AP News Digest 3:45 a.m.

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Here are the AP’s latest coverage plans, top stories and promotable content. All times EDT. For up-to-the minute information on AP’s coverage, visit Coverage Plan at https://newsroom ap.org.

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TOP STORIES

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SUPREME COURT-BARRETT — Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett presents her conservative approach to the law at the start of a fast-tracked confirmation hearing. Democrats, powerless to stop her, try to cast Barrett’s likely ascent to the high court as a threat to Americans’ health care. By Mark Sherman, Lisa Mascaro and Mary Clare Jalonick. SENT: 1,150 words, photos video. UPCOMING: 990 words after hearings resume at 9 a.m. With SUPREME COURT-BARRETT-AFFORDABLE CARE ACT — Health care law on line at court, but is it likely to fall?

ELECTION 2020-HARRIS — President Donald Trump and his Republican allies are intensifying their focus on Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris — arguing that Harris, the first Black woman on a major party ticket, would really be in charge if Democrats win the White House. It’s an effort laced with sexist and racist undertones. By Kathleen Ronayne. SENT: 930 words, photos.

Find more coverage on the 2020 U.S. Elections featured topic page in AP Newsroom.

VIRUS-OUTBREAK-VACCINE — A late-stage study of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate has been paused while the company investigates whether a study participant’s “unexplained illness” is related to the shot. The company says that illnesses, accidents and other so-called adverse events “are an expected part of any clinical study, especially large studies,” but that its physicians and a safety monitoring panel would try to determine what might have caused the illness. SENT: 300 words, photo.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-VIRTUAL SCHOOL RULES CHICAGO — Toys that look like weapons. Barefoot students. Disruptive imagery in the background. Pets roaming the room. All a clear violation of rules inside most American classrooms. But that was when most American students were inside schools. How do standards like these translate when everyone is logging on from home? Schools are struggling to figure it out this fall — yet another adaptation demanded of educators during the coronavirus pandemic. By Kathleen Foody. SENT: 940 words, photos.

MICHIGAN-GOVERNOR-KIDNAPPING-PLOT — Five men accused in a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will appear in federal court for a hearing on whether they should be detained before trial. SENT: 300 words, photos.

SUDAN-FILMMAKER — More than a year after the overthrow of Sudanese strongman Omar al-Bashir, amid the promise of new leadership, Sudanese film director Hajooj Kuka was arrested during a theater workshop by the security forces that had served al-Bashir for years. He was tried and sentenced to prison on vague charges often used by the former government to enforce its conservative interpretation of religion. By Samy Magdy. SENT: 1,030 words, photo.

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MORE ON THE VIRUS OUTBREAK

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VIRUS OUTBREAK-ASIA — Authorities in the eastern Chinese port city of Qingdao say that they have completed coronavirus tests on more than 3 million people following the country’s first reported local outbreak of the virus in nearly two months. SENT: 600 words, photos. With VIRUS-OUTBREAK-THE-LATEST.

VIRUS-OUTBREAK-VIRAL-QUESTIONS-ILLNESS — How long can I expect a COVID-19 illness to last? It depends. SENT: 300 words, graphic.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-LIVES LOST-THE RABBI — British Rabbi Avrohom Pinter gave his life to save his neighbors. SENT: 880 words, photos.

Find more coverage on the Virus Outbreak on the featured topic page in AP Newsroom.

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WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

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DISNEY-STREAMING-REORGANIZATION — Disney reorganizes to further bolster company’s focus on streaming. SENT: 210 words, photo.

NLCS-FIRST FANS — Baseball’s first fans of 2020 see Dodgers-Braves NLCS opener. SENT: 980 words, photos.

PADRES-PHAM — Padres outfielder Pham stabbed, will recover. SENT: 240 words, photo.

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WASHINGTON/POLITICS

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ELECTION-2020-TRUMP-RALLY — Defiant as ever about the coronavirus, Trump turns his first campaign rally since contracting COVID-19 into a full-throated defense of his handling of the pandemic that has killed 215,000 Americans, joking that he was healthy enough to plunge into the crowd and give voters “a big fat kiss.” SENT: 970 words, photos, video.

