The Short List

Tue Jul 30 2024

Laura L. Davis | Audience Editor

@lauradavis

Simone Biles and the U.S. women's gymnastics team snagged gold in the Olympics. Three children were killed in a stabbing attack at a Taylor Swift-themed class in the U.K. And a tropical storm system is gathering steam.

👋Hey, Tuesday! Laura Davis here. Ready for the news? Let's get it going.

But first: Snoop Dogg is the Olympics Team USA cheerleader we didn't know we needed.

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Twists and turns into a gold medal

The U.S. women's gymnastics team had framed it as a redemption tour. But in the end, it was more of a clinic, a showcase – a dominant show of twisting and acrobatic force. Led by the incomparable Simone Biles, the Americans coasted to another Olympic gold medal Tuesday night in Paris, finishing atop the podium for the third time in the four most recent Summer Games. They finished nearly six points ahead of the silver medal winners Italy, with Brazil grabbing bronze. 🥇 See the highlights, final results.

•	Simone Biles now has more Olympic medals than any American gymnast ever.
•	USA men's soccer advances to Olympics knockout round for first time since 2000.
•	Report: More Chinese swimmers secretly tested positive, blamed burgers.

Simone Biles after the women's team final at the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Bercy Arena.

Kyle Terada, Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Trump shooter visited rally site in advance

The 20-year-old man who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump visited the rally site six days ahead as part of advanced planning for the attack, FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate said Tuesday during testimony at a Senate hearing.

More revelations: While investigators haven't yet determined a motive, they have uncovered a social media account they think is associated with the shooter, with comments containing antisemitic and anti-immigration themes. The account is still being verified. 🔍 See more from the hearing.

Real quick

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'In shock' over UK mass stabbing

Taylor Swift says she is "at a complete loss" after a mass stabbing Monday at a Swift-themed dance class in the U.K. left three children dead. A 9-year-old girl "died in hospital in the early hours" of Tuesday morning, police said. The two children who died Monday were 6 and 7 years old. The stabbing, which left 10 other people injured, happened in Southport in northwest England. A 17-year-old male was arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder. 👉 Everything we know so far.

Debby's knocking

A tropical storm could be brewing. The National Hurricane Center is tracking a system that could develop into Tropical Storm Debby later this week. It's centered several hundred miles east of the Caribbean's Leeward Islands and is producing "limited shower activity" – for now. But once the system moves over warmer water, conditions could be ripe for it to intensify.

What to know: If winds reach 39 mph, the system would be called Tropical Storm Debby, and it would be the fourth named storm of what's been predicted to be an extremely active 2024 Atlantic hurricane season. 🌀 See the latest updates.

The National Hurricane Center is tracking a "large tropical wave" that could develop into Tropical Storm Debby later this week.

Courtesy of the National Hurricane Center

A break from the news

•	🧐 Does an orgasm a day keep the Botox away?

Laura L. Davis is an Audience Editor at USA TODAY. Say hi: laura@usatoday.com. Support quality journalism like this? Subscribe to USA TODAY here.