New York’s attorney general sued the National Rifle Association on Thursday, seeking to put the powerful gun advocacy organization out of business over allegations that high-ranking executives diverted millions of dollars for lavish personal trips, no-show contracts for associates and other questionable expenditures. Attorney General Letitia James’ lawsuit, filed in state court in Manhattan after an 18-month investigation, highlighted misspending and self-dealing allegations that have roiled the NRA and its longtime leader, Wayne LaPierre, in recent years — from hair and makeup for his wife to a $17 million post-employment contract for himself.

A woman who has already been arrested once for throwing paint on the Black Lives Matter mural in front of Trump Tower was arrested again for doing exactly the same thing. Police say 39-year-old Juliet Germanotta acted alone this time in vandalizing the mural on Fifth Avenue. She was caught on camera Wednesday on her knees, spreading blue paint all over the yellow mural with her hands. The mural supporting the movement for racial justice has been vandalized at least once a week since it was painted on July 9. Germanotta and two other women were arrested the last time the mural was painted over on July 17. The vandalism appeared to be a coordinated effort involving about 10 people. There were plans going around on social media with a group of people discussing pulling off the stunt.

The sound of generators and chainsaws punctuated the sunrise in New Jersey, where more than 500,000 homes and businesses were without electricity Thursday morning. At the height of the outages, 1 million were without power. Power is expected to be restored to 80% of New Jersey by Friday night. The National Weather Service confirmed that two tornadoes touched down Tuesday – in Cape May County and in Ship Bottom on Long Beach island in Ocean County. Utilities like PSE&G put out the call for help ahead of the storm. A spokeswoman for the company said 1,700 workers came to help from 15 different states, as well as 200 tree cutters who were very busy Wednesday.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency in New York City and surrounding areas on Wednesday and ordered a probe of utility companies a day after Tropical Storm Isaias downed trees, halted commuter trains and knocked out power to more than 700,000 people. With many still in the dark after Tuesday’s storm, Cuomo blasted utility companies as having shown “reckless disregard” for storm planning and directed a state regulator to investigate their preparation and response. City utility Con Edison said some parts of Staten Island wouldn’t see power restored until Sunday night. More than 83,000 homes and businesses in New York City were still without power as of 7 p.m.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that New York State Police and local law enforcement will be increasing patrols over the next week to crack down on speeding across the state. Unsafe speed was a contributing factor in 34 percent of all fatal crashes from January to May this year, compared to 30 percent of fatal crashes during the same period in 2019. Starting Thursday, the state will increase patrols on its roads and run public service announcements on TV as part of a week-long “enforcement campaign” aimed at cracking down on speeding, he said. “Speed limits are not a suggestion, they are the law and they save lives,” said Governor Cuomo.

New York’s teachers’ unions said a single COVID-19 case in a school should trigger its immediate closure for 14 days as they listed demands Wednesday for reopening this fall. New York State United Teachers and the United Federation of Teachers called for the state policy just as New York is poised to announce initial decisions on reopening plans submitted by roughly 700 school districts. The unions said in a release that districts moving ahead with re-openings “must err on the side of caution at all times.” Districts submitted reopening proposals last week amid worries that resumption of in-person classes could put students, teachers and their families at risk. Gov.

Eli Rozenberg, who has proffered an offer to purchase El Al on behalf of his father, New York businessman and Hatzolah Paramedic Kenny Rozenberg, received a permit to buy a controlling stake in the beleaguered company from Israel’s Government Companies Authority, Globes reported on Tuesday. The permit comes as news reports earlier this week said that El Al has refused to meet with Rozenberg’s representatives before he answers several questions in writing. Rozenberg has offered $75 million for a 44.9% controlling share in El Al. A previous Globes report said that El Al may be holding off on considering Rozenberg’s offer due to reports that other parties may be presenting offers.

New York City Council member Ritchie Torres has defeated 11 other candidates to win a Democratic primary for Congress in the Bronx in a race that was certified six weeks after voting ended on June 23. If he wins in the general election in November, Torres, who is Black and Latino, is likely to join Mondaire Jones, a lawyer who won the Democratic primary for a congressional seat in the suburbs north of New York City, as the first openly gay Black or Latino men in Congress. Torres 32, defeated his closest rival for the nomination by more than 8,000 votes, but vote tabulation in the race took weeks because of a record number of people who voted by mail because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Two Bochrim were airlifted after a hiking accident in Colorado on Wednesday. Sources tell YWN that the two Bochrim were part of a small learning camp that went on an outing to “Saint Mary’s Glacier”, which is a semi-permanent snowfield located in Arapaho National Forest in Colorado. Two of the boys reportedly slipped on snow, causing serious injuries. A medevac was called, and the boys were airlifted to a trauma center. One reportedly suffered a femur fracture, and a second boy suffered a broken pelvis. They are reportedly in stable condition. There are currently hundreds of Yeshiva Bochrim in Colorado on Bain Hazmanim trips. One flight from Newark Airport this past Sunday morning had nearly 100 Bochrim on it.

The United States Secret Service “Advance Team” was in Deal NJ on Wednesday, making preparations for this Sundays fundraiser for President Trump. As YWN reportedly exclusively this past Sunday, the high-end event will be held at the home of the late Mr Stanley Chera Z”L, a close friend of Trump, and one of the most prominent members of the Sephardic Syrian communities in Brooklyn and Deal NJ. Mr. Chera passed away in April from COVID-19. The President would frequently mention Mr Chera in his speeches. Sources tell YWN that the Secret Service was seen all over the place today, as Agents prepare for the event. Multiple choppers were taking off and landing all morning, as pilots get used to the area.