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Questions about the Newsfeatures digest: Call Christopher Sullivan at 212-621-5435 (domestic stories) or Mary Rajkumar at 212-621-7868 (international stories). For photos, call Graham Morrison, 212-621-1900. For graphics, call Jake O'Connell, 212-621-6905. Reruns of stories are available at http://apexchange.com, from the Service Desk at 800-838-4616, or your local AP bureau. This digest is updated daily.
NEW THIS DIGEST: BC-SECURING THE INTERNET, BC-CAUCASUS CHAOS-GLANCE, both for Sept. 27; BC-AUSTRALIA-STRESSED KOALAS, for Sept. 30.
OF SPECIAL NOTE THIS WEEK:
--- It's well known that some clergy abuse victims receive large monetary settlements, but then what? As Gillian Flaccus writes, sometimes the money intended to help only deepens the hurt. For Sunday.
--- AP's Michelle Faul returns to Zimbabwe after almost five decades away, only to find that the mission where she grew up has been devastated. Matabeleland is now the poorest part of a desperately poor country. For Monday.
--- Also for Monday, correspondent Tini Tran visits the richest village in China, a corporate enclave of 30,000 people that still remains a commune with jointly owned land and wealth.
IN THE SHOWCASE:
AFTER THE SETTLEMENT
LOS ANGELES — Their sons received millions from the Roman Catholic church to settle claims they were molested by their childhood priests, but for some the money ushered in a new nightmare. For these deeply scarred victims, the money has laid bare feelings of anger, mistrust, bitterness and guilt within their families. It has fed drug habits and alcohol binges, divided siblings and fueled resentment in parents. Worse, these families have nothing to show for their emotional agony: The millions are gone, spent on luxuries, drugs and scams. Intended to soothe the old hurt, one recipient says, "The money made it worse." 1,990 words, 1st Ld-Writethru, moved Sept. 24 for release Sunday, Sept. 27. By Gillian Flaccus.
AP Photos LA201, 203-4, 206-218.
ZIMBABWE-GOING BACK
EMBAKWE MISSION, Zimbabwe — At Sunday Mass at Embakwe Mission, many collars in the pews are frayed, jerseys darned, Sunday-best shoes worn down at the heels. The mission was once an example of progress and success, but now it is suffering along with the rest of the country. I have come back after almost five decades away to find people exhausted from back-to-back wars and crises, children coming to school faint from hunger, life savings wiped out. 2,400 words, moved Sept. 23 for use Monday, Sept. 28. By Michelle Faul.
AP Photos
AP Multimedia
CHINA-RICH AT 60
HUAXI, China — Public loudspeakers in the central square blare the village anthem hourly: "If you want to see a miracle, come to Huaxi." Each family has a house and at least one car, awarded by the community. Welcome to Huaxi, the richest village in China. Huaxi is emblematic of China 60 years after the Communist Party came to power on Oct. 1, 1949: It is a distinctive patchwork of capitalism with communist characteristics, and a strong dose of practicality. 1,800 words, moved Sept. 23 for use Monday, Sept. 28. By Tini Tran.
AP Photos
AP Multimedia
AP Television
FOR RELEASE ANYTIME:
RELIGION TODAY
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A slug from a .357-caliber Magnum ended Ken Cooper's 13-year career as a bank robber and started him on the path toward redemption and a network of five prison ministries. Cooper describes the moment when he encountered a sheriff's deputy as he walked out of his last score in 1982 and the low point of sitting in a county jail that led him to Jesus Christ. 870 words, moved Sept. 23 for release anytime. By Ron Word.
AP Photos.
With:
BC-RELIGION BRIEFS.
