Morning headlines: 2017 video shows officer tried to tase Arbery; IG firing questions; and the Webbys

These non-virus headlines are in the news this morning: A newly released video shows a 2017 confrontation between police and Ahmaud Arbery; Democrats say the fired State Department watchdog was investigating a Saudi arms sale; and who will win this year's Webby Awards.

Read on for these stories and more.

Top stories

2017 video shows Georgia officer tried to tase Ahmaud Arbery

A video released Monday shows police in Georgia attempting to search Ahmaud Arbery's parked car in 2017 and when he refuses to let them and begins to walk back to the vehicle an officer tries to tase him.

The video, first obtained by The Guardian, shows Arbery refusing Glynn County police when they ask to search his Toyota and as he walks toward his vehicle he is told “don't reach the car” and “keep your hands out your pockets.” The officer then pulls the taser and attempts to use it but it malfunctions and Arbery is told to get down on the ground, which he does.

When Arbery questions why the cops are bothering him he was told that the area is known for drugs, a suggestion that agitates Arbery who said he is not on drugs and to check his “s—-!” Officers then proceed to check him for weapons while clarifying this action was not a search, but a check. Read the full story here:

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Democrats: Fired watchdog was looking into Saudi arms sale

Congressional Democrats say the State Department watchdog fired by President Donald Trump last week was investigating possible impropriety in a massive arms sale to Saudi Arabia last year, adding new questions to the watchdog’s abrupt dismissal.

Democrats said Monday that ousted Inspector General Steve Linick was probing how the State Department pushed through a $7 billion Saudi arms sale over congressional objections. Democrats previously suggested the dismissal might have been tied to Linick's investigation of allegations that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo may have improperly ordered staff to run personal errands for him.

Linick’s dismissal late Friday comes amid broader concerns over Trump’s removal of inspectors general at various departments. Read the full story here:

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Lebron James, Spotify, HBO among 2020 Webby Award winners

LeBron James, Jimmy Fallon, Spotify and HBO are among the 2020 Webby Award winners for internet excellence.

The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences announced the winners Tuesday.

Patton Oswalt will host the 24th annual Webby Awards’ beginning at 3 p.m. EDT. Read the full story here:

In other news today ...

• The gunman who killed three U.S. sailors at a military base in Florida last year communicated with al-Qaida operatives about planning and tactics in the months leading up to the attack, U.S. officials said Monday, as they lashed out at Apple for failing to help them open the shooter's phones so they could access key evidence.
• Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said Monday that the party “will not be holding a virtual convention," pledging that the presidential nominating convention in late August will be conducted at least partly in-person.
• Joe Biden's presidential campaign is bringing on the granddaughter of civil rights leader César Chávez as a senior adviser to help with Latino outreach and building out its operation in the states.
• Ken Osmond, who on TV’s “Leave It to Beaver,” played two-faced teenage scoundrel Eddie Haskell, a role so memorable it left him typecast and led to a second career as a police officer, died Monday. Osmond died in Los Angeles at age 76, his family said. No cause was given.
• Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham is scheduling a vote that would allow him to subpoena more than 50 current and former officials who were involved in the Justice Department's investigation of Russian involvement in the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign.
• Florida Sen. Marco Rubio will temporarily become chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Republican leaders announced, taking charge of the panel at a time of turnover and tension in the nation's intelligence community.
• A strong cyclone was moving toward India and Bangladesh on Tuesday as authorities were trying to evacuate millions of people while maintaining social distancing.
• LeBron James reiterated Monday that he is hopeful the NBA season can resume, with the caveat that the health and well-being of players won’t be jeopardized by a return to play.
• Michelle Obama was joined by a famous fellow reader Monday on her popular online series “Mondays With Michelle Obama.” The former first lady first read “The Giraffe Problem,” by Jory John and Lane Smith. Then she was joined by Barack Obama as they took turns — the former president even barked at one point — on Julia Sarcone-Roach's “A Bear Ate Your Sandwich.”
• Wendy Williams is taking a break from her daytime talk show to receive treatment for a previously announced health condition. Williams has has been experiencing fatigue because of symptoms from Graves' disease, a spokesperson for “The Wendy Williams Show” said Monday.

Click on the links below for full versions of these stories and scroll further for trending stories, a look at today in history and celebrity birthdays.

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