In brief: N.Y. lawmakers upset Sandy aid omitted

WASHINGTON – New York area-lawmakers in both parties erupted in anger late Tuesday night after learning the House Republican leadership decided to allow the current term of Congress to end without holding a vote on aide for victims of Superstorm Sandy.

Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., said he was told by the office of Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Virginia that plans were to abandon a vote. In remarks on the House floor, King called the decision “absolutely inexcusable, absolutely indefensible. We cannot just walk away from our responsibilities.”

The Senate approved a $60.4 billion measure Friday to help with recovery from the October storm that devastated parts of New York, New Jersey and nearby states. The House Appropriations Committee has drafted a $27 billion measure, and a vote had been expected before Congress’ term ends Thursday.

National park in California approved

WASHINGTON – Pinnacles National Monument in central California is set to become the 59th national park under a bill headed to President Barack Obama’s desk.

The Pinnacles National Park Act cleared the Senate during Sunday’s rare session. The House approved the bill in July.

The act is aimed at raising the national profile of the Soledad-area site, which President Theodore Roosevelt designated a monument in 1908. The 26,000-acre site has played a critical role in the recovery of the California condor.

Attorney withdraws $100 million lawsuit

HARTFORD, Conn. – A Connecticut attorney seeking to sue the state for $100 million on behalf of a 6-year-old survivor of the Newtown school massacre has withdrawn the claim.

Irving Pinsky withdrew the lawsuit but says he might refile, the Stamford Advocate reported.

Pinsky last week asked to sue the state, saying his client suffered “emotional and psychological trauma and injury” during the shooting rampage. He said state officials failed to prevent his client from foreseeable harm. The state attorney general said Monday there appears to be no basis to support the suit or the state’s liability.

Plane clips parked jet at Florida airport

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Authorities said no one was injured when two airplanes got into a sort of fender-bender at a Florida airport.

The Broward Sheriff’s Office said a taxiing Spirit Airlines Airbus A-320 clipped a US Airways Airbus A-320. The US Airways jet was parked Monday night away from the gate at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

A Spirit spokeswoman said a flight from Atlanta was taxiing to its gate when its left wing clipped the parked plane. All 162 passengers on board got off at the gate as normal, and the plane returned to service.

Woman killed after fall to subway tracks

NEW YORK – New York City police said a young woman stumbling around on a Manhattan subway platform not far from Times Square fell onto the tracks and was killed by a train.

The accident happened around 5 a.m. on New Year’s Day. Police said the victim was in her 20s.

Subway deaths are common in the city. Last year, according to a report in the Daily News, there was about a fatality a week.