ALSO FOR THE WEEKEND:
SECURING THE INTERNET
WASHINGTON — There is no kill switch for the Internet, no secret on-off button in an Oval Office drawer. Yet when a Senate committee was exploring ways to secure computer networks, a provision to give the president the power to shut down Internet traffic to compromised Web sites in an emergency set off alarms. Corporate leaders and privacy advocates quickly objected, saying the government must not seize control of the Internet. Lawmakers dropped it, but the debate rages on. How much control should federal authorities have over the Web in a crisis? How much should be left to the private sector? It does own and operate at least 80 percent of the Internet and argues it can do a better job. 1,000 words, moved Sept. 24 for Sunday, Sept. 27. By Lolita C. Baldor.
AP Photos WX401-402.
AFGHAN-SPECIAL FORCES NEIGHBORS
NILI, Afghanistan — The soldiers hesitated as the mullah preached an outdoor sermon, unsure they would be welcome at the celebration of one of Islam's highest holidays. These dozen Special Forces soldiers have moved into a central Afghan town of 95,000 residents, and they are among only a few U.S. troops to live among Afghans. But there will likely be more, as Special Forces take on the mission of rebuilding and training Afghan police and soldiers rather than hunting insurgents. 1,300 words, moved Sept. 25 for use Sunday, Sept. 27. By Kevin Maurer.
AP Photos.
COLLEGE-PRESIDENT SUPERMAN
HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, Va. — At the Air Force Academy, Chris Howard was a standout running back, academic All-American, class president and Rhodes Scholar. He earned an Oxford doctorate and Harvard MBA, worked at two Fortune 500 companies, started a foundation for South African students. He won a Bronze Star in Afghanistan, survived a plane crash, and is writing a book. He's handsome, has a beautiful, charming wife, and benches 205. Nobody who knew Howard was surprised when, just 40 years old, he added college president to his resume. The surprise was where: tiny and tradition-bound Hampden-Sydney College. It was a place that matched his personality. But for an African-American, there wouldn't be many other black faces around. 1,650 words, moved Sept. 24 for release weekend, Sept. 26-27. By Education Writer Justin Pope.
AP Photos RIC101-4.
CHINA-RED GUARD WEDDING
HANGZHOU, China — Sun Fengqing is not getting married in a white dress, or even a cheongsam. She's going to wear a green military outfit with a Red Star on her hat and a Mao Zedong badge — the traditional uniform of the young Red Guard from China's Cultural Revolution. The choice of outfit shows how, 60 years after the foundation of the People's Republic of China, revolutionary images have taken on different meaning for China's young generation. 400 words, moved Sept. 22 for use Sunday, Sept. 27.
AP Photos Package XEH101-111.
DOMINICAN LEAGUE-DRUGS
SAN PEDRO DE MACORIS, Dominican Republic — A monument to baseball greets visitors to this city known as "the cradle of shortstops." Children in San Pedro de Macoris grow up playing ball behind tin shanties, and Bernardino Jimenez was one of those kids. He became a victim of his own dream. Like an outsize number of Dominican players desperate to escape poverty, Jimenez was busted for taking performance-enhancing drugs. Moved Sept. 23 for use Sunday, Sept. 27. Also on Sports circuits. By Jonathan M. Katz and Dionisio Soldevilla.
AP Photos.
RUSSIA-CAUCASUS CHAOS
NAZRAN, Russia — Having spent a decade quelling the rebels of Chechnya, Russian authorities are now confronted with a worsening war next door, in the tiny Caucasus republic of Ingushetia. A suicide bombing of a police station that killed at least 24 people is only the latest in a string of increasingly brazen acts of violence that has made this past summer the deadliest in years. Many see Ingushetia's troubles as blowback from the Chechnya blood bath. 1,200 words, moved Sept. 23 for release Sunday, Sept. 27. By Mike Eckel.
AP Photos.
With:
BC-CAUCASUS CHAOS-GLANCE.
MIDEAST-HIKING POLITICS
RAMOT MENASHE PARK, Israel — Israeli and Palestinian hikers are taking to the hills in the footsteps of their forefathers — deploying hiking boots, maps and sacred texts in the long-running battle for control of the Holy Land. These are separate ventures with dueling narratives that reveal how little each side knows — or wants to know — about the other's claim on the land. But at least one Israeli wants to change that. 700 words, moved Sept. 24 for release Sunday, Sept. 27. By Diaa Hadid.
