Gov. Andrew Cuomo says urban schools are shortchanged, but his budget offers few quick fixes for city schools, municipalities | syracuse.com.

Watertown Daily Times | Schools facing more extreme cuts.

Schumer: Upstate water, sewer infrastructure needs work – AdirondackDailyEnterprise.com

‘Will you marry me?’ – AdirondackDailyEnterprise.com 

Peru School looks at relocating sixth grade » Local News » Press-Republican.

Prosecuting teenagers – AdirondackDailyEnterprise.com 

By John T. Ryan

The warm 2011-12 winter has resulted in many unusual happenings. The presence of three tundra swans (two adults and one juvenile) just offshore at the Ausable Point State Park is historic in that the swans typically overfly our region as they travel between Arctic and coastal waters. News stories describing their presence have appeared nationally resulting in the almost constant presence of bird watchers.  Almost everyone had either cameras or binoculars in hand this morning. Vermonters appeared to be traveling to our region in large numbers to see the birds.  One couple said they had driven over from Middlebury.

The three swans are beautiful to watch.  Most of the time, at least one bird is one-half submerged in a search for food.  They swam about 100 feet offshore and seemed oblivious to the attention they were attracting. (Click here to view more Peru Gazette photos)

Any way you slice it, state’s fine takes a bite – Times Union.

Man accused of health insurance scam – Times Union.

VIOLATION NOTICE

The Town of Peru has to sample quarterly for total trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids to comply with the disinfection by-products rule for E.P.A. and New York State.

Test results for the 4^th quarter of 2011 exceeded the allowable maximum contaminant levels. Results are calculated by averaging the previous 4 qtrs’ results. The current results represent the average of the 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd & 4^th quarters of 2011.   Read more »

Nova Bus employees pulled together and raised $23,000.00 through different fund raising events and pledges to help the United Way of the Adirondack Region and its 39 partner agencies in assistant the people of the community. Shown presenting the check to John Bernardi, Executive Director of the United Way is Frank Ciesla, Peter Allen, Dave Neiman, Lynn Agoney, and Jim Tooley.

Big Blue’s Big Apple: Parade honors Giants’ Super Bowl win | The Journal News

Morning Read: Climate back on the agenda? « The In Box.

ONE FOR THE BOOKS:Library in Upper Jay reopens after Irene damage – LakePlacidNews.com 

Worst-case scenario: 150 Utica teachers will lose jobs – Utica, NY – The Observer-Dispatch, Utica, New York.

Adirondack Almanack: Adirondack Family Activities: Ticonderoga Winter Fest.

NCPR News – President Obama to visit Vermont in March.

Giants celebrated as Super Bowl champs in NYC parade | Burlington Free Press 

Skier in fatal Sugarbush accident was Bank of America vice president in Boston | Burlington Free Press 

McKibben issues global warming warning to Vermont House panel | Burlington Free Press 

Watertown Daily Times | Seaway administrator rides rough seas.

Fair-share payment puzzles some child-care providers » Local News » Press-Republican.

Ernie’s Market closes without warning » NEW TODAY… » Press-Republican.

DiNapoli: Cuomo’s budget proposal risks transparency | The Journal News | 

Bonnie Raitt coming to the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival | Brent’s Notebook.