World News: One day later: 135 dead, 200,000 homeless

USA TODAY: One day later: 135 dead and 200,000 homeless

Wednesday, August 5

The aftermath of a blast that tore through Lebanon's capital on Aug. 5, 2020 in Beirut.

One day later: 135 dead and 200,000 homeless

What we know about the Beirut explosion. Joe Biden won't travel to Milwaukee for the DNC. It's Wednesday's news.

Beirut is searching for survivors of a devastating explosion. Coronavirus is keeping Joe Biden out of the DNC – physically. And brace yourselves, because we've got more hurricanes on the way.

It's Ashley with Wednesday's news to know.

But first, liquid gold: Whiskey starting at $12,000? This bottle survived an infamous shipwreck 80 years ago. The kicker: You can't even drink it. 🥃

The Short List newsletter is a snappy USA TODAY news roundup. Subscribe here!

Beirut explosion: At least 135 dead and 200,000 homeless

Blood stained the asphalt and streets teemed with rescuers Wednesday after a massive explosion that shook the Lebanese capital with the force of a 3.5 magnitude earthquake, killing at least 135 people and wounding more than 4,000. Although President Donald Trump said the blast looked like "an attack," Defense Secretary Mark Esper said it was likely "an accident." Lebanese officials have indicated it may have been due to thousands of tons of ammonium nitrate stored there and is putting an unspecified number of Beirut port officials under house arrest pending an investigation. To fully grasp the extent of the devastating explosion, you really have to see it for yourself. Because a large fire billowing from Beirut's port came before the blast, many people in Lebanon's capital city caught the horrific explosion on video. 👇

•	Watch: These 7 videos show the massive Lebanon explosion across Beirut.
•	Salma Hayek, Ariana Grande and more stars send love to Beirut.
•	Reporter reflects on Beirut's explosion and burying a dog who made "dystopia more bearable."

A drone photograph on Aug. 5, 2020 shows the scene of an explosion that hit the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon. A massive explosion rocked Beirut on Tuesday, flattening much of the city's port, damaging buildings across the capital and sending a giant mushroom cloud into the sky.

Hussein Malla, AP

Joe Biden's not heading to Milwaukee

Whatever was left of an in-person Democratic National Convention evaporated Wednesday as organizers announced Joe Biden won't be traveling to Milwaukee to give his presidential acceptance speech – and neither will any of the other speakers. Biden's announcement comes just under two weeks from the DNC, where he was expected to accept the Democratic nomination for president in person. Instead, Biden will accept the party's presidential nomination from his home in Delaware because of coronavirus concerns. Meanwhile, we still have heard nothing about his choice for vice president. But Sen. Kamala Harris, Rep. Karen Bass, Susan Rice and Stacey Abrams have all been floated as possible running mates.

•	Over 100 Black women leaders slammed comments made of Black women being considered to be Biden's running mate.

Joe Biden listening to then-President Barack Obama speaking.

Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

What everyone's talking about

•	A miner who already discovered the largest tanzanite gems ever has now found a third – and it's worth millions of dollars.
•	"Dance Moms" star Maddie Ziegler apologized for past "ignorant and racially insensitive" videos.
•	First free seeds from China, now free Amazon packages? What you need to know about "brushing" scams.
•	"American Ninja Warrior" winner Drew Drechsel was arrested on federal child sex-related charges.
•	Back-to-school photo shows unmasked students crowding shoulder-to-shoulder in Georgia.

Primary results are still trickling in

The first primaries of the month took place Tuesday in Michigan, Arizona, Kansas, Missouri and Washington. Here are some key takeaways:

•	Progressive Cori Bush defeated incumbent Rep. William Lacy Clay in Missouri. Bush, a nurse and Black Lives Matter activist, has been endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders and is backed by Justice Democrats.
•	Rep. Roger Marshall won the GOP primary to replace retiring Sen. Pat Roberts in Kansas. Marshall's main competitor was former Kansas secretary of state Kris Kobach.
•	Rep. Rashida Tlaib's primary results are still unclear in Michigan. She's facing off (again) with Brenda Jones, the Detroit City Council president. Tlaib has been considered one of the most vulnerable members of the "Squad" – a group of progressive congresswomen elected in 2018 for reelection.

Missouri Democratic congressional candidate Cori Bush gives her victory speech at her campaign office on August 4, 2020 in St. Louis, Missouri. Bush, an activist backed by the progressive group Justice Democrats, defeated 10-term incumbent Rep. William Lacy Clay (D-MO) in Tuesday's primary election to become the first black woman elected to represent the state of Missouri in congress.

Michael B. Thomas, Getty Images

8 dead, millions without power after Isaias

At least eight people were killed this week as Tropical Storm Isaias – which toggled between hurricane and tropical storm strength – spawned tornadoes, dumped rain and made landfall as a hurricane on the East Coast. Millions of people across several states are still without power Wednesday after power outages hit about 3.7 million customers late Tuesday.

Want to help? Disaster relief operations are responding across the region impacted by Isaias – from helping evacuees to opening shelters to house victims. Here's where you can donate to the Red Cross and Salvation Army hurricane relief efforts.

Boats are stacked on top of each other in the Southport Marina Tuesday Aug. 4, 2020 in Southport N.C. after Hurricane Isaisas came ashore over night in Brunswick County as a category 1 hurricane.

Ken Blevins, Star News

Real quick

•	'No such thing happened': Former acting AG Sally Yates says President Barack Obama, Biden did not urge Flynn investigation.
•	As COVID-19 spread, the feds relaxed rules and hospitals tried to contain the outbreak. Other infections may have risen.
•	Posting selfies from The Bean? Make sure you're not in violation of Chicago's travel quarantine.
•	The Gulf of Mexico's "dead zone" is smaller than usual. But there "isn't much to celebrate."
•	The cruise industry has voluntarily extended its pause on operations in US waters.

10 more hurricanes are likely this season

The wrath of Hurricanes Hanna and Isaias are just an appetizer for what's to come, top forecasters said Wednesday, with 10 more hurricanes likely to follow. In what meteorologists are calling an "extremely active 2020 Atlantic hurricane season," they predict a total of 24 named storms in 2020. Of those, researchers expect 12 to become hurricanes (including the two that have already formed, Hanna and Isaias). More bad news: Five of the hurricanes are forecast to reach major hurricane strength – Category 3, 4 or 5 – with sustained winds of 111 mph or greater. The team also said there's a 74% chance that a major hurricane will hit somewhere along the U.S. coastline this year.

A break from the news

•	💰 Amazon's Big Summer Sale is here and the discounts are legit.
•	📕 Six things to know about "Midnight Sun," the new "Twilight" book told from Edward Cullen's perspective.
•	👉 Career opportunities or retirement? Americans are flocking to these desirable destinations for both.
•	🎬 Missing movie theaters in COVID-19 quarantine? Fill up the car and head to these drive-ins.

This is a compilation of stories from across the USA TODAY Network. Want this news roundup in your inbox every night? Sign up for The Short List newsletter here.