The nation in brief

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“The truce is over.”

Republican Jeff Miller of Florida,

chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, warning the Department of Veterans Affairs to expect

much more aggressive oversight as lawmakers review its spending Article, 3ABus slams into house, kills boy, 6

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. - A transit bus hit a pedestrian and then slammed into a suburban New York City house on Tuesday, killing a 6-year-old boy who was inside the home.

Police said the Nassau Inter County Express bus plowed into the multifamily home in Hempstead on Long Island about 9:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Six-year-old David Granados was pronounced dead at a hospital, and police say his 7-year-old brother suffered minor injuries. The boys had been in the home’s front bedroom.

Police said eight of 11 bus passengers suffered minor injuries. The unidentified pedestrian suffered several broken bones.

Police said a preliminary investigation indicates no apparent criminality. Inspector Kenneth Lack, a department spokesman, said it appears the pedestrian disregarded several attempts by the bus driver to alert him, including honking his horn before the accident.

N.J. seeks $37 billion in storm aid

TRENTON, N.J. - Gov. Chris Christie has asked the federal government for nearly $37 billion in aid to help New Jersey recover and rebuild after Hurricane Sandy.

The Republican governor announced the revised total Wednesday to include $7.4 billion to cover mitigation, protection and prevention of future disasters. A preliminary total of $29.4 billion announced last week covers repairs and response. The total amount Christie requested is greater than his state’s entire yearly budget.

“My commitment to the people of New Jersey is to make steady progress in our recovery, and to know that three or six or 12 months from now I’ll demand the same level of effort, attention and results from government as I have in the past 30 days,” Christie said at a Statehouse news conference.

Earlier this week, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo asked for $42 billion in federal aid - more than $32 billion for repairs and restoration and more than $9 billion to head off future disasters, including steps to protect the power grid and cell-phone network.

Nanny pleads innocent in kids’ deaths

NEW YORK - A nanny accused in the stabbing deaths of two children in her care at their upscale home near Central Park pleaded innocent Wednesday inside a hospital room where she’s being treated for self-inflicted stab wounds.

Yoselyn Ortega, 50, lying handcuffed in her hospital bed in silence, entered the plea through her defense attorney.

“I ask you to enter a not guilty plea on behalf of my client,” attorney Valerie Van Leer-Greenberg said.

Van Leer-Greenberg also told Judge Lewis Bart Stone that her client needed constant medical care for “medical injuries and mental trauma.”

The judge, like two prosecutors and everyone else crowded into the room, wore a hospital gown and a blue hair net. He ordered Ortega held without bail while she undergoes a psychiatric exam and also placed her on suicide watch.

Authorities allege that on the evening of Oct. 25, while the children’s mother was out with a third child, Ortega repeatedly stabbed 6-year-old Lucia Krim and her 2-year-old brother, Leo Krim.

She then stabbed herself in the neck, authorities said.

White House ornaments feature Bo

WASHINGTON - “Bo-flakes” featuring the first dog and ornaments fashioned from zippers are among the new twists on traditional favorites at the White House this Christmas season.

First lady Michelle Obama unveiled this year’s decorations before an appreciative crowd of military families Wednesday, then spent some time doing holiday crafts with military children.

The theme for this year’s decorations is “Joy to All,” but first dog Bo seems to steal the show.

There are 40 “Bo-flake” ornaments throughout the White House that feature cutout images of the dog.

There’s a life-size replica of the dog, with a string of lights in his mouth, in the East Garden Room.

And there’s an outsize statue of the Portuguese water dog next to the 300-pound gingerbread house in the State Dining Room.

Mrs. Obama said that reflects Bo’s high standing at the White House.

“He’s almost as big as the house,” she declared. “He is such a huge personality.”

Front Section, Pages 4 on 11/29/2012

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