Regional Briefs – February 1, 2016

Manhole Fire Leaves Nearly 1,100 Without Power

JERSEY CITY – A manhole fire Sunday afternoon left nearly 1,100 PSE&G customers without power, NJ.com reported. Firefighters responded to a smoking manhole and then shut down power in Jersey City’s downtown section. All but two customers had their power restored by Monday.

Juvenile Accused of Texting Cherry Hill School Threat

CHERRY HILL, N.J. – Extra police were on hand at Cherry Hill schools Monday after a juvenile sent in a threat on social media the day before, The Associated Press reported. The juvenile was charged with making a false public alarm and police have checked the school.

Lawmaker Questions Adequacy of Fines for NYC Rent Violations

ALBANY – A Manhattan lawmaker says NYC data show a fifth of the state’s one million rent-stabilized apartment units aren’t registered as such, The Associated Press reported. Sen. Brad Hoylman is questioning whether the fines for violations are too low, suggesting they are just “a cost of doing business” for some landlords.

Advocates Seek Probe Into Policing of Homeless NYers

NEW YORK – More than 50 advocacy groups on Monday asked the NYPD inspector general to probe how officers police the homeless, The Associated Press reported. Communities United for Police Reform want Philip Eure to probe allegations that officers unfairly forced homeless people to leave public spaces and confiscated or destroyed their personal property.

Intoxicated Driver Dies In NYPD Custody

BROOKLYN – An intoxicated driver who was involved in an auto accident in Brooklyn on Sunday died in police custody, The Associated Press reported. The 28-year-old man had been arrested on Avenue J and was sent to an Intoxicated Driver Testing Unit and then transported to the 69th Precinct in Canarsie for processing. He was found dead inside a cell at about 5:30 p.m.

This article appeared in print on page 5 of the February 2nd, 2016 edition of Hamodia.