Strong earthquake hits in Indonesia

Strong earthquake hits in Indonesia

JAKARTA, Indonesia

A strong earthquake has rocked Indonesia’s easternmost province of Papua early today, but there are no immediate reports of injuries or damage.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the magnitude-7.0 underground quake was centered 153 miles west of Jayapura, the provincial capital of Papua.

Its depth was measured at 32.8 miles beneath the remote mountainous region of the island.

Hendra Rahman, an official of the Indonesia’s Meteorology and Geophysics Agency said the quake was felt across the province and that the strongest-hit area was Sarmi, a town on the northern coast of the island, but there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.

Judge: Gunman was not involuntarily committed in ’08

CARROLLTON, Ga.

The gunman responsible for last week’s deadly attack in a Louisiana movie theater was delivered by deputies to hospital for a mental evaluation in 2008 after his family said he was a danger to himself and others.

But the judge who ordered him detained said Monday that she did not have him involuntarily committed, which may explain why he was able to legally purchase the gun he used to kill two people and wound nine others before killing himself.

His case underscores the concerns raised in the aftermath of other mass shootings involving suspects with mental health issues – and the gaps in the system meant to “red-flag” people ill-suited to own or carry a firearm.

4-star general put in command of nuclear force

WASHINGTON

Working to reinvigorate its nuclear force after years of missteps and scandal, the Air Force is putting a four-star general in charge for the first time in the post-Cold War era. His mission: Restore institutional muscle and assert more influence on the force’s behalf.

Gen. Robin Rand, a career fighter pilot, will take over today as commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, replacing Lt. Gen. Stephen Wilson. Rand has never served in the nuclear force, but he has broad experience in the Air Force, most recently as commander of the organization in charge of all recruiting, technical training and professional military education.

NSA to stop using, will destroy records

WASHINGTON

The Obama administration has decided that the National Security Agency soon will stop examining – and ultimately will destroy – millions of American calling records it collected under a controversial program leaked by former agency contractor Edward Snowden.

The NSA’s collection of American phone metadata has been deeply controversial ever since Snowden disclosed it to journalists in 2013. President Barack Obama sought, and Congress passed, a law ending the collection and instead allowing the NSA to request the records from phone companies as needed in terrorism investigations.

Panel to review Sandra Bland case

HEMPSTEAD, Texas

A committee of outside attorneys will assist the Texas district attorney investigating the death of Sandra Bland, the black woman who authorities say hanged herself in her jail cell three days after a traffic stop by a white state trooper.

Authorities also released an initial toxicology report for Bland on Monday, a report that two experts who reviewed it for The Associated Press said raises the possibility that Bland may have used marijuana while in custody.

Associated Press