Blast kills 70 in Beirut

An explosion rocks Beirut on Tuesday, damaging buildings across the Lebanese capital. At least 70 people were killed and 3,000 hurt, officials say. The cause of the blast was not immediately known.

WASHINGTON – A key Senate Republican said Tuesday that he supports an increase in the food stamp benefit as part of a huge coronavirus relief bill, adding that an agreement on that issue could lead to further overall progress on the legislation, which remains stalled despite days of Capitol negotiations.

Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Pat Roberts, R-Kan., said Tuesday that “you can make an argument that we need some kind of an increase” in food stamps and that he’s raised the topic with Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

“They are taking a look at it, and I think we can get a positive result,” Roberts said. “If we can get a breakthrough on that, it could lead to some other stuff.”

The food stamp issue – left out of earlier relief bills – is a top priority for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, among other powerful Democrats, who have passed a 15% increase in the food stamp benefit as part of their $3.5 trillion coronavirus relief bill.

The overall talks are going slowly, though urgency is growing among Senate Republicans, several of whom face tough election races.

Obstacles remain, including an impasse on extending a $600-per-week pandemic jobless benefit, funding for the U.S. Postal Service and aid to renters facing eviction.