Ukraine's capital rocked by drone strikes

Laura L. Davis, USA TODAY
·5 min read
5

Russia unleashed a wave of deadly attacks on Ukraine's capital city. It's time to apply for federal student loan forgiveness. And Americans aren't living as long as they used to.

👋 It's Laura Davis. It's Monday. Ready for the news? Let's get to it.

But first, DIY dentistry? 😬 Just because you can doesn't mean you should. Watch enough TikTok videos and you're sure to come across one. Not a video about brushing and flossing (except maybe with strands of your own hair) – these people are reshaping their teeth or cementing gems to them. It may come as no surprise that professionals wholeheartedly agree this is a very bad idea.

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Kyiv hit with wave of attacks

Dozens of armed Russian drones rocked Kyiv on Monday, leaving at least four people dead and sending residents scrambling for cover as buildings crumbled and burned. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said most of the 28 drones targeting Kyiv were shot down, but explosions were heard across the city. One strike appeared to target the city’s heating network; another virtually destroyed a four-story residential building. A week ago, the first attack to reach Kyiv in four months left at least 20 people dead in cities across Ukraine after a massive barrage of missile strikes.

  • More coverage: Ukrainian conductor reportedly killed by Russians for refusing to perform; Russian warplane crash ignites enormous blast in residential area of Russia. Monday's updates.

  • What are tactical nuclear weapons, and how big is Russia's arsenal?

Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko speaks to press next to a destroyed building after a drone attack in Kyiv on Oct. 17, 2022, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko speaks to press next to a destroyed building after a drone attack in Kyiv on Oct. 17, 2022, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Did Mar-a-Lago documents put foreign agents at risk?

Some of the country's most closely held secrets were among documents found at former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate – information that was supposed to be returned to agencies that provided it. Further raising the alarm is the potential access by members, guests or staffers to the sensitive documents stored at the sprawling resort. While much attention is trained on whether Trump broke the law, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence is assessing the potential security risks with the FBI. As intelligence agencies assess the damage, human sources – and lives – could be in the balance. Why risks of exposing certain secrets can mean life or death.

What everyone's talking about

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Student loan debt forgiveness application formally launches

Have federal student loan debt? The time has come to apply for forgiveness. The form to apply for President Joe Biden's one-time student debt cancellation is now online. A preliminary version of the application that launched Friday already attracted 8 million applicants. Borrowers are eligible to receive $10,000 or $20,000 in debt relief depending on their income and whether they received a Pell Grant in college. The Education Department has said borrowers who apply in October could have a chunk of their debt wiped out as soon as November. What borrowers need to apply + more details.

Is declining life expectancy uniquely American?

COVID-19 lowered life expectancies worldwide. But while Europe shows signs of recovery, the U.S. continues to drop. Researchers examined data from 29 countries around the world and found seven countries in Western Europe saw a significant increase in life expectancy in 2021, according to a study published Monday. Four of those countries – France, Belgium, Switzerland and Sweden – returned to pre-pandemic levels. Meanwhile, the U.S. reported the third-largest decline in life expectancy, following closely behind Bulgaria and Slovakia. Experts say it's the latest example of how issues relating to the U.S. healthcare system, policies and public behavior were exacerbated by the pandemic.

Real quick

White NFL coaches challenge owners on league's diversity woes

Pete Carroll, John Harbaugh, Frank Reich and Andy Reid each addressed the NFL owners at this year’s annual league meeting, advocating for Black coaches on their staffs now and those they’ve crossed paths with during their lengthy careers. Their passion was clear, as was their sense of urgency as these white coaches tried to make the owners recognize what they would find if they would only look beyond skin color. Conversations at the annual owners meeting rarely become public. But the coaches who spoke there are tired of progress that is incremental at best. A look inside the NFL owners meeting.

Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich watches the action on the field Sunday, Oct. 2, 2022, during a game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich watches the action on the field Sunday, Oct. 2, 2022, during a game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

A break from the news

Laura L. Davis is an Audience Editor at USA TODAY. Send her an email at laura@usatoday.com or follow along with her adventures – and misadventures – on Twitter. Support quality journalism like this? Subscribe to USA TODAY here.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Student loan debt application, Trump documents, Kyiv attacks, life expectancy. Monday's news.