Regional Briefs – March 27, 2015

Teaneck Resident Just Became a Multimillionaire

TRENTON – Wednesday’s winning $40 million Powerball ticket was sold at Rocklins Stationers in Teaneck, N.J., The Associated Press reported. The unidentified winner will receive $26.9 million before taxes if they opt for a lump-sum payment.

N.J. Rolling Back Prescription Copays for Retirees

TRENTON – New Jersey officials are rolling back prescription copays for retired public retirees in response to a court ruling that the Christie administration hiked the rates illegally in 2013, NJ.com reported. Retirees overpaid $13.1 million, which will be repaid by cutting copays 80 to 100 percent through December.

House Passes Bill to Support Families of Slain NYPD Cops

NEW YORK – Congress on Thursday extended a tax deduction for donations to the families of two NYPD officers killed by an anti-police protester in December, The Associated Press reported. The bill helping the families of Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos now heads to the Senate.

Female Officer Promoted to Lieutenant After Lawsuit

SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. – The Southampton police department has its first female lieutenant Tuesday after promoting an officer who sued over an alleged culture of gender discrimination, Newsday reported. Susan Ralph, a 13-year police veteran, claimed that of the agency’s 100 officers only eight are women.

Man Yelled at By Christie Announces Bid for Office

TRENTON – The man whom Gov. Chris Christie famously told to “sit down and shut up” will be running instead — for state Assembly, the Star-Ledger reported. James Keady, who confronted the governor with a sign that said “Stay in NJ & finish the job,” will run as a Democrat in heavily Republican Ocean County.

Rockland Passes Bill Urging Voluntary Bag Ban

NEW CITY, N.Y. – Rockland County’s legislature passed a resolution to encourage retailers and consumers to voluntarily eliminate single use plastic bags. The “Say No to the Bag” campaign wants retailers to ask at checkout, “Did you bring your own bag?” and if the answer is no, to ask “Will you need a bag today?”

This article appeared in print on page 5 of the March 27th, 2015 edition of Hamodia.