AP News Digest 3 a.m.
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ONLY ON AP
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VIRUS OUTBREAK — A racial gap has opened up in the nation’s COVID-19 vaccination drive, with Black Americans in many places lagging behind whites in receiving shots. That’s according to an Associated Press analysis. An early look at the 17 states and two cities that have released racial breakdowns finds that Black people are getting inoculated at levels below their share of the general population. Among the reasons given: deep mistrust of the medical establishment among Black Americans because of a history of discriminatory treatment. The gap is deeply troubling to some, given that the coronavirus has taken a disproportionate toll in severe sickness and death on Black people in the U.S. By Carla K. Johnson, Angeliki Kastanis and Kat Stafford. SENT: 1,240 words, photos.
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TOP STORIES
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TRUMP-IMPEACHMENT-TRIAL — Former President Donald Trump has parted ways with his lead impeachment lawyers little more than a week before his trial, two people familiar with the situation said Saturday. The change injects fresh uncertainty into the makeup and strategy of his defense team. SENT: 420 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT — Some hospitals around the U.S. are facing complaints about favoritism and line-jumping after their board members and donors received COVID-19 vaccinations or offers for the prized inoculations. In Rhode Island, Attorney General Peter Neronha opened an inquiry after reports that two hospital systems offered their board members vaccinations. A Seattle-area hospital system was rebuked by Washington Gov. Jay Inslee after it offered COVID-19 vaccination appointments to major donors. Hospitals in Kansas, Florida and New Jersey also are facing questions. By Russ Bynum, Michelle R. Smith and Rachel La Corte. SENT: 1,060 words, photos.
VACCINATION-CENTER-SHUT-DOWN — One of the largest vaccination sites in the country temporarily shut down Saturday because dozen of protesters blocked the entrance, stalling hundreds of motorists who had been waiting in line for hours, the Los Angeles Times reported. SENT: 260 words, photos.
SCHOOLS-MENTAL-HEALTH-DAYS — As the coronavirus pandemic takes a mental toll on young people, more states are considering expanding opportunities for students to take mental health days to try to lessen stigma and reduce youth suicide. Lawmakers in Utah and Arizona have proposed bills that would add mental or behavioral health to the list of reasons students can be absent from class. Similar laws have passed in Oregon, Maine, Colorado and Virginia in the past two years. By Sophia Eppolito. SENT: 830 words, photos.
FEDERAL SCIENTISTS-DEPLETED RANKS -- Federal data shows the ranks of scientists who carry out environmental research, enforcement and other jobs fell sharply in some agencies under former President Donald Trump. Government scientists say many veteran staffers retired, quit or moved to other agencies amid pressure from an administration they regarded as hostile to science and beholden to industry. That poses a challenge for President Joe Biden who must rebuild a demoralized work force to make good on promises to protect the environment, tackle climate change and reduce pollution. By Tammy Webber and Matthew Brown. SENT: 1,040 words, photos. Eds: This story has moved as the Sunday Spotlight.
GAMESTOP TRADERS-FINANCIAL REVOLT -- Nearly a decade after the Occupy protest movement left Wall Street more or less unscathed, the citadel of financial might faces a new assault. Day traders, mobilized on a Reddit chatroom, have poured about all the money they can find into the stocks of a struggling video game retailer called GameStop and a few other beaten-down companies. Their buying has swollen those companies’ share prices beyond anyone’s imagination — and, not coincidentally, inflicted huge losses on the hedge funds of the super-rich, who had placed bets that the stocks would drop. Their strategy, of course, is freighted with risk. By Paul Wiseman and Joseph Pisani. SENT: 1,250 words, photos.
LIONS-RAMS-TRADE — The Detroit Lions are trading quarterback Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for quarterback Jared Goff, two future first-round picks and a third-round pick, a person with knowledge of the deal tells The Associated Press. By Greg Beacham. SENT: 1,150words, photos.
