Regional Briefs – May 8, 2015

Hudson Cleanup: A Final Dredging Season Launches

waterford, N.Y. – General Electric Co. has started its sixth and final season of dredging the upper-Hudson River as part of an estimated $2 billion Superfund project, the Associated Press reported. Crews are targeting 250,000 cubic yards of sediment contaminated with poly-chrlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs.

N.J. Will Now Allow Electronic Proof of Auto Insurance

TRENTON – Drivers can now present electronic proof of auto insurance in New Jersey under a law signed by Gov. Chris Christie on Thursday, The Associated Press reported. Offering electronic proof does not amount to consent for police or a judge to access anything else on the device.

Christie Vetoes Bill Requiring Sprinklers in New Homes

TRENTON – Gov. Chris Christie on Thursday vetoed a bill requiring sprinklers in all new home construction since it could increase the home’s cost by thousands of dollars, The Associated Press reported. Instead, he’s calling for a panel to analyze sprinklers for townhouses, where the cost may be lower.

N.J. Senate President Wants Tax Hike on Millionaires

TRENTON – Senate President Steve Sweeney on Thursday proposed raising taxes on millionaires, and an increase in the earned income tax credit from 20 to 25 percent, The Associated Press reported. A hike would raise $675 million a year.

New York Issues 1st Charter For Virtual Currency Exchange

ALBANY – New York regulators have granted their first banking charter for a commercial exchange for virtual currency to New York City-based itBit Trust Company LLC, The Associated Press reported. They said the technology behind Bitcoin could hold real promise.

N.J. Now Last in Nation With Mandatory Self-Serve Gas

SALEM, Ore. – With Oregon lifting its ban on self-serve gas, New Jersey will be the only state in the country with such a rule, The Associated Press reported. But Oregon is only allowing self-serve in rural areas, where hundreds of miles separate gas stations open after hours.

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