ELECTION 2020-BIDEN — Joe Biden is campaigning in Ohio as he attempts to expand the battleground map and keep Trump on the defensive in a state thought to be out of reach after veering right in the presidential race four years ago. SENT: 900 words, photos.

ELECTION 2020-TRUMP-TEXAS EVANGELICALS — Texas is changing, as the state’s economy and jobs attract newcomers who tend to be more diverse, better educated and more often Democratic. SENT: 1,020 words, photos.

TRUMP-RUSSIA PROBE-WHERE THINGS STAND — In the run-up to the 2020 election, it’s Trump and the Republicans who are talking about the Russia probe while Democrats are largely silent. SENT: 1,190 words, photo.

ELECTION-2020-KENTUCKY-SENATE — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s opponent accused him of failing the country with the lack of another coronavirus relief package, while the Republican incumbent described himself as a powerful advocate for Kentucky in a hard-hitting debate. SENT: 860 words, photos.

ELECTION-2020-SENATE-DEBATE-GEORGIA — During their first debate, Democrat Jon Ossoff hammered Sen. David Perdue on his response to the coronavirus pandemic, while the Georgia Republican accused Ossoff of backing a “radical socialist agenda” — an assertion he sometimes backed with false claims. SENT: 820 words, photos.

ELECTION 2020-SENATE FUNDRAISING — Buoyed by massive fundraising success, Democratic Senate candidates are mounting a push in Republican states that few would have thought possible just a few months ago, placing continued GOP control of the chamber at risk. SENT: 1,110 words, photos.

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INTERNATIONAL

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MALAYSIA-POLITICS — Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim meets the nation’s king in a bid to form a new government after claiming he had secured a majority in Parliament. SENT: 580 words, photos.

AFGHANISTAN — American forces carried out several airstrikes in support of Afghan security forces under attack by the Taliban in southern Helmand province, a spokesperson for the U.S. military says. SENT: 270 words.

FOREIGN-BRIBERY — An anti-corruption watchdog ranks the United States and United Kingdom as the largest exporters most active at enforcing rules meant to prohibit companies from paying bribes in foreign markets, but said many others are doing next to nothing. SENT: 300 words, photo.

JAPAN-CHINA-DISPUTED-ISLANDS — Tokyo lodges protests to Beijing over the entry of Chinese coast guard ships into Japan’s territorial waters off disputed East China Sea islands and their refusal to move out for a third day. SENT: 310 words.

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NATIONAL

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ANCHORAGE MAYOR-RELATIONSHIP — Anchorage's mayor admits to having an inappropriate relationship with a female reporter, three days after she made online allegations against the married official. SENT: 510 words, photo.

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BUSINESS/TECH

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FINANCIAL-MARKETS — Shares were mixed in Asia, as investors were encouraged by strong growth in China’s trade in September. By Business Writer Elaine Kurtenbach. SENT: 660 words, photos. With CHINA-TRADE — China’s trade growth accelerates in September; exports up 9.9%; BRITAIN-ECONOMY — U.K. unemployment rate spikes to 4.5% amid winter job fears.

CYBERSECURITY-TRICKBOT-BOTNET — Microsoft says it has taken legal action seeking to disrupt a major cybercrime digital network that uses more than 1 million zombie computers to loot bank accounts and spread ransomware. By Technology Writer Frank Bajak. SENT: 790 words, photo.

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ENTERTAINMENT

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VIRUS-OUTBREAK-POP-UP-ORCHESTRA — The New York Philharmonic has found a way to play on even after its performance hall was shut because of the coronavirus. SENT: 570 words, photos.

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HOW TO REACH US

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At the Nerve Center, Jerome Minerva can be reached at 800-845-8450 (ext. 1600). For photos, Wally Santana (ext. 1900). For graphics and interactives, Dien Magno (ext. 7636). Expanded AP content can be obtained from http://newsroom.ap.org. For access to AP Newsroom and other technical issues, contact apcustomersupport(at)ap.org or call 877-836-9477.