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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NORTH CAROLINA
ELECTION 2024-GOVERNOR
RALEIGH, N.C. — Josh Stein’s campaign for North Carolina governor says it raised more than $5.7 million during the past six months. The Democrat’s organization revealed this and other fundraising numbers on Thursday in advance of a reporting deadline later this month. The amount is on top of the roughly $6 million Stein raised during the first half of 2023. These numbers should keep the current attorney general at or near the top of collections when all 2024 gubernatorial candidates report their donations. Stein’s campaign said it had about $11.5 million in cash entering the new year. Other gubernatorial candidates include Democrat Mike Morgan and Republicans Mark Robinson, Bill Graham and Dale Folwell. SENT: 310 words, photo.
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SOUTH CAROLINA
CHILD KILLED-COLD CASE
Investigators long thought a 5-year-old South Carolina boy was strangled in 1989 by his father and stepmother. But it took 34 years of scientific advancement to link fibers on the boy’s shirt to what was used to choke him, a sheriff said. Victor Lee Turner, 69, and Megan R. Turner, 63, were charged with murder in the death of 5-year-old Justin Turner at their home in Berkeley County, Sheriff Duane Lewis said at a news conference Wednesday. By Jeffrey Collins. UPCOMING: 550 words, photo.
TRANSGENDER HEALTH-2024 LEGISLATURES
Republican-led state legislatures are again considering bills restricting medical care for transgender youths and some adults the year after a wave of high-profile bills became law. Advocates for transgender rights say most of the states inclined to pass gender-affirming care bans have done so. They now expect those states to build upon those restrictions and expand them to adults. At least 22 states have enacted bans on gender affirming care for children. Most of them were approved in the past year. Major medical groups oppose the bans and have endorsed the care for youth. They say it’s safe when administered properly. By Andrew DeMillo and Hannah Schoenbaum. SENT: 1,260 words, photos.
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VIRGINIA
BOEING-EMERGENCY LANDING
Federal officials are investigating Boeing’s oversight of production of a panel that blew off a jetliner in midflight last week. The Federal Aviation Administration said Thursday that the investigation is focusing on door plugs like the one that came off an Alaska Airlines Boeing jetliner over Oregon. The FAA says Boeing’s manufacturing practices need to meet high safety standards. The plane involved is a Boeing 737 Max 9, and all similar planes operated by Alaska Airlines and United Airlines remain grounded. By David Koenig. SENT: 290 words, photo.
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MARYLAND/DELAWARE
CAPITOL RIOT-ELECTIONS BOARD MEMBER
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — A Republican member of the Maryland State Board of Elections is resigning after being arrested by the FBI this week on felony and misdemeanor charges relating to his conduct during the attack at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Court records show Carlos Ayala was arrested on Tuesday in Maryland. He has been released on personal recognizance. Chair of the state elections board Michael Summers said in a statement Thursday that he has accepted Ayala’s immediate resignation. Ayala’s lawyer, James Trusty, declined to comment. By Brian Witte. SENT: 690 words, photo.
BIDEN-EV CHARGING STATIONS
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration is awarding $623 million in grants to help build an electric vehicle charging network across the nation. Grants being announced Thursday will fund 47 EV charging stations and related projects in 22 states and Puerto Rico, including 7,500 EV charging ports. Congress approved $7.5 billion in the 2021 infrastructure law to build out a national network of 500,000 publicly available chargers by 2030. The charging ports are a key part of President Joe Biden’s effort to encourage drivers to buy electric vehicles. But progress on the network has been slow. Ohio and New York are the only states that have opened federally funded charging stations so far. By Matt Daly. SENT: 800 words, photos.
HUNTER BIDEN
WASHINGTON — First lady Jill Biden called the GOP’s treatment of her son “cruel” in an interview on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” Hunter Biden is headed back to court for an arraignment on federal tax charges filed after the collapse of a plea deal that could have settled the case against him. He is expected to plead not guilty on Thursday to felony and misdemeanor tax offenses. The charges stem from what federal prosecutors say was a four-year scheme to skip out on paying the $1.4 million he owed to the Internal Revenue Service. Prosecutors say he instead spent millions to fund an extravagant lifestyle that by his own admission included drugs and alcohol. By Colleen Long. SENT: 650 words, photo.
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LOCALIZATION
TRANSGENDER HEALTH-2024 LEGISLATURES-LOCALIZE IT: Republican-led state legislatures are again set to consider bills restricting medical care for transgender youth and, in some cases, adults, returning to the issue a year after a wave of high-profile bills became law and sparked lawsuits. We list the relevant measures in each state and offer tips for localizing the story. Find the latest Localize It guides.
US-BLACK-HISTORIC-COMMUNITIES-LOCALIZE IT: Historic Black communities have dwindled from their once-thriving existence in the United States and efforts to preserve what’s left encounter complicated challenges. The incorporated towns were founded by formerly enslaved people and often had their own churches, schools, stores and economic systems. Researchers estimate fewer than 30 historic Black towns are left, compared to more than 1,200 at the peak about a century ago. While some enclaves stand up to outside forces looking to repurpose the land, others find compromise that keeps the historical legacy alive. We list the locations of some of the remaining incorporated towns and offer suggestions for localizing the story. Find the latest Localize It guides.
US-NATIVE AMERICAN-SIGNS-LOCALIZE IT: Authorities from Minnesota to Maine are adding Native American language translations to road signs and building facades. The signage is part of an effort to revitalize Native languages and draw attention to Native communities that have longstanding ties to the areas. Others are doing it to make Native American residents feel more welcome. We list locations where this is happening and offer tips and resources for local reporting. Find the latest Localize It guides.
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.
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AUDIO
Blinken sees a path to Gaza peace, reconstruction and regional security after his Mideast tour
Ukraine’s Zelenskyy rules out a cease-fire with Russia, saying Moscow would use it to rearm
US inflation edges up, fueled by energy and housing prices, but many other costs rise only mildly
Google lays off hundreds in hardware, voice assistant teams amid cost-cutting drive
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