News Wrap: Two victims killed in St. Louis school shooting

Judy Woodruff:

In the day's other news: Western allies rejected Russia's claim that Ukraine is plotting to set off a so-called dirty bomb laced with radioactive material. They called it — quote — "transparently false."

Ukraine warned that, instead, Moscow may be plotting a dirty bomb attack. We will focus on this later in the program.

There's word that Myanmar's military launched airstrikes on a concert last night, killing up to 80 people. It happened in the country's mountainous north. The area is a stronghold for rebels of the Kachin minority. Video showed what were said to be mounds of debris at the site. The military government denied the military government denied reports of the high death toll.

A Michigan teenager pleaded guilty today to fatally shooting four students at a high school outside Detroit last November; 16-year-old Ethan Crumbley admitted to murder and terrorism. Michigan has no death penalty, but parents of other students said they will oppose anything less than life without parole.

Meghan Gregory, Mother of Shooting Victim: Absolutely not. no. He murdered four children and changed 1,800 kids' lives. I hope that, someday, he does feel that remorse. I still saw evil, but hopefully in the future.

Judy Woodruff:

Crumbley's parents are charged with involuntary manslaughter. Prosecutors say that they got him a gun and did nothing to get him mental health treatment.

In St. Louis today, a man shot and killed two people and wounded six at a high school, before police killed him. Students piled out of Central Visual and Performing Arts High School after gunfire erupted. Crime tape quickly went up as police swarmed the site. There's no word on a motive.

A former Minneapolis police officer, J. Alexander Kueng, pleaded guilty today to aiding and abetting George Floyd's death. It came as jury selection was set to begin in his state trial. Another former officer, Tou Thao, waived a jury trial. Floyd died in May 2020 when police pinned him to the ground.

The U.S. Justice Department has charged Chinese agents with trying to obstruct an investigation of telecommunications giant Huawei. That's according to court documents unsealed today in a show of force against Chinese intelligence activities. The FBI said that other agents are charged with harassing and intimidating opponents in the U.S.

Christopher Wray, FBI Director:

They try to silence anyone who fights back against their theft, companies, politicians, individuals, just as they try to silence anyone who fights back against their other aggressions.

Judy Woodruff:

Some of the accused have been arrested. Others are in China, and it's unclear if they will ever be taken into custody.

The rape trial of former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein has gotten under way in Los Angeles with opening statements. Weinstein has pleaded not guilty. He's already serving a 23-year sentence for sex crimes in New York.

Jury selection began today in New York in the criminal trial of the Trump Organization. Prosecutors say that the former president's business illegally helped executives avoid income taxes on apartments, cars and tuition fees. Mr. Trump himself is not a defendant in the case.

In economic news, China announced growth of 3.9 percent in the third quarter over a year earlier, but that was well below past growth rates. Meanwhile, Wall Street's week got off to a good start, with major stock indexes up nearly 1 percent or more. The Dow Jones industrial average gained 417 points to close near 31500. The Nasdaq rose 93 points. The S&P 500 added 44.

And Emmy-winning actor Leslie Jordan has died in a car crash in Los Angeles. He won renown on TV's "Will & Grace" in 2005, and later on "American Horror Story.: During the pandemic lockdown, he gained a large social media following. Leslie Jordan was 67 years old.

Still to come on the "NewsHour": we will delve into the risk of nuclear weapons being used in Russia's war on Ukraine; China's president consolidates power by surrounding himself with a group of loyalists; our Student Reporting Labs journalists explore the connection between music and our moods; plus much more.