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WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT
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SANDERS-INAUGURATION MEMES — The teacher who created the recycled wool mittens that U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders wore to the presidential inauguration — engendering countless memes — is partnering with the Vermont Teddy Bear Company to create a whole mitten line to meet soaring demand, with some of the proceeds going to Make-A-Wish Vermont. SENT: 420 words, photos.
TWITTER-METS-OWNER — The owner of the New York Mets says he has dropped off Twitter because his family received threats that he attributed to “misinformation” that was not tied to the baseball team. SENT: 300 words, photos.
BRITAIN OBIT-SOPHIE — The Grammy-nominated Scottish disc jockey, music producer and recording artist Sophie has died at age 34 following an accident in the Greek capital of Athens. SENT: 365 words.
PEOPLE-JACK-PALLADINO — Jack Palladino, the private investigator who worked on high-profile cases ranging from the Jonestown mass suicides to celebrity and political scandals, has been placed on life support after suffering a head injury during an attempted robbery. SENT: 410 words, photos.
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MORE ON THE VIRUS OUTBREAK
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VIRUS OUTBREAK-CALIFORNIA — California has reported 40,000 coronavirus deaths as the state’s steepest surge of cases begins to taper. Data reported by Johns Hopkins University shows the state passed the milestone Saturday. The grim number comes amid a sharp recent decline in cases and hospitalizations but while deaths surge at a record pace. SENT: 975 words, photos.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK-FRANCE-THE-VULNERABLE — Many people lining up for vaccines in the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis are particularly grateful for the injections. The surrounding region is the poorest in mainland France, with 130 languages spoken and the country’s highest rise in mortality last spring. Up to 75 percent of the population is made up of immigrants and those with immigrant roots. France’s already troubled vaccine campaign faces special challenges in this region. SENT: 810 words, photos.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK-GUANTANAMO — The U.S. is backing off for now on a plan to offer COVID-19 vaccinations to the 40 prisoners held at the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. SENT: 250 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-CHINA-WHO MISSION — Members of a World Health Organization team investigating the origins of the coronavirus pandemic have visited another Wuhan hospital that had treated early COVID-19 patients on their second full day of work. SENT: 450 words, photos.
Find more coverage on the Virus Outbreak on the featured topic page in AP Newsroom.
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WASHINGTON/ POLITICS
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SCI-BIDEN-CLIMATE-NOW-WHAT— President Joe Biden’s moves to fight climate change are aimed at transforming the economy in a way that experts say will eventually change how Americans live. Biden’s ultimate goal is no additional carbon pollution by 2050. Experts say getting there will mean changes in how people drive and where they get their power, but it can be done. They say that because wind and solar energy is getting cheaper, changes in America’s electricity supply should be quiet and not so painful. But the nation moving from gas guzzlers to all-electric cars will be more obvious. By Seth Borenstein. SENT: 1,085 words, photos.
CONGRESS-MINIMUM WAGE — The Democratic push to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour has emerged as an early flashpoint in the fight for a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package, testing President Joe Biden’s ability to bridge Washington’s partisan divides as he pursues his first major legislative victory. The federal minimum wage is $7.25 and hasn’t increased since 2009. By Kevin Freking. SENT: 970 words, photos.
BIDEN-ECONOMY — President Joe Biden is warning of a growing “cost of inaction” on his $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief plan. And the White House says the new administration is searching for “creative” ways to garner public support for a package that has gotten a cold shoulder from Senate Republicans. SENT: 950 words, photos.
AFGHANISTAN-ABDUCTED AMERICAN — As the Biden administration considers whether it should pull remaining U.S. troops out of Afghanistan in the coming months, some fear for the fate of an American who could be left behind: an abducted contractor believed held by a Taliban-linked militant group. SENT: 910 words, photo.
TRUMP-PUNISH AT PERIL — Years of anti-abortion rights advocacy and devout party organizing didn’t shield the Republican Party leader in one Iowa county from retribution after saying President Donald Trump should be impeached for his role in the deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol. Dave Millage was a victim of the political fallout as Republicans debate whether Trump should be defended or punished. SENT: 990 words, photos. With TRUMP-IMPEACHMENT-RICE — South Carolina Republicans have issued a formal censure to U.S. Rep. Tom Rice to show disapproval over his vote in support of the second impeachment of former President Donald Trump. SENT: 420 words, photos.
