New York Governor Andrew Cuomo delivered his annual "State of the State" address Wednesday, outlining his progressive vision for addressing intolerance and legalizing adult-use marijuana....
However, the third-term Democrat is navigating a looming $6-billion budget shortfall, largely due to Medicaid costs. Cuomo says the state redesigned that program several years ago so increased costs weren't piled onto local governments. He says they have to do it again to cut a $4-billion deficit in that program.
Cuomo also touted his biggest past achievements and trumpeted a long list of future policy initiatives, many of which he has previewed in a series of announcements over the past month. He says progressive government works, because it delivers "real results." Among his biggest initiatives are proposals to deal with climate change, including a $3-billion referendum to fund the "Restore Mother Nature Bond Act." Cuomo says the money would be used for natural restoration and resiliancy programs. He made the address at a convention center in downtown Albany.
A federal appeals court is considering whether to lift the final nationwide temporary injunction against a Trump administration policy that would deny green cards to immigrants over their use of public benefits....
The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan heard arguments Tuesday over an injunction that had been issued in October by a federal district court in New York that prevented the policy from going into effect while a lawsuit against it is proceeding. A regional injunction issued in California and another national injunction issued in Washington have already been lifted by other appeals courts.
Court documents show a state Republican lawmaker charged with drunken driving blamed his wife for a New Year's Eve crash.......
The documents released Tuesday include a witness statement that accuses Brian M. Kolb of blaming the crash on his wife and saying, "You know how women drive." A separate court filing by an Ontario County sheriff's deputy shows that the former top Republican in the New York State Assembly had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.16%, double the legal limit of .08% for driving.
Temperatures will be cold and blustery to start the day today in the Jamestown-area......
However, a gradual warm-up will be felt, starting today and through the weekend. National Weather Service Meteorologist Kirk Apfell in Buffalo says we'll start the day today at about 10-degrees but, get into the mid and upper 30s later today. Apfel says a strong, high pressure system will be moving in.
Apfell says temperatures will reach about 50 tomorrow and we'll push 60-degrees on Saturday. However, he adds we're going to see a lot of rain, with most of the area seeing at least an inch of rain during that time period, with the possibility of 4-inches in some places. On Wednesday, we had brief stints of wind-driven, lake effect snow, along with sunny and calm conditions at times. Conditions were especially harsh in the morning between Interstate 86 and the Mayville-area. The area generally received about 3 to 4 inches of new snow... while some places -- like Cherry Creek -- reported half-a-foot of the white stuff.
Local Congressman Tom Reed says he "appreciates" President Trump's decision to launch the attack in Iraq that killed a top Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander. The Corning Repubican says General Qassem Soleimani was a bad actor, and terrorist, who was a threat to Americans in the region....
Iran retaliated Tuesday night by firing ballistic missiles at two military bases in Iraq housing American troops, but President Donald Trump said there were no casualties. Trump added that Iran appears to be ``standing down.'' Reed says he's happy to see both sides backing away from hostilities. However, he say the lifting of sanctions depends on Iran to stop supporting terrorist groups across the region and, secondly, give up it's nuclear ambitions. Reed made his comments for his weekly telephone conference call with regional media.
Dunkirk Mayor Willie Rosas says the Common Council's decision to remove three appointed city officials, and dissolve one of the positions, could wind up in court...
Council passed resolutions removing Human Resources Director Dave Campola, Executive Assistant Vicki Westling, and City Attorney Richard Morrisroe by 4-1 votes. Councilman James Stoyle also amended the resolution.
Rosas says he intends to veto the resolutions. The mayor was asked about what would happen if there is a veto override. At that point, he says the city is prepared to go to court -- if need be. Until a determination is made... Rosas says all three appointed officials will remain on the job.
