Regional Briefs – March 1, 2017

Last of NY Air Guard Unit in South Pole Returns Home

SCOTIA, N.Y. – The last 19 members of a New York Air National Guard unit supporting scientific research in Antarctica returned Wednesday to their upstate base, The Associated Press reported. This was the unit’s 29th time with Operation Deep Freeze, which supports the McMurdo Station.

Cuomo Calls Special Elections For TWO Legislative Seats

ALBANY – Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday called a May 23 special election to fill two empty seats, The Associated Press reported. Democrat Sen. Bill Perkins of Harlem was elected to the City Council and Republican Assemblyman Joseph Saladino of Long Island became town supervisor of Oyster Bay.

Cuomo Enters Fight to Outlaw Child Marriage

ALBANY – Gov. Andrew Cuomo is lending muscle to legislation outlawing marriage to anyone under 17 — even with parental or a judge’s permission, The Associated Press reported. The plan would raise the minimum age to wed from 14 to 17. Children under 18 would require a judge’s approval.

Ex-Mayor Begins Serving State Prison Sentence

TRENTON – Just released from a six-year sentence in federal prison, former Perth Amboy Mayor Joe Vas is back in New Jersey to begin serving a state prison sentence for using federal housing money to benefit his own home, The Associated Press reported. The 62-year-old is scheduled to be released in June.

Ohio Man Pleads Guilty in Bomb Plot on NY Prison Guard

SYRACUSE – An Ohio man pleaded guilty Wednesday to mailing a bomb which exploded in the hands of a New York jail guard, injuring him, The Associated Press reported. The wife and sister-in-law of Keith Seppi, 58, were also charged.

Guadagno Reaches Threshold To Get Public Campaign Funds

TRENTON – Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno said Wednesday she reached the $430,000 threshold to qualify for public matching funds as she seeks the GOP gubernatorial nomination, The Associated Press reported. She’ll get $2 for every $1 she raises, with a $4 million cap.

This article appeared in print on page 5 of the March 2nd, 2017 edition of Hamodia.