Regional Briefs – January 14, 2016

NJ Bicycle Deaths Jumped 64 Percent in 2015

TRENTON – Some road deaths in the state rose while others fell last year, The Record reported. Eighteen cyclists died, the most since 2008, while passenger fatalities rose 19 percent to 95. Motorcycle deaths dropped to a record low 49 and pedestrian deaths fell to 163. Overall, there were 554 road deaths.

Wrong-Way Driver Leads Police on 40-Minute Chase

WALL, N.J. – A Pennsylvania man on Wednesday led police on a 10-mile high-speed chase on the wrong side of the Garden State Parkway, The Associated Press reported. Police saw William Errico driving and gave chase. He was stopped after a 40-minute drama through Ocean and Monmouth counties.

East Brunswick’s Mayor Resigns to Become Judge

EAST BRUNSWICK, N.J. – East Brunswick’s mayor resigned his post Wednesday to become a municipal judge in Woodbridge, The Associated Press reported. David Stahl will be replaced by Township Administrator Jim White until the council picks a replacement.

Hundreds of Kids Absent As Stomach Bug Hits School

QUEENS – The norovirus stomach bug sickened so many children at one Queens elementary school that 130 students were absent from P.S. 12 on Wednesday and 210 on Thursday, the NYC Education Department reported. The school has about 1,275 students and attendance averages 96 percent.

Grants in NY Fund Four Efforts to Prevent Diseases

ALBANY – A $7 million CDC grant will go to four New York organizations working to prevent and control obesity, diabetes, heart disease and stroke in minority areas, The Associated Press reported. It will be disbursed over three years.

De Blasio Accepts Panel’s Proposal for Raises, Reform

NEW YORK – Mayor Bill de Blasio on Thursday accepted recommendations that elected officials get raises in exchange for a ban on outside jobs. The independent Quadrennial Commission suggested a $25,815 raise for City Council members and $33,000 for the mayor. De Blasio said he won’t take a raise this term.

This article appeared in print on page 5 of the January 15th, 2016 edition of Hamodia.