Regional Briefs – October 21, 2015

On Eve of Rare Meeting, de Blasio Praises Bloomberg

NEW YORK – Mayor Bill de Blasio said Tuesday that his administration will continue “to build upon” the environmental record of his predecessor, whom he has consistently maligned since taking office, The Associated Press reported. But he and Michael Bloomberg will make a rare public appearance together Wednesday in the Bronx.

N.Y. Court: Interstate Calls Taxable

ALBANY – New York’s highest court on Tuesday rejected Sprint Nextel Corp.’s claim that interstate cell phone services sold as part of fixed monthly charges are exempt from the state’s 4 percent sales taxes, The Associated Press reported. The Court of Appeals says New York’s law is unambiguous and not pre-empted by federal law.

At 100, Woman Still Working 11 Hour-Days

BUFFALO – Felimina Rotundo works 11 hours day, six days a week at a Buffalo laundromat and says she has no plans to quit even though she turned 100 two months ago, WGRZ reported. She got her first job at 15 during the Great Depression and has been working ever since. She says too many people retire too soon. Her advice to her peers: “Get out and do some work.”

NY Has New Terms in $550M Tobacco Deal

ALBANY – New York’s attorney general says $550 million will be released from an escrow account, ending a decade-long dispute with tobacco companies under the 1998 agreement requiring they compensate states for public health costs from smoking, The Associated Press reported. The companies had argued the state failed to enforce it with other manufacturers.

This article appeared in print on page 26 of the October 21st, 2015 edition of Hamodia.