Morning Edition on WAMC

Elected officials called out to the New York State Transportation Department to expedite the process of funding a partial rebuild of the Forge Hill Bridge in the Town of New Windsor on Thursday, which has been closed from storm damage since Tropical Storm Irene hit almost exactly one year ago.

The designing and rebuilding of the bridge, which includes adding abutments to the road surface, is expected to take about two years and cost roughly $2 million, which will be 80 percent funded by the Federal Highway Administration, and 20 percent by Orange County.

While Republican incumbent for New York's 19th Congressional District Nan Hayworth celebrated the presidential nomination of former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney on Thursday evening with a fundraiser in Newburgh, protesters against the policies and practices of the GOP formed outside bearing signs and slogans.

The Mets couldn’t close a three-game sweep of the Phillies, slipping 3-2 last night. The Mets will spend the weekend in Miami.

In the AL, Albert Pujols hit an early two-run double and the Los Angeles Angels swept their season series with Boston for the first time with a 5-2 victory over the Red Sox

The Orioles took the White Sox 5-3 yesterday. Baltimore sits just 3 games behind the Yankees in the AL East, Yanks were off yesterday the two will start a three-game series in New York tonight.

U.S. Sen. Scott Brown is defending his decision to attend the final day of the Republican National Convention, saying it's important to show that moderate Republicans have a place in the party.

Brown also said Thursday is a special day for Massachusetts since the state's former governor, Mitt Romney, is accepting the GOP nomination for president.

Brown says he respects Romney even though he doesn't agree with him on every issue. Brown says he'll continue to be an independent voice.

Brown's Democratic challenger, Elizabeth Warren, says Brown can't have it both ways.

WNYT's Paul Caiano delivers his morning forecast. 

State police in a helicopter have spotted and seized what they say will end up being more than 6,000 marijuana plants growing in upstate New York's Washington County.

Using a helicopter earlier in the week, troopers spotted the pot and seized about 2,200 plants in the town of Kingsbury, 50 miles north of Albany. They went back on Thursday to get the rest and expect the total take will be more than 6,000 plants.

Typically, they say they spot a couple hundred plants at a time during aerial surveillance.