US airstrike hits al-Qaida camp

US airstrike hits al-Qaida camp

SANAA, Yemen

The U.S. military conducted an airstrike Tuesday against an al-Qaida training camp in Yemen, causing dozens of casualties, a Pentagon spokesman said.

Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said the training camp was located in the mountains, and was being used by more than 70 terrorists belonging to al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula.

Cook did not specify the location of the camp. But Yemeni security officials and a witness said the airstrike hit a former military base that had been taken over by al-Qaida militants about 47 miles west of the terror group’s stronghold city of Mukalla.

Supplies launched for Space Station

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.

Fresh supplies are rocketing toward the International Space Station.

The cargo shipped out late Tuesday from Cape Canaveral, Fla., beneath the light of a nearly full moon. The unmanned Atlas V (five) rocket provided late-night sparkle as it headed north and paralleled the East Coast.

Orbital ATK’s Cygnus capsule holds nearly 8,000 pounds of food, equipment and scientific research for NASA, including a commercial-quality 3-D printer anyone can rent. There are also robotic grippers modeled after the sticky hairs on geckos’ feet, and a fire experiment that will remain on Cygnus.

Ex-trooper pleads innocent to perjury in Bland case

HEMPSTEAD, Texas

A fired Texas trooper pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a charge of misdemeanor perjury stemming from his arrest last summer of Sandra Bland, a black woman who was later found dead in a county jail.

Brian Encinia entered his plea during a brief appearance before a Waller County judge as protesters gathered outside the courthouse in Hempstead, about 50 miles northwest of Houston. One held a sign that read: “What happened to Sandra Bland?”

About 20 protesters yelled “Tell the truth” and “Sandra still speaks,” and at one point directed their chanting at Waller County Sheriff Glenn Smith, who stood nearby speaking with reporters. Bland’s arrest captured on a police dash-camera video provoked national outrage and drew the attention of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Dad, Easter bunny in court after brawl

JERSEY CITY, N.J.

A mall Easter bunny and a father who got into a scuffle have made their initial court appearances and had their bails set.

Kassim Charles, who was playing the Easter bunny, and Juan Jimenez-Guerrero, whose toddler daughter fell off a chair while getting her photo taken, are charged with aggravated assault and disorderly conduct.

Charles’ bail was set Tuesday at $20,000, but he was later released on his own recognizance. Jimenez-Guerrero’s bail was set at $25,000.

After Jimenez-Guerrero’s 15-month-old daughter slipped from the chair Sunday, he verbally and physically attacked Charles, authorities said.

A video posted online shows a chaotic scene at the Newport Centre in Jersey City as the men exchange punches. It shows Charles wearing the body portion of the bunny costume fighting and then being separated by security. A few seconds later, Charles appears again, throws off his white bunny gloves and exchanges more punches.

Associated Press