Former Brookhaven town board member Edward Hennessey became a last-minute replacement candidate against Assemb. Dean Murray (R-East Patchogue) -- and that means he's had to take a leave as $7,000-a-year aide to State Senate Democrats. Hennessey stepped out of the part-time post last week after learning the Senate's Democratic minority has a policy against aides running while on the payroll. "I had already made the decision [to run]; this is just a matter of making another adjustment," Hennessey said. Meanwhile, Murray is suing to knock Hennessey off the ballot. The case is to be heard in State Supreme Court next Monday.-- Rick Brand

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Former Brookhaven town board member Edward Hennessey became a last-minute replacement candidate against Assemb. Dean Murray (R-East Patchogue) -- and that means he's had to take a leave as $7,000-a-year aide to State Senate Democrats. Hennessey stepped out of the part-time post last week after learning the Senate's Democratic minority has a policy against aides running while on the payroll. "I had already made the decision [to run]; this is just a matter of making another adjustment," Hennessey said. Meanwhile, Murray is suing to knock Hennessey off the ballot. The case is to be heard in State Supreme Court next Monday.-- Rick Brand

A trip to the emergency room in a Long Island hospital now averages nearly 4 hours, data shows. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports. Credit: Newsday Staff

'I'm going to try to avoid it' A trip to the emergency room in a Long Island hospital now averages nearly 4 hours, data shows. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports.