BC-AP News Digest 6 pm

Eds: Adds digest line for FORT HOOD. Elevates MEDICARE DISCLOSURE to a full line. Updates line for EXECUTION DRUGS-TEXAS.

The world at 6 p.m. Times are EDT.

At the Nerve Center, Stephanie Siek and Mike Stewart can be reached at 800-845-8450 (ext. 1600). For photos, Swayne B. Hall (ext. 1900). For graphics and interactives, ext. 7636. Expanded AP content can be obtained from http://www.apexchange.com. For access to AP Exchange and other technical issues, contact apcustomersupport@ap.org or call 877-836-9477.

NEW & DEVELOPING

— GOP BUDGET — Will be updated by 10 p.m. with expected committee vote.

— NASA-RUSSIA SPACE — NASA cuts ties with Russia over Ukraine crisis; cooperation with space station continues. SENT: 110 words. UPCOMING: 300 words by 9 p.m.

— WASHINGTON MUDSLIDE — Experts at the medical examiner's office in a Washington county devastated by a mudslide work around the clock to identify bodies. Of the 29 sets of remains delivered so far just one is still a mystery. SENT: 760 words, video, photos.

— PENN STATE-ABUSE — State's highest court refuses to hear ex-Penn State coach Jerry Sandusky's criminal appeal. SENT: 590 words, photo.

— HEALTH CARE CHALLENGE-BIRTH CONTROL — Health care challenger Hobby Lobby's retirement funds invest in contraceptive makers. SENT: 530 words.

— ABORTION RESTRICTIONS-ARIZONA — A federal appeals court blocks Arizona's limits on the use of abortion drugs one day after the law — the most stringent in the nation — takes effect. SENT: 500 words.

— NEW JERSEY-NO TESLA — Electric carmaker Tesla says it's going to court to appeal amended New Jersey dealer rules. SENT: 330 words.

— DOG-1000-MILE JOURNEY — Dog that escaped Texas backyard shows up in Ohio; how he got there is a mystery, owners say. SENT: 300 words, photo.

— TOP VIDEO — train_crash: Dramatic surveillance video released by Houston police shows a train colliding with an SUV carrying four people, including two children. The driver tried to beat the train but failed.

TOP STORIES

FORT HOOD

FORT HOOD, Texas — One person is killed and 14 injured in a shooting at Fort Hood, where officials say the shooter is believed to be dead. The incident brings back painful memories of a 2009 mass shooting at the Texas Army post, in which 13 people died and more than 30 were wounded. By Will Weissert. SENT: 620 words, photo. UPCOMING: 800 words by 9 p.m., photos, video.

SUPREME COURT-CAMPAIGN FINANCE

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court's conservative majority votes to free wealthy donors to give to as many political candidates and campaigns as they want, further loosening the reins on giving by big contributors as the 2014 campaign moves into high gear. It's a fresh declaration by the 5-4 majority that many limits on big-money contributions violate the givers' constitutional free-speech rights, continuing a steady erosion of the restrictions under Chief Justice John Roberts. By Mark Sherman. SENT: 1,300 words, photos.

— SUPREME COURT-CAMPAIGN FINANCE-GLANCE — A look at the ruling, possible impacts. SENT: 530 words.

— SUPREME COURT-WHO WINS — The decision is likely to affect a relatively small number of very wealthy donors, who now can give more. It could also empower the political establishment after years of growing clout for outside groups. SENT: 1,000 words, photo.

RUSSIA-YANUKOVYCH

ROSTOV-ON-DON, Russia — Defensive and at times tearful, Ukraine's ousted president concedes that he made a mistake when he invited Russian troops into Crimea and vows to try to negotiate with Vladimir Putin to get the coveted Black Sea peninsula back. "Crimea is a tragedy, a major tragedy," Viktor Yanukovych tells The Associated Press in his first interview since fleeing to Russia. By Vladimir Isachenkov and Caro Kriel. SENT: 940 words, photos.

GENERAL MOTORS-RECALL-CONGRESS

WASHINGTON — Lawmakers on Capitol Hill accuse General Motors of a potentially criminal cover-up over the deadly flaw in its ignition switches and fume at the lack of answers from its new CEO, with one senator telling her point-blank: "You don't know anything about anything." CEO Mary Barra gives assurances that the millions of cars with the defect are safe to drive while owners await repairs, saying she would let her own son get behind the wheel if he took certain precautions. By Marcy Gordon and Tom Krisher. SENT: 760 words, photos.

