NY officials offer striking corrections officers a deal, bypassing union
Posted: March 7th, 2025 under Adirondack Region News, Law Enforcement News, Northern NY News, Peru/Regional History, Political News, State Government News.
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Perrigo to shut down Vermont facility, affecting more than 400 employees
The infant formula manufacturing facility in Franklin County said it would phase out production, closing completely in 2027.
Posted: March 7th, 2025 under Business News, General News, Peru/Regional History, Regional NY-VT News.
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Tariffs already hitting North Country tourism sector
Posted: March 6th, 2025 under Adirondack Region News, Border News, Business News, Congressional News, National History, National News, Northern NY News, Political News.
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Participation sought from Peru residents
If you’re a Peru resident and haven’t participated in the town’s Community Survey, please do. The Town of Peru would like your opinion about Peru’s needs and future development. Unfortunately, the participation rate has been low. The more people who participate, the better the outcome. Here’s your chance to voice your opinion.
Posted: March 6th, 2025 under Adirondack Region News, Community Events, General News, Peru News, Peru resident news/accomplishments, Planning Board News, Town Board News, Zoning Board News.
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World Water Day Celebration Returns to Champlain Centre Mall
The Lake Champlain Basin Program, Champlain Centre, the Champlain Basin Education Initiative and NEIWPCC invite the public to celebrate World Water Day on Saturday, March 22nd, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Champlain Centre in Plattsburgh, New York.
Mall guests can view a gallery of student art, media and writing that celebrates the waters of the Lake Champlain Basin.
More than 30 exhibitors, including river groups, soil and water conservation districts, and historical associations, will offer hands-on activities and displays to celebrate our regional water resources. The first 100 participants who visit with ten exhibitors and have their event passport signed will receive a free single-scoop ice cream card from Stewart’s Shops.
Guest speakers Blake Lavia and Tzintzun Aguilar-Izzo of Talking Rivers will explore the power of visual art and environmental storytelling to connect us to our region’s waterways. Regal Cinemas will screen several locally produced films and video shorts.
Visitors of all ages will be able to learn about water quality and ecosystems concerns that affect water bodies in our region through a variety of activities and exhibits. Visitors can:
- Explore how rivers flow and streambanks erode during flood events through a hands-on model.
- Complete quests on a giant Lake Champlain watershed floor map.
- Practice casting for fish.
- Learn why the round goby poses a threat to the Lake Champlain ecosystem.
- Learn how to extend the life of septic systems through proper maintenance.
- Explore lake and soil friendly lawn care practices.
- Understand cyanobacteria blooms and safe swimming.
Posted: March 6th, 2025 under Adirondack Region News, Community Events, Education News, Environmental News, Lake Champlain News, Northern NY News, Youth News.
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NY school districts ranked 1 to 610 based on 2023-2024 geometry Regents results
Posted: March 6th, 2025 under Adirondack Region News, Education News, Northern NY News, Peru News, Peru School News.
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With federal funding at risk, UVM announces 60-day hiring freeze
Posted: March 6th, 2025 under Corruption in Gov't., Education News, General News, National History, National News, Regional NY-VT News.
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One of The Best Fish Fries in the Area (Editor’s Opinion)
Ausable Forks K of C Council 2301 will host its super delicious fish fries on Fridays – March 7, March 21, and April 4. They will serve from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Holy Name Parish Center, 14207 State Route 9N. The cost is $15 for adults and $10 for Children under 12. Take-outs are available. Enjoy the fish, potatoes, coleslaw, rolls and a delicious dessert.Posted: March 5th, 2025 under Adirondack Region News, Charity Events, Community Events, Northern NY News.
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Resolving the corrections officers strike takes more than rhetoric, it needs legislative action
A Legislative Column by Senator Dan Stec (R, C-Queensbury) We’re now more than two weeks into the correction officer strikes happening across New York State. Thousands of dedicated men and women have risked, and continue to risk, their livelihoods and their health care for one reason: there has never been a less safe time to be a correction officer than right now.
A spate of policies from Albany politicians have made it more difficult for officers to protect themselves and civilian staff from violent and disruptive incarcerated individuals. These policies have also put incarcerates at greater risk of harm from other inmates.
Laws like the HALT Act have led to a consistent, measurable increase in assaults inside prisons. Loopholes in visitation and mail policies have facilitated the importation of contraband, leading to drug overdoses and events like the recent chemical exposure at Upstate Correctional Facility. But rather than focus on these practical concerns and the actions that can be taken to address them, Governor Hochul has chosen a route that’s a mixture of delegating executive authority, threats and denial.
It was just a week ago that the governor stated, “We want to find out what the issue is because the individuals who have walked out…have yet to tell us the issues.” At that time mediation was ongoing, a process she chose to delegate to DOCCS Commissioner Martuscello. This is the same commissioner who last month received a vote of no-confidence from the correction officers he’s tasked with overseeing and advocating for.
