ALBANY

SENATE PROPOSES MUNICIPAL, SCHOOL TAX BREAK

The Senate’s Republican majority yesterday proposed a $2.4 billion cut in local government and school taxes through rebate checks and state subsidies. The Democrat-led Assembly, which would have to approve the 3-year plan, will review it but is skeptical of the approach of many provisions, Sisa Moyo, a spokeswoman for the Assembly speaker, Sheldon Silver, said. Governor Pataki will review the proposal, a spokesman for the governor, Scott Reif, said. The Senate proposal would involve tax rebates, tax breaks adjusted for rising property assessments, and measures aimed at cutting waste in local governments and school districts.

– Associated Press

STATEWIDE

STATE TO HIRE 100 NEW TROOPERS TO TACKLE ILLEGAL GUN SALES

The state will hire 100 state troopers as part of a new effort to crack down on illegal gun trafficking, Governor Pataki said yesterday. The program comes after lawmakers at a special Wednesday session approved tougher penalties for gun-trafficking offenses. Mr. Pataki called for the session last week after two New York City police officers, Dillon Stewart and Daniel Enchautegui, died in separate shootings since Thanksgiving. Under the $4.5 million project, state police investigators and federal agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, will work with local police departments to target illicit gun sales. The officers will start over the next two weeks, the Republican governor said.

– Associated Press

PET FOOD RECALLED AFTER DEADLY FUNGUS FOUND

A pet food company has advised retailers to stop selling some of its dog and cat food that may be contaminated with toxic fungus after several dogs got sick and some died. The fungus produces poisonous aflatoxin. Symptoms of aflatoxin poisoning include lethargy, loss of appetite, yellowish eyes and gums, and severe or bloody diarrhea. The 19 recalled varieties of dog and cat food were made by Diamond Pet Foods and sold in New York and 22 other states and under the brand names Diamond, Country Value, and Professional.

– Associated Press

CITYWIDE

RESTAURANT SUES TWU, MTA, CITY OVER LOST EARNINGS

Owners of a theater district restaurant sued the Transport Workers Union, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and the city yesterday in what was apparently the first lawsuit over financial losses due to the transit strike. Owners of the Russian Samovar, partly owned by dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov until earlier this year, said the walkout and restrictions on vehicles entering Manhattan had caused the West 52nd Street restaurant to suffer a loss of customers and revenue. The lawsuit, filed in Manhattan state Supreme Court, blames all sides of the labor dispute for the strike, saying the union struck illegally because the state’s Taylor law bars walkouts by public employees, and because the same law forbids bargaining over public employees’ retirement benefits. The lawsuit says that when the parties to the negotiations reach a contract settlement, the businesses that lost money “have no place to go except to this court for relief from the outrageous, purposeful, illegal, and intentionally harmful strike.” Vlada Von Shats, the restaurant’s manager and the daughter of its owners, said the strike caused the Russian Samovar to lose 60% to 80% of its daily revenue.

– Associated Press

POLICE BLOTTER

MAN ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY KILLING GIRLFRIEND’S TODDLER

A Bronx man was arrested yesterday for allegedly killing his girlfriend’s 22-month-old toddler, police said. Shamel Adams, 28, of Creston Avenue in University Heights was arrested and charged with the murder of Dee Jay Elijah, who died Wednesday night, according to police. Yesterday the Medical Examiner ruled the death a homicide, according to police. Police said the baby’s mother returned home Wednesday to find her son unconscious in the apartment she shared with Mr. Adams. According to police, she then brought the boy by livery cab to his biological father’s apartment on West 126 Street in Harlem. Emergency responders arrived there around 8:15 p.m., and brought the child to St. Luke’s Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 8:52 p.m., police said. Mr. Adams, police said, who has several prior drug convictions, was charged with murder in the second degree and manslaughter. The Administration of Children’s Services said the family of Dee Jay Elijah did not have prior involvement with their office.

– Special to the Sun