AP News Digest 6 p.m.

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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NEW/DEVELOPING

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Adds TAMPA TITLETOWN, BIDEN-INDIA, COLOMBIA-VENEZUELA-MIGRANTS, JEFFREY EPSTEIN-WARDEN, CAPITOL BREACH-WASHINGTON STATE ARREST, WATER TREATMENT PLANT-HACK, OBIT-FEMALE ASTRONAUT, CHANGING THE BALL.

T25-SOUTH CAROLINA-UCONN — Game starts 7 p.m.

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ONLY ON AP ______________

AP POLL-DEMOCRACY — Only a fragment of Americans believe democracy is thriving in the U.S., even as broad majorities agree that representative government is one of the country’s bedrock principles, according to an AP-NORC poll. By Steven Sloan and Thomas Beaumont. SENT: 1,000 words, photo, graphics.

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TOP STORIES ______________

TRUMP-IMPEACHMENT — On the eve of Donald Trump’s historic second impeachment trial, lawyers for the former president insist he is not responsible for inciting a violent mob at the Capitol to overturn the election. Prosecutors say he must be convicted for this “most grievous constitutional crime” even after leaving the White House. By Eric Tucker, Lisa Mascaro, Mary Clare Jalonick and Jill Colvin. SENT: 1,070 words, photos, video. With TRUMP-IMPEACHMENT-EXPLAINING THE TRIAL — How the trial will proceed. UPCOMING: 1,110 words by 7 p.m., photos; TRUMP-IMPEACHMENT-DEFENSE ARGUMENTS — Defense lawyers are adamant that Trump did not incite the Capitol riot. UPCOMING: 620 words, photo by 7 p.m.

Find complete coverage of the impeachment on the AP Newsroom hub.

VIRUS OUTBREAK — Evidence is mounting that having COVID-19 may not protect against getting infected again with some of the new variants. People also can get second infections with earlier versions of the coronavirus if they mounted a weak defense the first time, research suggests. By Chief Medical Writer Marilynn Marchione. SENT: 920 words, photos. With VIRUS OUTBREAK-US SURGE — The drive to vaccinate Americans against the coronavirus gains speed. SENT: 600 words, photos.

MYANMAR — Myanmar’s new military rulers signal their intention to crack down on opponents of their takeover, issuing decrees that effectively ban peaceful public protests in the country’s two biggest cities. The restrictive measures are ordered after police fired water cannons at hundreds of protesters in the Myanmar capital, Naypyitaw. SENT: 790 words, photos.

BIDEN-CHILD TAX CREDIT-ANALYSIS — President Joe Biden and Democratic lawmakers aim to expand the child tax credit to $3,000-plus, a move that could halve child poverty rates to levels never seen in U.S. history. An AP News Analysis by Josh Boak. SENT: 850 words, photo. With BIDEN-ECONOMY — Budget office: $15 wage would reduce poverty, increase debt. SENT: 980 words, photo.

TESLA-BITCOIN — Tesla invests around $1.5 billion in Bitcoin and says it plans to begin accepting the digital currency as payment for its high-end vehicles soon. The price of Bitcoin soars 15% to above $43,000, continuing the wild ride for the currency since its Wall Street debut in December 2017. By Business Writer Matt Ott. SENT: 500 words, photos.

POLLEN WORSENING — A study finds that pollen season and its awful nasal drips are coming earlier and hitting harder — and that’s because of global warming. It's the first study to use accepted scientific methods to attribute worsening allergies in the U.S. directly to human-caused climate change. By Science Writer Seth Borenstein. SENT: 870 words, photos.

TAMPA TITLETOWN — Ho-hum. It's another professional sports title for Tampa Bay — home of the Super Bowl-winning Buccaneers, Stanley Cup champion Lightning and American League kingpin Rays. By Sports Writer Fred Goodall. UPCOMING: 600 words by 6:30 p.m., photos. With BUCCANEERS-WINNERS — Tom Brady, Bucs already thinking about what it’ll take to repeat. SENT: 770 words, photos.

Find complete Super Bowl coverage on AP Newsroom.

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WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT ______________________________

CATHOLIC-SCHOOLS — Enrollment in Roman Catholic schools in the U.S. has dropped 6.4% amid the pandemic and economic stresses — the largest single-year decline in at least five decades. SENT: 610 words, photos.

OBIT-JOE ALLEN — Joe Allen, whose Times Square-adjacent bistro which bears his name has been a decadeslong draw for Broadway performers, has died. He was 87.

GEORGE WALLACE-CAMPUS BUILDING — The University of Alabama at Birmingham removes the name of ex-governor George Wallace from a campus building over his support of racial segregation. SENT: 310 words, photos.

