Regional Briefs – Dec. 21, 2016

Rochester Pulling Plug on Red Light Cameras Program

ROCHESTER – Rochester’s city council voted Tuesday night to end its six-year-old red light camera program at the end of the week, The Associated Press reported. Mayor Lovely Warren said the $50 fines “disproportionately affected the poorest of city residents.”

Man Arrested for Swastika Graffiti at Long Island College

EAST GARDEN CITY, N.Y. – A student was arrested on Tuesday over a spate of racially-charged graffiti, including swastikas and “KKK,” at Nassau Community College earlier in the day, The Associated Press reported. Jasskirat Saini, 20, was arraigned on Wednesday.

Police Officer Replaces Children’s Stolen Bikes

NEWARK – Sgt. Juan Gonzalez was hailed Wednesday for using his own money to replace two stolen bicycles that a father had purchased for his children, The Associated Press reported. The Newark dad hid the girl’s pink bike and boy’s dirt bike in a hallway of their apartment building. They were stolen on Nov. 14.

NJ Borough Orders Church to Stop Housing Homeless

PALISADES PARK, N.J. – A church was ordered to stop using its basement as a sleeping area for the local homeless days after a day laborer was found dead in their basement, NJ.com reported. The church had taken in six homeless people during a recent cold spell.