrease of more than 288,000 students, but it’s unlikely all of those kids suddenly got housing. Instead, the number likely reflects kids who stopped going to school or whose lack of housing was unknown to school officials. We provide tips for covering student homelessness. Find the latest Localize It guides.
WAGE WARS-STATES-LOCALIZE IT: “Now hiring” signs have become common since the coronavirus pandemic, as businesses ranging from hospitals to hamburger joints sought to counteract employee resignations and retirements by raising wages. Many public sector employers also have struggled to attract and retain workers amid aggressive competition from the private sector. During the past couple of years, employee vacancy rates have ballooned in many states, counties, cities and public school districts. States have responded with one of the largest surges in pay raises in the past 15 years. Many local governments also have increased pay. We offer ideas for localizing the story. Find the latest Localize It guides.
WORLD CUP-LOCALIZE IT: America’s star-studded women’s World Cup team has community ties from coast to coast. We list them for you and include players with U.S. ties from some other teams as well. We also point you to local club resources for potential watch parties and other events and link to AP’s planned coverage. Find the latest Localize It guides.
LGBTQ+ POPULATION-EXPLAINER-LOCALIZE IT: Laws restricting bathroom access, prohibitions against participating in sports and bans on gender-affirming care have been increasing in Republican-led states across the U.S. in recent years. The laws will directly impact millions of people, but the kind of demographic data that normally helps policy makers shape and measure the impact of new laws is scant. We point you to existing numbers for your area and provideideas for local reporting. Find the latest Localize It guides.
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Donald Trump faces further charges
Ron DeSantis’ Popularity Continues to Plunge
Small plane crash lands off New Hampshire beach
Mar-a-Lago property manager appears in Miami court
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AUDIO
Trump could be indicted soon in Georgia. Here’s a look at that investigation
Joe Biden, America’s oldest sitting president, needs young voters to win again. Will his age matter?
Teamsters say Yellow Corp. is ceasing operations, filing for bankruptcy
Blue blood from horseshoe crabs is valuable for medicine, but a declining bird needs them for food
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U.S. STORIES
KLAMATH-DAM-REMOVAL — The largest dam removal project in United States history is underway along the California-Oregon border — a process that won’t conclude until the end of next year with the help of heavy machinery and explosives. The hard part will come over the next decade as workers, partnering with Native American tribes, plant and monitornearly 17 billion seeds as they try to restore the Klamath River and the surrounding land to what it looked like before the dams started to go up more than a century ago. By Adam Beam. SENT: 1,090 words, photos.
HEAT-HALFWAY THROUGH SUMMER — Earth’s long hot summer is only about halfway finished and already extremes are piling up. A look back chronicling much of the summer’s worst so far and why scientists and meteorologists don’t see much relief in sight. Clue: The hot oceans. By Seth Borenstein. SENT:952 words, photos. With: EXTREME-HEAT-AIR-CONDITIONING-DISPARITIES — As climate change fans hotter and longer heat waves, breaking record temperatures and leaving dozens dead, the poorest Americans suffer the hottest days with the fewest defenses. SENT: 1,340 words, photos. An abridged version of 910 words is also available.
ABORTION-ALABAMA LAWSUIT – Health care providers in Alabama have filed a lawsuit against Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall over threats to prosecute people who help women arrange abortions outside the state. The lawsuit seeks a court declaration and injunction clarifying that the state’s criminal statute can’t be used to prosecute people who help women leave the state to obtain abortions. By Kim Chandler. SENT: 515 words.
KIDS-KILLED-DOOMSDAY-PLOT-SENTENCING – Idaho mother Lori Vallow Daybell faces up to life in prison without parole when she is expected to be sentenced Monday in the murders of her two youngest children and a romantic rival. The case has included bizarre claims that her son and daughter were zombies and that she was a goddess sent to usher in the Biblical apocalypse. By Rebecca Boone. SENT: 952 words, photos, video and audio. UPCOMING: Will be updated after the sentencing.
APARTMENT-BOOM-RENTS — When viewed through a wide lens, renters across the U.S. finally appear to be getting some relief, thanks in part to the biggest apartment construction boom in decades. Some economists project U.S. rents will be down modestly this year after soaring nearly 25% over the past four years. By Business Writer Alex Veiga. SENT: 1,020 words, photos, audio.
HORSESHOE-CRAB-BLOOD-HARVEST — A primordial sea animal that lives on the tidal mudflats of the East Coast and serves as a linchpin for the production of vital medicines stands to benefit from new protective standards. But conservationists who have been trying for years to save a declining bird species — the red knot — that depends on horseshoe crabs fear the protections still don’t go far enough. SENT: 1,120 words, photos, video.
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