BARRY WILNERTRENTON -- The president of the New Jersey Senate says he's drafting a bill to ban replacement referees from NFL games and other professional sports in New Jersey, where the New York Giants and New York Jets both play.
Democrat Steve Sweeney, who's been a longtime official in an ironworkers union, says the NFL's replacement referees have "made a mockery of the sport" and increased the potential for injuries.
He also says substitute refs lower the quality of play and devalue fans' tickets.
A spokesman for Sweeney says the bill will be introduced no earlier than next week.
There's no word on whether Republican Gov. Chris Christie would sign the measure should it clear the Legislature.
The Giants and Jets both play at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.
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Web produced by Jennifer Matarese, Eyewitness NewsEAST MEADOW, N.Y. (WABC) -- Eyewitness News has learned exclusively of a plan that would drastically cut treatment for drug addicts on Long Island.
It comes at a time when prescription drug addiction and violent crimes are skyrocketing.
"My life was saved here and that's not an exaggeration," said Tom Gallagher, recovering addict.
Tom Gallagher's long road to recovery from addiction began at Nassau University Medical Center, where he presented himself a year and a half ago, in full withdrawal.
"I had cold sweats, I was trembling, I was vomiting so violently that I really thought my eyes were going to explode," Gallagher said.
His drug of choice was alcohol.
After five days on lockdown in the hospital's detox unit, he graduated to rehab.
He's been clean ever since.
But now, with Long Island in the throes of a legendary epidemic of drugs, Eyewitness News has learned NUMC wants to shut its entire detox unit down.
According to three different sources, hospital administrators will ask for state authorization to eliminate all 20 of their inpatient detox beds and 10 of their 30 beds for inpatient rehab.
It's all to qualify for a state grant, awarded for making a hospital more efficient.
"In a time when we have people dying in pharmacies that's probably the stupidest decision they've made all year," said Jerry Larrichuita, union president.
The plan could mean some job cuts, but union president Jerry Larrichuita says he's more worried about collateral damage.
Like the federal agent killed New Year's Eve breaking up a drug store robbery in Seaford, or the four people executed on Father's Day at a store in Medford.
"If ever a time when we need to be able to deal with this opiate abuse that's going on, it's right now. And closing detox centers runs exactly against the entire mission," Larrichuita said.
In fact, in all of Long Island, there are just a few dozen detox beds available to those who can't afford to pay.
NUMC offers the most for now.
But multiple sources say the hospital would replace them all with outpatient care, which Tom Gallagher says never would have helped him.
"If you told me to come back tomorrow maybe I would have made it back tomorrow, but I guarantee I would have drank again that day. And that's not what I needed. I needed medical attention," Gallagher said.
Eyewitness NewsNEW YORK (WABC) -- The Obama administration is debating whether to allow the embattled and ailing president of Yemen to come to New York.
President Ali Abdullah Saleh needs treatment for ongoing medical problems from a bomb blast at his presidential compound that nearly killed him last June.
The White House worries that the United States would come under intense criticism for allowing Saleh a safe haven after his policies led to the deaths of hundreds of demonstrators.
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Advertisement Welcome to the Eyewitness News Interaction blog. When there's a topic worth discussing, this blog is the place to start. Click on COMMENT under the post to write your opinion on the topic. Be sure to include your name and location. We'll review it, and we may publish it here or use it on Eyewitness News on WABC-TV Channel 7 in New York! 07/05/2011 Who wants to live forever?
Biomedical gerontologist Aubrey de Grey's, chief scientist of a foundation dedicated to longevity research, says the first person who will live to 150 has likely already been born. He also says that the first person to live to 1,000 years will likely be born within 20 years of the first 150-year-old. So we want to know, do you think scientists and doctors can really bring aging under medical control? Would you even want to live that long? Let us know your thoughts, and you could see your response on Eyewitness News!
Posted by WABC on July 5, 2011 | Permalink | Comments (0) 07/04/2011 Rationing toilet paper on Coney Island?
While the Parks Department says there’s no need for rationing, bathroom attendants on Coney Island boardwalk were apparently doling out a measured amount of toilet paper to women using the restroom over the weekend (there was apparently no need to do it on the men’s side).
What do you think of this effort to conserve on the part of the City? Click on comment to add your thoughts. We may publish them here or use them on Eyewitness News First at 4:00 p.m.
Technorati Tags:coney island, toilet paper Posted by WABC on July 4, 2011 | Permalink | Comments (12) 07/01/2011 Fast food and beer
They are two American icons - fast food and cold beer. But do they belong on the same menu? To try to lure customers in, more fast food restaurants are offering alcohol. Two Sonic locations in Florida will soon begin selling beer and wine at their stores, and Burger King already offers beer and wine at its specialty Whopper Bar locations. Some worry about people having a quick meal with a drink, and then getting behind the wheel. Others worry it sends the wrong message to kids. And some say the combination of fast food and beer could add to the obesity epidemic. What do you think? Send us your thoughts and you might see your response on Eyewitness News!
