The Peru Gazette

Legislation Will Do Away With Outdated 100-Foot Rule for Natural Gas Hookups That Cost New Yorkers Hundreds of Millions of Dollars Each Year

NYS News Release of December 19, 2025 – Governor Kathy Hochul today signed legislation to eliminate the “100-foot-rule” for new natural gas hookups that costs New Yorkers hundreds of millions of dollars a year. “It’s simply unfair, especially when so many people are struggling right now, to expect existing utility ratepayers to foot the bill for a gas hookup at a brand new house that is not their own,” Governor Hochul said. “I have made affordability a top priority and doing away with this 40-year-old subsidy that has outlived its purpose will help with that.”

Each year, New Yorkers spend hundreds of millions of dollars on connecting new homes to the gas system. Currently, all existing ratepayers of a utility subsidize the first 100 feet of new gas lines. Under legislation S.8417/A.8888 signed by Governor Hochul, new applicants must pay 100 percent of the material and installation costs for gas service, as opposed to other ratepayers.

Expands Use of Cameras, Increases Reporting and Investigative Powers When Deaths Occur, and Adds Members to the State Commission of Corrections

New York State News Release of December 19,2025 – Governor Kathy Hochul today announced an agreement with the Legislature on the prison reform omnibus bill that would enact a series of ten transformational changes within state prisons and local jails. The bill (A8871/S8415) will improve the safety and security of all incarcerated individuals and employees within prisons and jails, while also increasing accountability through reporting and greater oversight. This landmark legislation follows the murder of Robert Brooks and Messiah Nantwi in DOCCS prisons, after which Governor Hochul directed DOCCS to implement immediate changes and then worked with the Legislature to provide additional funding for cameras and investigational staff.

“Every single individual who enters our prisons deserves to be safe, whether they are employed there or serving their time,” Governor Hochul said. “In the year since the murder of Robert Brooks, we have implemented a number of new policies and initiatives to begin the process of reforming our corrections system: expediting the installation and use of fixed and body worn cameras, making it law that body worn cameras must be worn and turned on, and investing more money in the Office of Special Investigations. I have been clear that there is more to do and I am grateful to the Legislature and the family of Robert Brooks for advocating for these reforms and working together to ensure that we could sign this important legislation to advance these reforms together. Our work is never done, and I will not stop working to ensure our correctional facilities are safe for all.”

With the changes agreed to with the legislature, the bill (A8871/S8415) codifies the requirement that cameras be installed in all facilities and also requires cameras to be installed in all vehicles used for the transport of incarcerated individuals, codifies the requirement that video evidence be promptly disclosed to investigating authorities, strengthens the procedures regarding notification to next of kin concerning deaths in custody, and strengthens the requirements surrounding autopsies of incarcerated individuals. The legislation also increases the number of members on the State Commission of Correction — boosting the total membership to five, including three full-time commissioners and two part-time — and requires the Commission to conduct a study on deaths in State correctional facilities. This legislation also improves reporting requirements, provides additional avenues for incarcerated individuals to privately contact the Correctional Association of New York, and gives returning New Yorkers the ability to file claims after their release for harms caused while incarcerated.

DOCCS previously began implementing many core reforms with a clear focus on improving safety, accountability and transparency across the State’s facilities. Body-worn cameras are now fully deployed statewide, with all correction officers required to activate them at all times by law, regulation, and policy. Regular audits are conducted to ensure compliance. Fixed-camera projects have been prioritized at Marcy and Mid-State, including in medical areas, and the Office of Special Investigations has expanded hiring to increase investigative, medical, and data-driven capabilities.

In addition, DOCCS has implemented targeted de-escalation training, launched independent reviews of policies and practices, commissioned an external culture and harm-reduction assessment, and made leadership changes at both Marcy and Mid-State Correctional Facilities. The Department has also strengthened CERT operations through expanded training, background checks, and mandatory camera use during deployments, while advancing multiple contraband-control measures, including enhanced body scanning and legal mail screening. Together, these actions, and others, reflect a department that is not waiting to act but is already moving decisively forward and committed to meaningful, lasting change.

