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This information is not for publication or broadcast, and these coverage plans are subject to change.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
NORTH CAROLINA-FELONS VOTING
RALEIGH, N.C. — A North Carolina law that makes it a serious crime for someone to vote while still on probation or parole for a felony conviction shouldn’t be thrown out, especially with a change to the law that took effect this week, a federal judge has ruled. U.S. Magistrate Judge Joe Webster on Tuesday issued an order recommending to deny a request by lawyers for groups representing poor residents and Black union members to invalidate what they called the “strict liability” law. By Gary Robertson. UPCOMING: 600 words by 2 p.m.
APPEALS COURT-CHIEF JUDGE
RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina’s top judge has quietly replaced the next leader of the state’s intermediate-level appeals court in a move that appears to run counter to tradition at the Court of Appeals. The new chief judge of the 15-member Court of Appeals is Judge Chris Dillon, whose appointment to the position took effect Monday, according to Dillon’s biography on the court’s website. He succeeds Judge Donna Stroud, who had been chief judge for the past three years. UPCOMING: 400 words by 4 p.m.
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SOUTH CAROLINA
NEW STATE SENATOR
COLUMBIA, S.C. — A longtime former Columbia city council member will soon be joining the state Senate. Democrat Tameika Isaac Devine is the winner of a Tuesday special election to replace the late John Scott. Upon certification, Isaac Devine becomes just the sixth woman currently serving in the 46-member legislative chamber. According to unofficial results from the South Carolina Election Commission, she got over 85% of the vote in the Democratic stronghold. Only 7.5% of registered voters reportedly turned out for the contest. The results are expected to be certified Jan. 4 ahead of next week’s start to the 2024 legislative session. Isaac Devine is a real estate attorney who served on the Columbia City Council from 2002 to 2021. SENT: 260 words.
ELECTION 2024-BIDEN
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden is starting the campaign year by evoking the Revolutionary War to mark the third anniversary of the deadly U.S. Capitol insurrection and visiting the South Carolina church where a white gunman massacred Black parishioners. The Democratic president is seeking to present in the starkest possible terms an election he argues could determine the fate of American democracy. Biden is kicking off 2024 in Pennsylvania by delving into some of the country’s darkest moments rather than an upbeat affirmation of his record. Former President Donald Trump is the heavy favorite to win the Republican nomination. Trump’s team argues Biden is threatening democracy because of the indictments brought against the former president. By Will Weissert and Zeke Miller. SENT: 720 words, photo, audio.
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VIRGINIA
REGISTRAR INDICTED
A judge is expected to dismiss the last remaining count against a former Northern Virginia registrar accused of misconduct in the 2020 general election. By Matthew Barakat. UPCOMING: 500 words by 4 p.m.
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MARYLAND/DELAWARE
MARYLAND ECONOMY-REPORT
ANNAPOIS, Md. — A new report says Maryland’s economic growth effectively stalled in 2017 and has been stagnant ever since. That’s despite the fact that the state tops the nation in several key economic categories. The report is the first of its kind released Wednesday by Comptroller Brooke Lierman. The report found that Maryland is behind neighboring states and the nation in gross domestic product, personal income, real wages and population growth. The report found that Maryland’s low unemployment rate is an indicator of a constrained labor supply, with the number of vacancies exceeding the number of available workers. By Brian Witte. SENT: 560 words, photo.
TAX CUTS-STATES
Almost every U.S. state has cut taxes in some way in the past three years. But that trend may be slowing as many states head into their 2024 legislative sessions with lagging tax revenues. Every state except Alaska and Nevada has enacted either permanent cuts, temporary suspensions or one-time rebates on their income, sales, property or gas taxes. Neither Alaska nor Nevada charges an income tax, and Alaska also has no statewide sales tax. Though states ended 2023 with record fund balances, those are expected to decline in 2024. California is expecting the biggest hit, with a projected $68 billion budget deficit. By David A. Lieb. SENT: 1,010 words, photos.
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LOCALIZATION
ELECTION 2024-STATE SUPREME COURTS: Crucial battles over abortion, gerrymandering, voting rights and other issues will take center stage in next year’s elections for state supreme court seats — 80 of them in 33 states. We offer a state-by-state breakdown and some suggested reporting tips. Find the latest Localize It guides.
AI-ELECTION 2024-LOCALIZE IT: Manipulated images and videos surrounding elections are nothing new — but 2024 is the first U.S. presidential contest where sophisticated AI tools that can produce convincing fakes in seconds are just a few clicks away. We provide key terms to know in your coverage, along with tips for identifying AI-generated content and details on state laws regulating political deepfakes. Find the latest Localize It guides.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-SHEDDING STOCKPILES-LOCALIZE IT: Some states that stockpiled millions of masks and other personal protective equipment during the coronavirus pandemic are now throwing the items away. An Associated Press survey found that at least 15 states have tossed out some of the PPE items because they are expiring or have more than they need, while others have sold extra materials at bargain prices or have tried to give away surplus masks, gowns and gloves but have had difficulty finding entities willing to take them. We list states that have thrown out PPE, those that say that haven’t and we offer tips on how to report this locally. Find the latest Localize It guides.
ABORTION-LEGISLATURES-LOCALIZE IT: The June 2022 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that ended a national right to abortion did not end the political and legal battles surrounding it. Instead, it provided a jolt. Voters, courts and lawmakers are all likely to have a lot to say about state-level abortion policy in 2024. We break down the status of abortion bans in various states, offer an embed code for a map you can publish and suggested reporting tips. Find the latest Localize It guides.
EDUCATION-MISSING STUDENTS-LOCALIZE IT: After enrollment plunged in American public schools during the COVID-19 pandemic, an analysis published in February by The Associated Press found an estimated 230,000 students in 21 states who were still missing from school. These students didn’t move out of state, and they didn’t sign up for private school or homeschool. The AP is updating its analysis to reflect data that is now available from the 2022-2023 school year. With the new numbers, the estimate for the number of missing students is now around 50,000. The update shows the education system has moved closer to a post-pandemic equilibrium. However, it hardly means schooling is back to how it was before. This is a guide to localizing stories on missing students, with links to AP’s new data analysis. Find the latest Localize It guides.
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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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