Russian missile attacks caused a crippled nuclear plant in Ukraine to lose all external power for the second time in five days, “This increases the risk of a radiation disaster because electricity is needed to operate critical safety systems.” Ukraine’s state nuclear operator said Wednesday.

The jurors who will decide whether Florida school shooter Nikolas Cruz is sentenced to death or life without parole are expected to begin their deliberations Wednesday, concluding a three-month trial. Cruz, 24, pleaded guilty last year to the murders of 14 students and three staff members at parkland’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school on Feb. 14, 2018. The trial has only been to determine his sentence.

A Minnesota man pleaded guilty Tuesday to filing fraudulent insurance claims for a staged arson he attempted to portray as a politically motivated attack. Federal officials said Denis Molla, 30, of Brooklyn Center, falsely reported to law enforcement in September 2020 that someone had lit his camper on fire and that three unknown males were near his home when he heard an explosion. Molla told officials his garage door was vandalized with a spray painted antifa symbol and words stating, “Biden 2020″ and “BLM.” He claimed his camper was targeted because it had a trump 2020 flag displayed on it. Police discovered that Molla started his own property on fire and spray painted the graffiti on his own garage.

Karl Warner can be reached at warn5356@stthomas.edu