Regional Briefs – March 28, 2017

Fire and Ambulance Volunteers Can Get Tax Break

ALBANY – New York officials are reminding volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers — including Hatzolah — that they could be eligible for an income tax credit of $200, or $400 for couples filing jointly, The Associated Press reported. About 79,600 volunteers received $15.9 million in 2014.

Lightning Causes Damage, No Injury, at Governor’s Mansion

PRINCETON, N.J. – A lightning strike near the governor’s Drumthwacket mansion Tuesday morning led to a power surge that knocked out a computer and telephones, the Asbury Park Press reported. Gov. Chris Christie uses the mansion for meetings and events.

Firefighters Put Out Smoky Manhattan Blaze

NEW YORK – Firefighters put out a smoky rooftop blaze that broke out at noontime Tuesday and forced an hour-long evacuation of 300 people from the Chelsea Market building, The Associated Press reported. Large plumes of smoke billowed through the neighborhood.

NY Flies Flags at Half-Staff For Vet Who Died in Jordan

DANSVILLE, N.Y. – Flags outside government buildings will be flown at half-staff Wednesday to honor Sgt. Alexandria Mae Morrow, 25, an airman from Dansville, NY, who died last week in Jordan while loading a bomb onto a plane, WHEC reported. Morrow was a married mother of two children ages 2 and 4.

NY Launches Legal Aid Program for Immigrants

ALBANY – New York is launching a program to ensure immigrants have access to legal help. The Liberty Defense Project, a public-private partnership, is the first of its kind in the nation, according to Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The state is home to 4.4 million immigrants.

This article appeared in print on page 50 of the March 29th, 2017 edition of Hamodia.