We’ve seen the consequences of the commissioner’s failed leadership and the governor’s hands-off approach to the correction officer crisis. Thousands of officers are still on strike, their concerns still needing to be addressed. Instead of actually meeting with the officers for a full, frank discussion the governor has opted for a course that’s only exacerbating an already fraught situation.
Officers are now losing their health insurance, losing access to COBRA benefits and losing their jobs. If this path continues our correctional facilities will lose nearly 14,000 dedicated and experienced officers, with no real plan to address a long-term staffing shortage of that magnitude. Instead of pursuing a path of punishment and retribution towards thousands of employees, there are more sound avenues available.
Through her state of emergency declaration, Governor Hochul has taken a few tentative steps towards addressing prison security through a change in body scanner usage and cosmetic changes to HALT. But these are impermanent and don’t go nearly far enough in addressing prison safety.
HALT, body scanners and a secure vendor process are not issues that can be resolved through collective bargaining or executive decree. Legislation created many of these problems and it will take legislative action to correct them.
I sponsor three bills – S.2656 which repeals HALT, S.4422 to make body scanner use mandatory for incarcerated individuals and visitors and S.4560 to create a true secure vendor process – that address concerns I’ve heard directly from COs at the seven correctional facilities inside the 45th Senate District and which officers have also publicly made clear during this strike.
New York State’s budget deadline is rapidly approaching. As most people who follow the process and the happenings of state government can tell you, the budget is the most likely place for meaningful policy changes to occur. I’ve written to both the governor and Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, urging that my proposals, or analogous measures, be included in this year’s budget negotiations.
Whether it’s standalone legislation such as the bills I sponsor or as part of budgetary measures, prison safety must be addressed through legislative action. To bring legislation to fruition, the governor must step up and actually advocate for meaningful change. No more delegating responsibility to a clearly overwhelmed DOCCS commissioner. No more threats, retaliation and retaliatory measures toward officers. These heavy-handed tactics haven’t worked, and in fact have only worsened the situation.
Now is the time for solutions and legislation. It’s the time for the governor to listen to our COs, then lead the effort to pass common sense prison safety reforms. And given the severity of the stakes, the untenable situation around correction officers and facilities and the livelihoods of thousands of public employees, it simply cannot wait.
Posted: March 5th, 2025 under Adirondack Region News, Law Enforcement News, Northern NY News, Political News, State Government News, State Legislator News.
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More than half of corrections officers still on NY prison strike statewide
Posted: March 5th, 2025 under Adirondack Region News, Law Enforcement News, Northern NY News, State Government News.
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Nearly 200 kids under 6 in NY went to ERs after exposure to cannabis last year
Posted: March 5th, 2025 under Heathcare News, Law Enforcement News, Social Issues, Statewide News.
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Trump picks loyalist with no prosecutor history as U.S. attorney in Upstate NY
Posted: March 5th, 2025 under Corruption in Gov't., Northern NY News, Political News, Upstate New York.
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Burlington voters approve water bonds, gun control and eviction measures by large margins
More than 80% of voters supported the water bonds and a measure to ban guns in establishments that sell alcohol.
Posted: March 5th, 2025 under City News, Environmental News, Lake Champlain News, Peru/Regional History, Regional NY-VT News.
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DEC Forest Rangers and NYS Police rescue three persons injured in Vermont plane crash
Bennington County, Vermont
Wilderness Rescue: On Feb. 26 at 9:20 a.m., New York State Police (NYSP) Aviation received a call to assist with a plane crash on Mt. Equinox in Bennington County, Vermont. The report indicated three passengers were aboard the plane at the time of the crash. Forest Rangers Gullen and Thompson were preparing for a day of hoist training out of Albany International Airport with NYSP Pilots Anderton and Sperber and Trooper Aurigema. When the call came in, the crew piloted the rescue helicopter to the crash site. At 12:15 p.m., Trooper Aurigema lowered both Forest Rangers to the subjects. Rangers packaged the patients and Trooper Aurigema hoisted them into the helicopter. An ambulance took two of the patients to the hospital and a MedFlight transported the third patient. A video featuring the rescuers is available on DEC’s Facebook page.
Posted: March 5th, 2025 under Law Enforcement News, Regional NY-VT News, State Government News.
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March 15 – Relay for Life of Plattsburgh KICK-OFF 2025
Posted: March 5th, 2025 under Charity Events, City News, Community Events, General News, Heathcare News, Northern NY News.
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State to offer $80 million for flood resiliency projects
Posted: March 4th, 2025 under Adirondack Region News, Environmental News, Northern NY News, State Government News, Statewide News.