Based on the agreement with the Legislature, the legislation signed today will:

• Require State and local correctional facilities to disclose video footage related to deaths to Office of the Attorney General (OAG) within 72 hours, or within 24 hours if it is belatedly discovered.
• Require complete audio/visual camera coverage in all Department of Correction and Community Supervision (DOCCS) facilities and transport vehicles, extended storage of videos, and quick disclosure of the videos to incarcerated individuals and their counsel.
• Require DOCCS post online within 48 hours of notifying next of kin of an incarcerated individual’s death.
• Require the State Commission of Correction to conduct a study on DOCCS deaths over the past ten years.
• Require copies of autopsy reports of individuals incarcerated in state or local facilities to include copies of the photographs and x-rays.
• Provide for designation of a Deputy AG when OAG has a conflict.
• Require DOCCS Office of Special Investigation (OSI) to quarterly report data.
• Increase the number of SCOC commissioners from three to five total, including three full-time and two part-time members, with at least one of the commissioners being a formerly-incarcerated person.
• Give the Correctional Association of New York (CANY) more access to DOCCS facilities and data and give incarcerated individuals more avenues to privately access CANY.
• Provide a window post incarceration for individuals to file claims arising from harms caused during incarceration.

New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Commissioner Daniel F Martuscello III said, “In the wake of the horrific murders of Robert Brooks and Messiah Nantwi at the hands of correctional staff, the Department has undertaken the difficult but necessary work of reform focused on strengthening safety, transparency, and accountability across our system. With the signing of the omnibus bill, the Governor and the Legislature affirm my shared commitment to sustained, meaningful action. Taken together with the steps we have already implemented, this legislation positions the Department to move decisively forward. We are committed not to symbolic change, but to meaningful, lasting reform that focuses on dignity and respect for all.”

New York State Commission of Correction Chair Allen Riley said, “Governor Hochul secured $2.5 million in this year’s budget, giving the Commission the personnel and resources necessary to strengthen its oversight of DOCCS facilities. This package of legislation builds upon that critical investment and adds an important perspective to this work by requiring that one of the two new Commissioners is an individual who is formerly incarcerated in a correctional facility. I thank the Governor and Legislature for their support. Working in partnership with staff, the newly constituted Commission will continue to be guided by its mission to ensure a safe, stable and most important, humane correctional system.”

State Senator Julia Salazar said, “I thank Governor Hochul for her leadership in enacting the prison reform omnibus bill. This legislative package will bring desperately needed transparency, oversight, and accountability to New York’s prisons, helping to reduce violence. Our prisons are plagued by a culture of abuse and impunity. Just last December, prison staff brutally murdered Robert Brooks, a young, Black man, and then sought to cover up their crime. A few months later, a different set of staff members murdered Messiah Nantwi, another young, Black man. And these are just the cases that we know about. Enacting the prison reform omnibus bill is not the end of our struggle. I look forward to ensuring this law is properly implemented and to building on our fight for real reform. Our campaign includes parole justice, sentencing reform, expanded pathways to safe release home, and treatment in place of incarceration. These efforts are how we will minimize prison violence and make our communities truly safe, and I am grateful for the Governor’s partnership.”

Assemblymember Erik M. Dilan said, “Governor Hochul’s signing of the Omnibus Prison Reform Act of 2025 into law marks a critical step forward for New York’s prison system that will bring greater transparency and safety to the thousands of New Yorkers who are currently incarcerated. Enacted after the killing of two incarcerated individuals, Mr. Robert Brooks and Mr. Messiah Nantwi, this legislation focuses on transparency and is the most sweeping prison reform package enacted in the decades since the Attica prison uprising. This legislation puts us on a positive path and I look forward to working with Governor Hochul, Speaker Heastie, and my legislative colleagues as we continue working to improve conditions throughout New York’s prison system.”

Clinton County News Release of Dec. 19, 2025 – Clinton County has adopted its 2026 Operating Budget, delivering residents another year of meaningful tax relief. The new budget decreases the gross tax rate from $3.98 to $3.74 per $1,000 of assessed value, a 6 percent reduction. The total tax levy also decreases by $32,767, marking the lowest levy since 2019.

Legislature Chair Mark Henry (Chazy, Area 3-R) said this year’s tax rate reduction is a direct reflection of sustained fiscal responsibility and shared accountability across county operations. “This reduction is the result of several years of careful budgeting encompassing a deliberate effort to protect taxpayers,” said Legislature Chair Mark Henry. “Our clear message to department heads was to hold the line on spending. The Legislature remains committed to ensuring that residents see real, tangible benefits from the County budget.   Delivering a lower tax rate while preserving core services is something that benefits every resident and something we are very proud to achieve.”