AP Photos
ALSO FOR NEXT WEEK:
CHILDREN OF THE FIELDS
OCALA, Fla. — Head Start programs for the children of migrant and seasonal laborers have long waiting lists and serve only a fraction of those eligible — leaving many children in the care of friends or exposed to dangers if parents have to take them to the fields. But with a boost from federal stimulus funds, Head Start for these children is expanding. And as farmworker Elizabeth Pineda climbs out of bed at 4 a.m. to prepare for a day of picking peanuts, she's happy: Today is her 4-year-old son's first day of school. Her dream: That with a good education he'll never have to do what she does. 1,850 words, moved Sept. 22 for release Monday, Sept. 28. By Christine Armario.
AP Photos NY301-303.
MORE SCHOOL
WASHINGTON — Students beware: The summer vacation you have just enjoyed could be even shorter if President Barack Obama gets his way. He say American kids spend too little time in school, putting them at a disadvantage with other children around the globe. The president wants schools to add time to classes, and he wants them to stay open late and on weekends so kids have a safe place to go. 1,000 words, moved Sept. 24 for Monday, Sept. 28. By AP Education Writer Libby Quaid.
AP Photos.
AP Graphic.
AP Multimedia.
MALAYSIA-PROMOTING POLYGAMY
RAWANG, Malaysia — A lawyer wins a divorce for her client, then persuades the client to marry again — to the lawyer's own husband. It may seem out of place in a modern, high-tech country like Malaysia, but polygamy abides in the mostly Muslim nation. It's a minority taste, but the clan to whom the lawyer and her ex-client belong is seeking to promote the practice by founding a "Polygamy Club." 900 words, moved Sept. 22 for release Monday, Sept. 28. By Sean Yoong.
AP Photos.
MULTIMEDIA: An audio slideshow about polygamists in Malaysia will be in the —international/malaysia_polygamists folder.
HEALTH CARE GAMBLE
NEW YORK — Call it a health care gamble: the decision by some people to opt out of health insurance, paying cash for routine care while playing the odds that an accident or catastrophic illness won't plunge them into financial ruin. President Barack Obama's goal of requiring everyone to carry health insurance has drawn a great deal of skepticism from this group. Many of them pay far less for their health care than they would spend on premiums and doubt that insurance would even cover them if they needed it. 980 words, moved Sept. 23 for PMs of Monday, Sept. 28. By Beth Fouhy.
AP Photos.
AUSTRALIA-STRESSED KOALAS
CUDLEE CREEK, Australia — The koala, Australia's star symbol, is dying of stress. As people move in and fewer trees are available, thousands of koalas are suffering from a stress-related disease called chlamydia. The problem came to national attention in August, when the well-known Sam the Koala died during surgery to treat the disease. Sam captured the world's attention duringmajor wildfires in February, when she was photographed drinking from the water bottle of a firefighter. 900 words, moving Sept. 28 for use Wednesday, Sept. 30. By Tanalee Smith.
AP Photos
AP Graphic
MELTDOWN-THE CULTURE
UNDATED — In-your-face flamboyance is hardly the look women are going for in these hard times — even if they can afford it. But on the Fashion Week runways in New York this month, a glimmer of optimism could be sensed: Feathers and tinsel, anyone? Whether wishful thinking or a true harbinger of better days to come, it was an apt metaphor for the impact of the recession on our culture at large. 1,400 words, moved Thursday, Sept. 24, for use Monday, Sept. 28. By National Writer Jocelyn Noveck.
Note: This is part of the continuing Meltdown Legacy series, moving on general and business news circuits. Other series stories listed below.
