Regional Briefs – March 13, 2015

Private Medical School Plan For New Jersey Advances

NUTLEY, N.J. – A plan to establish the first private medical school in New Jersey in 50 years received conditional approval on Wednesday by the state Board of Medical Examiners, The Record reported. Hackensack and Seton Hall universities hope to welcome the first class of 125 to 150 students in 2017 once they get permission from the American Medical Association.

Animal Rights Activist Resigns After Anti-Semitic Text

FREEHOLD, N.J. – One of New Jersey’s most visible animal rights activists resigned following a lawsuit which alleges he sent racist and anti-Semitic texts, the Asbury Park Press reported. Victor “Buddy” Amato compared blacks to monkeys and made fun of Jews. He said the texts were “a bunch of jokes.” He said “it was a pleasure serving the animals of Monmouth County.”

New Jersey Ranks Last In Making Pension Payments

TRENTON – New Jersey ranks last among the 50 states in paying into its public pension system, a report released Wednesday says, coming out just as Gov. Chris Christie navigates his latest proposal through a hostile Legislature to scale back a promised payment. The state made 38 percent of the annually required contribution in 2014, far below the median of 95 percent.

311 Info Number: 12th Anniversary, 200 Million Calls

NEW YORK – New York City’s 311 information center received 200 million phone calls by its 12th anniversary Wednesday. The 200 millionth call came Friday, a heat and hot water complaint. Since 2003 311 has processed over 28 million requests. Its busiest day was during a January 2011 snowstorm.

Concrete Falls on Car From Highway Overpass

LARCHMONT, N.Y. – A woman was hospitalized with eye and facial injuries after a piece of concrete smashed through the car windshield in which she was a passenger from an I-95 overpass, WABC reported. Myra Flores, 27, required 15 stitches. The Thruway Authority said the bridge had no problems in its last inspection but “was impacted by severe winter weather.”

This article appeared in print on page 5 of the March 13th, 2015 edition of Hamodia.