County Administrator Christine Peters, who prepared the spending plan, noted that lowering the rate required extensive collaboration. “Achieving a tax rate reduction in a year marked by inflation, increased state mandates, and shifting federal priorities required significant diligence,” said Peters. “Once the initial departmental requests came in, our department heads worked extremely hard to roll up their sleeves and identify efficiencies without compromising essential services. Their partnership made this outcome possible.”

Finance Committee Chair Rob Timmons (Peru, Area-10-R) highlighted the fiscal practices that allowed the County to stay within the cap. “We approach the budget each year with a long-term lens, knowing stability matters to both residents and the County’s financial health,” said Finance Chair Rob Timmons. “Staying under the tax cap required difficult decisions, but also careful planning, responsible use of reserves, and a collaborative effort across departments to identify savings without undermining service delivery.”

The adopted budget positions Clinton County for continued long-term fiscal stability while meeting growing community needs and protecting essential services.

DEC’s Camps, Centers, and Educators Engaged with More than 41,000 Youth in 2025

NYS News Release of Dec. 19, 2025 – New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Amanda Lefton today announced that online registration for DEC’s 2026 Summer Camps program will open Sunday, March 22, 2026, at 1 p.m. The six weeks of environmental education-focused outdoor fun is just one of DEC’s many environmental education offerings that in 2025 alone, engaged more than 41,000 youth from communities across the state.

“DEC’s Summer Camp program provides a fun learning experience for kids to develop outdoor skills, identify wildlife, practice hunting and fishing, and so much more,” DEC Commissioner Lefton said. “Highly trained camp staff and professionals organize inclusive camp activities and help the next generation of outdoor stewards build lifelong memories and skills. It is one of the many ways DEC’s environmental education teams work each day to connect New Yorkers of all ages and abilities to our natural resources and help people take Governor Kathy Hochul’s advice to Get Offline and Get Outside.”

Now in its 79^th year, the DEC Summer Camps program offers week-long adventures in conservation education for children ages 11-17. DEC operates four residential camps for kids: Camp Colby in Saranac Lake, Franklin County; Camp DeBruce in Livingston Manor, Sullivan County; Camp Pack Forest in Warrensburg, Warren County; and Camp Rushford in Caneadea, Allegany County.

DEC’s Bureau of Environmental Education operated all four summer camps in 2025 for the first time since 2019. There were 1,108 campers and 93 campership youth (underserved children who receive camper scholarships), an increase of 29% and 342% over 2024, respectively.

For Summer 2026, Camp Rushford will offer five weeks of programing for campers aged 11 to 13, and two weeks for 14- to 17-year-olds. Camp Colby will operate four weeks of camp for 11- to 13-year-olds, and three weeks for campers aged 14 to 17. Camp DeBruce will offer five weeks for kids ages 11 to 13 and two weeks for 14- to 17-year-olds. Camp Pack Forest will host campers ages 11 to 13 for three weeks, and 14- to 17-year-olds for four weeks. Camps Colby and Pack Forest will each have one Outdoor Adventure Week. The complete schedule of camp weeks and ages is available on the Summer Camps webpage. Read more »

‘Conservation Conversations’ books blend personal stories with insights from 40+ years protecting Champlain Valley waterways

Click here for the Adirondack Explorer story 

Named in Memory of New York State Police Lieutenant Joseph Banish, Bill Seeks To Reduce Stigma and Create Formal Pathways For First Responder Mental Wellness

NYS News Release of Dec. 18, 2025 – Governor Kathy Hochul today signed legislation to establish confidentiality requirements for communications made by law enforcement during peer-to-peer counseling sessions. Amid a rise in suicide and post-traumatic stress disorder rates among police officers, this legislation, named in memory of New York State Police Lieutenant Joseph Banish who died by suicide in 2008, seeks to reduce stigma and create formal pathways for first responder mental wellness while ensuring communications are protected and disclosure standards are established.

“Protecting New York’s first responders and ensuring they are well-equipped with support to successfully fulfill their duties is an essential part of my public safety mission,” Governor Hochul said. “Law enforcement officers who protect our communities during times of crisis deserve counseling services that are tailored to their unique experiences and conducted with discretion. By strengthening these programs, we are ensuring safe settings for honest conversations to improve the mental health and well-being of our first responders.”

