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.
For access to AP Newsroom and other technical issues, contact AP Customer Support at apcustomersupport@ap.org or 877-836-9477.
This information is not for publication or broadcast, and these coverage plans are subject to change.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.
NORTH CAROLINA
EDUCATION-TEACHERS OF COLOR
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Teachers are leaving jobs in growing numbers, state reports show. The turnover in some cases is highest among teachers of color. A major culprit is stress — from pandemic-era burnout, low pay and the intrusion of politics into classrooms. But the burdens can be heavier in schools serving high-poverty communities that also have higher numbers of teachers of color. Nationally, about 80% of American public school teachers are white, even though white students no longer represent a majority in public schools. By Marc Levy. SENT: 1,120 words, photos, audio.
IN BRIEF:
— ELECTION 2024-LABOR COMMISSIONER — The current Republican labor commissioner in North Carolina and his GOP predecessor are backing competing candidates in next year’s party primary for the job.
____
MARYLAND/DELAWARE
CAMP NO LIMITS
HAMDEN, Conn. — A camp for children with limb loss or limb differences is helping train students at Quinnipiac University. The school has teamed up with Camp No Limits to run a four-day program on the school’s campus in Connecticut. The camp is run and staffed by students in the university’s physical and occupational therapy program. The children attending the camp learn life hacks such as how to tie shoes with one arm or climb stairs without legs. They also get to play sled hockey, ride bikes and make friends with other kids going through similar struggles. By Pat Eaton-Robb. SENT: 760 words, photos.
MARYLAND-HOSPITAL ESCAPE
CAMBRIDGE, Md. — A patient escaped from one of Maryland’s state-run psychiatric hospitals Tuesday evening by exiting through a shot-out window and fleeing in a waiting getaway car, according to police. Nineteen-year-old Darrin Lee Jeter was later found by law enforcement in Montgomery County, about 100 miles from the Eastern Shore Hospital Center where he had been committed for court-ordered mental health treatment. Police are still working to identify the person who allegedly fired several shots into a window, allowing Jeter to escape. SENT: 340 words.
IN BRIEF:
— FATAL WRONG-WAY CRASH — Police in Maryland say an SUV going the wrong way on the Capital Beltway hit two other vehicles in a crash that killed one person and injured nine others.
____
SPORTS
BBA–ORIOLES-BLUE JAYS
Baltimore plays Toronto at Rogers Centre. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos.
BBN–BREWERS-NATIONALS — Milwaukee plays Washington at Nationals Park. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos. By Patrick Stevens.
CAR–NASCAR–HALL OF FAME SELECTION
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Seven-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson and his longtime crew chief Chad Knaus are among those eligible to be selected to the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2024. The 2023 class, which will be comprised of three Hall of Famers – two from the modern era ballot and one from the pioneer ballot — will be announced on Wednesday at the Hall of Fame in Charlotte. UPCOMING. 600 words, photos. Developing from 4 p.m. ET announcement.
FBN–COMMANDERS-HOWELL
ASHBURN, Va. – Sam Howell has the chance to earn the Washington Commanders’ starting quarterback job, and it’s his goal to show coach Ron Rivera and new ownership that he deserves that spot. The 2022 fifth-round pick out of North Carolina got all spring to learn new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy’s system and now needs to show the right composure to beat out veteran Jacoby Brissett and earn the nod for Week 1. By Stephen Whyno. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos by 4 p.m. EDT.
____
LOCALIZATION
TORNADO-MANUFACTURED DANGER-LOCALIZE IT: The Associated Press analyzed tornado deaths and found that since 1996, 53% of the tornado deaths in people’s homes were in mobile or manufactured housing. That’s even though manufactured homes are less than 6% of the American housing stock. It’s more than 800 deaths in mobile or manufactured homes. And when tornadoes are weak — with winds of 135 mph or less — an even higher proportion of tornado deaths at home, 79%, are in mobile homes. This is a story that is easily localized, by looking at tornado deaths, mobile home rates and applicable federal rules in your state and counties. We provide data and reporting suggestions. Find the latest Localize It guides.
EDUCATION-STUDENT HOMELESSNESS-LOCALIZE IT: Federal data on homeless students, based on a count of children identified by schools nationwide, found the number fell 21% from the 2018-2019 school year to the 2020-2021 school year, during the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s a decrease of more than 288,000 students, but it’s unlikely all of those kids suddenly got housing. Instead, the number likely reflects kids who stopped going to school or whose lack of housing was unknown to school officials. We provide tips for covering student homelessness. Find the latest Localize It guides.
WAGE WARS-STATES-LOCALIZE IT: “Now hiring” signs have become common since the coronavirus pandemic, as businesses ranging from hospitals to hamburger joints sought to counteract employee resignations and retirements by raising wages. Many public sector employers also have struggled to attract and retain workers amid aggressive competition from the private sector. During the past couple of years, employee vacancy rates have ballooned in many states, counties, cities and public school districts. States have responded with one of the largest surges in pay raises in the past 15 years. Many local governments also have increased pay. We offer ideas for localizing the story. Find the latest Localize It guides.
