Free Republic

Nikolas Cruz entered guilty pleas to 17 counts of murder and 17 counts of attempted murder at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School this morning Now 23, Cruz was a 19-year-old expelled student with a history of mental health and behavioral issues at the time of the 'cold, calculated and premeditated' killings At the hearing Cruz said he was experiencing 'anxiety' but understood the nature of the proceedings At his sentencing Cruz addressed the victims and their families. 'I am very sorry for what I did and I have to live with it everyday,' he said 'I hate drugs and I...

A plant has killed and "eaten" a great tit at a garden nursery in Somerset. Nurseryman Nigel Hewitt-Cooper, from West Pennard, was inspecting his tropical garden when he discovered one of his pitcher plants had trapped the bird. He said he was "absolutely staggered" to find it had caught the creature. It is believed to be only the second time such a carnivorous plant has been documented eating a bird anywhere in the world.

<p>ALBANY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) – New York State environmental officials are trying to nip a huge, dangerous plant in the bud.</p> <p>The giant hogweed, a monster plant with flowers the size of umbrellas and sap that causes blisters and blindness, is spreading across New York. The Department of Environmental Conservation is asking for help locating outbreaks.</p>