Fort Lee, NJ
Police & Fire
U.S. Supreme Court Overturns 'Bridgegate' Convictions U.S. Supreme Court Overturns 'Bridgegate' Convictions
U.S. Supreme Court Overturns 'Bridgegate' Convictions The nation’s highest court on Thursday unanimously overturned the convictions of two onetime allies of former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie who played keys roles in the infamous “Bridgegate” case. Bridget Ann Kelly and Bill Baroni didn’t defraud the government of its “property” by closing two local access lanes to the George Washington Bridge over three days in September 2013 as retribution against Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled. Kelly and Baroni “could not have violated the federal-program fraud or wire fraud laws” because the plan wasn't intended to obtain mon…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Norwalk, CT
Lifestyle
Can You Have An American Dream If You’re Not In The USA Legally? Can You Have An American Dream If You’re Not In The USA Legally?
Can You Have An American Dream If You’re Not In The USA Legally? Editorial Note: Names and certain identifying details have been changed to protect the individual called “Osmin Garcia” in the article. No high school student could have been happier or prouder of winning a statewide academic competition and, more importantly, the prize of a sizable scholarship to a local college. It was a dream come true for high school sophomore Osmin Garcia. He had worked hard to get to this point, taking Advanced Placement and honors classes and doing well in them. To the outside world, the student’s future looked bright indeed. The reality, however, was far from it. Ga…

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by Vira Mamchur Schwartz
DV Plus - Fairfield, CT
Politics
Around The Towns: 10 States Support NRA, Ganim Wins Primary With Absentee Votes, Climate Change Around The Towns: 10 States Support NRA, Ganim Wins Primary With Absentee Votes, Climate Change
Around The Towns: 10 States Support NRA, Ganim Wins Primary With Absentee Votes, Climate Change Ten states and about two dozen members of Congress have joined the National Rifle Association in supporting gunmaker Remington Arms as it fights a Connecticut court ruling involving liability for the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown. Officials in 10 conservative states, 22 House Republicans and the NRA are among groups that filed briefs with the U.S. Supreme Court this month. They urged justices to overturn the Connecticut decision, citing a much-debated 2005 federal law that shields gun-makers from liability, in most cases, when their products are used in crimes. Remington,…

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by Jon Craig
Massapequa, NY
News
Chalking Tires For Parking Enforcement Is Unconstitutional, Federal Court Rules Chalking Tires For Parking Enforcement Is Unconstitutional, Federal Court Rules
Chalking Tires For Parking Enforcement Is Unconstitutional, Federal Court Rules Parking enforcement officers using chalk to mark tires may be acting unconstitutionally, a federal court ruled. Chalking tires to enforce time limits on parking has been a tried and true practice for scofflaws around the country for decades. This week, a federal appeals court ruled that “chalking” is a violation of the Fourth Amendment, which protects people from “unreasonable searches and seizures.” The case was introduced by Michigan resident Alison Taylor, who was described by the court as a “frequent recipient of parking tickets.” She reportedly received 15 tickets before taking actio…

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by Zak Failla
Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ
News
U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Appeal: Tax Dollars Can't Fix Old Morris County Churches U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Appeal: Tax Dollars Can't Fix Old Morris County Churches
U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Appeal: Tax Dollars Can't Fix Old Morris County Churches Tax dollars won't be put toward repairing old churches in Morris County. U.S. Supreme Court justices on Monday rejected an appeal made last September by the county's freeholder board (represented by Becket) seeking to overturn a state ruling that stops historic preservation grants from sprucing up 12 area churches. Justices Kavanaugh, Alito, and Gorsuch, however, said barring the religious sites from a historic preservation program causes "serious tension with this Court’s religious equality precedents.” Morris County's historic preservation fund was created in 2002, which r…

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by Cecilia Levine
Fort Lee, NJ
Police & Fire
Convicted 'Bridgegate' Lane-Closure Participant Resentenced To Less Federal Prison Time Convicted 'Bridgegate' Lane-Closure Participant Resentenced To Less Federal Prison Time
Convicted 'Bridgegate' Lane-Closure Participant Resentenced To Less Federal Prison Time A former top Port Authority official had his “Bridgegate” federal prison sentence reduced Tuesday to 18 months from two years. William E. Baroni Jr., 47, who was appointed by then-Gov. Chris Christie, had civil rights convictions tossed by a federal appeals court last September for his role in a political-retribution scheme against Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich. Baroni and Bridget Anne Kelly, 46 — formerly deputy chief of staff for legislative and intergovernmental affairs in Christie’s office — were each convicted in November 2016 of willfully participating in what became a massive traffic …

