New York, New Jersey, Connecticut News

Tuesday, 3 January 2012

Nassau NICE service begins regular service Tues.

Eyewitness NewsHEMPSTEAD (WABC) -- Long Island commuters are getting their first experience with Nassau County's new NICE bus system Tuesday.

The MTA has been in control of the buses there since 1973. Now, Veolia Transportation is trying to win over Long Island residents.

The newly privatized Nassau Inter-County Express began operating Sunday, but it ran on a holiday schedule for its first two days. Tuesday is the first day of full service for the nearly 100,000 daily riders.

Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano said the entire county will benefit.

"This public-private partnership brings fare stability, preservation of the Able-Ride Service Area, an increase in public transparence and accountability, 100 percent local resident transit board, the preservation of hundreds of local jobs, and saving taxpayers $32 million annually," he said.

Veolia says they plan on printing extra brochures of timetables so that everyone knows where they need to go.

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Deadline expires on 9/11 health lawsuits

NEW YORK (WABC) -- Time has run out for 1,600 people who were sickened by toxic materials after the September 11 attacks.

Monday was the deadline for them to drop any lawsuit and to give up all future rights to sue for their 9/11 injuries.

Those who accepted the terms will still be able to qualify for the federal victims compensation fund.

Those who insist on suing will not be allowed to benefit from the fund.

U.S. lawmakers set aside $2.76 billion last winter to compensate people who developed illnesses after spending time at ground zero.

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Monday, 2 January 2012

'Molotov cocktail' thrown at Queens mosque, home

Eyewitness NewsNEW YORK (WABC) -- Firefighters say someone threw what appears to be a Molotov cocktail at a mosque in Jamaica, Queens.

It happened at the Imam Al-Khoei Islamic Center on the Van Wyck Expressway.

A small fire broke out as a result, but was put out by the time firefighters arrived at the scene.

Police are investigating.

So far they've made no arrests.

Nearby, a Jamaica resident says someone threw two Molotov cocktails at his home at 89th Avenue and 170th Street.

A small fire was quickly put out by the fire department and there were no injuries.

Police are also investigating an incident in which a glass bottle filled with a fire accelerant was left on a counter at a bodega on Hillside Avenue in Jamaica.

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Investigation into deadly LI pharmacy shooting

Eyewitness NewsSEAFORD, N.Y. (WABC) -- Police went over the entire crime scene at the pharmacy in Seaford and they still aren't sure exactly how or why the ATF agent was shot and killed Saturday afternoon.

A single flag remembering ATF Agent John Capano now stands where he died New Year's Eve trying to stop an armed robber.

Capano and his friend and neighbor Scott Parlatore used to plow their sidewalks after each snow storm.

Parlatore says the entire town is stunned.

"His wife Dory is obviously devastated and the two kids, 18 and 15, they're holding up very strong. I guess they're in shock, but they're amazing," Parlatore said.

Agent John Capano was picking up medicine for his father at Charlie's Family Pharmacy when an armed robber demanded Oxycotin and cash.

Moments later Capano ran outside to stop the robber, two other off-duty officers were outside and somehow, someone shot and killed the robber and Agent Capano.

Congressmen Peter King knew the agent and his family.

"John died the way he lived. He charged right in. He had to do what he had to do, he was fearless," Rep. Peter King said.

ATF, New York City and local police detectives were back collecting more evidence New Year's day, trying to figure out how Agent Capano died.

They're checking if one of the two other off-duty officers may have accidentally shot him.

Police are investigating whose bullet hit Agent Capano and the robber identified as James McGoey, 43, of Hampton Bays.

Meanwhile, fellow ATF agents, friends and family are comforting the Capano family at their Massapequa home where every neighbor says John Capano would help anyone at any time.

"He was always looking out for everybody else. It's a real tragedy," Parlatore said.

There are so many active and retired law enforcement officers living in Seaford, many wonder how this could happen here where there's rarely any violent crime.

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Finding Cheap New York Hotels

Ben Flajnik explains why he chose to do 'The Bachelor': 'I thought long and hard about this decision'

After Ben Flajnik was rejected on national television by Ashley Hebert on the season finale of "The Bachelorette," Flajnik had to give a lot of thought about going through the process again as the bachelor.

"I thought long and hard about this decision and how it was going to shift and change my life," Flajnik told OnTheRedCarpet.com recently. "In the end I have my family and friends and support and the people that matter to me."

"They encouraged me to do it and I had such a great experience with the last one and really working with Chris and the producers and everyone," he added. "It is a big family and it's like coming into a big family and they make you feel very comfortable."

Flajnik was confirmed as the bachelor for season 16 in September. The 28-year-old winemaker from Sonoma, California had fallen for recent "Bachelorette" star Ashley Hebert and made it down to the final two. He proposed but she picked J.P Rosenbaum over him. They are now engaged. (Check out a recap and photos from the finale.)

Now Flajnik will take a chance on finding love through the reality show and have his pick of 25 women to find "the one." Meet the 25 contestants here and check out some sneak peek photos from the premiere.

"The Bachelor" host Chris Harrison said that because Flajnik was a little reluctant, he knew Flajnik was the right person to fill the bachelor spot for the show's 16th season.

"It would worry me if someone wasn't skeptical and wasn't worried about coming in. If we said, 'Hey do you wanna come in' and they said 'Of course I'd do it!' That's not the kind of person we're looking for," Harrison said. "This was a long process to get him to be the bachelor but I very much respect that and I very much worry about a man or a woman that didn't think twice about doing this."

Harrison also said that fan input is important to the show.

"One example of listening to fans is sitting right next to me. There's a reason he's the bachelor," Harrison said. "It's a delicate little waiting proposition where you gotta listen to the fans but at the same time they don't necessarily know exactly what great TV will be and so, you know, the fact that they did choose Ben and there are certain things they want more of, you try and appease them but at the same time you have to stick to your guns and you know what good television is."

The host also dished about one of the older contestants seen in the promotional ads for the show. "People should know we take his journey very serious and we would not take up an entire spot on the show as a gag or a bit," Harrison said. "And you should know while it seems sensational in the ad, the purpose behind it is romantic and very sweet ... and Ben does hook up with her."

Flajnik quipped, "Yeah, I'm into older women. I'm into much older women."

"The Bachelor" season 16 premieres on January 2 at 8 p.m. on ABC. Check out scenes from the upcoming season in the video below.

ABC is the parent company of OnTheRedCarpet.com.

Reporting by Cari Skillman of KABC Television, which produces the entertainment show "On The Red Carpet" (check for local TV listings).

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