Regional Briefs – January 12, 2016

Teacher Celebrates 102nd Birthday — Teaching

NORTH PLAINFIELD, N.J. – America’s oldest teacher celebrated her 102nd birthday Tuesday teaching her elementary students how to cook and sew, the Courier News reported. The principal called Agnes Zhelesnik, who began her career at 81, an icon at Sundance School.

Port Authority Drops Plan for Banning Older Trucks at Ports

NEWARK – The Port Authority reversed five-year-old plans to ban older trucks that fail to meet emission standards from hauling cargo at the Newark and Elizabeth seaports, The Record reported. Officials underestimated the cost, which is $150 million to help drivers replace 6,300 trucks.

Lake-Effect Snowstorms Bury Parts of Upstate New York

SYRACUSE – Lake-effect storms on Monday and Tuesday buried parts of western and northern New York under more than two feet of snow, the National Weather Service reported. A lake-effect snow warning is in effect through Wednesday morning, with 15- to 25-mph winds.

NYC Taxi Driver Fined for Refusing Black Passenger

NEW YORK – A NYC cabbie accused by black NBC weatherman Al Roker of passing him by in favor of a white fare pleaded guilty to a service refusal violation and was fined $500, The Associated Press reported. It was Mahabur Rahman’s second racial violation.

Trump’s Second-Best State Support Is New York

NEW YORK – As Donald Trump continues to surge in many polls, New York is his second-strongest state overall, behind West Virginia, WNYC reported. If Trump, who lives in New York, wins the state primary in April, he may end up with a solid enough delegate count to win the nomination.

Plan Unveiled for Bioscience Complex in Westchester

TARRYTOWN, N.Y. – Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino on Thursday unveiled a proposal for a $1.2 billion bioscience complex in Valhalla, the Journal News reported. It would also include stores and a 100-room hotel, which would create 8,000 permanent jobs and 4,000 constructions jobs.

This article appeared in print on page 26 of the January 13th, 2016 edition of Hamodia.