Regional Briefs – May 20, 2015

November Trial Date Set For Bridge-Gate Case

NEWARK – A federal judge on Tuesday pushed off the trial date from July to Nov. 16 for two former allies of Gov. Chris Christie in the George Washington Bridge lane-closing case, the Associated Press reported. Former Christie deputy chief of staff Bridget Kelly and former Port Authority executive Bill Baroni face charges including wire fraud and deprivation of civil rights.

NY State Police Clamping Down: Click it or Ticket

ALBANY – A clampdown on seat belt use is underway across New York state until the end of May. It includes state and local police, as well as the Thruway patrol.

Feds Probe Sight of Water After Nuclear Plant Fire

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. – Federal regulators are probing why water accumulated in a room of critical electrical equipment after a fire at the Indian Point nuclear power plant, the Associated Press reported. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission said Tuesday that water appeared after a May 9 fire that destroyed a transformer, caused an oil spill and forced a reactor offline.

Toddler Struck by Building Debris Dies

NEW YORK – The two-year-old girl struck Sunday by falling debris from a building on Manhattan’s Upper West Side died Monday, the Associated Press reported. Her grandmother also was struck on the wrist. The two had been sitting on a bench when they were hit by an eighth floor window sill that broke off.

Senate Votes to Create Registry of Violent Felons

ALBANY – The state Senate voted Monday to create a public list of those convicted of violent felonies to allow people to check if a new acquaintance has a violent past, the Associated Press reported. Critics argue a registry could stigmatize ex-offenders and make it harder for them to secure jobs and housing after they are released.

Sept. 11 Museum Sees 2.7M Visitors in 1st Year

NEW YORK – Nearly 2.7 million people visited the 9/11 museum in its first year at the World Trade Center site, officials said Friday. They have come from all 50 states and more than 150 countries and include President Obama.

Sen. Picks Replacement for AG Lynch

NEW YORK – Sen. Charles Schumer on Thursday recommended a veteran prosecutor to fill the post vacated by new Attorney General Loretta Lynch, the Associated Press reported. He wants Robert Capers, 44, to head the Brooklyn U.S. Attorney’s office.

This article appeared in print on page 38 of the May 20th, 2015 edition of Hamodia.