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Frontier Town becomes catalyst for changing New York state land acquisitions
Frontier Town Campground, Equestrian and Day Use Area is not quite “the gateway to the Adirondacks,” state and local officials had hoped for when they donned cowboy hats for its grand opening in 2018.
Posted: March 4th, 2025 under Adirondack Region News, Business News, General News, Law Enforcement News, Northern NY News, Peru/Regional History, State Government News.
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Stec joins effort to end tax on overtime, tipped wages
Dan Stec top row
March 3, 2025 – Albany – Senator Dan Stec (R, C-Queensbury) participated in a press conference calling for an end to the state tax on overtime and tipped wages. Given the increased cost of living due to inflation and the difficulties many New Yorkers face in making ends meet, ending this tax is a common-sense way to provide relief to working families.
“Ending the tax on overtime and tipped wages should be a bi-partisan issue,” said Stec. “During last year’s election, President Trump called for an end to the federal tax on tipped wages and then-Vice President Harris followed suit. While the federal government works to eliminate it on that end, state government should do the same.
“I was pleased to join my colleagues in pushing to eliminate the state tax on overtime and tipped wages. Instead of one-time, inconsequential gimmicks like ‘inflation rebate checks,’ Governor Hochul and Democrat leaders should look to create some substantive, long-term relief for working families. That means permanently ending the tax on overtime and tipped wages,” he added.
Posted: March 4th, 2025 under Business News, Political News, State Legislator News.
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Paul Smith’s College & North Country Community College add to board of trustees, Adirondack Architectural Heritage welcomes new administrative assistant
Posted: March 4th, 2025 under Adirondack Region News, Education News, Environmental News, Northern NY News.
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Texas Republican has beef with NY, seeks to change name of a New York Strip steak
Posted: March 4th, 2025 under Agricultural News, Corruption in Gov't., General News, National News, Political News.
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Onondaga County’s first wind farm stirs controversy: Who has power over giant turbines?
Posted: March 4th, 2025 under Environmental News, National News, Political News, Statewide News, Town Board News, Upstate New York.
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Stec: Order making Body Scanner use mandatory a needed first step, passing legislation must follow
Senator Dan Stec (R, C-Queensbury) today issued the following statement after a DOCCS memo states that Governor Hochul has used the state of emergency concerning correctional facilities to make body scanner use mandatory for visitors: “On January 30, I visited Upstate Correctional Facility after an unknown chemical exposure and met with the superintendent, officers and civilian staff. During this meeting, I learned that body scanner use is optional for inmates and their visitors and on February 4, I introduced Senate bill S.4422 to close this loophole and make body scanner use mandatory. After introducing this bill, I wrote to both Governor Hochul and Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, requesting this measure be included in the upcoming state budget.
“The main reason correction officers across the state are on strike is that they are forced to endure extraordinarily unsafe working conditions. Making body scanner use mandatory for inmates and visitors is a crucial step in the effort to make correctional facilities safer.
“The governor and DOCCS’ decision to make body scanners mandatory for visitors during the ongoing state of emergency is a welcome first step that myself, officers and other advocates for prison safety have called for. But a temporary change in policy and executive order is exactly that, temporary and must go further.
“Mandatory use of body scanners for visitors and inmates must become a permanent change in policy and that requires a legislative resolution. I urge the governor and Legislative leaders to either pass my legislation concerning body scanners or include analogous language in this year’s state budget. It’s clear that the governor and DOCCS know that this is the right thing to do and given the fraught situation, immediate action on my legislation is more necessary than ever.”
Posted: March 3rd, 2025 under General News.
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Assemblyman Billy Jones: Tariffs on Canadian Goods Could Cause Trade War
3/3/25 – Assemblyman Billy Jones News Release
“I am disheartened by the federal administration’s decision to enact tariffs on Canadian goods starting at midnight. This will negatively impact our local transportation manufacturing sector, as well as both residents and local businesses because of our reliance on Canadian goods for our construction, agricultural and energy needs. Our northern neighbors have been our closest ally and trading partner for centuries. Due to how intertwined our economies are, this has a potential for a trade war that will only hurt businesses and residents on both sides of the border. This is no way to do business, and I will continue to push our federal government to do the right thing and rethink these tariffs.”
Posted: March 3rd, 2025 under Border News, Business News, National News, Political News, State Legislator News.
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Trump says 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico to go ahead
Posted: March 3rd, 2025 under Border News, Business News, Law Enforcement News, National News, Northern NY News, Peru/Regional History, Political News.
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Corrections officers fired as tentative deal fails to end wildcat strike
Posted: March 3rd, 2025 under Adirondack Region News, Community Events, Law Enforcement News, Northern NY News, Peru News, Political News, State Government News, State Legislator News, Statewide News, Upstate New York.
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