Regional Briefs – November 3, 2014

NYC Marathon Marks Millionth Finisher Since 1970

NEW YORK – Katherine Slingluff of Brooklyn on Sunday became the millionth finisher in the 44-year history of the New York City Marathon, winning guaranteed entry into the race for life and a shopping spree for running gear. On Sunday, 974,257 people completed the 26.2-mile course, which was won by two Kenyans.

High Winds Cause Damage, Outages in N.Y.

ALBANY – High winds early Sunday knocked down trees and power lines throughout New York, but it caused real damage upstate, with more than 15,000 utility customers losing power. Winds gusted up to 40 mph.

Taxpayers to Fork $2.25M In Rikers Cell Death

NEW YORK – New York City taxpayers will pay $2.25 million to the family of a mentally ill inmate who died in a 101-degree Rikers cell after he couldn’t afford the $2,500 bail on a trespassing arrest. The mother of Jerome Murdough, 56, had threatened to sue for $25 million but Comptroller Scott Stringer on Friday took the rare step of settling before a lawsuit.

Man Arrested for LIRR Copper Cable Thefts

MINEOLA, N.Y. – The LIRR copper cable thief was arrested Friday after his eighth theft this month, The Associated Press reported. Bernard Jenkins’s latest act came Thursday, when 300 feet of cable were taken, causing a small track fire that forced trains to go slowly during rush hour.

Fugitive Caught in Oregon After 20 Years in Hiding

PORTLAND, Ore. – A 20-year fugitive from justice from upstate New York was caught in rural Oregon Thursday when he applied for Social Security benefits under his real name, The Associated Press reported. John Franklin Forbis, 72, had been using an alias since he skipped bail in 1992, vanishing without a trace.

Home Invaders Appear to Be Targeting Indians

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. – Authorities believe Indians may be the target of home invasion robberies in Middlesex County, where gunmen have broken into four homes of Indian families during the past two weeks. Family members have been restrained and cash, electronics and jewelry have been stolen.

This article appeared in print on page 7 of the November 3rd, 2014 edition of Hamodia.