MEDICARE DISCLOSURE

WASHINGTON — Patients may soon get an unprecedented look at how their doctor compares to other physicians, after Medicare says it plans to publicly post billing data for more than 880,000 practitioners. Considered the mother lode of information on doctors, the Medicare claims database has been off-limits to the public for decades, blocked in the courts by physician groups. By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar. SENT: 620 words.

DRUG POLICY POLL

DENVER — Marijuana legalization seems inevitable to three-fourths of Americans, whether they support it or not, according to a new poll. The Pew Research Center survey on the nation's shifting attitudes about drug policy also shows increased support for moving away from mandatory sentences for non-violent drug offenders. By Kristen Wyatt. SENT: 760 words, photos, interactive.

PROM-PLUS SIZE DRESSES

NEW YORK — Shopping for a dream prom dress for a plus-size girl can be a tear-inducing, hair-pulling morass of bad design and few options — especially for girls who want a dress that hugs the body instead of tenting it. Consignment shops and organizations that collect donated prom dresses for girls in need say they can't get enough plus-size gowns. Regular retailers often don't stock them — they only sell plus sizes online — and stores that do, like David's Bridal, say the business in plus size prom dresses is booming. By Leanne Italie. SENT: 1,000 words, photos.

BUSINESS

WEALTH GAP-SHRINKING MIDDLE CLASS

WASHINGTON — A sense of belonging to the middle class occupies a cherished place in America. Yet nearly five years after the Great Recession ended, more people are coming to the painful realization that they're no longer part of it. They are former professionals now stocking shelves at groceries, retirees struggling with rising costs and people working part-time but desperate for full-time pay. The setbacks suffered by formerly middle-class Americans have emerged in economic statistics for several years. Now they're affecting how Americans think of themselves. By Christopher S. Rugaber. SENT: 1,300 words, video, photo.

INTERNATIONAL

UKRAINE

BRUSSELS — The U.S. calls on Europe to wean itself from a dangerous dependency on Russian energy supplies, saying it's time for a unified response to bring an end to the Kremlin's use of oil and gas as political leverage. Left unsaid is that Europe is reluctant to follow the United States headlong into shale gas extraction, which has transformed the global energy scene and largely freed the U.S. from imports. And even if it tried, it would take Europe years to develop shale deposits in Ukraine and Poland — with no guarantees of success — or open import channels from the U.S. By Lori Hinnant and Raf Casert. SENT: 1,200 words, photos.

CHILE-EARTHQUAKE

IQUIQUE, Chile — Hard-won expertise and a big dose of luck helped Chile escape a magnitude-8.2 earthquake with surprisingly little damage and death. The country that suffers some of the world's most devastating quakes has strict building codes, mandatory evacuations and emergency preparedness that set a global example. Experts warn, though, that a far-bigger quake will eventually test the region. By Luis Hidalgo and Luis Andres Henao. SENT: 950 words, video, photos, audio.

MALAYSIA-PLANE-ROBOT SUBS

Two miles down or more and darker than night, the ocean becomes a particularly challenging place for human searchers. If the wreckage of a Malaysian airliner rests somewhere in the Indian Ocean's depths, then investigators will likely need to entrust the hunt at least partly to robot submarines. Autonomous underwater vehicles played a critical role in recovering an Air France jet in 2011, but the search zone for Flight 370 will need to be refined considerably before they can help now. By Adam Geller. SENT: 1,100 words, photos.

SYRIA-AMPUTEES

JIB JANINE, Lebanon — Grimacing, Mustafa Ahmad slid the scarred stump just below his right knee into his new prosthetic leg. It was just last week that Ahmad was finally fitted with the prosthesis, more than two years after losing his leg during a bombing raid in his Syrian hometown. Syria's conflict has killed more than 150,000 people but often overlooked are the more than half a million wounded, an untold number of them maimed by their injuries. By Ryan Lucas. SENT: 1,000 words, photos.