T25-SOUTH CAROLINA-UCONN — South Carolina, having regained the No. 1 ranking, plays No. 2 UConn in a showdown in women’s basketball. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos. Game starts 7 p.m.

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MORE ON THE VIRUS OUTBREAK _______________________________

VIRUS-OUTBREAK-RUSSIA — Russia issues updated statistics on coronavirus-linked deaths which showed that 162,429 people with COVID-19 died last year, a number far higher than previously reported. SENT: 480 words, photo.

VIRUS-OUTBREAK-BRAZIL-VACCINE INEQUALITY — Brazil’s wealthy cause a stir trying to score quick vaccines. SENT: 1,170 words, photos. With VIRUS OUTBREAK-EMIRATES-VACCINATION — In Dubai’s COVID vaccine scramble, Sikhs serve doses to all. SENT: 530 words, photos.

VIRUS-OUTBREAK-DISTANCE LEARNING — Schools plan for potential of remote learning into the fall. SENT: 1,040 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-SOUTH AFRICA-VACCINES — South Africa is considering giving a COVID-19 vaccine that is still in the testing phase to health workers. SENT: 1,000 words, photos.

VIRUS-OUTBREAK-FLORIDA — Throngs of mostly maskless fans took to the streets and packed sports bars to celebrate the hometown Super Bowl win for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. SENT: 510 words, photos.

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

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WASHINGTON/POLITICS ————————————————-

OBIT-RON WRIGHT — Texas Republican U.S. Rep. Ron Wright, who had battled health challenges over the past year, has died after contracting COVID-19, his office says. He was 67. SENT: 310 words, photos.

BIDEN-INDIA — President Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi agree to strengthen their nations’ partnership at a moment when both countries face strained relations with China. SENT: 410 words, photo.

ALABAMA-SENATOR-SHELBY — Republican U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama, the Senate’s fourth-most senior member, says he will not seek a seventh term in office in 2022. SENT: 380 words.

ELECTION 2020-SENATE-PENNSYLVANIA — Pennsylvania’s larger-than-life lieutenant governor, the 6-foot-8, bald and tattooed John Fetterman, is running for the U.S. Senate. SENT: 390 words, photos.

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INTERNATIONAL ______________

INDIA-GLACIER FLOODING — Crews in India work to rescue more than three dozen power plant workers trapped after part of a Himalayan glacier broke off and sent water and debris rushing down a mountain. At least 26 people are dead. SENT: 780 words, photos, video.

ISRAEL-NETANYAHU — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pleads not guilty as his trial on corruption charges resumed in a Jerusalem courtroom. SENT: 770 words, photos.

HAITI-POLITICAL STRIFE-EXPLAINER — Political strife in Haiti deepens as opposition leaders and supporters claim that President Jovenel Moïse’s five-year term has expired, demanding that he step down. SENT: 730 words, photos.

COLOMBIA-VENEZUELA-MIGRANTS — Colombia will register hundreds of thousands of Venezuelan migrants and refugees who are currently living in the country without papers. SENT: 200 words.

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NATIONAL _____________

JEFFREY EPSTEIN-WARDEN — The interim warden appointed to run the federal jail where Jeffrey Epstein died was put in the position after serving as the executioner for at least five federal executions at the end of the Trump administration. SENT: 770 words, photo.

CAPITOL BREACH-WASHINGTON STATE ARREST — A member of the far-right group Proud Boys will remain in custody for now pending charges filed in connection with the riot at the U.S. Capitol. SENT: 690 words, photo.

IOWA-GOVERNOR-AUCTION — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds auctions off an afternoon of her time to the highest bidder to raise money for her top campaign donors’ charity. SENT: 920 words, photos.

WATER TREATMENT PLANT-HACK — A hacker was able to remotely gain access to a Florida city’s water treatment plant in an unsuccessful attempt to fill the water supply with a potentially harmful chemical, authorities say. SENT: 410 words.

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FINANCIAL MARKETS — Stocks push to more gains and record highs on Wall Street, just as the market comes off its biggest week since November. SENT: 600 words, photos.

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HEALTH/SCIENCE

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OBIT-FEMALE ASTRONAUT — Millie Hughes-Fulford, a trailblazing astronaut and scientist who became the first female payload specialist to fly in space for NASA, has died at age 75. SENT: 650 words.

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SPORTS ___________

CHANGING THE BALL — Major League Baseball has slightly deadened its baseballs amid a years-long surge in home runs. By Baseball Writer Jake Seiner. SENT: 380 words, photo.

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HOW TO REACH US _______________________

At the Nerve Center, Mike Stewart can be reached at 800-845-8450 (ext. 1600). For photos, ext. 1900. For graphics and interactives, 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.

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