Here are the AP’s latest coverage plans, top stories and promotable content. All times EST. For up-to-the minute information on AP’s coverage, visit Coverage Plan at https://newsroom.ap.org
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ONLY ON AP
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TRUMP-WASHINGTON HOTEL — Former New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez, once vilified by Donald Trump as a “druggie” unworthy of wearing the pinstripes, is now a key part of an investment group seeking to buy the rights to the ex-president’s marquee Washington, D.C., hotel. That’s according to two people familiar with the deal who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. By Bernard Condon. SENT: 1,160 words, photos.
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TOP STORIES
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UKRAINE-TENSIONS — The Kremlin signaled Monday it is ready to keep talking with the West about security grievances that led to the Ukraine crisis, offering hope that Russia might not invade its neighbor within days as the U.S. and Europe increasingly fear. Questions remain about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s intentions, and some nations are evacuating diplomats amid the worst East-West tensions since the Cold War. By Vladimir Isachenkov and Yuras Karmanau. SENT: 1,300 words, photos. Developing. With: UKRAINE-TENSIONS-DOES WEATHER MATTER? Any decision to invade Ukraine is likely to depend very little upon fears that a thaw will hinder tanks from crossing boggy ground. SENT: 500 words, photos. And UKRAINE-TENSIONS-THINGS TO KNOW (sent)
For full coverage of Ukraine.
BIDEN-GUNS — Families and gun control advocates are pressing President Joe Biden to do more to address gun violence. Their push comes four years after 17 people were gunned down at a Parkland, Florida, school. One victim’s father says he climbed a crane near the White House to proclaim his message. Dozens of advocates are set to rally outside the White House on Monday, the Parkland shooting anniversary. By Zeke Miller and Colleen Long. SENT: 500 words, photos. Developing.
VIRUS OUTBREAK — As the remaining vaccine mandates for medical workers are set be implemented this week in 25 mostly conservative states, it is once again becoming clear how widespread the use of religious exemptions is in the U.S. as a workaround to complying with such requirements. At one rural hospital near Yellowstone National Park, about 200 of the 620 staffers have put in requests for religious exemptions, most of which have been granted. Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte pledged his support to the unvaccinated last week and urged them to consider seeking exemptions. By Heather Hollingsworth. SENT: 1,120 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-PROTESTS — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government is weighing whether to invoke emergency powers to quell the protests that have paralyzed Ottawa and blocked border crossings over the country’s COVID-19 restrictions. For the past two weeks, hundreds and sometimes thousands of protesters in trucks and other vehicles have clogged the streets of Ottawa. By Rob Gillies and Ted Shaffrey. SENT: 1,000 words, photos. Developing.
SCI-WESTERN-MEGADROUGHT-RECORD — The megadrought bedeviling the American West got even drier last year and is becoming the deepest dry spell in more than 1200 years. Monday’s study says the megadrought is now the worst-case scenario officials and scientists worried about in the 1900s. By Seth Borenstein. SENT: 750 words, photos.
OLY-FIG-RUSSIAN WOMEN — The biggest barrier between Russian figure skating star Kamila Valieva and another Olympic gold medal is no longer a panel of judges holed up in a Beijing hotel room but rather the teammates she practices with every day. That would be Alexandra Trusova and world champion Anna Shcherbakova. SENT: 650 words, photos.
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MORE ON THE OLYMPICS
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OLY-CHINA’S BUBBLE WORKFORCE — Tens of thousands of Chinese workers have been hermetically sealed inside the ring-fence of virus prevention measures that China has erected around the games, locked in with the athletes and Olympic visitors. But while Olympians jet in for just weeks, Chinese workers who cook, clean, transport, care for them and otherwise make the games tick are spending several months sequestered inside the sanitary bubble. China’s ruling Communist Party does not allow workers to organize independently, so there is not a whisper of public complaint. But there’s plenty of enthusing from workers about how lucky they are. SENT: 1,050 words, photos. WITH OLY-BEIJING-OLYMPICS-THE LATEST (sent).
OLY-OLYMPICS-CRASHES-PHOTO-GALLERY — Sometimes Olympic dreams and physics are on an unenviable collision course. Athletes have literally crashed out of competition, ending their quests for a medal by smashing into siding, toppling over amid a crowded cross-country skiing field or simply pitching face-first into the snow. SENT: 100 words, photos.
