Democrats were forced to find a workaround to ensure President Joe Biden would appear on Ohio’s ballot. Pivotal closing arguments were held in Donald Trump’s hush money trial. And after a deadly weekend, brutal storms battered Texas yet again.
👋Hey Tuesday!Laura Davis here. Let’s get caught up on the news.
But first: Are you a spring or a winter? 💁♀️💄 My mama’s best friend was a Mary Kay lady, so by 1996, I knew exactly what my colors were. But for everybody else, there’s color analysis. And the trend is back in full force.
The meeting code is…
After Ohio lawmakers dragged their feet in changing a state deadline that clashed with the party’s convention, Democrats decided on Tuesday to hold a virtual roll call vote ahead of the August convention to ensure President Joe Biden’s name would appear on the ballot in Ohio come November.
Prep for the polls: See who is running for president and compare where they stand on key issues in our Voter Guide
So, what’s the deal? The issue centered around Ohio’s ballot certification deadline, which is 12 days before the Democratic convention. Alabama and Washington faced similar problems but resolved them: The Alabama Legislature voted to change the deadline, while Washington’s secretary of state agreed to provisionally certify Biden. Democrats sought provisional certification in Ohio, but state officials struck down that idea. Ohio lawmakers also deadlocked on a plan to change the certification date. 👉 Here’s a closer look.
Hush money case inches closer to the jury
Closing arguments stretched into the evening Tuesday in Donald Trump’s hush money trial, making room to hand the case over to the jury for deliberation Wednesday. Prosecutors have spent the better part of the last six weeks building the case that Trump authorized the $130,000 in hush money Michael Cohen paid porn star Stormy Daniels, that the payment violated campaign finance laws, and Trump disguised the reimbursement as a legal expense.
What’s next? Judge Juan Merchan must first give the jury instructions on what law is applicable in the case, then it will be handed off to 12 Manhattanites who will either issue a verdict or force a mistrial in the first criminal trial of a former president in U.S. history. 👉 Everything from the courtroom.
Real quick
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Texas braces for more severe storms
Fierce storms swept over Texas and the southern Plains on Tuesday, uprooting trees, overturning semi-trucks, damaging buildings and knocking out power to thousands – the latest outbreak of severe weather in the region following a series of deadly storms that killed at least 22 people over the holiday weekend. The warm, moist air that’s fueled one of the most active periods for tornadoes in recent years will linger over the Plains, bringing thunderstorms capable of spawning twisters this week, the National Weather Service said. More than 800,000 homes and businesses across north-central Texas were without power Tuesday afternoon as up to 2.5 inches of rain fell in some areas. ⛈️ See what’s happening now.
📸 See more photos: Deadly storms leave trail of disaster.
Gaza aid pier towed to Israel for repairs
The $320 million pier the Pentagon built to ferry desperately needed aid to Palestinians in Gaza was damaged by high seas from storms and must be towed to Israel for repairs, officials said Tuesday. The Biden administration had touted the pier for weeks as a vital alternative to land routes to ship food and medicine to Palestinians caught in the war between Israel and Hamas. Its operation, however, got off to a rough start with the first trucks laden with aid prevented by mobs from reaching their destination. 👉 What we know about the damage.
A break from the news
Laura L. Davis is an Audience Editor at USA TODAY. Say hi:[email protected]. Support quality journalism like this?Subscribe to USA TODAY here.
