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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

NY Moves to Prevent Future Shopping Tragedies

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Wednesday, December 10, 2008   

New York, NY — The State of New York is taking action in the wake of the trampling death of a Wal-Mart employee on Black Friday. Crowd control experts who handle tens of thousands of concert goers and Islanders hockey fans will be among those testifying at a hearing today. The goal is to help Nassau County lawmakers make major shopping days safer in the future.

State Leg. Joseph Scannell (D-Baldwin), who chairs the Nassau County Legislature's Public Safety Committee, is considering a law that would require set distances between shoppers and the store entrance when large crowds are expected.

"In this instance, 2,000 people were literally lined up against a glass wall and a glass door. We want to have set back barriers where there's a five or a ten-foot requirement — so that hopefully this tragedy never happens again."

Ron Caputo, representative for the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, District Council 9, says it's good to see Long Island leading the way. He believes similar rules are needed across the state to force big retailers to be as concerned about safety as they are the bottom line.

"The first cutback on corporations is usually safety, but this is a first step toward raising the bar to protect workers and the public."

Wal-Mart officials say they did have barriers set up on Black Friday at the store where the death occurred. The hearing will include input from the big box stores as well as several crowd safety experts.




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