Photo: Science Photo Library RF
1 US Warns Russia About Dirty Bombs, Nukes In Ukraine
While Russia has been making claims that Ukraine is prepping to drop a dirty bomb on its own people – in order to “frame” Russia – just about everyone else in the world is calling it nonsense. In fact, Western allies are accusing Russia of using the threat of a dirty bomb as a pretext to escalate the war in Ukraine. France, the U.K. and the U.S. are rejecting that warning in a joint statement Monday, calling Moscow's claims "transparently false." Russia has been evacuating civilians from the strategically important Kherson region in anticipation of a major battle. More than that, the United States is pushing back against Russia’s potential actions. "We've been very clear with the Russians about the severe consequences that would result from nuclear use,” State Department spokesman Ned Price says in a statement. "There would be consequences for Russia whether it uses a dirty bomb or a nuclear bomb.”
2 Tourists Trapped Underground At The Grand Canyon
After being stuck 20-storeys underground since Sunday in the Grand Canyon Caverns, a family has been rescued. The group was trapped after an elevator stopped working on Sunday and as they tell it, they were trapped much longer than was needed. According to Jon Paxton, a spokesperson for the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, the group became stranded at the tourist site after an elevator malfunctioned. There is a staircase, but it’s practically vertical – much like a fire escape – and some of the people trapped didn’t have the physical capabilities to access it. But one of the people trapped says that the rescue could have happened much sooner – and that she confirmed it when firefighters pulled her and her small children out. The family says they did get food, but not for hours. And now that they’re back home, they plan on taking legal action – and will never go underground again.
3 Gunman Opens Fire at St. Louis School, 2 Dead
A gunman broke into Central Visual and Performing Arts High School in St. Louis Monday morning, fatally shooting a woman and a teenage girl and wounding six others. The shooter was shot dead by police inside the school, Police Commissioner Mike Sack said. Officers were in the process of notifying the victims' families, and the shooter has not been positively identified. Law enforcement officers arrived at the school "within a couple minutes" and "immediately" entered the school, Sack said. After students told police the shooter had a "long gun," officers ran toward the sound of shots, eventually ending the attack after an exchange of gunfire.