RUSSIAN and Ukrainian forces have been fighting for over a year. (Shutterstock).

Intense fighting continues in and around the embattled city of Bahkmut in east Ukraine as both sides are suffering many dead and wounded.

According to The New York Times, Russian forces are pouring troops into the fight and taking heavy casualties, but Ukraine defenders remain hard-pressed by the relentless attacks.

The invaders managed to seize most of the land around the city, but not the city itself.

Rumors of a “strategic withdrawal” of Ukrainian forces persist but a denied by the government.

Insulin prices may plunge

Pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly will reduce prices for many older insulins and move toward capping the costs that patients pay for those prescriptions.

According to the Associated Press, the move announced on Wednesday could save some people with diabetes thousands of dollars a year in reduced costs.

For example, the price of one 10-milliliter of one popular insulin will drop from $274.70 to $66.40.

Also in the news … Four space travelers will be returning to earth after more than four months in the International Space Station. The four – two Americans, one Japanese astronaut and one Russian cosmonaut – will return on the SpaceX Dragon Endurance spacecraft, according to United Press International.

Sports: Lakers bounce back with win

Despite being hobbled by injuries, the Los Angeles Lakers kept their playoff hopes alive Wednesday night with a 123-117 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on the road.

Point guard Dennis Schroder had 26 points (along with six assists) to lead the Lakers to the win. Austin Reaves and Troy Brown each scored 19.

With the win, LAL is 30-33 and only a few percentage points out of the playoff field.

The Anaheim Ducks are hosting the Washington Capitals at Honda Center. Midway through the second period, the game is tied 1-1.

Check back later for the final results.

Weather: Back to the 60s

The West Orange County area is in for a mild warming trend as the sun returns – sort of – and daytime temperatures climb into the low and mid-60s for the coming week. Thursday will be sunny with a daytime high of 61 and an overnight low of 42. Friday is expected to be mostly sunny with a high of 61 and a low of 45. The weekend looks like 61 and 60 with partly cloudy skies.