Legislation S6244A/A6721A, named the “Lieutenant Joseph Banish Mental Health Act,” establishes confidentiality protections for law enforcement peer support counseling and sets standards for disclosure of communications made during a formal sessions that contain a threat of suicidal or an expression of suicidal ideation; a threat of bodily harm or death; an admission of criminal conduct; or information relating to the abuse or neglect of a child

Suicide and post-traumatic stress disorder rates among police officers surpass those of the general public and are often attributed to the difficult nature of the work and exposure to traumatic incidents. Police officers also face difficulty obtaining mental health services in a setting that recognizes the unique nature of their jobs and work culture. In response, many jurisdictions have established “peer counseling” programs. By promoting confidentiality, this new law strengthens these programs and encourages open, honest dialogue while addressing potential concerns about protected information.

Earlier this year, Governor Hochul highlighted the State’s ongoing efforts to improve first responder mental health and wellness. New resources available include a Responder Wellness Program Primer, an informational resource intended to help state and local public safety agencies develop or enhance their responder wellness programs; a video that highlights the unique mental health needs of first responders; and the launch of a new website dedicated to first responder mental health and wellness. Read more »

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Takes place the the Wallonsburg Grange Hall, Refreshments at 2 p.m., performance begins at 3 p.m. Admission is free, with donations gratefully accepted to support area food pantries.

Click here for the NCPR story 

Applications Accepted Through February 3, 2026

NYS News Release of Dec, 18, 2025 – Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the opening of the Excelsior Scholarship application for students attending college during the 2026 spring semester. The spring Excelsior application allows eligible students who plan to enroll full-time at a SUNY or CUNY two- or four-year college for the spring 2026 term, as well as those who missed the fall application, to apply for the Excelsior Scholarship. This landmark program helps remove financial barriers to higher education by covering tuition costs, enabling more New York students to pursue their college goals without taking on tuition debt.

“Each year, the Excelsior Scholarship helps transform the lives of tens of thousands of New York students by making tuition-free college a reality and strengthening affordability across the State,” Governor Hochul said. “This program cements our commitment to ensuring every eligible student can earn a degree without the weight of debt. When we invest in our students, we invest in the families, communities and future of New York State.”

To be eligible to receive the Excelsior Scholarship, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Have an adjusted combined federal household income of $125,000 or less
• ​Be pursuing a full-time undergraduate degree at a SUNY or CUNY college or university
• Complete at least 30 credits per year in an approved program of study
• Live and work in New York State for a duration equal to the number of years the scholarship was received

​To be eligible to receive the Excelsior Scholarship, students who qualify for federal aid must complete the FAFSA and the New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) application.

Town of Crown Point
Essex County
Ice Rescue: On December 10 at 6:25 p.m., the Essex County Sheriff’s Office requested Forest Ranger assistance with an ice rescue on Lake Champlain. A 33-year-old from Montreal was living on a moored sailboat. The cold weather caused ice to form, locking the boat in place more than a mile from shore. Rangers Perryman, Quinn, and Thompson used an airboat and broke the ice on the way to create a path to the sailboat. Rangers helped the subject onto the airboat and transported them to shore. Resources were clear at 10 p.m.

Ice Rescue 

Boat rescue 

Town of Fine
St. Lawrence County
Wilderness Recovery: On December 11 at 1:04 p.m., New York State Police (NYSP) requested Forest Ranger assistance with the search for a missing subject who may have entered the property of the SUNY ESF Ranger School. The 41-year-old from Star Lake was involved in a one-car accident on Route 3 two days earlier. When NYSP arrived, the car was unoccupied. Rangers, NYSP, the Star Lake Fire Department, and the Cranberry Lake Fire Department all participated in the search. At 4:17 p.m., a search team led by Ranger Shea found the subject’s windbreaker and then located the subject deceased on school property. Rangers turned him over to the County Coroner. Resources were clear at 7:15 p.m. NYSP is handling the investigation.

DEC Division of Forest Protection Job Opening
DEC is now hiring for a seasonal radio dispatcher position in Ray Brook, Essex County. Details and information on how to apply by December 19 are available.

