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This information is not for publication or broadcast, and these coverage plans are subject to change.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.
VIRGINIA
YOUNGKIN-VOTING RIGHTS
RICHMOND, Va. — Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s administration has requested a watchdog investigation into the improper removal of eligible voters from the state’s voter rolls over probation violations, but state officials are declining to provide any interim update on the number of impacted Virginians. By Sarah Rankin.
CONFEDERATE MONUMENT-CHARLOTTESVILLE
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — A statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee that was a focal point of a deadly white nationalist protest in 2017 has been melted down and will be repurposed into new works of art. The Jefferson School African American Heritage Center, a Charlottesville-based Black history museum, said Thursday that the statue had been destroyed. The Charlottesville City Council voted in 2021 to donate the statue to the heritage center, after it proposed a Swords into Plowshares project that would melt the statue and repurpose it into public art. The statue was taken down in 2021 after years of debate and delay. Lawsuits that sought to block the statue’s destruction were unsuccessful. SENT: 300 words, photos.
SCHOOL SHOOTING NEWPORT NEWS
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — A sentencing hearing for the mother of a 6-year-old who shot his teacher in Virginia has been delayed until December. Deja Taylor faces up to five years in prison after pleading guilty to felony child neglect, though prosecutors will recommend only a six-month sentence as part of a plea deal. A sentencing hearing for Taylor had been scheduled for Friday in Newport News Circuit Court. But on Thursday a judge delayed the hearing to December 15. It’s been 10 months since Taylor’s son shot teacher Abby Zwerner in the hand and chest. She survived after spending nearly two weeks in the hospital and undergoing multiple surgeries. By Ben Finley. SENT: 500 words, photos.
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MARYLAND/DELAWARE
MARYLAND JUDGE KILLED
HAGERSTOWN, Md. — Loved ones are grieving the loss of a Maryland judge who was gunned down outside his home last week. They remembered Washington County Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson as dedicated, fair and even-keeled on the bench. Police believe 49-year-old Pedro Argote shot and killed Wilkinson hours after the judge granted Argote’s wife a divorce and sole custody of their four children. Argote was found dead Thursday in a heavily wooded area not far from where the shooting unfolded, ending a weeklong search. Judge Brett Wilson says his colleague’s killing has stunned the community Wilkinson served for years as a private lawyer and county attorney before becoming a judge. By Michael Kunzelman and Lea Skene. SENT: 830 words, photo.
BALTIMORE SHOOTING
BALTIMORE — Three teenagers were wounded in a shooting outside a west Baltimore high school around the time classes were starting Friday morning. Baltimore police say the victims all received non-life threatening injuries. At least two are students of Carver Vocational Technical High School. The shooting was reported just before 8 a.m. It adds to a recent uptick in youth violence plaguing the city this year, including several instances of Baltimore public school students being shot on or near high school campuses. That trend has persisted even as gun violence overall has declined over the past several months. SENT: 320 words, photo.
WHITE HOUSE-VIRTUAL TOUR
WASHINGTON — Can’t come to Washington? Couldn’t get a ticket to tour the White House? Don’t worry. The White House, Google Maps and Google Arts & Culture launched a new virtual tour of the famous mansion on Friday, which is also National Civics Day. By Darlene Superville. SENT: 350 words
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LOCALIZATION
BALLOT INITIATIVES-LOCALIZE IT: This year marks the 125th anniversary of South Dakota becoming the first state in the nation to enact a process for citizens to initiate ballot measures — a prominent example of direct democracy in America. Today about 165 million people live in 25 states with provisions that let residents bypass the legislature to amend the constitution and enact or repeal laws. We list out the states where these provisions exist, offer resources and suggest tips for localizing the story. Find the latest Localize It guides.
SCHOOL VOUCHERS-COST-LOCALIZE IT: Some of the states letting higher-income families use taxpayer money for private school tuition are seeing more families than they expected taking them up on the offer, and they might have to scramble to shore up their budgets on the fly as a result. We name the states with these expanded programs and offer suggestions for localizing the story. Find the latest Localize It guides.
EDUCATION-MATH-LOCALIZE IT: Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, few American students were finishing high school prepared for college-level courses. In the aftermath of the virus-related school closures and disruptions, scores on standardized math tests fell to their lowest levels in two decades. The Education Reporting Collaborative, a coalition of eight newsrooms that includes The Associated Press, has produced a series of stories documenting the crisis, exploring root causes and highlighting progress. Digging into math can lead to stories about racial equity in classrooms, teacher preparation and sometimes heated debates over the best strategies for bringing children up to speed. Find the latest Localize It guides.
ELECTIONS-WORKER TURNOVER-LOCALIZE IT: Local election offices across the country are seeing historic turnover, an exodus fueled by election conspiracies and threats against election workers. We highlight AP’s findings and offer resources and tips for localizing the story. Find the latest Localize It guides.
ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS-LOCALIZE IT: The latest Israel-Hamas war has had reverberations in communities across the U.S., offering multiple opportunities to provide a local take on this major news story. We offer resources and suggestions. Find the latest Localize It guides. Find the latest Localize It guides.
ISRAEL-HAMAS-STYLE GUIDE-LOCALIZE IT: This advisory includes AP’s latest guidance related to the Israel-Hamas war, including important context and definitions. Find the latest Localize It guides.
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AUDIO
Israel expects ‘long’ ground war in Gaza to destroy Hamas and its many tunnels
US fighter jets strike Iran-linked sites in Syria in retaliation for attacks on US troops
US consumers keep spending briskly even in the face of persistent inflation and high interest rates
Survivors of deadly Hurricane Otis grow desperate for food and aid amid slow government response
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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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