Posted by WABC on July 1, 2011 | Permalink | Comments (15) New hire smoking ban
Another large company is banning smokers from the new employee pool. Health insurer Humana Inc. says it will begin testing all Arizona job applicants for tobacco use, and those who light up won't get the gig. The company says it will test new workers for nicotine use starting Friday, using a pre-employment urine drug screen. So what do you think? Is it discrimination or a smart business strategy? Should employers be able to control whether their employees smoke, even if it's just in their own homes? Let us know your thoughts, and you could see your response on Eyewitness News.
Posted by WABC on July 1, 2011 | Permalink | Comments (6) New hire smoking ban
Another large company is banning smokers from the new employee pool. Health insurer Humana Inc. says it will begin testing all Arizona job applicants for tobacco use, and those who light up won't get the gig. The company says it will test new workers for nicotine use starting Friday, using a pre-employment urine drug screen. So what do you think? Is it discrimination or a smart business strategy? Should employers be able to control whether their employees smoke, even if it's just in their own homes? Let us know your thoughts, and you could see your response on Eyewitness News.
Posted by WABC on July 1, 2011 | Permalink | Comments (3) 06/30/2011 Consumer Reports surveys, rates fast-food joints
Consumer Reports has surveyed and rated all types of fast food joints. Chick-fil-A came in first for chicken, while Five Guys took top honors for burgers. Papa Murphy's Take'N'Bake Pizza was the surprising pizza winner. Chipotle was No. 1 for Mexican, and Wendy's fries were voted ahead of other chains. Click here for more on the story, then let us know your thoughts. Do you agree with their rankings? What are your thoughts on fast food? You might see your response on Eyewitness News.
Posted by WABC on June 30, 2011 | Permalink | Comments (4) 06/29/2011 Does Tracy Morgan need to apologize again?
Tracy Morgan is facing controversy yet again for degrading remarks. The 42-year-old comic is said to have made degrading remarks about disabled people during a show at a comedy club in Manhattan last week. According to the New York Times, during the show Morgan warned during the audience, "Don't ever mess with women who have retarded kids." The comedian then went on using another offensive term for a woman with a prosthetic arm. Earlier this month, another one of Morgan's comedy routines was derailed when he came under fire for making homophobic comments during a show in Nashville. He has since apologized, and also denied he was homophobic. Does he need to apologize again? Tell us what you think and we may share your comment on Eyewitness News!
Posted by WABC on June 29, 2011 | Permalink | Comments (25) Teens and addiction
A new study says teens who drink or do drugs before age 18 are more likely to become addicts. So we want to know, do you talk to your kids about drugs? And if so, what do you say? And are you honest about your past? Let us know your thoughts, and you could see your response on Eyewitness News.
Posted by WABC on June 29, 2011 | Permalink | Comments (2) 06/28/2011 San Francisco pet sales ban proposal
Lawmakers in San Francisco are considering a ban on pet sales. The Humane Pet Acquisition Proposal hopes to protect everything from Great Danes to goldfish. The proposal would slap a ban on the sale of all pets in the city to shore up the adoption of unwanted creatures from shelters and rescue organizations. According to the Los Angeles Times, representatives of the pet industry call the idea "by far the most radical ban we've seen" nationwide and argue that it would force small operators to close. Animal activists say it will save small but important lives, along with taxpayer money, and end needless suffering. What do you think - should pet sales be banned to force adoption of animals in shelters and rescues? Click on comment to voice your opinion. We may publish it here and/or use it on Eyewitness News First at 4:00 p.m.
Technorati Tags:animals, pet ban, pets, san francisco Posted by WABC on June 28, 2011 | Permalink | Comments (24) 06/27/2011 'Screen Time' and your kids
A new study is coming out on how much ‘screen time’ (Television, Internet, Video Games) your kids should be allowed per day. Eyewitness News wants to hear from you. How do you limit your child’s ‘screen time’? Post your comments (below), and they could appear on Eyewitness News First at 4 p.m.
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BARRY WILNERTRENTON -- The president of the New Jersey Senate says he's drafting a bill to ban replacement referees from NFL games and other professional sports in New Jersey, where the New York Giants and New York Jets both play. 
Web produced by Jennifer Matarese, Eyewitness NewsEAST MEADOW, N.Y. (WABC) -- Eyewitness News has learned exclusively of a plan that would drastically cut treatment for drug addicts on Long Island. 
Eyewitness NewsNEW YORK (WABC) -- The Obama administration is debating whether to allow the embattled and ailing president of Yemen to come to New York. 
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