Regional Briefs – October 21, 2018

Gov. Candidate Wants to Sell Bridge-Naming Rights

NEW YORK – The Libertarian candidate for governor is pitching a novel plan for paying to maintain or repair bridges and subway lines: sell the naming rights, The Associated Press reported. Larry Sharpe wants the state to think “Apple Bridge” or “Google Tunnel.”

NYC Taxpayers Paying Record Sums for Workplace Injuries

NEW YORK – New York City taxpayers are spending more than ever paying city employees injured on the job, the New York Post reported. Payouts totaled $25.7 million in 2017, a 109-percent increase from 2008. It went to compensate a record 18,604 employees.

Postal Service Finds Boxes Of Mail in the Woods

SOMERS, N.Y. – The U.S. Postal Service is investigating after several boxes of mail were found in the woods, the Journal News reported. The service’s inspector general says they’re probing possible misconduct by a postal employee whom he wouldn’t identify.

Men Posed as Utility Workers To Rob Elderly Woman

BROOKLYN – Two men posing as utility workers at a Manhattan Beach home Thursday afternoon robbed an 88-year-old woman of $2,500, The Associated Press reported. The men said they needed to check a utility issue. Once they got inside they demanded money and fled in a waiting truck.

Anonymous Caller Scammed Restaurant Out of $1,200

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. – A man scammed an eatery out of $1,200 by phoning the place and telling the employee who answered that he was from corporate headquarters, WNBC reported. He instructed the worker to empty the safe, purchase gift cards and hand it to a taxi waiting outside.