Legislative Hearings to Focus on Sandy Recovery

The New Jersey Legislature has announced plans to hold a series of hearings on rebuilding the areas hardest hit by Superstorm Sandy.

The hearings are scheduled to begin after Thanksgiving, with the first on Nov. 26 in Toms River.

The Senate Budget Committee says it wants to hear from residents and community leaders so it can best address the needs of constituents and first-responders.

The hearings begin with bipartisan cooperation since the announcement was made jointly by the Democratic and Republican leaders of the Senate and its budget committee.

The lawmakers say the hearings will be broad in scope. They want to learn more about rebuilding the barrier islands, how to improve power restoration times and other aspects of a storm's aftermath.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)