NEWS OF THE DAY
From Across the Nation
_1 Gun control: The Supreme Court on Monday turned away an appeal from Maryland gun owners who challenged the state’s assault weapons ban. The justices left in place a federal appeals court ruling that upheld the Maryland law that does not permit the sale of a range of semiautomatic weapons and largecapacity magazines. The banned guns include those that were used in recent mass shootings in a south Texas church and in Las Vegas. Maryland’s ban was passed after the 2012 mass shooting at a Newtown, Conn., elementary school.
_2 Arson fire: Los Angeles County authorities say a 15-year-old boy is suspected of setting fire to his house after getting into an argument with his mother. Fire officials said the mother and another person were able to escape the blaze unhurt Sunday night in Pico Rivera. After crews doused the flames, sheriff ’s officials searched for the teen. The boy returned about three hours later and surrendered. The teen is suspected of dumping gasoline around the exterior of the house and igniting it.
_3 Sanctions trial: Jury selection began Monday in New York City at the trial of a top executive for a state-run bank in Turkey accused of conspiring to help Iran evade economic sanctions. Halkbank Deputy CEO Mehmet Hakan Atilla has pleaded not guilty to charges he conspired with international gold trader Reza Zarrab. It’s unknown what role Zarrab could play at the trial. The case has strained U.S. relations with Turkish authorities. Turkey’s deputy prime minister has said Zarrab is a “hostage” being forced to testify against Turkey’s government.
_4 Four killed: A man suspected of fatally shooting three people at a home in Slaughter, La., and a fourth person at a nearby gas station was arrested Monday in Alabama, authorities said. Taurus Ike Hamilton, 36, of Zachary, was arrested in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on murder charges following a pair of deadly shootings that occurred north of Baton Rouge on Sunday, said East Feliciana Parish Sheriff Jeff Travis. Authorities believe Hamilton broke into a home and fatally shot a woman, her boyfriend and the boyfriend’s father. A witness told investigators that Hamilton and the slain woman had a child together, according to a police report. Hamilton also is suspected of fatally shooting a man outside a gas station in Zachary during a fight Sunday, according to the city’s police chief.
5 Fitness test: The U.S. Navy will soon require a 1.5-mile running test for recruits to pass before they start boot camp. The Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk reported that men will have to complete the run in a little more than 16 minutes. Women will have a little more than 18 minutes. As many as 70 percent of recruits fail to pass their physical readiness test during the first week of boot camp. Navy officials say that takes time away from other critical learning.
_6 Blown tires: Passengers had a rough landing when their flight from Germany arrived in Newark, N.J., and the plane’s tires blew out. The United Airlines flight from Frankfurt was landing Sunday when it “experienced tire issues,” the airline said. Passengers said some of the plane’s tires blew out. No one was injured. Passengers were bused to the terminal after being stuck on the tarmac for several hours.