The War Room: In an example of how the Russian invaders are fumbling, Ukraine has released aerial pictures of as many as two-dozen destroyed Russian tanks and armored vehicles in the area of the Siverskiy Donets River. At least eight of the burned out vehicles are clustered near a bombed out temporary bridge.

  The Luhansk regional governor said three Russian attempts to bridge the river were beaten back.

  The battle is testament not only to the fierceness of the fighting and killing, but also to the vulnerability and mediocrity of the Russian army that Vladimir Putin had expected would conquer Ukraine in a matter of days. Among the destroyed tanks in recent days is at least one  T-90M, Russia’s most advanced. 

  The Ukrainians appear to be losing ground further south in the Luhansk region, in particular a settlement called Rubizhne where defense forces have pulled back. The Institute for the Study of War says that “Russian forces likely control almost all of Rubizhne as of May 12, and have likely seized the town of Voevodivka, north of Severdonetsk.”

  Roughly 15,000 civilians are still believed to be in Severodonetsk out of a pre-war population of 100,000. The local government says the city is more than 70% destroyed.

  Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky is ready to speak directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but “only without any intermediaries”, he told an Italian television channel. Zelensky said he would speak only with Putin, “on the terms of dialogue, not on the terms of ultimatums” and that “the first clear step” would be for Russia to withdraw its troops.

The Shooting Gallery:  Twenty people were wounded, 17 of them in just one incident, in two shootings in downtown Milwaukee last night as thousands of people were gathered for the Bucks basketball team playing in the conference finals.

  All the wounded are expected to survive. Ten people were arrested and nine guns recovered by the police.

  In the Dallas area, police are investigating what appears to be a string of shootings targeted at Asian-owned businesses.

  Wednesday afternoon a man with a rifle walked into Hair World Salon in an Asian immigrant enclave in North Dallas, uttered a few words and fired, wounding three people. On April 2nd, a gunman opened fire from a car at Asian-run businesses in the same block. On Tuesday there was another incident as well. In all three shootings, witnesses have said the shooter was driving a red or maroon mini-van. 

Trumpier Than Thou: Pennsylvania’s surprise Republican senate candidate Kathy Barnette is surging in the polls in a seven way race, even threatening the Trump-endorsed candidate, television doctor Mehmet OZ. She is statistically tied in the polls with Oz and David McCormick, a retired hedge fund manager. 

  The 50-year-old Barnette is black and has no previous political experience, but she tells a rags to riches story about her life. In particular, the anti-abortion candidate capitalizes on her own life, how her mother was raped at age 11 and gave birth to her at 12. “It wasn’t a choice. It was a life. My life,” an emotional campaign video says.

  Barnette lugs some baggage. She has a record of gay and Muslim-hating statements. She has said that same-sex marriage would lead to a “slippery slope” of accepting incest and pedophilia, and that former president Barack Obama is secretly a Muslim.

 Trump has said that Barnette would “never be able to win” in November, but that she has a “wonderful future” in the Republican Party.

The Obit Page: Randy Weaver, who led his Idaho family in an 11-day standoff against federal agents 30 years ago inspiring anti-government extremists, has died at the age of 74. Details of his death were not immediately disclosed.

  The standoff in the mountains near Ruby Ridge in the Idaho Panhandle had the attention of the entire country in August of 1992. FBI agents had investigated the reclusive Weaver on suspicion of selling illegal guns. While scouting the land for a bust, agents got into a gunfight with Weaver’s 14-year-old son Samuel and a friend, Kevin Harris. Sam Weaver and a US Marshal were killed.

  The next day an FBI sniper wounded Weaver and killed his wife, Vicky. Many people consider the standoff at Ruby Ridge to be the opening shot in the anti-government movement.

The Spin Rack: At least 27 people died in a fire that ripped through an office block in India’s capital city, Delhi. — Israeli police officers yesterday assaulted mourners at the funeral procession of the prominent Palestinian American journalist killed this week covering a raid against militants in the occupied West The cops in Jerusalem dressed in riot gear beat kicked pallbearers, nearly forcing them to drop the coffin containing the body of the journalist, Shireen Abu Akleh. — A Russian court has extended the pretrial detention of  WNBA star Brittney Griner until June 18th in the case that has aggravated tensions between Russia and the United States. The Russians say they found cannabis oil vape cartridges in her luggage. — The Texas Supreme Court ruled that government authorities may investigate parents with transgender children for possible child abuse. It isn’t clear whether the state would actually pursue such investigations. — North Korea is reporting an outbreak of Covid-19  with 21 more deaths yesterday and 174,440 new “fever cases,” as they call it.

Red Moon: The moon tomorrow night is expected to glow a scarlet red  during an eclipse starting at 10:27 pm eastern time. A lunar eclipse occurs when the moon, Earth and sun all line up with the moon passing through Earth’s shadow. The show ends at 12:53 am ET. 

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