In brief: Three Americans dead in airport shooting

KABUL, Afghanistan – The Taliban have claimed responsibility for an attack at the Kabul airport in which a gunman shot and killed three American contractors and one Afghan man.

Today’s claim came in a message from the Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid.

A U.S. and an Afghan official said the shooting happened in the early evening hours Thursday, at the North Kabul International Airport complex. That section is military.

In a statement, Mujahid identified the attacker as Hessanullha from Laghman province.

The Afghan official, who is with the Defense Ministry, said the attacker was in an Afghan army uniform. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is still ongoing.

Texas man executed for 1996 slaying

HUNTSVILLE, Texas – A Texas man convicted of killing a 38-year-old woman nearly two decades ago while he was on parole for a triple slaying years earlier was executed Thursday evening.

Robert Ladd, 57, received a lethal injection after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected arguments he was mentally impaired and ineligible for the death penalty. The court also rejected an appeal in which Ladd’s attorney challenged whether the pentobarbital Texas uses in executions is potent enough to not cause unusual pain and suffering.

Ladd was executed for the 1996 slaying of 38-year-old Vicki Ann Garner, of Tyler, who was strangled and beaten with a hammer, and set on fire.

In his final statement, Ladd addressed the sister of his victim by name, telling her he was “really, really sorry.”

“I really, really hope and pray you don’t have hatred in your heart,” he said.He was pronounced dead at 7:02 p.m., 27 minutes after the drug was administered.

Teresa Wooten, Garner’s sister, said afterward that she accepted Ladd’s apology and held no anger toward him.

“But at the end of his life we no longer hated the man and have sympathy for his family.”

AG nominee backed by two key Republicans

WASHINGTON – Attorney general nominee Loretta Lynch won two key Republican endorsements Thursday en route to likely confirmation as the first black woman in the nation’s top law enforcement job.

“I believe she’s not only qualified but exceptionally well-qualified and a very good person, to boot,” Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah, a senior Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, declared from the dais on the second day of Lynch’s confirmation hearing to replace Eric Holder.

Another committee Republican, Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona, said later he, too, intended to back Lynch. GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said he was inclined to do the same.

That seemed to guarantee Lynch’s approval by the Judiciary Committee in coming weeks, since she needs only two Republican votes on the panel if all Democrats back her. .