EGYPT

CAIRO — Three staggered bombings outside Cairo University kill a police general and wound seven people, introducing a new tactic to the almost daily battles at campuses fought by police and students loyal to the ousted Islamist president. The attack may well be retaliation for the recent deaths of several students in clashes with police. By Hamza Hendawi and Sarah El Deeb. SENT: 1,200 video, photos.

ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS

JERUSALEM — In an improbable twist, the fate of an American spy for Israel imprisoned in the U.S. could now play an even bigger role in rescuing the negotiations after a dramatic Palestinian rebuff to Secretary of State John Kerry. With U.S.-led peace talks in tatters, a three-way deal that includes the freedom of Jonathan Pollard could provide political gains that would make it worthwhile for all parties to extend the talks. But critics say the sudden focus on Pollard has turned attention away from the real issues that need to be addressed to end decades of conflict. By Josef Federman. UPCOMING: 1,200 words, photos.

— ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS-Q&A — Palestinians leave door open for continued talks with Israel, despite new recognition bid. SENT: 720 words, photos.

AFGHANISTAN

KABUL, Afghanistan — A suicide bomber wearing a military uniform strikes the Interior Ministry compound, killing six policemen in one of the most heavily fortified areas in Kabul. The escalation in violence in the heart of the Afghan capital in recent weeks is threatening to scare voters away from the polls as Afghans worry security forces unable to guard areas previously considered safe won't be able to protect them on election day. By Kim Gamel and Amir Shah. SENT: 900 words, photos.

SOUTH SUDAN-EATING ROOTS

NYAL, South Sudan — Desperate South Sudan villagers, fleeing fighting across the country, are eating grass and roots to survive as the World Food Program starts costly air drops of food to northern parts of the country. But the air drops, three times more expensive than road deliveries, are straining the ramped-up humanitarian response because only a third of the U.N.'s requested $1.27 billion has been raised for the crisis. By Ilya Gridneff. SENT: 700 words, photos.

IRAN-SUPERSTITIOUS 13

TEHRAN, Iran — It's bad luck to stay inside in Iran today. So Iranians are flocking to parks rich with the smell of grilling kebabs to toss around Frisbees, bat badminton birdies and battle one another in ancient games like chess and backgammon — all to avoid being caught inside on the unlucky 13th day of the Iranian new year. The annual picnic day of Sizdeh Bedar is a legacy from Iran's pre-Islamic past that hardliners in the Islamic Republic never managed to stamp out. By Nasser Karimi. SENT: 710 words, photos.

— IRAN-SUPERSTITIOUS 13-GLANCE — A look at why 13 recurs so much in history and myth. SENT: 610 words, photo.

WASHINGTON & POLITICS

HEALTH OVERHAUL-NONPROFITS

HARTFORD, Conn. — A smorgasbord of options and lower prices for consumers were two of the chief selling points for President Barack Obama as he promoted his overhaul of the nation's health insurance industry, predicting Americans would see "competition in ways we haven't seen before." Companies were even started as a way to encourage innovation and competition, namely 23 consumer-run, co-op insurers created with the help of $2 billion in federal loans. But rather than promote competition, the co-ops and smaller nonprofits in some states have languished behind major insurers, attracting in some cases minuscule shares of the market. While Obama celebrated an early projection this week of 7.1 million enrollees under the Affordable Care Act, it's too early to say whether the law ultimately will foster sufficient competition to keep premiums and deductibles affordable for consumers. By Susan Haigh. SENT: 1,320 words, photos.

— HEALTH OVERHAUL-NOT TOO LATE — 5 ways to get covered under the new health law, even if you missed the sign-up deadline. SENT: 650 words, photo.

REPUBLICANS-NATIONAL CONVENTION

LAS VEGAS — Backed by powerful GOP benefactor Sheldon Adelson, Las Vegas has emerged as an early leader in the multi-city fight to host the next Republican National Convention. But Republican officials have nagging concerns about unveiling their next presidential candidate in a place commonly dubbed "Sin City." Competing cities such as Dallas, Kansas City and Denver are stressing their family values. By Steve Peoples. SENT: 870 words, photos.

—CRUZ — GOP presidential hopeful Ted Cruz tells Jerry Falwell's Liberty University that religious freedoms are under attack. SENT: 500 words, photo.

— JINDAL-HEALTH OVERHAUL — Louisiana governor and GOP presidential hopful Jindal proposes alternative to health care overhaul, says Obama law should be repealed. SENT: 500 words.

