PATERSON — Councilman Luis Velez’ entry to New Jersey’s pretrial intervention probationary program was approved by a judge on Jan. 30 in case in which he was accused of pulling a City Hall fire alarm.

EASTHAMPTON — Western Mass. fire officials gathered at the Easthampton Public Safety complex on Oct. 29 to draw attention to a wave of smoke alarms that are nearing the end of their 10-year useful ...