Here are the AP’s latest coverage plans, top stories and promotable content. All times EST. Find the AP’s top photos of the day in Today’s Photo Collection. For up-to-the-minute information on AP’s coverage, visit Coverage Plan in AP Newsroom.
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ONLY ON AP
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AP-POLL-BIDEN-LEGACY — Americans have a dimmer view of Joe Biden’s presidency as he prepares to leave office than they did at the end of Donald Trump’s first term or Barack Obama’s second. A new poll finds around one-quarter of U.S. adults say Biden was a “good” or “great” president. That’s according to the survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. It’s a stark illustration of how tarnished Biden’s legacy has become, with many members of his own party seeing his Democratic presidency as merely mediocre. By Will Weissert and Amelia Thomson-Deveaux. UPCOMING: 1,310 words, photos by 7 a.m.
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TOP STORIES
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CALIFORNIA-WILDFIRES — Officials say the two biggest wildfires ravaging the Los Angeles area this week have burned at least 10,000 homes, buildings and other structures. Officials have urged more people to heed evacuation orders Thursday after a new blaze ignited. The fast-moving Kenneth Fire started in the late afternoon in the San Fernando Valley near the West Hills neighborhood and has moved into Ventura County. By Jaimie Ding, Julie Watson and John Seewer. SENT: 1,080 words, photos, video, audio. WITH: CALIFORNIA-WILDFIRES-THINGS-TO-KNOW.
CALIFORNIA-WILDFIRES-CAUSE — Investigators are considering an array of possible ignition sources for the huge fires that have killed at least 10 people and destroyed thousands of homes and businesses in the Los Angeles area. In hilly Pacific Palisades, officials have placed the origin of the wind-whipped blaze behind a home on Piedra Morada Drive above a densely wooded arroyo. Lightning is the most common source of fires in the U.S., according to the National Fire Protection Association. By Jason Dearen. SENT: 480 words, photos.
TRUMP-HUSH-MONEY — President-elect Donald Trump is facing sentencing for his New York hush money conviction after the nation’s highest court refused to intervene. Trump is expected to appear via video for Friday’s proceeding. With Trump 10 days from inauguration, Judge Juan M. Merchan has indicated he plans a no-penalty sentence called an unconditional discharge. Prosecutors aren’t opposing it. But nothing is final until Friday’s proceeding is done. Trump will have an opportunity to speak. By Michael R. Sisak, Jennifer Peltz and Jake Offenhartz. SENT: 800 words, photos.
VENEZUELA-INAUGURATION — President Nicolás Maduro will extend his increasingly repressive rule over Venezuela until 2031 when he is sworn in on Friday, despite credible evidence that his opponent won the latest election and following protests against his plan to serve a third six-year term. By Regina Garcia Cano. SENT:
SUPREME-COURT-TIK-TOK-THINGS-TO-KNOW — The law that could ban TikTok is coming before the Supreme Court. The justices largely hold the app’s fate in their hands as they hear the case Friday. The popular social media platform says the law violates the First Amendment and should be struck down. The U.S. government argues that the app having a China-based parent company means it’s a potential national security threat. By Lindsay Whitehurst. SENT: 550 words, photos.
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CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES
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CALIFORNIA-WILDFIRES-AIR-POLLUTION — With levels of sooty air pollution far too high across swaths of the Los Angeles area, people are taking precautions: wearing masks, buying air purifiers and staying indoors. The air quality index — which includes the fine particle pollution that can cause breathing and heart problems — reached hazardous levels for some neighborhoods on Wednesday and Thursday. SENT: 690 words, photos.
CALIFORNIA-WILDFIRES-STEVE-GUTTENBERG — Steve Guttenberg awoke Thursday morning to a grim reality: The treacherous wildfire that tore through the Pacific Palisades had left his once-lush neighborhood charred and unrecognizable. SENT: 570 words, photos, video.
FBN-VIKINGS-RAMS-GAME-MOVED — The NFL has moved the Rams’ wild-card playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings to Arizona after days of devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles area. SENT: 720 words, photo.
You can find the AP’s California Wildfires coverage plan here.
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MIDEAST WARS
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MIDEAST-WARS-YEMEN — An oil tanker that burned for weeks in the Red Sea after being attacked by Yemen’s Houthi rebels and threatening a massive oil spill has been salvaged, a security firm said. SENT: 430 words, photos. WITH: MIDEAST-WARS-THE-LATEST.
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MORE NEWS
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NEW-ZEALAND-ROYAL-ALBATROSS — A popular New Zealand bird “reality show” that each year follows a pair of northern royal albatrosses as they breed and raise a chick has drawn a global audience of devoted fans in its current 10th season. SENT: 700 words, photos.
