Espinoza charged with additional felony

An investigation into the prison suicide of a man convicted in a 2019 quadruple slaying in North Dakota found that he had covered his cell window with cardboard and a guard failed to follow proper procedures in conducting required checks. The investigation report from the state Highway Patrol said 48-year-old Chad Isaak was found hanging in his cell July 31. He was pronounced dead at a hospital. Isaak was appealing his convictions and life sentences for the killings of four people at a Mandan property management company. Prison spokeswoman Kayli Richards said Wednesday that Sgt. Deandre Adams has been placed on administrative leave until an internal investigation at the prison is completed. Adams declined comment. The Highway Patrol says no charges against Adams are expected.

Cheney ponders 2024 bid after losing Wyoming GOP primary

A spate of explosions and fires has turned Russian-occupied Crimea from a secure rear base into a new battleground in the war, demonstrating both the Russians’ vulnerability and the Ukrainians’ capacity to strike deep behind enemy lines. Nine Russian warplanes were reported destroyed at an air base in Crimea last week, and an ammunition depot on the peninsula blew up Tuesday. Ukrainian authorities have stopped short of publicly claiming responsibility, but President Volodymyr Zelenskyy alluded to Ukrainian attacks behind enemy lines after the latest blasts, which Russia blamed on “sabotage.” Russia seized the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine in 2014 and has used it to stage attack on the country in the war that began Feb. 24.

Sweden’s government says it wants to pass legislation forcing the country’s public power transmission network operator to help alleviate this winter’s expected high electricity bills for Swedish households and businesses. Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson, whose Social Democratic minority government faces parliamentary elections next month, said Wednesday the proposal would cost Svenska kraftnat at least 30 billion kronor ($2.9 billion). She said the public utility responsible for ensuring Sweden’s electricity transmission system would get the funds from the 60 billion kronor it got from revenues from congestion in the electricity grid. “Both homeowners and business owners feel sick when they think about the electricity bill for the winter,” Andersson said.