Regional Briefs – March 6, 2017

Cuomo: NY Will Use ‘Decoys’ To Target Underage Drinking

ALBANY – Warning: That minor trying to buy liquor may be a police decoy. A new program by Gov. Andrew Cuomo running through April uses minors working with police who attempt to buy alcohol.

Healthcare Jobs in New York Growing Fast

ALBANY – The number of healthcare jobs in New York increased by 24 percent between 2000 and 2014, per a report by the University at Albany, The Associated Press reported. Home health aides more than doubled while jobs in ambulatory care grew by 30 percent. Health accounts for 12 percent of total employment in the state.

NY Launches Program to Help Ex-Inmates Get Housing

ALBANY – A pilot initiative helps former inmates rejoin their families in New York public housing once they are “carefully screened,” The Associated Press reported. Many housing authorities reject them as safety risks, but Gov. Andrew Cuomo says stable housing “drastically” reduces recidivism.

Cop Rescues Driver, Then Realizes He’s a Neighbor

COMMACK, N.Y. – When Suffolk officer James Brucculeri made a hospital visit Friday to check up on a driver he’d rescued from a highway crash, the two realized their paths had crossed before. Turns out he and Robert Malinowski live about two blocks from each other, The Associated Press reported.

New York State to Launch Electric Vehicle Rebate

ALBANY – New York state will launch a rebate of up to $2,000 on April 1 to make electric vehicles more price competitive with traditional cars, The Associated Press reported. The rebate will be available for zero-emission and plug-in electric hybrid vehicles.

Small Fire at Trump Hotel Tower Extinguished

NEW YORK – A 47th floor apartment at the Trump International Hotel and Tower in Manhattan caught fire early Friday morning but the fire was extinguished almost immediately, The Associated Press reported. There were no injuries reported.

This article appeared in print on page 5 of the March 7th, 2017 edition of Hamodia.