OLY-CHINA-ICE-HOCKEY — China made its Olympics debut in men’s ice hockey, but it’s not clear if the outmatched team consisting mostly of foreign players is kindling a passion for the sport in the country. A blowout loss to the U.S. wasn’t shown on the country’s main sports channel and social media chatter has been muted. SENT: 870 words, photos.
OLY-COMPETITING FOR ANOTHER COUNTRY-EXPLAINER — U.S.-born athletes have taken centerstage at the Winter Olympics in Beijing — for the host country, that is, generating scrutiny of nationality switching. Freestyle skier Eileen Gu’s decision to compete for her mother’s native China over her native U.S. has drawn critical coverage that has at times veered into plain racism and misogyny. But she’s not the first to do it. SENT: 1200 words, photos.
OLY-ON THE EDGE — When Winter Olympians talk about losing their edge, they often mean the literal edge of a skate, a ski or a snowboard that can be the difference between a spot on the podium, or one in the hospital. SENT: 750 words, photos.
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TRENDING NEWS
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FBN-SUPER BOWL-THINGS TO KNOW — A thrilling late touchdown drive gave the Rams a 23-20 win over the Bengals to win the Super Bowl. Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp’s 1-yard touchdown catch from Matthew Stafford came after three costly penalties on the Bengals’ defense. SENT: 500 words, photos.
CORRESPONDENTS DINNER — Trevor Noah, the host of “The Daily Show” on Comedy Central, will be the featured entertainer for the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner on April 30. SENT: 170 words, photo.
WHOOPI-GOLDBERG-HOLOCAUST — Whoopi Goldberg returned to “The View” on Monday following her two-week suspension for remarks about the Holocaust. SENT: 250 words, photo.
BOOKS-DR. DEBORAH-BIRX — Former White House health official Dr. Deborah Birx has a memoir coming out this spring. It will center on her contentious time as White House coronavirus task force coordinator in the administration of President Donald Trump. SENT: 400 words, photo.
ICE-FISHING-PROSTITUTION COMMENT — The mayor in Ohio who suggested allowing ice fishing shanties on a lake could lead to prostitution has resigned. SENT: 300 words, photos.
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WASHINGTON/POLITICS
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BIDEN-INFLATION — President Joe Biden came into office with a plan to fix inflation but not the particular inflationary problem that the country now faces. His belief is that a cluster of companies control too many industries, which reduces competition for both customers and workers. That leads to higher prices and lower wages. The White House says that costs an average of $5,000 annually for U.S. families. Biden is now trying to remedy the situation with 72 distinct initiatives. SENT: 1,130 words, photos.
CYBERWAR-RULES OF ENGAGEMENT — President Biden said in July that if the U.S. ends up in a war with a major power it would “be as a consequence of a cyber breach of great consequence.” Now tensions are soaring over Ukraine with Western officials warning about the danger of Russia launching damaging cyberattacks. SENT: 1,310 words, photos.
ELECTION 2022-DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS — Four states are emerging as top priorities for Democrats in an election year when the party is facing fierce political headwinds. Wisconsin as well as Kansas, Michigan and Pennsylvania have Republican-controlled legislatures and Democratic-held governorships on the ballot this fall. Democratic loses could lead to GOP-led changes in election laws that have an impact on the 2024 presidential race. SENT: 1,050 words, photos.
JILL BIDEN-VALENTINE’S DAY — Jill Biden has turned Valentine’s Day into a teachable moment for some second graders at a Washington, D.C., elementary school. The first lady’s office says she had the students design Valentine’s Day hearts using words that reflect her values, like compassion, kindness and love. The hearts are hanging in a window in the East Wing of the White House. SENT: 340 words, photo.
ELECTIONS 2022-TEXAS PRIMARY — Early voting in the first primary of the 2022 midterm elections is starting in Texas. But polls will open Monday under a rushed rollout of tougher voting restrictions that were passed last fall by state Republicans. SENT 920 words, photos.
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NATIONAL
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MAYORAL CANDIDATE-SHOOTING — A Democratic candidate for mayor of Louisville, Ky., narrowly escapes injury after a shooting at his campaign office, police say. A suspect is detained. SENT: 200 words. Developing.
FATAL-STABBING-CHINATOWN — Authorities say a woman was stabbed to death inside her lower Manhattan apartment by a man who followed her from the street into her building. Police say 35-year-old Christina Yuna Lee was found fatally wounded in her bathtub at about 4:30 a.m. Sunday. SENT: 300 words, photos.
