Regional Briefs – April 22, 2015

NYC Man Charged With Robbery as a Hate Crime

NEW YORK – A Manhattan man was charged on Tuesday with robbery as a hate crime for targeting six women of Chinese descent in Boro Park, Brooklyn DA Ken Thompson announced. Manuel Israel’s robbery spree was between March 21 and April 6. Three of the victims were hurt. Investigators say he perceived the women to be vulnerable because of their ethnicity.

Christie Transition Team Members Backing Bush

WASHINGTON – At least three members of Gov. Chris Christie’s 2009 transition team are snubbing him, instead backing Jeb Bush’s bid for the Republican presidential nomination, The Associated Press reported. One of them is state Sen. Joseph Kyrillos, a longtime friend who served as chair of Christie’s 2009 gubernatorial campaign.

Lightning Smokes Up School, Causes Evacuation

GLOUCESTER, N.J. – A lightning strike may be to blame for a smoky condition that forced the evacuation of a school in Gloucester Township on Tuesday morning, The Associated Press reported. Firefighters found light smoke emanating from the school and smoldering damage outside the building.

NY Issues 17,447 Tickets During ‘Operation Hang Up’

ALBANY – State Police issued 17,447 tickets during their five-day “Operation Hang Up” distracted driving crackdown from April 10 through April 15, The Associated Press reported. Troopers issued 2,752 tickets for talking or texting, 5,557 for speeding, 187 for driving while intoxicated, 924 for safety restraint violations, and 223 for failing to move over when passing police pulled over on the shoulder.

This article appeared in print on page 26 of the April 22nd, 2015 edition of Hamodia.