In brief: Jet lands after three lose consciousness

CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. – A SkyWest airlines flight to Connecticut was diverted, descended steeply and made an emergency landing in New York on Wednesday after three passengers lost consciousness.

The flight, carrying 75 passengers, departed from O’Hare International Airport in Chicago and had been bound for Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, Connecticut. It landed at Buffalo Niagara International Airport in Buffalo at about 11:40 a.m.

A SkyWest spokeswoman initially reported that one passenger aboard Flight 5622, operating as United Express, lost consciousness and the pilots rapidly descended “out of an abundance of caution.”

But in a later statement, SkyWest spokeswoman Marissa Snow said new information from medical personnel confirmed that “a total of three passengers reported a loss of consciousness while on the flight.”

The Federal Aviation Administration said initial information indicated the Embraer E170 jet may have had a pressurization problem, but that turned out to be incorrect.

Beverly Hills OKs water limits, fines

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. – Beverly Hills residents and business owners could be fined up to $1,000 for violating new water restrictions passed by the city following an order from the governor to limit water use amid California’s drought.

The rules approved Tuesday by the City Council limit lawn watering to two days a week and prohibit the draining and refilling of swimming pools.

The council also banned the washing of cars outside homes and requires restaurants to only serve water upon request.

Beverly Hills plans an outreach program to educate customers about how they can cut back on their water consumption

New Orleans bars become smoke-free

NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans City Council members who led the push to ban smoking in bars and gambling venues hailed Wednesday’s start of the smoke-free ordinance as a historic step in making the city healthier.

At midnight Tuesday, smoking inside the city’s more than 500 bars and gambling venues – including the major downtown Harrah’s New Orleans casino – became off-limits and smokers across the city’s bars lit up their last cigarettes with much fanfare.

At the downtown casino, employees handed out lollipops to smoking gamblers at the stroke of midnight and removed ashtrays from throughout the facility.