Greater Mid-Atlantic News Digest 1 p.m.
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This information is not for publication or broadcast, and these coverage plans are subject to change.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.
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NORTH CAROLINA
NC—MEDICAID EXPANSION
RALEIGH, N.C. —— Federal regulators have given their final approval for North Carolina to begin offering Medicaid to hundreds of thousands of low-income adults on Dec. 1. The state Department of Health and Human Services announced on Friday that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services had approved changes to North Carolina’s Medicaid program to offer it. An estimated 600,000 adults who earn too much for traditional Medicaid but too little for subsidized private insurance are expected to benefit in North Carolina. The state says about half of that total should be enrolled immediately. The Dec. 1 start date was unveiled late last month. SENT: 334 words.
US—CONGRESS-SPEAKER-PRO TEMPORE
WASHINGTON —- Rep. Patrick McHenry is presiding over the House as speaker pro tempore following the unprecedented ouster of Kevin McCarthy. McHenry has wielded the speaker’s gavel with extreme care, making no attempts to test the limits of his unusual role. He is effectively keeping the House in a suspended state as both parties wait for House Republicans to reach consensus on who will be the next new speaker. But as the House nears a second week stuck on pause, and Republicans struggle to unite around a candidate, many lawmakers are growing antsy. Some Republicans are urging McHenry, a North Carolina lawmaker, to interpret his powers more broadly, if that’s what it takes to get the House working again. By Stephen Groves. SENT: 1,028 words. W/photos.
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VIRGINIA
US—HOSPITALS STRIKE
UNDATED — Unions representing 75,000 health care workers who recently held a strike against industry giant Kaiser Permanente over wages and staffing shortages have reached a tentative agreement with the company. The three-day strike last week involving workers in multiple states officially ended last Saturday and workers returned to their jobs in Kaiser’s hospitals and clinics that serve nearly 13 million Americans. Kaiser Permanente, based in Oakland, California, confirmed the deal in a social media post. The unions had said bargaining sessions had been scheduled for this week. SENT: 430 words. W/photos.
MARYLAND-DELAWARE
MORGAN STATE-SHOOTING ARREST
BALTIMORE —- A teenager has been arrested in a last week’s shooting at Morgan State University that left five people wounded during homecoming celebrations. Baltimore police announced the 17-year-old’s arrest Friday morning but didn’t identify him because he’s a minor. Authorities have an arrest warrant for a second suspect, 18-year-old Javon Williams. School officials said neither suspect is a student at Morgan State. Authorities say the suspect was arrested Thursday in Washington, D.C., and will be charged with multiple counts of attempted murder. The campus of the historically Black college in northeast Baltimore was placed on lockdown for hours as officers initially thought there was an active shooter threat. SENT: 400 words.
BIDEN-HIDROGEN HUBS
WASHINGTON —- The Biden administration has selected clean-energy projects from Pennsylvania to California for a $7 billion program to kickstart development and production of hydrogen fuel. That’s a key component of President Joe Biden’s agenda to slow climate change. The Democratic president wants to establish seven regional hydrogen hubs to help replace fossil fuels such as coal and oil with cleaner-burning hydrogen as an energy source for vehicles, manufacturing and generating electricity. Biden is expected to make the official announcement Friday during an economic-themed visit to Philadelphia. The White House calls hydrogen essential to achieving Biden’s “vision of a strong, clean energy economy” and net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. by 2050. By Matthew Daly and Marc Levy. SENT: 988 words. W/photos.
IN BRIEF:
HEMP PRODUCTS-MARYLAND — HAGERSTOWN, Md. —- A Maryland judge has suspended a part of the state’s new recreational marijuana law that forced some shops to stop selling hemp-derived products with intoxicating levels of THC. The Washington Post reports that Judge Brett R. Wilson issued a preliminary injunction on Thursday. A lawsuit filed by the Maryland Hemp Coalition and other businesses in the hemp-supply chain remains unresolved. The lawsuit alleges that restrictions in the state’s recreational cannabis market violate the Maryland Constitution’s equal protection and anti-monopoly clauses. The state is trying to dismiss the lawsuit.