Dispatcher job opening 

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Click here for the New York Focus story 

Dec. 17, 2025 Chamber of Commerce Facebook Post – North Country Chamber of Commerce President Garry Douglas has been identified by City & State Magazine among their “2025 Responsible 100” honorees. The Responsible 100 list is, according to City & State, “intended to recognize New York’s most powerful execs, thought leaders, visionaries and influencers who are setting new standards of excellence, dedication and leadership in improving their communities and making transformative change by successfully promoting principles of social responsibility.”

Douglas sees the selection as “recognition of a remarkable team.” He cites “the work of major Chambers as going to the heart of progress, committed to sustaining, enhancing and growing employment; engaging directly in life-changing activities like training; providing leadership in response to regional challenges; and helping to build quality communities which are crucial to a quality economy. A salute to our great staff, volunteers and members on this recognition of what we continue to do together. Onward and upward!”

A Wind Advisory has been issued for much of northern New York and portions of Vermont for tomorrow. Strong southerly winds are expected to develop during the day tomorrow, with gusts up to 55 mph possible. Be sure to secure any outdoor objects, like decorations, as gusty winds may blow them around.

Governor Claims Protections Will Ensure Integrity of Patient Decision and Preparedness of Medical Institutions

Gov. Hochul News Release of December 17, 2025 – Governor Hochul today announced an agreement with the Legislature to make medical aid in dying available to terminally ill New Yorkers with less than six months to live. This comes after careful reflection and deliberation with the bill’s sponsors, advocacy organizations, and most importantly, everyday New Yorkers who shared personal experiences with the Governor. The bill, with the agreed-upon amendments, will be passed and signed in January, and the law will go into effect six months later.

“New York has long been a beacon of freedom, and now it is time we extend that freedom to terminally ill New Yorkers who want the right to die comfortably and on their own terms,” said Governor Hochul. “My mother died of ALS, and I am all too familiar with the pain of seeing someone you love suffer and being powerless to stop it. Although this was an incredibly difficult decision, I ultimately determined that with the additional guardrails agreed upon with the legislature, this bill would allow New Yorkers to suffer less–to shorten not their lives, but their deaths.

The bill, as passed by the Legislature, had a number of protections in place to ensure that no patient was coerced into utilizing medical aid in dying and no doctor or religiously affiliated health facility was forced to offer medical aid in dying. With today’s agreement, the Governor announces a number of additional guardrails that the Legislature has agreed to enact aimed at ensuring the integrity of the patient’s decision and the preparedness of medical institutions to appropriately administer medical aid in dying. Today’s agreement memorializes a shared path forward on this bill, with additional key guardrails, including:

• A mandatory waiting period of 5 days between when a prescription is written and filled.
• An oral request by the patient for medical aid in dying must be recorded by video or audio.
• A mandatory mental health evaluation of the patient seeking medical aid in dying by a psychologist or psychiatrist.
• A prohibition against anyone who may benefit financially from the death of a patient from being eligible to serve as a witness to the oral request or an interpreter for the patient.
• Limiting the availability of medical aid in dying to New York residents.
• Requiring that the initial evaluation of a patient by a physician be in person.
• Allowing religiously-oriented home hospice providers to opt out of offering medical aid in dying.
• Ensuring that a violation of the law is defined as professional misconduct under the Education Law.
• Extending the effective date of the bill to six months after signing to allow the Department of Health to put into place regulations required to implement the law while also ensuring that health care facilities can properly prepare and train staff for compliance.

State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal said, “Today, we make history. This agreement on Medical Aid in Dying is a monumental victory for every New Yorker who has wished to peacefully end their suffering from a terminal illness. Since we first introduced this legislation nine years ago, I have consistently said this bill is not about ending life, it’s about shortening death. I’m proud that New York is now the 13th state, along with Washington, D.C., that will offer expanded end-of-life care so that terminally ill New Yorkers gain greater autonomy over how much pain and suffering they must endure. I want to thank Senate Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Assembly sponsor Amy Paulin, and Governor Kathy Hochul for her leadership and willingness to take on a difficult issue and help limit the suffering of New Yorkers. Most of all, we owe a deep debt of gratitude to those afflicted with a terminal illness and their families, who shared the heart-wrenching details of their end-of-life decision making in the hopes of improving the options for future generations. New York is a state of dignity and compassion for New Yorkers at all stages of life, and today’s announcement proves just that.” Read more »

Click here to view the Calvin Castine Video 

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Friend presses DEC for answers six months after Assistant Ranger Jackson’s death 

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