GEORGE FLOYD OFFICERS CIVIL RIGHTS — A use-of-force expert is testifying in the federal trial against three former Minneapolis police officers who are charged with violating George Floyd’s civil rights. Tim Longo says their conduct was “inconsistent” with generally accepted policing practices. SENT: 600 words, photos.
AHMAUD ARBERY-HATE CRIMES — A jury with three Black members has been seated in the federal hate crimes trial of three white men who were convicted of murdering Ahmaud Arbery. The Black jurors are among 12 people selected Monday to hear the case, along with four alternates. SENT: 550 words, photos.
REL-NORTH CAROLINA CHURCH-RACIAL UNITY — More than five years after a Black congregation merged with a mostly white North Carolina church, members of The Refuge Church continue striving to be an example of unity and racial reconciliation in the American South. Church member Troy Savage says Martin Luther King Jr.’s decades-old criticism of the racial divide in the U.S. church still rings true today. SENT: 950 words, photos.
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INTERNATIONAL
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MEXICO-AVOCADOS-VIOLENCE — Mexico’s president says a U.S. suspension on avocado imports and recent environmental complaints are part of a conspiracy against his country by political or economic interests. The U.S. measure was due to years of worries that drug cartel violence and threats against growers in the western Mexico state of Michoacan has spilled over to threats against U.S. inspectors. SENT: 650 words, photos.
CLIMATE REPORT — A special United Nations panel is putting the finishing touches on a major science report that’s supposed to tell people the “so what?” about climate change. The report will highlight how global warming disrupts people’s lives, their natural environment and Earth itself. SENT: 870 words, photos.
MYANMAR-SUU-KYI — Ousted Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s trial has begun on election fraud charges, the latest in a series of criminal prosecutions by the military-run government in which she has already been sentenced to six years in prison. SENT: 500 words.
MALAYSIA-CORRUPTION-GOLDMAN SACHS — Federal prosecutors say a former Goldman Sachs executive pocketed $35 million in “secret kickbacks” in the multibillion-dollar ransacking of a Malaysian state investment fund. Prosecutors said Monday that Roger Ng played a “crucial” role in the massive money laundering and bribery scheme that bankrolled lavish spending on luxury real estate. SENT: 630 words, photos.
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HEALTH/SCIENCE
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SCI-IVORY POACHING NETWORKS — A new study suggests that as few as three major criminal groups are responsible for smuggling the vast majority of elephant ivory tusks out of Africa. Researchers used analysis of DNA from seized elephant tusks and evidence such as phone records, license plates, financial records and shipping documents to map trafficking operations across the continent and better understand who was behind the crimes. SENT: 770 words, photos.
SPACEX-PRIVATE FLIGHTS —The billionaire who flew on his own SpaceX flight last year is headed back up, aiming for an even higher orbit. Tech entrepreneur Jared Isaacman announced Monday that he will make another private spaceflight launching from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. SENT: 370 words, photos.
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BUSINESS/TECH
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FINANCIAL MARKETS — Stocks edged lower in afternoon trading on Wall Street Monday as investors watch the developing situation in Ukraine as Russia amasses troops on the border. The S&P 500 fell 0.2%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.5% and the Nasdaq rose 0.7%. SENT: 400 words, photo.
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SPORTS
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SOC-FIFA-BRAZIL-ARGENTINA — FIFA handed out fines and suspensions while ordering Brazil and Argentina to replay the World Cup qualifier that was abandoned after health agents stormed the field in Sao Paulo to dispute the quarantine status of players. SENT: 500 words.
BKW—T25 WOMEN'S BKB POLL — Iowa State has climbed to No. 6 in The Associated Press women’s basketball poll. That is the best ranking for the program in 20 years and it comes with big games against No. 14 Texas and No. 15 Oklahoma this week. South Carolina remained a unanimous No 1 in the poll, followed by Stanford, Louisville, N.C. State and Indiana. SENT: 330 words, photos.
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ENTERTAINMENT
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THE STREAM — This week’s new entertainment releases include a musical reunion of Leon Bridges and Khruangbin, the first take of a multi-part documentary on Kanye West and the return of “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” for its pandemic-delayed fourth season. SENT: 830 words, photos.
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