URANIUM ENRICHMENT
PIKETON, Ohio —- Uranium enrichment at a facility in southern Ohio is getting underway this week. It’s a federally authorized demonstration project in Piketon, Ohio, that’s considered critical to produce the type of fuel needed for newer, more efficient nuclear reactors. Bethesda, Maryland-based Centrus Energy Corp. will be producing the high-assay, low-enriched uranium at the American Centrifuge Plant. That form of uranium contains far more of the isotope U-235 than is typically found in current nuclear reactor fuel. Officials call it the first launch of a new U.S. technology uranium enrichment plant to begin production in this country since 1954. It’ll fuel smaller and more efficient nuclear reactors that will have longer operating cycles as well as fuel for existing reactors.
SOUTH CAROLINA
US—ELECTION-2024-NEVADA
RENO, Nev. —- Former Vice President Mike Pence will skip the Nevada caucuses run by the state Republican Party and will instead compete in a state-run primary contest. Pence’s name appeared Thursday on a list of GOP presidential candidates who filed for the primary with the Nevada secretary of state’s office. The party has barred candidates from participating in the Feb. 8 caucuses if they also run in the primary election. By skipping the caucus, Pence gives up a chance to try to win Nevada’s relatively small number of delegates. Instead, a primary win could offer an opportunity to prove electability before crucial contests in South Carolina and Super Tuesday primaries. By Michelle L. Price and Gabe Stern. SENT: 776 words. W/Photo.
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TOP STORIES
ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken vowed American support to Israel as its military pulverized the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip with airstrikes and prepared for a possible ground invasion. As Palestinians tried to stock up on bread and groceries amid dwindling supplies, Israel said nothing would be allowed into Gaza until Hamas militants freed some 150 hostages taken during their deadly weekend incursion. International aid groups warned of a worsening humanitarian crisis after Israel halted deliveries of food, water, fuel and electricity to Gaza’s 2.3 million people and prevented entry of supplies from Egypt. The war has claimed at least 2,700 lives on both sides. By Joseph Krauss and Wafaa Shurafa. SENT: 1,265 words, photos, videos, audio.
BIDEN-ISRAEL — President Joe Biden has spent decades as a stalwart supporter of Israel, a connection rooted in long-ago dinner table conversations with his father about the Holocaust. Now his devotion is back in the spotlight the Hamas attacks that caused the largest loss of Jewish life in a single day since the Holocaust. The crisis threatens to engulf more of the Middle East in conflict. It will also test Biden at a time when some Democrats are more skeptical of backing Israel and Republicans are eager to portray him as an unreliable ally for the Jewish state. By Chris Megerian. SENT: 1,290 words, photos.
CONGRESS-SPEAKER — Nominated to be House speaker, Rep. Steve Scalise is heading straight into a familiar Republican problem: Skeptical GOP colleagues are reluctant to give their support, denying him the majority vote needed to win the gavel. By Lisa Mascaro, Farnoush Amiri and Stephen Groves. SENT: 635 words, photos
MENENDEZ-BRIBERY — Federal prosecutors in New York City have rewritten their indictment against U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey and his wife to charge them with conspiring to have him act as an agent of Egypt and Egyptian officials. The superseding indictment filed in Manhattan federal court accuses Menendez of violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act. The new charge comes just weeks after the Democrat and his wife were accused of accepting bribes of cash, gold bars and a luxury car from three New Jersey businessmen who wanted the senator to help and influence over foreign affairs. By Larry Neumeister. SENT: 580 words, photos.
SOCIAL-SECURITY – The acting Social Security commissioner says a 3.2% increase in benefits next year “will help millions of people keep up with expenses.” The increase announced Thursday is far less than this year’s historic boost and reflects moderating consumer prices. The Social Security Administration says the average recipient will get more than $50 more per month. The AARP estimates $59 per month. About 71 million people including retirees, disabled people and children receive Social Security benefits. This year’s cost-of-living adjustment was 8.7%, triggered by record-high inflation pushing up costs of consumer goods. The cost-of-living adjustments have a big impact for people like 83-year-old Louisiana resident Alfred Mason, who says “any increase is welcomed.” By Fatima Hussein. SENT: 515 words, photos.
CONSUMER-PRICES — Measures of U.S. inflation eased slightly in September, evidence that consumer price increases are continuing to grind lower at a gradual pace. Consumer prices increased 0.4% from August to September, below the previous month’s 0.6% pace. Year-over-year inflation was unchanged last month from a 3.7% rise in August. And underlying inflation declined a bit: So-called core prices, which exclude volatile food and energy costs, climbed 4.1% in September from 12 months earlier, down from a 4.3% pace in August. By Christopher Rugaber. SENT: 830 words, photos.
