STATEWIDE

BOARD OF ELECTIONS APPROVES NEW VOTING MACHINES

The state Board of Elections yesterday approved draft regulations for new machines that could signal the demise of the lever-action model, a staple of voting in New York for more than a century. A 45-day public comment period will now commence, after which the board can finalize or alter the regulations in time for voting in 2006.The rules allow for electronic voting methods, such as touch-screen or optical scanning, but require that New Yorkers be able to see a paper record of their vote before they leave the booth, a spokesman for the Board of Elections said. The regulations also stipulate that the ballot appears on one page and that it be accessible to the disabled.

– Special to the Sun

SENATOR CLINTON TO VISIT ISRAEL

Senator Clinton will travel to Israel next week and meet with Prime Minister Sharon to discuss security issues, her office said yesterday. The trip is her second to the country since becoming a senator. Mrs. Clinton, a Democrat, is up for re-election for a second term in 2006, and such a show of support for Israel may help her with Jewish voters. Mrs. Clinton, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, is traveling as part of the U.S. delegation to a conference beginning November 11 to discuss relations between the two countries. She also plans to tour a portion of the security fence near Jerusalem.

– Associated Press

CITYWIDE

FORMER MAYORAL CANDIDATE ARRESTED FOR HARASSMENT

A Democratic candidate in September’s mayoral primary election, Christopher Brodeur, 38, was arrested and charged with harassing a newspaper reporter yesterday, police said. At 11:15 a.m., police from the Manhattan district attorney’s office arrested Mr. Brodeur at his home at 77 Allen St., and charged him with two counts of aggravated harassment and one count of resisting arrest. The arrest stemmed from two telephone calls Mr. Brodeur reportedly made to a New York Observer reporter, Ben Smith. In one call, Mr. Brodeur allegedly said, “I have no problem punching you in the face,” “I could shoot you in the f-g face,” and “I could tomorrow wait outside your work and smash your skull in with a baseball bat.” Mr. Brodeur’s campaign manager, Jessica Delfino, said Mr. Brodeur cannot help but say what is on his mind no matter what the consequences may be. Police said they are investigating allegations that he made similar threats to another reporter. Mr. Brodeur was arrested earlier this year for allegedly making threatening calls to Mayor Bloomberg’s press office.

– Staff Reporter of the Sun

THE RAIN IS GONE – AT LEAST TEMPORARILY

New Yorkers basking in the warm sunshine after a rainy October should be able to do so for another few days, according to the National Weather Service. The city endured a record 16.73 inches of rain last month, but this week has been sunny with temperatures reaching into the high 60s, a full 10 degrees above normal. The forecast calls for sunny skies and continued warm temperatures through Saturday.

– Special to the Sun

POLICE BLOTTER

AUTO PARTS DEALER CHARGED WITH COUNTERFEITING

A Queens auto parts dealer was charged with counterfeiting after authorities seized truckloads of fake Ford Motor Company merchandise at his Long Island City dealership. The counterfeit car parts had an estimated wholesale value of more than $1 million and could sell for millions more as retail, the Queens district attorney, Richard Brown, said. Mordekhay Levy, 40, who was already under indictment for trademark counterfeiting, faces up to 15 years in prison with the new charge. His alleged parts manager, Ronen Perez, 34, was also arrested, Mr. Brown said. The two allegedly operated Black and Yellow Major Auto Parts Incorporated.

– Special to the Sun