Several Dead as Pro Russia Separatists Battle With Ukraine's Military Outside Slovyansk

Open fighting has begun around Slovyansk, Ukraine, between government troops and pro Russian separatists.

There are reports of multiple deaths on the separatist side, though no confirmed numbers.

Dozens more have been injured or arrested as government forces make an attempt to recapture the city.

Two Ukrainian helicopters were shot down by separatist militias, resulting in the deaths of two Ukrainian servicemen.

Ukraine used the incidents to once again say that Russia is actively instigating, backing, supporting, and arming the militias.

Russia responded by once again denying their involvement, and by restating the "right" to send troops into Ukraine to "protect those of Russian descent".

250 Dead, 2000 Missing After Mudslide in Afghanistan

At least two hundred and fifty people are dead after heavy rains caused a mudslide in Afghanistan.

As many as two thousand are missing from Ab Barik, after a hill fell onto the town.

The town lies in Badakhshan province, in the north east of the country.

Rescue attempts are underway, but they are hindered by lack of equipment as well as the difficult terrain that must be crossed to reach the town.

Southern California Wildfire Forces Thousands of Evacuations in Rancho Cucamonga

Thousands of residents in Rancho Cucamonga have been forced to evacuate due to a wildfire, which started Wednesday morning.

Winds approaching seventy miles per hour helped spread the fire to over one thousand acres.

Over seven hundred firefighters are battling the blaze.

The winds also kept firefighting aircraft from joining the fight.

Due to spreading blaze, officials ordered the evacuation of thousands of residents, from nearly two thousand homes and the closure of seven schools.

High temperatures, possibly reaching triple digits, low humidity, and continued winds are expected to continue making things difficult, for the next few days.

Oil Train Derails and Catches Fire in Lynchburg, Virginia

An oil train derailed and caught fire in Lynchburg, Virgina, on Wednesday afternoon.

Fifteen cars of the train derailed, with three catching fire.

Nearly four hundred people were forced from their homes, due to the fire and smoke.

Firefighters were able to extinguish the flames, after a several hour battle, and residents were allowed back into their homes.

Concerns now are focused on the oil that leaked into the James River, which flows into Chesapeake Bay.

An investigation is underway to determine what caused the derailment.

Turchynov Admits Ukraine Unable to Stop Pro Russia Separatists

Turchynov

On Wednesday, Ukrainian President Oleksandr Turchynov admitted that the nations forces are unable to stop the eastern separatists.

Meanwhile, the separatists took over more cities in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

The President stated that the military and police are unable to stop them, without massive casualties and descending into civil war.

Turchynov added that his goals now are to keep the separatists from entering other regions, of Ukraine.

He also reiterated his fears that Russia will invade, using the separatism as an excuse, just as they did in Crimea.

US Army: Private First Class Christian J. Chandler

Private First Class Christian J. Chandler, twenty of Trenton, Texas, died on April 28.

He was killed during combat in Baraki Barak District, Logar Province, Afghanistan.

It was his first tour of duty.

Chandler was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division out of Fort Drum, New York.

His decorations include: Afghanistan Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge.

US Army: Sergeant Shawn M. Farrell II

Sergeant Shawn M. Farrell II, twenty-four of Accord, New York, died on April 28.

He was killed during combat, in Nejrab District, Kapisa province, Afghanistan.

It was his second combat tour.

Farrell was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division out of Fort Drum, New York.

His decorations include: Army Commendation Medal, two Army Achievement Medals, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, two Afghanistan Campaign Medals, Noncommissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Air Assault Badge.

Star Wars Episode VII Cast Announced, Who Might They Be Playing

Tuesday saw the announcement of the cast for Star Wars Episode VII.

Per the press release from the official Star Wars site Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, and Kenny Baker will be returning for the movie.

It has been known for awhile that they would all return to reprise their roles from the original trilogy of Star Wars movies.

A possibly significant absence is Billy Dee Williams, who played Lando Calrissian, and who has been doing a lot of press to promote the movie.

They will be joined by John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, and Max von Sydow. Here's a bit about them and my thoughts on who they might be playing.

Andy Serkis many will know as the actor who portrayed Smeagol/Gollum in the Lord of The Rings and The Hobbit movies. It will be interesting to see what role he has in Star Wars.

Max von Sydow has been acting for over seventy years in a wide variety of roles and it is yet unclear what part he may be playing. Expect for him to be playing some sort of political leader, in the New Republic.

Adam Driver had already been rumored as the lead villain, for the movie, though with the canon announcement from the weekend, there's little clue to a specific character that he would be playing.

Oscar Isaac has played everything from Joseph, the father of Jesus in the 2006 Nativity Story, to Prince John against Russel Crowe's Robin Hood. Again little clue to who he'll play, but a very possible candidate to play a son of Han and Leia's.

Daisy Ridley is not a very well known actress, however expect her to play Han and Leia's daughter, she definitely has the right look for it.

Domhnall Gleeson is best known as Bill Weasley, from the Harry Potter movies. He is a distinct possibility to play a son of Luke Skywalker, but again just guessing here.

John Boyega, again not a very known actor. However he just happens to look like what we might expect a young Lando Calrissian to appear. Especially with Lando possibly not in the movie, this could be his son.

13 Killed by Tornadoes in Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee

Thirteen people were killed by tornadoes, in the US, on Monday.

This follows the deaths of sixteen, on Sunday, from the same storm system.

Monday's deaths occurred in Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee.

Louisville and Tupelo, Mississippi and Bessemer, Alabama appeared to be the hardest hit.

Emergency crews were going through rubble, Tuesday morning, searching for survivors and more casualties.

The storm system continued it's way into Alabama, Georgia, and the Carolinas, on Tuesday, with more tornadoes a distinct possibility.

Pro Russia Separatists in Ukraine Seize Government Buildings in Luhansk

Hundreds of pro Russian separatists attacked government buildings in Luhansk, Ukraine, on Tuesday.

They were successful in taking over several buildings, but are being resisted by police, who have holed up inside of their headquarters.

The two sides have exchanged automatic gunfire, but there are no reports of any casualties, so far.

Leading the separatists are the "green men" who are heavily armed men wearing unmarked uniforms, who speak Russian and use Russian equipment.

Ukraine has accused Russia of instigating the crisis there, saying that the "green men" are Russian special forces sent in to cause trouble and give Russia an excuse to invade.

Russia denies involvement in the crisis, stating that the "green men" are local militias.

The Ukrainian government has very slowly been sending troops in to deal with the separatists, but not at a fast enough pace to actually accomplish much.

They are very wary of the fifty thousand or more Russian troops encamped along the border.