VIDEO: More than 2,000 people applied to get New York's new Disability Identification Cards within the first three days they were made available. The card is offered to people with intellectual or developmental disabilities, including autism, and it's completely voluntary. It's designed to make first responders aware of a person's communication and behavioral challenges in situations where both could be key to public safety.
- PUB DATE: 3/5/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

City officials are refuting the claims made by Nora Powell and her attorney that the city's plans to fund ambulance service would breach the terms of the interlocal fire protection agreement. Powell, a member of Muncie City Council, said she couldn't support the use of the Center Township Fire Protection Fund to pay for city based ambulances after she used her own money to seek an independent legal opinion on the issue.
- PUB DATE: 3/5/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Muncie Star-Press

A San Juan Capistrano woman, who made appeals on the "Dr. Phil" show and social media sites that netted around $6,000 in cash and goods that she claimed would go to crews battling the massive Holy Fire, pleaded guilty Friday to nearly three dozen criminal charges stemming from the donation scam. Ashley Kay Bemis was sentenced to 177 days in jail, or about credit for time served since her arrest Dec.
- PUB DATE: 3/5/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: NBC Los Angeles

A Columbus Division of Fire official is under investigation for how he tallied work time on an internal system the division uses to track staff members. Deputy Chief Jack Reall, former president of the union that represents firefighters, already has interviewed twice with officials in the city’s Department of Public Safety, which opened the investigation Feb.
- PUB DATE: 3/5/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Columbus Dispatch

The city of Easton has been given the green-light to hire part-time firefighters. It's an issue that's caused some friction in the past. The part-time hires come as part of a new contract agreement. The firefighters' union had previously opposed the city hiring part-timers because of training concerns.
- PUB DATE: 3/5/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WFMZ-TV Channel 69