WORLD CUP-LOCALIZE IT: America’s star-studded women’s World Cup team has community ties from coast to coast. We list them for you and include players with U.S. ties from some other teams as well. We also point you to local club resources for potential watch parties and other events and link to AP’s planned coverage. Find the latest Localize It guides.
LGBTQ+ POPULATION-EXPLAINER-LOCALIZE IT: Laws restricting bathroom access, prohibitions against participating in sports and bans on gender-affirming care have been increasing in Republican-led states across the U.S. in recent years. The laws will directly impact millions of people, but the kind of demographic data that normally helps policy makers shape and measure the impact of new laws is scant. We point you to existing numbers for your area and provide ideas for local reporting. Find the latest Localize It guides.
____
VIDEO
Special counsel: Trump lies ‘fueled’ Jan. 6 attack
Archive GVs of Donald Trump, who has been charged with election interference
Gilgo Beach killings suspects appears in court
____
AUDIO
Trump lawyer calls indictment an ‘attack on free speech and political advocacy.’ Follow live updates
Climate change made July hotter for 4 of 5 humans on Earth, scientists find
Why are gas prices rising? Experts point to extreme heat and oil production cuts
Striking writers and studios will meet this week to discuss restarting negotiations
____
U.S. STORIES
ELECTION-2024-TRUMP — The 2024 election will determine whether or not Donald Trump returns to the White House. It could also determine if he’ll face time behind bars. By Jill Colvin. UPCOMING: 1,795 words, photos.
TRUMP-CAPITOL RIOT-LEGAL DEFENSES — Donald Trump’s lawyer plans to rely on a First Amendment defense. But the evidence in the case and the former president’s actions could make that argument challenging to pull off. By Eric Tucker. UPCOMING: 900 words, photos by 5 p.m. WITH: TRUMP-CAPITOL RIOT-FAKE-ELECTORS-EXPLAINER — How the Trump fake electors scheme became a ‘corrupt plan,’ according to the indictment. SENT: 880 words, photos. WITH: TRUMP-CAPITOL-RIOT-PENCE — Mike Pence fought the Department of Justice in court to try to avoid testifying against his former boss. But in a new federal indictment unsealed Tuesday, the former vice president plays a central role in the latest criminal charges against Donald Trump. SENT: 975 words, photos.
PITTSBURGH-SYNAGOGUE-SHOOTING — The gunman who stormed a synagogue in the heart of Pittsburgh’s Jewish community and killed 11 worshippers will be sentenced to death. A federal jury recommended Wednesday that 50-year-old Robert Bowers be sent to death row for perpetrating the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history. A judge must formally impose the sentence. The truck driver spewed hatred of Jews and espoused white supremacist beliefs online before carrying out the 2018 massacre at the Tree of Life synagogue. Most of the victims were elderly or disabled. Bowers also wounded two worshippers and five police officers in the shooting. By Peter Smith and Michael Rubinkam. SENT: 960 words, photos.
EDUCATION-TEACHERS OF COLOR — Rhonda Hicks could have kept working into her 60s. She loved teaching and loved her students in Philadelphia’s public schools. As a Black woman, she took pride in being a role model for many children of color. But other aspects of the job deteriorated, such as growing demands from administrators over what and how to teach. And when she retires in a few weeks, she will join a disproportionately high number of Black and Hispanic teachers in her state who are leaving the profession. By Marc Levy. SENT: 1,120 words, photos.
HEAT WAVE — After a respite from 110-degree-plus daily temperatures, it looks like Phoenix will have to brace itself for a return to the harsh, sweltering conditions that had enveloped the desert city for roughly a month. UPCOMING: 500 words, photos by 4 p.m.
WILDFIRES — Firefighters aided by rain fought to contain a massive blaze that swept through the California desert into Nevada and could threaten the region’s famous spiky Joshua trees. SENT: 615 words, photos, videos, audio.
____
NEW TO STORYSHARE: SOLUTIONS JOURNALISM NETWORK
Looking for more state news and photos? Sign up to participate in AP StoryShare, an online platform where news organizations from a growing list of states share content.
Besides state and regional news, StoryShare offers distinctive reporting around broad topics such as climate, education and Indigenous affairs. The platform now also has a network devoted to solutions-focused journalism.
Access to StoryShareis free for AP members. For account information, contact Jennifer Lehman at jlehman@ap.org or our team at storyshare@ap.org.
——————————
If you have photos of regional or statewide interest, please send them to the AP state photo center in New York, 888-273-6867. For access to AP Newsroom and other technical issues, contact AP Customer Support at apcustomersupport@ap.org or 877-836-9477.
——————————