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LOCALIZATION
FBC-TURF WARS-LOCALIZE IT: Over the last 50 years, the number of artificial turf fields at the top level of college football has essentially doubled to 71% of the total. Many schools find turf is cheaper to maintain, particularly for concerts or other non-athletic events, even though there are concerns about athlete injuries. We provide a list of schools that currently use grass fields and offer tips for localizing the story. Find the latest Localize It guides.
EDUCATION-TECH SPENDING-LOCALIZE IT: An infusion of federal pandemic relief to America’s schools sparked a boom in the education technology sector, an industry where research and evidence are scarce. An Associated Press analysis of public records finds that districts spent tens of millions of dollars on apps, games and tutoring websites. Schools often have little or no evidence that the programs helped students, and some were rarely used. We offer tips for localizing the story. Find the latest Localize It guides.
US-SEX EDUCATION-STATE LAWS: Many states are shifting their approach to sex education in K-12 schools, further complicating and polarizing it. A dozen state or county agencies have parted ways with federal grants that help monitor teenagers’ sexual behaviors and lower rates of STDs. It worries experts, who say students won’t reliably learn about adolescence, safe sexual activity or relationship violence. We point you to some state data and resources and offer tips for localizing the story. Find the latest Localize It guides.
ELECTIONS-MISINFORMATION-LOCALIZE IT: The 2024 election is just around the corner, and misinformation around voting and elections persist. Expertise in voting procedures and trends is crucial to both debunking online falsehoods and effectively covering elections. This guide offers tips for distinguishing fact from fiction around elections, including the measures governments are taking to safeguard voting and the realistic threats to local elections. Find the latest Localize It guides.
CHILD CARE FUNDING-LOCALIZE IT: After two years of receiving federal subsidies, 220,000 child care programs across the country lost funding. Part of the largest investment in child care in U.S. history, the monthly payments ranged from hundreds to tens of thousands of dollars. The funding that ended Saturday was meant to stabilize the industry during the COVID-19 pandemic. Providers say ending it puts at risk millions of children and their families. We highlight states where the situation is most dire, give some examples of state actions to try and curb the problem and offer suggestions for localizing the story. Find the latest Localize It guides.
AUTO-WORKERS-STRIKE-LOCALIZE IT: The United Auto Workers union expanded its strikes against Detroit automakers, ordering 7,000 more workers to walk off the job in Illinois and Michigan. The move announced Friday is supposed to put more pressure on the companies to improve their offers. It marked the second time the union has widened the walkout, which started two weeks ago at three assembly plants. The most recent additions are a Ford plant in Chicago and a General Motors assembly factory near Lansing. We list the city and state of each strike location along with tips for localizing the story. Find the latest Localize It guides.
HAWAII WILDFIRES-WATER GAPS-LOCALIZE IT: A recent fire on Maui highlighted a nationwide problem: Many communities lack enough backup power to fight fires and supply clean water when in a disaster knocks out power. Hours before devastating wildfires scorched the historic community of Lahaina, a shortage of backup power for critical pumps seriously hindered firefighting efforts on a blaze 24 miles away, in the mountain town of Kula, county water director John Stufflebean told The Associated Press. Experts said it’s unclear how big the vulnerability is across the country, but many systems lack sufficient backup power to keep pressure in their water pipes when the electric grid fails. We provide suggested reporting threads and questions for local water utilities. Find the latest Localize It guides.
VEHICLES VS. PEDESTRIANS-LOCALIZE IT: October is Pedestrian Safety Month, and government statistics show that pedestrian roadway deaths have been on the rise for years. Safety advocates say part of the problem is increasingly large trucks and SUVs that are especially dangerous to walkers, runners and bicyclists. Since 2011, pedestrian and cyclist deaths have increased by 64%, to an estimated 8,413 in 2022. We provide links to national and state data and offer tips for localizing the story. Find the latest Localize It guides.
RAILROAD PROJECTS-LOCALIZE IT: The Biden administration announced more than $1.4 billion in grants Monday to improve railroad safety and boost capacity across the country. Much of the money for the grants comes from the 2021 infrastructure law. The money will fund 70 projects in 35 states and Washington D.C. We list the projects and offer tips for localizing the story. Find the latest Localize It guides.
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AUDIO
As strikes devastate Gaza, Israel says it’s preparing for possible ground assault
Social Security benefits will increase by 3.2% in 2024 as inflation moderates
Hollywood studios break off strike talks with actors, who slam ‘bullying tactics’
$1.765 billion Powerball jackpot goes to lucky lottery player in California
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