Regional Briefs – February 20, 2015

Senate Vows to Override Christie Port Authority Veto

WOODLAND PARK, N.J. – New Jersey’s Senate president says he will attempt to override Gov. Chris Christie’s veto of Port Authority reform “again and again and again and again,” The Record reported. Stephen Sweeney says he’ll copy how House Republicans fight Obamacare.

250,000 in N.J. Enroll In Obamacare Plans

TRENTON – More than 250,000 New Jerseyans enrolled in a health care plan under Obamacare, whose deadline for this year ended on Sunday, The Associated Press reported.

Coast Guard Helps Free Barge Stuck in Hudson River Ice

WEST POINT, N.Y. – Two Coast Guard cutters on Wednesday helped an oil barge break free of thick ice on the Hudson River, The Associated Press reported. They broke up ice while a commercial tug freed the barge.

Ex-Assembly Speaker Silver Indicted on 3 Charges

NEW YORK – Former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver was indicted Thursday on three federal honest services fraud charges. His lawyers said they “can now begin to fight for his total vindication … where it should be done — in court.”

Legislation: Carrying Machete Should Lead to Year in Jail

NEW YORK – State Sen. Tony Avella (IDC-Queens) wants machete possession to result in up to a year in jail, the Daily News reported. Under current law, machetes are considered the same as butcher knives, with up to 15 days in jail and a $300 fine.

Big Apple Again No. 2 In Apple Production

ALBANY – New York is again the nation’s second largest producer of apples and third largest of grapes, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday. Farms yielded 1.26 billion pounds of apples, and 188,000 tons of grapes.

Proposal: Extend Tax Credit For Slain Cops’ Fund

NEW YORK – Two congressmen on Tuesday proposed extending a tax deduction for donors to families of two NYPD cops killed in December, the Daily News reported. Hakeem Jeffries and Peter King want the measure in effect through April 15.

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