A New York City health care worker suffered a “significant allergic reaction” to a COVID vaccine, the city Health Department said Wednesday. “With more than 30,000 COVID-19 vaccinations administered in New York City, we have received a single report of a serious adverse event in a health care worker. The health care worker, who had a significant allergic reaction, has been treated and is in stable condition,”, the NYC Health Department told YWN in a statement. “Vaccines do have side effects and allergic reactions – while uncommon – are known to occur.

A Delta flight out of New York City was halted after a Florida couple traveling with a Great Dane puppy fled the aircraft with the pet using an emergency slide, an airline spokesman and authorities said Tuesday. The incident involving Antonio Murdock and Brianna Greco occurred on Monday as the jet was leaving for a flight from LaGuardia Airport to Atlanta, said the spokesperson, Morgan Durrant. Witnesses reported seeing a panicky Murdock force open the front cabin door and jump out using the emergency chute leading to the runway. He was quickly followed by Greco with the puppy in tow. Murdock, 31, and Greco, 27, were taken into custody on charges including criminal mischief and trespassing, among others.

New York expects to have received 930,000 coronavirus vaccine doses by the end of next week, a supply that should be used in an inoculation push at nursing homes, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said on Tuesday. Cuomo told reporters he’s asking health care providers to work through the holidays in hopes of vaccinating all nursing home residents and staffers. He said about 50,000 people have received doses so far. “I understand it’s been a long year and everybody needs time off,” Cuomo said. “But we are in a foot race.” He added, “A vaccine is the best gift you could give a nursing home resident.” Nationally and in New York, deaths are on the rise: COVID-19 has killed about 320,000 Americans and counting. Cuomo said New York recorded another 139 deaths Monday.

The top federal prosecutor in Manhattan will remain in her role until President-elect Joe Biden decides whether to replace her upon taking office. The federal court for the Southern District of New York on Tuesday extended the tenure of acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss, the second woman to helm one of the country’s most prestigious prosecutor’s offices. “It is the privilege of a lifetime to lead the women and men of this District as they pursue justice without fear or favor and write the latest chapter in this Office’s proud legacy,” Strauss said in a statement. Strauss, 73, took office in June upon the ouster of Geoffrey S. Berman, who as U.S. attorney led investigations into several allies of President Donald Trump.

A group of prominent Boro Park dayanim and Misaskim representatives had a face to face meeting with a senior El Al executive on Monday to discuss a serious problem that arose last week for kohanim and to ensure that concrete steps are being taken to prevent future recurrences. Misaskim arranged the meeting between El Al Vice President for North and Central America Yoram Elgrabli and the Karlsburger Rebbe, Rav Yechezkel Roth, the Debrecziner Rebbe, Rav Moshe Stern, Rav Herschel Ausch and Rav Moshe Roth in Boro Park in light of the December 16th discovery that aronos were no longer being placed in special boxes that prevented issues of tumah for kohanim on JFK flights.

Startling footage has emerged of a truck carrying hundreds of propane tanks bursting into flames following a crash early Tuesday morning in New York City. Investigators told the New York Post that the truck likely overturned on the Long Island Expressway around midnight after passing over black ice. The truck was carrying 294 propane tanks and its driver told police that he lost control while attempting to avoid another vehicle that had cut him off, according to WABC. It reportedly took hours for firefighters to extinguish the massive blaze caused by the wreck. The driver is said to have refused medical treatment at the scene and there were no other reports of injuries.

New Jersey’s top law enforcement official on Monday unveiled new guidelines governing the use of force for the state’s nearly 40,000 police officers, saying the changes would make the state “a national leader in policing reform” and help restore public trust. The new policy, which had been promised after widespread protests against police brutality, sets up a framework for police interactions with civilians, Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said in a statement.

A man accused of setting a train fire that killed a New York City subway driver in March told police he was on the train, had a disposable lighter and set paper on fire but not the “big fire,” according to court documents released after his arraignment Saturday on murder and arson charges. Nathaniel Avinger was also seen on subway station video walking away from the front of the train where the fire was located, and then exiting the station, according to court documents, which identified him as 49 years old. Police on Friday said he was 50. A message was left seeking comment with Avinger’s attorney, Marnie Zien from The Legal Aid Society. Detectives linked Avinger to the fatal blaze after he was arrested Wednesday, accused of groping a transit worker in Brooklyn, authorities said.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Monday that he has asked airlines flying into the state from the United Kingdom to make all passengers take a COVID-19 test before they get on the plane. The Democrat said at least one airline, British Airways, had already agreed to comply. He is awaiting an answer from others, including Delta and Virgin Atlantic, but was hopeful they would also agree. Cuomo has been calling on the U.S. government to temporarily halt all flights from the U.K. because of the emergence there of a new strain of the coronavirus. Numerous nations have already taken that step out of concern that the newly identified strain might be more easily transmitted.

Police say a motorist has died after he rear-ended a garbage truck on a New York City street. Kenneth Pamphile was driving a 2002 Nissan Altima at about 3:45 a.m. Sunday in Brooklyn when he slammed into the back of a stationary Department of Sanitation truck. Firefighters had to extract the 32-year-old Pamphile from his vehicle before he was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. A sanitation worker driving the truck and another standing nearby were not injured. The New York Police Department was investigating. Misaskim was not needed in this tragic incident. (AP)