An explosion with the force of an earthquake

Ashley Shaffer, USA TODAY
·5 min read

A massive explosion killed dozens in Beirut. Leaked bodycam footage shows George Floyd's final moments. And Isaias spawned more than a dozen deadly tornadoes.

It's Ashley with the news to know.

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Huge blast kills dozens, wounds thousands in Lebanon's capital

A massive explosion rocked Beirut on Tuesday with the force of an earthquake followed by a shock wave that devastated much of the city. As of 5 p.m. EDT, at least 50 people were confirmed killed and more than 2,700 wounded, according to Health Minister Hassan Hamad. The explosion, which appeared to be centered around Beirut's port, caused widespread destruction and shattered windows miles away. Though the cause of the blast was yet to be officially determined, an official said it might have been caused by highly explosive material stored at the port. “It was a real horror show. I haven’t seen anything like that since the days of the (civil) war,” said Marwan Ramadan, who was knocked off his feet by the explosion. Beirut Gov. Marwan Abboud called it a "national catastrophe," and the prime minister declared a day of mourning.

Thousands were wounded in an explosion in Beirut on Aug. 4.
Thousands were wounded in an explosion in Beirut on Aug. 4.

At least two killed by Isaias-spawned tornadoes

At least 20 tornadoes were reported along the East Coast on Monday and Tuesday as Hurricane (now Tropical Storm) Isaias roared through, adding another layer of worrisome weather inflicted on nervous residents. At least four people have died because of the storm. A tornado killed two people and injured several others at a mobile home park in Bertie County, North Carolina. Other tornadoes were reported in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey, the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center said. Tornadoes like the ones that hit during Isaias aren't uncommon during tropical cyclones. Almost all hurricanes and tropical storms that make landfall in the USA spawn at least one tornado.

A Philadelphia police officer rushes to help a stranded motorist during Tropical Storm Isaias on Aug. 4. The storm spawned tornadoes and dumped rain during an inland march up the U.S. East Coast after making landfall as a hurricane along the North Carolina coast.
A Philadelphia police officer rushes to help a stranded motorist during Tropical Storm Isaias on Aug. 4. The storm spawned tornadoes and dumped rain during an inland march up the U.S. East Coast after making landfall as a hurricane along the North Carolina coast.

What everyone’s talking about

Remdesivir supplies are ‘dangerously limited’

Attorneys general from more than 30 states asked the federal government to increase the supply and cut costs of remdesivir, the antiviral drug used to treat COVID-19 patients. Remdesivir supplies are "dangerously limited," and the price will "impede access to treatment," the attorneys general wrote. Gilead charges $3,120 for a five-day course for patients with private insurance, Medicare or Medicaid.

Other COVID-19 developments:

  • Outbreak is "under control": President Donald Trump defended his administration's “incredible” effort to beat back the outbreak, despite rising deaths. “They are dying, that's true," Trump said in an interview with Axios. "It is what it is. But that doesn't mean we aren't doing everything we can."

  • We’re in for a "rocky" ride: A California epidemiologist who was part of a team that helped eradicate smallpox predicts the world will be fighting the coronavirus for the next three to four years and the pandemic's toll will linger for decades. But he added it's "not all doom and gloom.”

Leaked bodycam footage shows George Floyd's arrest

Newly published body camera footage shows the initial moments of George Floyd's arrest and the final moments of his life. The Daily Mail published partial footage from the body cameras of two Minneapolis police officers involved in Floyd’s arrest. Floyd, a Black man, died after a white police officer knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes in May. The "leaked" videos show about 10 minutes from one bodycam and about 18 minutes from another. In the footage, bystanders tell officers Floyd is not responsive and urge them to check his pulse.

Real quick

Is this the end of Ellen DeGeneres’ show?

Ever since claims that employees experienced a toxic work environment on the show and her subsequent apology, questions have swirled about the future of "The Ellen DeGeneres Show.” Will she quit? If she leaves, who might replace her? (As #ReplaceEllen trended on Twitter Monday, fans suggested Harry Styles and Michelle Obama as potential hosts.) But it seems unlikely that the host of the No. 3 talk show in syndication would step away from her $50 million a year perch.

Ellen DeGeneres' producers respond to claims that the show is a "toxic environment."
Ellen DeGeneres' producers respond to claims that the show is a "toxic environment."

A break from the news

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lebanon blast, Isaias, COVID-9, Trump, George Floyd: Tuesday's news

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