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by Jerry DeMarco
Poughkeepsie, NY
Politics
Most Americans Support Substantial Restrictions On Abortion, Marist Poll Says Most Americans Support Substantial Restrictions On Abortion, Marist Poll Says
Most Americans Support Substantial Restrictions On Abortion, Marist Poll Says The new Marist Poll Survey has revealed that the majority of Americans are in favor of increased restrictions on abortion. About 75 percent of Americans agree that abortion should be limited to the first three months of pregnancy, at most. This includes both those who identify as Republicans, at 92 percent, independents, at 78 percent, and Democrats, at 60 percent, as well as 61 percent who identify as pro-choice. In addition, the survey found that 65 percent of Americans say that if the Supreme Court revisits Roe v. Wade, the court should rule to either allow restrictions as decided by eac…

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by Valerie Musson
Fairfield, CT
News
Supreme Court Won't Take Michael Skakel Case Supreme Court Won't Take Michael Skakel Case
Supreme Court Won't Take Michael Skakel Case The U.S. Supreme Court announced Monday it will not hear the state of Connecticut's bid to reinstate Kennedy cousin Michael Skakel’s conviction for the murder of Martha Moxley in 1975 in Greenwich. The original 2002 conviction was vacated in May 2018 by the Connecticut Supreme Court who ruled that Skakel, 58, was deprived of his right to effective counsel and was entitled to a new trial on charges he beat Moxley to death with a golf club.  The court found Skakel's attorneys failed to investigate a potential alibi witness who could have helped his defense, thus causing the deprivat…

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by Kathy Reakes
Bedford, NY
Schools
Maloney's Bid For Fourth Term Faces Challenge From Retired Police Commander Maloney's Bid For Fourth Term Faces Challenge From Retired Police Commander
Maloney's Bid For Fourth Term Faces Challenge From Retired Police Commander This story has been updated. U.S. Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney and James O’Donnell, the Republican challenging him for New York’s 18th Congressional District seat, have major differences over federal tax law and abortion rights as well as whether Maloney's heart is still in the job after six years. The 18th Congressional District includes Orange and Putnam counties in addition to parts of northern Westchester and Dutchess counties. The district tipped slightly in favor of Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential election.  Maloney, 52, is an openly gay Democrat, whom O'Donnell, 67,…

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by Jon Craig
Armonk, NY
Politics
NY Politicians React To Ford-Kavanaugh Testimony NY Politicians React To Ford-Kavanaugh Testimony
NY Politicians React To Ford-Kavanaugh Testimony This story has been updated. New York's leading Democrats called Thursday's testimony against U.S. Supreme Court Justice nominee Brett Kavanaugh credible and potentially fatal to his confirmation by the U.S. Senate. “Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, you are a hero,” wrote Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York on Twitter. Sen. Chuck Schumer wrote: "If our Republican colleagues are so certain of Judge Kavanaugh’s story, they should immediately demand that the White House order the FBI to reopen the background investigation, and hold off on a vote for several days so all the facts can come out.&…

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by Jon Craig
Greenwich, CT
Politics
Candidates Stay On Point In Three-Way CT Gubernatorial Debate Candidates Stay On Point In Three-Way CT Gubernatorial Debate
Candidates Stay On Point In Three-Way CT Gubernatorial Debate The addition of a third, independent gubernatorial candidate to Wednesday night's debate at the University of Connecticut added a new dimension -- but no fireworks that some had forecast. Petitioning candidate Richard Nelson "Oz" Griebel of Hartford didn't provoke either major party candidate into misspeaking or changing stands from prior debates. Democrat Ned Lamont continued to emphasize fiscal restraint while Republican Bob Stefanowski continued to emphasize tax cuts and no new tolls. "Your choice is crystal clear. I'll bring change,'' Stefanowski said.  "The spendin…

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by Jon Craig
Englewood, NJ
Police & Fire
New NJ Civil Rights Director Rachel Wainer Apter Of Englewood Boasts Prestigious Law Record New NJ Civil Rights Director Rachel Wainer Apter Of Englewood Boasts Prestigious Law Record
New NJ Civil Rights Director Rachel Wainer Apter Of Englewood Boasts Prestigious Law Record Rachel Wainer Apter of Englewood already had a distinguished resume when New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal appointed her Thursday as the new director of the state Division on Civil Rights. Apter, 38, most recently has served as Grewal’s counsel on civil right and immigration – and led the New Jersey team that defeated a motion by Texas and seven other states to end Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). “This is a unique time for civil rights law in New Jersey,” Apter said. “While civil rights are under siege at the national level, the New Jersey legislature has been dram…

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by Jerry DeMarco