Diane Valden is reporting in The Columbia Paper a bill approved by the state legislature would provide cancer coverage to volunteer firefighters statewide, including the members of volunteer fire companies and departments in Columbia and Greene counties. “This bill should have been passed by the Legislature a long time ago,” Columbia County Volunteer Firefighters Association President Mike Cesternino said. Cesternino said a similar law is already in effect for paid firefighters, but a bill for volunteers previously failed to make it through the legislative process several times. The measure would require a lump sum payment of $25,000 for any volunteer firefighter diagnosed with specific cancers; 36 months of disability benefits; and, a $50,000 death benefit. The bill now awaits Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's signature. Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.