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This information is not for publication or broadcast, and these coverage plans are subject to change.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
XGR–STATE BUDGET
RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina Republicans at the General Assembly plan to unveil details of a final two-year state budget that will be voted on later in the week. Including the expansion of gambling in the state is no longer on the table. By Gary Robertson. UPCOMING: 500 words by 4 p.m.
BIDEN-CLIMATE CORPS
WASHINGTON — Environmental activists are praising President Joe Biden’s New Deal-style American Climate Corps. After being thwarted by Congress, the Democratic president is using his executive authority to create the climate corps, which will serve as a major green jobs training program. The White House said Wednesday the program will employ more than 20,000 young adults who’ll build trails, plant trees, help install solar panels and do other work to boost conservation and help prevent wildfires. The climate corps was proposed in early versions of the sweeping climate law approved last year but was jettisoned amid strong opposition from Republicans and concerns about cost. Democrats and environmental advocates pushed Biden to use an executive order. By Matthew Daly. SENT: 1,010 words, photos.
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SOUTH CAROLINA
SOUTH CAROLINA SENATE SPECIAL ELECTION
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. — The Democratic nominee for a special election for an open South Carolina Senate seat appears to have come down to a handful of votes. With all the regular ballots counted Wednesday, state Rep. Deon Tedder led state Rep. Wendell Gillard by 11 votes out of the 4,173 cast in the runoff. The Post and Courier of Charleston reports there are 10 provisional ballots to review and two overseas military ballots that haven’t been returned. State law requires a recount when the margin is within 1 percentage point. The Senate seat is open because Democratic Sen. Marlon Kimpson resigned after 10 years in office. The winner faces Republican Rosa Kay on Nov. 7 in the heavily Democratic district in Charleston and North Charleston. SENT: 300 words.
CHALLENGED BOOKS
NEW YORK — The nationwide surge in book bannings continues. The American Library Association is reporting that challenges to books in schools and public libraries will likely reach record highs in 2023, topping what had been a record pace in 2022. School libraries had long been the predominant target, but in 2023 reports have been near-equally divided between schools and libraries open to the general public, the ALA announced Wednesday. The ALA released its numbers in advance of its annual banned books week, Oct. 1-7, when libraries highlight challenged works. By Hillel Italie. SENT: 610 words, words.
BOOKS JAMES CLYBURN
NEW YORK — U.S. Rep. James E. Clyburn is working on a history book he calls a “passion project.” He’s telling the story of the eight Black congressmen who represented South Carolina in the decades immediately following the Civil War. Little, Brown and Company announced Wednesday that it has a deal with Clyburn for “The First Eight,” which does not yet have a release date. In 1992, Clyburn became the first Black to represent South Carolina in the House of Representatives since the 1890s. SENT: 200 words, photo.
IN BRIEF:
— POLICE SHOOING-SOUTH CAROLINA — Authorities say a South Carolina man was shot and killed Tuesday night after a state trooper tried to pull him over on a two-lane road near Marietta.
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VIRGINIA
ELECTION 2023-VIRGINIA-ABORTION
RICHMOND, Va. — One of the biggest fights over abortion rights this year is in Virginia, where all of the state House and Senate seats are up for reelection. Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin pushed to ban the procedure after 15 weeks of pregnancy but was blocked by the Democratic-controlled Senate earlier this year. Youngkin has pledged to try again if the GOP wins full control in the state. The Commonwealth’s odd-year elections are often an indicator of the national mood heading into major election years and offer both parties a chance to test campaign strategies, messaging and policy. Democrats are banking on abortion rights to be a winning issue, just as it was in the 2022 midterms. By Sarah Rankin and Sara Burnett. SENT: 1,230 words, photos.
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MARYLAND/DELAWARE
WRONGLY IMPRISONED-COMPENSATION
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — A Maryland board approved more than $340,000 for a settlement on Wednesday to compensate a man who was wrongly convicted of murder and assault in two separate cases and spent more than five years in prison. By Brian Witte.
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LOCALIZATION
CENSUS-SURVEY DATA-LOCALIZE IT
For lovers of facts about life in the United States, it has been like drinking from a firehose in recent days as the U.S. Census Bureau released new, 2022 survey data on income, poverty, health insurance coverage, commuting times, education levels, disabilities and military service, among many other topics. We walk you through the data options and suggest some reporting threads. Find the latest Localize It guides.
OVERDOSE REVERSAL DAY-APPALACHIA-LOCALIZE IT
An effort to destigmatize the use of overdose reversal drugs that started as a pilot in two West Virginia counties has been expanded to all thirteen states in Appalachia this year. The first-ever “Appalachian Save a Life Day” was held Thursday as Narcan can be purchased over the counter for nonprescription use. The nasal spray was approved by federal regulators to appear on drug store shelves earlier this spring. More than 180 counties participated at more than 300 different sites. We offer resources and tips for localizing the story. Find the latest Localize It guides.
FIREFIGHTERS-CONTAMINATED GEAR-LOCALIZE IT: Firefighters around the country are concerned that gear made with the toxic industrial compound PFAS could be one reason for cancer among their ranks. The chemical, which has been linked to an increased risk of health problems including several types of cancer, is used in protective gear to repel water and other substances when fighting a fire. AP lists states that have taken or are considering legislative action and offers tips for localizing the story. Find the latest Localize It guides.
PLANTING-TREES-LOCALIZE IT: Hundreds of communities around the country will share more than $1 billion in federal money to help them plant and maintain trees under a federal program that is intended to reduce extreme heat, benefithealth and improve access to nature. We list the total funds received by community organizations in each state and offer tips for localizing the story. Find the latest Localize It guides.
DEMOCRACY DAY-LOCALIZE IT: More than 120 newsrooms across the United States will band together Sept. 15, the International Day of Democracy, to collectively report on the ways democracy works — and isn’t working — at the federal and local levels in the U.S. We providedetails on the effort, dubbed U.S. Democracy Day, and tell you how to participate. Find the latest Localize It guides.
SPORTS BETTING-LOCALIZE IT: The AP provides a roadmap for localizing our coverage of state spending on problem gambling as the NFL season kicks off Thursday and Kentucky becomes the latest state to legalize sports betting. Find the latest Localize It guides.
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VIDEO
UNCAPTIONED: Hunter Biden Files Lawsuit Against the IRS
Six people in custody after body found in a car trunk in Atlanta
Seattle Officer Mocks Victim’s Death In Shocking Bodycam Footage In Washington, USA
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NEW TO STORYSHARE: SOLUTIONS JOURNALISM NETWORK
Looking for more state news and photos? Sign up to participate in AP StoryShare, an online platform where news organizations from a growing list of states share content.
Besides state and regional news, StoryShare offers distinctive reporting around broad topics such as climate, education and Indigenous affairs. The platform now also has a network devoted to solutions-focused journalism.
Access to StoryShare is free for AP members. For account information, contact Jennifer Lehman at jlehman@ap.org or our team at storyshare@ap.org.
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