AP Photos NYBZ176-177
AP Graphic MELTDOWN LEGACY LOGO
ALSO IN THE MELTDOWN LEGACY PACKAGE:
Stories moving on general and Business news circuits for Sept. 29-Oct. 2:
MELTDOWN-RELIGION
UNDATED — The damage from the recession to American religious life will be felt long after the economy recovers. Over the course of just a year, seminaries and religious schools have closed, major donors have lost their fortunes and, in the hardest-hit regions, worshippers have moved away to find jobs. But the news isn't all bad. Churches, synagogues and mosques have a renewed purpose in serving the community, from providing job counseling to fighting foreclosures. Moving spot for use Tuesday, Sept. 29. By Religion Writer Rachel Zoll.
MELTDOWN-GIVING
NEW YORK — Even as demand for their services rises, many of America's charities are reeling from recession-related drops in revenue. Some have closed or been forced into mergers; others have laid off staffers, trimmed salaries and cut back on sorely needed programs. Do charity officials fear a further dip in donations? Are some bucking the downward trend? Could there be long-term changes in the way some major charities operate? Moving spot for Wednesday, Sept. 30. By National Writer David Crary.
MELTDOWN-ENTERTAINMENT
NEW YORK — Is bigger still better? Before the recession, entertainment this decade was marked by superhero blockbusters, celebrity memoirs and mega rock festivals. Since the meltdown, the extravagance has been toned down some. Workaday lives and economic insecurity have found their way into plot lines. But in many ways, the entertainment industry has doubled-down on fantasy as an antidote to hard times. Moving spot for Thursday, Oct. 1. By Entertainment Writer Jake Coyle.
MELTDOWN-SPORTS FANS
UNDATED — If history is a guide, a couple of years of economic turmoil won't kill Americans' love affair with sports. Labor problems have given us scab football and wiped out the World Series and Stanley Cup playoffs in the last 25 years. Yet fans came back when players retook the field. Even this year, attendance at Major League Baseball games is off less than 10 percent and the seats were filled for Week One of the NFL season. Moving spot for use Friday, Oct. 2. By National Writer Eddie Pells.
Previously listed:
BC-MELTDOWN-PERSONAL FINANCE, for Monday, Sept. 21, By Dave Carpenter.
BC-MELTDOWN-INVESTING, for Tuesday, Sept. 22. By Mark Jewell.
BC-MELTDOWN-HOUSEHOLD BUDGETS, for Wednesday, Sept. 23. By Candice Choi and Eileen AJ Connelly.
BC-MELTDOWN-RETIREMENT, for Thursday, Sept. 24. By David Pitt.
BC-MELTDOWN-WORKPLACE, for Friday, Sept. 25. By Jay Reeves, with contribution from Chris Rugaber.
BC-MELTDOWN-SAME OLD WALLSTREET, for Monday, Sept. 14. By Business Writer Stevenson Jacobs.
BC-MELTDOWN-FED POWER, for Tuesday, Sept. 15. By Jeannine Aversa.
BC-MELTDOWN-FINANCIAL RULES UNCHANGED, for Wednesday, Sept. 16. By Daniel Wagner.
BC-MELTDOWN-RESCUE NATION, for Thursday, Sept. 17. By Tom Raum.
BC-MELTDOWN-CREDIT CRUNCH, for Friday, Sept. 18. By Business Writer Stevenson Jacobs.
BC-MELTDOWN-WHEN THE WHEELS CAME OFF, for Sunday, Sept. 6. By National Writer Erin McClam.
BC-MELTDOWN-NEW REALITIES, for Monday, Sept. 7. By National Writer Adam Geller.
BC-MELTDOWN-NEW FRUGALITY, for Tuesday, Sept. 8. By Ashley M. Heher.
BC-MELTDOWN-HOUSING, for Wednesday, Sept. 9. By Adrian Sainz.
BC-MELTDOWN-RETAIL REINVENTION, for Thursday, Sept. 10. By Anne D'Innocenzio.
BC-MELTDOWN-AUTOS, for Friday, Sept. 11. By Tom Krisher.
Questions about stories in the Meltdown Legacy package: Matthew Fordahl, 212-621-1689.
The AP
