New York Tax Deferrals Could Help With Child Care

Democrats in the state Senate say the state should allow families with young children to defer some of their state income taxes to help them cover the cost of child care.

The proposal announced Tuesday would allow families to keep up to $2,000 of their state taxes to pay for child care. The amount would be repaid over up to 10 years, interest free, once the child has entered school.

Other ideas from the Senate's Democratic minority include a law allowing workers to take paid time off to care for a new child or sick loved one, increased child-care subsidies and help for new mothers dealing with postpartum depression.

Associated Press Broadway 'King and I' Star's Return Is Delayed

A publicist for Ken Watanabe says the Tony Award- and Oscar-nominated actor has been forced to delay his return to Broadway's "The King and I" while he battles stomach cancer.

The 56-year-old Japanese actor, who made his American stage debut last year opposite Kelli O'Hara in the revival of "The King and I," was due to return to the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical from March 1-April 17.

Mr. Watanabe's publicist said Tuesday the actor has undergone endoscopic surgery and is recuperating at a hospital in Japan.

Associated Press New Jersey A New Plan to Raise Minimum Wage

The state's minimum wage would rise to $15 over eight years and employers who pay above the rate could qualify for a tax credit under a proposal unveiled Tuesday by Senate President Steve Sweeney.

The current state minimum wage is $8.38 an hour.

Democratic Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto unveiled a proposal last week to increase the wage to $15 immediately. Gov. Chris Christie's office, responding to that proposal, said raising the minimum wage would hurt the economy.

Associated Press Connecticut Exonerated Man Awarded $6 Million

A man who served more than 20 years in prison for a murder he didn't commit has been awarded $6 million by the state.

Miguel Roman was released from prison in 2008 after DNA tests pointed to another man in the 1988 slaying of a 17-year-old girl in Hartford.

Mr. Roman said in a filing with the claims commissioner last September that in prison he lived in constant fear that he might be assaulted.

Associated Press

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

February 09, 2016 20:04 ET (01:04 GMT)