Regional Briefs – May 21, 2017

Ex-IBM Employee Admits to Economic Espionage Charge

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. – An ex-IBM software developer pleaded guilty Friday to economic espionage, The Associated Press reported. Xu Jiaqiang, 31, an immigrant from Beijing, stole computer code to benefit China’s National Health and Planning Commission. Xu was first arrested in December 2015.

Tree Falling Kills 80-year-old Retired Teacher

UPPER NYACK, N.Y. – An 80-foot-tall oak tree fell on top of a moving car Thursday morning, killing a retired teacher, The Associated Press reported. Jerome Mulenberg, 80, had been driving along a road near an elementary school. An arborist had just given it a clean bill of health.

Fire That Killed Woman Caused by Bird’s Nest

WEST HURLEY, N.Y. – A smoky house fire that killed an 89-year-old woman early Thursday was started when a bird’s nest ignited from a hot light fixture, The Associated Press reported. Anna Olsen was found in her second-floor bedroom overcome by smoke.

3-year-old Boy Survives Fall From 3rd Floor Window

ELIZABETH, N.J. – A child who fell out of a third-story window at his home escaped serious injury Friday night because an awning broke his fall, The Associated Press reported. The 3-year-old boy tumbled out the window and hit the awning before he fell on to the sidewalk.

First Make-A-Wish Trip to Cuba to Visit Grandparents

JERSEY CITY – Make-A-Wish surprised an 11-year-old lymphoma patient Friday morning with a trip to Cuba, NJ.com reported. Tyler Machado thought he was heading to the doctor’s office — instead he was greeted with a red carpet leading to a stretch limousine. Tyler is the first child to go to Cuba through Make-A-Wish since the travel ban was lifted.

Comptroller: NY May Face Tough Financial Decisions

ALBANY – New York could face tough times if Congress follows through on proposals to cut funding for health care, warned a report by Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli. The cuts are “key risks” facing the new $153 billion budget.