DC MAYORAL RACE

WASHINGTON — For the first time in 20 years, the District of Columbia has a real general election for mayor. Fresh from her Democratic primary victory over incumbent Vincent Gray, Muriel Bowser faces fellow D.C. Council member David Catania, a former Republican running as an independent. He's worked for marriage equality, legalizing medical marijuana, cutting the rate of uninsured people and pushing for more education funding for at-risk youth. By Ben Nuckols. SENT: 670 words, photos.

NATIONAL

EXECUTION DRUGS-TEXAS

HOUSTON — A federal appeals court throws out a ruling requiring the Texas prison system to disclose more information about where it gets lethal-injection drugs, reversing a judge who had halted an upcoming execution. Both rulings come a day after the state prison agency insisted the drug source be kept secret, citing threats of violence to pharmacies that sell drugs used in lethal injections. By Michael Graczyk. SENT: 830 words, photos.

PETS OLD DOGS

Erin O'Sullivan wants to change lives by finding new homes for old dogs. Visitors to her popular Facebook page say she's done just that by helping them find the pets they didn't know they were missing. Her page tells stories about pooches past their prime that need loving homes and taps into the wellspring of animal lovers seeking calmer, well-trained dogs or those wanting to provide loving care to dogs in their twilight years. Shelters will ask her to help place older dogs that aren't as sought-after as puppies, many of which have extensive health problems that can stall adoptions. By Sue Manning. SENT: 760 words, photos.

ENTERTAINMENT

TV-GAME OF THRONES

NEW YORK — Like every "Game of Thrones" fan, Charles Dance was gobsmacked by last season's next-to-last installment. "I got quite a shock!" says Dance. "It was bloody in the extreme!" The fact that he was caught off-guard is notable, since the character he plays, Lord Tywin Lannister, had a hand in the bloodshed. But Dance didn't actually appear in that episode, "and when I'm not in it, to be honest with you, I don't read the script," Dance says. "I catch up on what's happening when the episode airs." By Television Writer Frazier Moore. SENT: 850 words, photos.

FILM-ANTHONY MACKIE-CAPTAIN AMERICA

LOS ANGELES — For Anthony Mackie, landing the role of the Falcon in "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" meant more than inking his dream deal with Marvel. "When I heard I got the role I literally broke down in tears," said Mackie in a recent interview. "I realized two years from that date some little brown boy was going to be at my door in a Falcon costume on Halloween. When I was a kid I didn't have that. It wasn't like I could get asked 'Who do you want to be for Halloween?' and say Shaft. Being the Falcon is monumental." By Film Writer Jessica Herndon. SENT: 860 words, photos.

ALSO GETTING ATTENTION

— BENGHAZI ATTACK — The CIA's former deputy director says he deleted references to terrorism warnings from a talking points memo on the 2012 Benghazi attacks because it was inappropriate to be 'laying all the blame on the State Department.' He insists there was no political pressure involved. SENT: 700 words, photos.

— STATE OF BLACK AMERICA — While unemployment has been a major problem for African-Americans' economic progress, underemployment has been a bigger obstacle than for whites or Hispanics as the country pulls itself out of the recession, says a report by the National Urban League. SENT: 650 words, photos, video.

— GOP BUDGET — House GOP balanced budget would slash health care spending, aid to poor. Sent: 930 words. UPCOMING: 1,000 words by 10 p.m. to update with expected committee vote.

— OBAMA — In Michigan, Obama presses his case for higher minimum wage, asks businesses, lawmakers to act. SENT: 820 words, photos.

— ARCHBISHOP'S MANSION — The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Atlanta says he suspects the church will ultimately sell a $2.2 million mansion built for his use, and he accepts blame for not consulting enough with church members before building the expansive residence. SENT: 680 words, photos.

— CHILDREN UNRESPONSIVE IN BATHTUB — Police: Mother who drowned toddler said voices told her to sit on him and brother in bathtub. SENT: 720 words, photos.

— FORCIBLY TATTOOED — Police: 4 people held Philadelphia man hostage, tattooed him with offensive words and images. SENT: 280 words.

— TRADE CENTER CLIMBER — Daredevil 16-year-old who spent 2 hours atop new World Trade Center tower appears in court. SENT: 400 words, photos.

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