AUSTRALIA-AIRLINER-DISTURBANCE — An Australian woman who says she is the half-sister of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appeared in a Sydney court on charges of causing a drunken disturbance on an airliner. SENT: 370 words, photo.
FRANCE-DOLCE&GABBANA — For the first time in their 40-year history, the Italian design duo Dolce & Gabbana are showcasing their work in Paris. SENT: 640 words, photos, video.
PAKISTAN-COAL-MINE-COLLAPSED — At least 12 miners remain trapped after a methane gas explosion caused a mine to collapse in a remote area of southwest Pakistan. SENT: 270 words, graphic.
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WASHINGTON/ POLITICS
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TRUMP-GOVERNORS — President-elect Donald Trump hosted 22 of the nation’s 27 Republican governors for dinner at his Florida club on Thursday night, looking to help drive the agenda in conservative-run states after he takes office in 11 days. SENT: 620 words, photos.
GIULIANI-ELECTION-MISINFORMATION — A federal judge is set to hear arguments on whether to hold Rudy Giuliani in contempt of court for continuing to spread lies about two Georgia election workers after they secured a $148 million defamation judgment against him. UPCOMING: 500 words, photos by 8 a.m. Eds: Hearing set for 10:30 a.m.
BIDEN-FOREIGN-POLICY — The White House says President Biden will deliver a capstone address to highlight some of his administration’s most significant foreign policy achievements. SENT: 240 words, photo.
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NATIONAL
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WINTER-BLASTS — Another blast of winter storms is closing schools, snarling flights and putting millions of residents on alert across parts of the Deep South and south-central U.S. The National Weather Service says heavy snowfall and icy conditions are likely Friday in Mississippi, Georgia, Kentucky and Tennessee. Schools have been closed in many places expecting nasty weather as far east as South Carolina. SENT: 810 words, photos, video, audio.
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INTERNATIONAL
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SOUTH-KOREA-MARTIAL-LAW — South Korea’s acting leader accepted the resignation of the chief of the presidential security service, Park Jong-joon, as he faced police questioning over how his forces blocked law enforcement efforts to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol last week. SENT: 980 words, photos, video, audio.
CANADA-PRIME-MINISTER — Canada’s governing Liberal Party will announce the country’s new prime minister March 9 after a leadership vote that follows the resignation of Justin Trudeau this week. The party’s National Board of Directors announced the initial rules of the race late Thursday. Trudeau remains prime minister until a new leader is chosen. SENT: 660 words, photos.
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RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR
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JAPAN-RUSSIA-SANCTIONS — Japan has approved additional sanctions against Russia over its war on Ukraine, including freezing the assets of dozens of individuals and groups and banning exports to dozens of organizations in Russia and several other countries that have allegedly helped it evade sanctions. SENT: 380 words.
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HEALTH & SCIENCE
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CLIMATE-EARTH'S-HOTTEST-YEAR — Global temperatures in 2024 soared to yet another record level, but this time it was such a big jump that Earth temporarily passed a major symbolic climate threshold. Three government climate agencies in Europe and Japan say last year’s global average temperature easily passed 2023’s record heat and kept pushing even higher. SENT: 960 words, photos, video, audio.
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BUSINESS
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ECONOMY-JOBS-REPORT — Getting a clear view of the U.S. job market hasn’t been easy the past few months. Hurricanes and a big strike at Boeing threw off the October jobs numbers, pushing them down and setting up a payback rebound in November that likely exaggerated the strength of hiring. The December jobs numbers, out Friday from the Labor Department, are expected to deliver a more accurate reading of where things stand. Most economists expect them to show that hiring is solid but slowing, especially compared to the boom days of 2021-2023. SENT: 610 words, photos.
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SPORTS
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CFP-ORANGE-BOWL — A diving interception off an ill-advised pass set up Notre Dame’s trip to play for the program’s 12th national title after a thrill-a-minute 27-24 victory over Penn State in the semifinal at the Orange Bowl. SENT: 1,020 words, photos.
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HOW TO REACH US
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At the Nerve Center, Richard A. Somma can be reached at 800-845-8450, ext. 1600. For photos, Donald E. King ext. 1900. For graphics and interactives, ext. 7636. Expanded AP content can be obtained from AP Newsroom. For access to AP Newsroom and other technical issues, contact apcustomersupport@ap.org or call 844-777-2006.
A snowman with leaves for hair stands in a park Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, in Richardson, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Opponents of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro protest the day before his inauguration for a third term, at Simón Bolivar Plaza in Guatemala City, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
A firefighter sets a backburn in front of the advancing Kenneth Fire in the West Hills section of Los Angeles, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
Fire crews battle the Kenneth Fire in the West Hills section of Los Angeles, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
