Regional Briefs – January 9, 2017

Monday, January 9, 2017 8:42 pm | 2 Minute Read

Syracuse Native Set to Make History With NASA Mission

SYRACUSE – NASA on Monday selected a Syracuse native for a mission to space next year, making her the first African-American woman to live on the International Space Station as a crew member, The Associated Press reported. Jeanette Epps, who will serve as a flight engineer, was chosen from a pool of 3,500 applicants in 2009.

NY Lawmakers Demand: No Parole for Brinks Heist Driver

ALBANY – A group of New York lawmakers and police groups is calling on parole officials to deny the release of Judith Clark, who drove a getaway car in the deadly 1981 Brinks robbery, The Associated Press reported. Gov. Andrew Cuomo commuted her sentence to make her eligible for parole.

Driver Hurt When Dumbbell Smashes Into Windshield

OLDMANS, N.J. – A 50-pound dumbbell crashed through the windshield of an SUV Monday morning, injuring the 75-year-old male driver, The Associated Press reported. Police is trying to determine where the dumbbell came from on the New Jersey Turnpike.

NJ Panel Okays Bill Changing License Expiration Dates

TRENTON – New Jersey’s Senate transportation panel on Monday approved a bill that changes driver’s license expiration dates from the last day of the month every four years to the driver’s birthday, potentially shortening lines at Motor Vehicle offices, The Associated Press reported. The Budget Committee okayed it last year.

Riders Evacuated as NJ Transit River Line Train Catches Fire,

FLORENCE, N.J. – Forty passengers on NJ Transit’s River Line were evacuated Sunday night after it caught fire, The Associated Press reported. The system was running again with delays two hours later.

Christie Okays 20 Judges Needed for Bail Reform

TRENTON – Gov. Chris Christie on Monday signed a bill that adds 20 new judges to New Jersey’s Superior Court system to handle a major overhaul of the bail system that took effect Jan. 1, The Associated Press reported. The state’s complement of judges rose to 463.

This article appeared in print on page 5 of the January 10th, 2017 edition of Hamodia.