Source: CNY school bus driver charged with DWI while driving bus carrying students, troopers say – syracuse.com

Source: The New York executive budget by the numbers – City & State New York

Source: The Postal Service is now taking orders for COVID-19 test kits | NCPR News

 “Governor Kathy Hochul announced her proposed budget today that will help move our state forward and will address many issues people are experiencing across the North Country. This included funding that will help the North Country get back to work such as $10 billion for healthcare, $31 billion for education including a $1.6 billion increase to foundation aid, and $1.4 billion for child care. Besides the $1.6 billion increase in foundation aid for schools, the Executive Budget also included a significant increase in aid for K-12 schools and needed operating aid for SUNY.

“Residents across the North Country will find relief in the middle-class tax cuts included in the budget. The cuts include accelerating a  $1.2 million tax cut for middle-class taxpayers that will help 6 million New Yorkers get more money in their pockets sooner. The tax cuts also include a $2.2 billion middle-class property tax reb­­ate for 2.5 million homeowners, which is welcomed news for so many North Country homeowners who continue to pay high property taxes. Property tax relief will go a long way in helping the middle-class and seniors who are struggling to make ends meet due to increased costs of living. As we negotiate the budget, I will work to extend middle-class tax cuts and circuit breaker property tax relief to more New Yorkers.

“The Governor also announced $32.8 billion investment for infrastructure to improve the state’s roads and bridges, continue to expand broadband services throughout New York, and ­make important updates to our public transportation system. This will not only create construction jobs and improve state roads and bridges across the North Country but will also bring more work to our region’s transportation manufacturing sector that builds the electric buses and train cars that will be part of the infrastructure improvements. Important funding for economic development was also included in the budget such as $₃₅₀ million in tax reliefs for small businesses and up to $350 million for a new Office of Workforce and Economic Development through Empire State Development.

“Additional funding was included to help streamline the process for MWBE certification-which has been one of my priorities for years. The Governor also included a new Pharmacy Benefits Bureau to reduce prescription costs and regulate Pharmacy Benefit Managers, an important change to our healthcare system that I advocated to be included in the Executive Budget. The Hire-A-Vet Credit was also extended and improved by expanding eligibility to all veterans and those who work part-time, a win for veterans across the North Country. The budget also included important victories for farmers such as creating a new tax credit for overtime hours and expanding the Investment Tax Credit and the Farm Workforce Retention Credit programs. A historic $100 million for addiction services was also included in the budget which will help so many across the North Country who are in recovery find the support they need.

“There is still a lot of work to do before the 2023 State Budget is finalized, but the Executive Budget proposed today is a good start. Between economic and workforce development, middle-class tax relief, and investment in our healthcare and education systems, the Executive Budget will provide much-needed relief to North Country residents and I look forward to finalizing these proposals in the upcoming weeks during budget negotiations.”

“Governor Hochul introduced an executive budget proposal at a critical moment in our state’s history. As we continue our recovery we are faced with many challenges, but the proposed budget sets forth the Governor’s priorities to address them while also recognizing the importance of achieving and maintaining a long-term structural budget balance.

“The Governor announced significant funding increases for health care, infrastructure, affordable housing, and environmental projects, as well as support for vulnerable New Yorkers and continuation of the plan to fully fund school foundation aid. These are important objectives that will require careful balancing with other state and local funding needs and available resources, now and into the future. The Governor’s commitment to building the state’s reserves is something I have called for repeatedly and is critical to planning for future unforeseen events.

“State revenue is running well ahead of projections, and the proposed budget includes significant federal aid to support our recovery. The state has the opportunity to provide needed relief to the many individuals, small businesses and sectors that are still struggling. We must make sure these funds are allocated effectively and properly used.

“My office will review all of the executive budget proposals and release a more detailed analysis soon.”

Source: Gov. Hochul balances spending and saving in $216 billion budget | NCPR News

These are additional lab-confirmed cases over the holiday weekend. The total does NOT include results of the hundreds if not thousands of home-administered tests.

Click here to review the minutes published on the town’s website.

Click here to review as published on the town’s website.

Source: Former CNY police officer, firefighter fatally hit by car while riding bicycle in Florida – syracuse.com

Source: Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand enters Upstate NY restaurant without mask: ‘It’s hypocritical’ – syracuse.com

          “Unfortunately I tested positive for COVID-19 but I am taking all the necessary precautions and have started to quarantine. I am thankful that I am vaccinated and got my booster shot but this is a reminder of how prevalent COVID-19 is in our community. We all must continue to work together to get through this and I want to encourage everyone to continue to stay safe, get vaccinated, and stay home if they are sick.”

Source: Vikings lead all state football picks | Sun Community News PLATTSBURGH | A trio of Moriah Vikings were named to the first team of the Class D NYSSWA all state football team after the squad went to their third straight state finals in as many full seasons.

Read more »

NYZ026>031-034-035-087-VTZ008-010-012-017>019-172200-
/O.CON.KBTV.WS.W.0002.000000T0000Z-220118T0600Z/
Northern St. Lawrence-Northern Franklin-Eastern Clinton-
Southeastern St. Lawrence-Southern Franklin-Western Clinton-
Western Essex-Eastern Essex-Southwestern St. Lawrence-Washington-
Orange-Windsor-Eastern Chittenden-Eastern Addison-Eastern Rutland-
Including the cities of Massena, Malone, Plattsburgh, Star Lake, 
Saranac Lake, Tupper Lake, Dannemora, Lake Placid, Port Henry, 
Ticonderoga, Ogdensburg, Potsdam, Gouverneur, Montpelier, 
Bradford, Randolph, Springfield, White River Junction, Underhill,
Bristol, Ripton, East Wallingford, and Killington
324 AM EST Mon Jan 17 2022

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM EST
TUESDAY...

* WHAT...Heavy snow. Additional snow accumulations of 4 to 9
  inches for a storm total of 5 to 11 inches. Southeast winds
  gusting as high as 55 mph along the western slopes of the
  southern and central Green Mountains.

* WHERE...Portions of central and southern Vermont and northern 
  New York.

* WHEN...Until 1 AM EST Tuesday.

* IMPACTS...Travel will be very difficult to impossible. The
  hazardous conditions will impact the morning commute today. In 
  combination with gusty winds, isolated to scattered power 
  outages are possible, especially across southern Vermont where 
  heavy, wet snow is expected.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The heaviest snow will occur this morning 
  between now and 10 AM when snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per 
  hour are expected. A brief period of sleet and rain is expected 
  across the Adirondacks, the Champlain Valley, and much of 
  Vermont during the afternoon.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in
your vehicle in case of an emergency.

Please allow extra time if travel is necessary.

Source: With all of its problems, New York made time to outlaw little shampoo bottles in hotels – syracuse.com

Source: A recent expansion at Vermont’s only landfill could be its last. What happens next? – VTDigger

Source: Local municipality opts out of retail cannabis | Sun Community News ROUSES POINT | The Village of Rouses Point adopted Local Law No. 2 of 2021 on Dec. 20 at the regularly scheduled meeting of the Village Board.

Click here to view New York State’s Policy 

Source: Vermont’s lakes and rivers are icing over. How to stay safe.