STATEWIDE

Taco Bells Closed Amid E. Coli Scare

An outbreak of E. coli bacteria has sickened more than a dozen people on Long Island, including several who ate at Taco Bell, prompting officials to ask that eight of the fast-food restaurants be closed. It was not immediately clear if the Long Island E. coli is related to an outbreak in New Jersey where several people also got sick after eating at Taco Bell. Four of the restaurants were closed in Suffolk County, and Nassau County officials asked that four restaurants be closed, health officials said. Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi said the closures were being sought “out of an abundance of caution.”

— Associated Press

Pataki To Host Former Republican Governors

Governor Pataki, stepping down at the end of the year and eyeing a possible 2008 run for the White House, plans to host a gathering of former Republican governors this weekend to talk about the direction of the party, a top aide said yesterday. Pataki spokesman David Catalfamo said the gathering of at least nine former governors, to be held in New York City, could be helpful given Republican losses last month, when Democrats took control of both houses of Congress and won 20 of 36 governors’ races at stake. The gubernatorial victories left Democrats in control of the majority of statehouses for the first time since 1994.

— Associated Press

Spitzer To Sue or Settle With Hevesi

The state attorney general’s office is nearing a possible settlement with the state comptroller, Alan Hevesi, over his alleged misuse of taxpayer funds. Aides to the outgoing attorney general Eliot Spitzer met with lawyers for Mr. Hevesi yesterday to negotiate reimbursement that would settle Mr. Hevesi’s alleged debt to the state. Accused of violating state ethics laws, Mr. Hevesi has so far repaid the government $172,000 for using a state employee to chauffeur his ailing wife. Mr. Hevesi faces a criminal inquiry by the Albany district attorney’s office and a separate investigation authorized by Governor Pataki, who is deciding whether to call on the state Senate to remove him from office. Attorney general officials said they would soon announce a settlement or a lawsuit. A source close to Mr. Hevesi said a resignation is not being discussed.

— Staff Reporter of the Sun

Developer Drops Plan for Staten Island Racetrack

The 80,000-seat NASCAR racetrack project planned for Staten Island is being abandoned by its developer, the International Speedway Corporation. The company said it plans to explore other uses for the 676-acre parcel of land, the city’s largest undeveloped site. The president of the International Speedway Corporation, Lesa France Kennedy, said in a statement the project was unable to generate enough local political support, and that arduous land use requirements would make the project less profitable. She said the company would continue to look in the New York City area for possible racetrack sites.

— Staff Reporter of the Sun

IN THE COURTS

Judge Awards $2.2M in Legal Fees in Astor Case

The judge who heard the fight over the estate and care of philanthropist Brooke Astor awarded lawyers in the case more than $2.2 million yesterday rather than what he called the “staggering” $3.04 million they sought. State Supreme Court Justice John Stackhouse noted that the fee and expense requests were meant to pay 56 lawyers, 65 legal assistants, six accounts, five bankers, six doctors, a law school professor and two public relations firms. The fees and expenses will be paid from the $120 million estate of Ms. Astor, who has for decades been one of the city’s top socialites.

— Associated Press

Jackie Mason Drops Jews for Jesus Lawsuit

Comedian Jackie Mason appeared in federal court yesterday, accepting an apology from the missionary group Jews for Jesus in return for dropping a lawsuit in which he claimed the group damaged him by using his name and likeness in a pamphlet. Jews for Jesus, founded in the 1970s, practices Judaism but regards Jesus as the Messiah. Mr. Mason’s $2 million lawsuit sought the immediate destruction of Jews for Jesus pamphlets featuring an image of him next to the words “Jackie Mason … A Jew for Jesus!?” with information inside that outlines the similarities between Jews and Christians.

— Associated Press

POLICE BLOTTER

Man Stabbed, Killed During Brawl

During a fight in East Harlem, a man armed with a knife killed his opponent who was wielding a hammer. The alleged killer, Bronx resident Eric Rambert, 54, was arrested, said police. The altercation occurred around 1p.m. at the East River Housing Development on East 105th Street. The victim, who was not immediately identified, was stabbed once in the right side of his body. He was pronounced dead at Metropolitan Hospital. Police did not disclose a reason for the dispute.

— Special to the Sun

Phony Doctor Sentenced In Patient’s Death

A fake doctor and cocaine addict was sentenced yesterday to 20 years in prison in connection with the death of a woman during a medical procedure he was performing on her. Dean Faiello pleaded guilty last month to practicing medicine without a license and first-degree assault. His victim, 35-year-old Maria Cruz, went to Faiello’s West 16th Street apartment on April 13, 2003, for laser treatment of a fungus on her tongue. Faiello admitted during his guilty plea in October that he began by injecting Cruz with an anesthetic and she began having seizures. Cruz’s body was found under Faiello’s former home in Newark.

— Associated Press