Regional Briefs – May 18, 2016

Delaware Bridge Lost $204K in Tolls During Repairs

PENNSVILLE, N.J. – Emergency repairs last month cost the four-lane Delaware Bridge $204,544 in lost tolls, The Associated Press reported. Three lanes were closed during the three days of work, and 34,417 fewer vehicles crossed the span linking New Jersey with Delaware.

Elementary School to be Renamed for Astronaut Twins

WEST ORANGE, N.J. – A school will be renamed Thursday after twin astronauts Scott and Mark Kelly, who attended as kids the soon-to-be called Kelly Elementary School, The Associated Press reported. Scott just returned from a U.S.-record 520 days in space and Mark is married to ex-Rep. Gabby Giffords.

NY Settles Fertilizer Displays With Lowe’s, Home Depot

ALBANY – New York settled with Home Depot and Lowe’s, requiring they separately sell lawn fertilizers containing phosphorous and inform consumers about legal restrictions on the pollutant, The Associated Press reported. A 2014 study found violations at 19 of 21 Home Depots and 16 of 18 Lowe’s.

Albany Joins NY Communities Opposing Oil Pipeline

ALBANY – Albany’s City Council on Monday joined 25 other towns opposing the 178-mile Pilgrim Pipeline, which would carry crude oil from Albany to New Jersey and return it as fuel products. The measure denouncing the pipeline as an environmental risk and public health danger isn’t legally binding.

NY Voters Approve 98.5 Percent of School Budgets

ALBANY – Voters on Tuesday approved 98.5 percent of school budgets proposed by New York’s 700 districts, the Associated Press reported. This is the fifth year since a property tax cap that limits how much districts can increase their tax levy. This year, it was near zero.

Town Calls on NY to Lift Thruway Bridge Tolls

GRAND ISLAND, N.Y. – A town renewed its efforts Sunday to get the Thruway Authority to remove tolls on local bridges since they cause traffic jams, The Associated Press reported. Grand Island officials issued a call to “tear down these tolls” on the Niagara Thruway.

This article appeared in print on page 5 of the May 19th, 2016 edition of Hamodia.