The Peru Gazette

Assemblyman Billy Jones (D-Chateaugay Lake) announced that he helped pass legislation to support small businesses by excluding unemployment charges due to COVID-19 from being used to calculate an employer’s experience rating (A.2001).

“The necessary shutdowns and restrictions put in place to help us battle COVID-19 have had adverse effects on many small businesses in the North Country,” Jones said. “And now, as they begin to reopen, these beloved shops and restaurants fear they will be hit with massive charges due to the rise in unemployment claims. Businesses should never be punished for following guidelines to protect public health. The bill I helped pass will prevent undue costs from further burdening our struggling businesses and help ensure they’re given a fair shot to grow and build back stronger than before.”

Experience ratings are used to assess unemployment charges on employers that reflect their past unemployment claims. Many small businesses typically have low unemployment claims and, in turn, have lower unemployment insurance experience ratings. However, due to the spike in individuals seeking unemployment as a result of COVID-19, businesses are bracing for a sharp increase in employer insurance tax rates.[1] Jones has heard concerns from many North Country business owners about these impending charges and was proud to support this legislation to alleviate this unfair financial strain.

Source: Approximately 860 COVID-19 vaccines spoiled at Vermont hospital

Source: City & State Coronavirus Update co-sponsored by Pesetsky & Bookman, PC

The Peru CSD Board of Education will hold a special meeting on Thursday, January 28, 2021 at 7:30 AM.  At this time, the sole purpose of the meeting is to discuss hybrid and fully remote instructional models.  Due to current COVID-19 conditions, the meeting will be held remotely via Google Meet.  The public may view the meeting live at meet.google.com/uuk-dhzq-onp.  The meeting will also be recorded and will be available on the District’s website at www.perucsd.org.

An agenda will be available on the District’s website.

From the office of Congresswoman Elise Stefanik

Washington, D.C.  – In 2019, Congresswoman Stefanik co-sponsored and helped pass the TICK Act, which developed the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) framework for a national strategy to approach vector-borne diseases. Due to that legislation, the CDC’s recent report indicates that cases of tick-borne Lyme disease may actually be more than 10 times higher than previous records indicated – an alarming but important new discovery that will help fight the spread of tick-borne illnesses.

“Lyme disease is, unfortunately, an illness that many North Country residents live with,” said Congresswoman Stefanik. “Throughout my time in Congress, I have met with many constituents and families who are impacted by Lyme disease and advocate for prevention and detection. I am encouraged that the CDC now has a more definitive picture of the impact of Lyme disease in the United States and in the North Country. While tick-borne diseases still pose a serious public health threat, this new data will allow the CDC, lawmakers, and the American people identify new ways to prevent and detect the disease. I will continue to be an outspoken advocate on this issue in Congress.”

A link to the recent CDC report can be found here.

Source: Garry Trudeau on buttons and more | News, Sports, Jobs – Adirondack Daily Enterprise

Source: Lake George neighbors want to protect crystalline waters when nature calls | Adirondack Explorer

Source: Walmart will use robots to turn stores into automated fulfillment centers | Engadget

Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Stefanik sent a letter to Acting Secretary of the Army John Whitley, requesting a briefing on the threat assessments and all relevant intelligence regarding the U.S. Capitol Complex to clarify the justification of the decision for significant National Guard troop presence through mid-March. Read the letter, also signed by several of Congresswoman Stefanik’s House Republican colleagues, here.

Source: What’s in the state budget for the Adirondacks? – – The Adirondack Almanack

Source: CCE Essex receives $385k USDA grant to expand local food buying – – The Adirondack Almanack

Source: US-Canada border reopening talks to begin

A total of 286,600 people were on the payrolls of Vermont employers in December, a number that hasn’t changed since September. But it’s 28,500 fewer jobs than in December 2019, before the pandemic started, a 9% decline. That’s the 5th largest employment decline in the nation. Only Hawaii, New York, Massachusetts and Michigan have experienced steeper job losses.

Source: Woolf: Vermont’s employment recovery expected to be slow – VTDigger

Source: Pressure Cooker: The Impacts of COVID-19 on Restaurant Workers | Food + Drink Features | Seven Days | Vermont’s Independent Voice

Source: Burlington’s police transformation czar weighs in on challenges

“We made it in the building bitches! We’re taking it back! We are taking it back, we made it in the building!” the defendant, James Bonet, said on one of the videos, according to the criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Albany.

Source: FBI charges Glens Falls man in Jan. 6 storming of U.S. Capitol

Source: Franklin the snow giant | News, Sports, Jobs – Adirondack Daily Enterprise

Source: Group Calls On Vt. Newsrooms To Address Gender Bias, Lack Of Diversity In Coverage | Vermont Public Radio

Source: After Examination, Tests, Sen. Patrick Leahy Heads Home From Hospital | Vermont Public Radio

Source: Winter weather advisory issued for northern N.Y. and Vt. | Sun Community News PLATTSBURGH | A winter-weather advisory has been issued for portions of northern New York and Vermont through Jan. 27.

Source: City & State Coronavirus Update co-sponsored by Pesetsky & Bookman, PC