CAPITOL BREACH-NEW YORK ARRESTS — The Department of Justice says two New York men identified as members of the Proud Boys have been indicted on federal conspiracy and other charges in the Capitol riot. SENT: 760 words, photo.
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INTERNATIONAL
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BRITAIN-HONG-KONG-EXODUS — Thousands of people from Hong Kong are fleeing their hometown since Beijing imposed a draconian national security law on the territory last summer. Many say China’s encroachment on their way of life and civil liberties has become unbearable. SENT: 900 words, photos.
RUSSIA-NAVALNY — Russian police have issued a strong warning against participating in protests planned for Sunday to call for the release of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny, the Kremlin’s most prominent foe. SENT: 605 words, photos.
VENEZUELA-DEMOCRATIC-LAWYER — Newly filed lobbying records show Venezuela’s socialist government previously hired a longtime Democratic Party donor for $6 million at the same time it was lobbying to discourage the U.S. from imposing sanctions on the oil-rich nation. SENT: 1,150 words, photo.
SOMALIA-TROUBLED-ELECTION — As Somalia marks three decades since a dictator fell and chaos engulfed the country, the government is set to hold a troubled national election. Or is it? Two regional states refuse to take part in the vote to elect Somalia’s president and parliament members, and time is running out before the Feb. 8 date on which mandates expire. SENT: 800 words, photos.
INDIA-FARMER-PROTEST — Indian farmers taking part in more than two months of protest against new agriculture laws began a daylong hunger strike Saturday, as they sought to reaffirm the peaceful nature of their movement following recent violent clashes with police. SENT: 595 words, photos.
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NATIONAL
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ALABAMA-PRISONS — Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said she plans to sign agreements for two privately built prisons, despite lawmakers’ complaints about the pricetag and lack of public transparency and warnings from advocacy groups that such prisons won’t address chronic violence and severe staffing woes. SENT: 730 words, photos.
CALIFORNIA-GOVERNOR-THREAT-INVESTIGATION — Law enforcement officials are investigating escalating threats of death and violence against California Gov. Gavin Newsom, his family and the wineries, shops and other businesses he founded. SENT: 300 words, photos.
FOUR-DEAD-OKLAHOMA — A couple and their two young children were found dead in a home in northeast Oklahoma in what police said appears to be a triple murder-suicide, the Tulsa World reported. SENT: 210 words, photos.
BADGER-STATUE-FAREWELL — The Wisconsin badger statue that has served as a literal touchstone for so many Capitol building visitors that they’ve rubbed the finish off his nose could be headed to another den soon. Navy officials want the statue they loaned to the state more than 30 years ago back. But state historians aren’t letting it go without a fight. SENT: 675 words, photo.
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ENTERTAINMENT
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VIRUS OUTBREAK-MEDIA — Across the country, many people are at a loss for where to turn for help during the pandemic. So they’re reaching out to local journalists. Flummoxed by confusing websites and recommendations about how to get vaccinated, they’re calling reporters whose work they see or read to ask them questions. SENT: 900 words, photos.
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SPORTS
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T25-VIRGINIA-VIRGINIA TECH — Keve Aluma scored a career-high 29 points to lead No. 20 Virginia Tech to a 65-51 win over No. 8 Virginia on Saturday night. SENT: 630 words, photos.
FBN--SUPER BOWL-CHIEFS CONCERN — They are now without tackles Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz. Even before the season there were shortages on the offensive line. The chief concern for the Chiefs heading into the Super Bowl is those guys up front. SENT: 800 words, photos.
FBN—OBIT-STEELERS-PATRICIA ROONEY — Patricia Rooney, the wife of late Pittsburgh Steelers chairman Dan Rooney, has died. She was 88. SENT: 260 words, photos.
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HOW TO REACH US
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