Governor Cuomo today announced that New York State has been awarded $8.1 million in federal funds to combat the heroin epidemic. The funding will look to Reduce prescription drug misuse and abuse in the 12- to 25-year-olds, reduce heroin use and heroin/prescription opioid overdose deaths among the 12- to 25-year-olds, Increase public awareness through statewide and community media campaigns, & to Increase the number of anti-overdose medication Narcan trainings offered to parents, family members, and anyone living with a heroin/prescription opioid addict.
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On Thursday, the State Police CNET team ended a 2 month investigation into the sale and possession of heroin and methamphetamine, with the arrests of 44 year old Terry McNerney of Kirkwood, who was charged with Unlawful Manufacturing Methamphetamine, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, 2 counts of Criminal Using Drug Paraphernalia. Also arrested was 22-year-old Trent Kennerup of Windsor, who was charged with Loitering. Both were arraigned & were remanded to the Broome County jail. Police seized heroin & materials used to manufacture Methamphetamines.
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State Police & the Broome County Sheriff’s Office arrested 30 year old Joseph Rose of Endicott for 2 counts of 2nd degree Robbery, following the investigation into armed robberies at Manley’s Gas Station & Lupo’s Restaurant, both in Endwell. Rose was arraigned in the Town of Union Court and remanded to the Broome County Jail with no bail set at this time.
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The State Senate has passed a series of bills designed to protect the public from sex offenders. State senator Jim Seward contributed a bill to that package:

(Seward 2-27-15)

The package of bills will head to the State Assembly for consideration.
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State Assembly Minority Republicans are calling on Governor Cuomo to release state aid figures to school district, so that they can get their budget numbers together in a timely fashion. Area assemblyman Cliff Crouch Comments:

(Crouch 2-27-15)

Assemblyman Pete Lopez also commented:

(Lopez 2-27-15)

Governor Cuomo has said that he is willing to let the budget get enacted passed the April 1st deadline in favor of getting an ethics reform package passed first, following the recent arrest of former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.
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The state Assembly passed The DREAM Act bill Thursday to financial aid to immigrants living in the country illegally. New State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie of the Bronx said that the DREAM Act is one of his top legislative priorities:

(Carl Heastie 2-27-15)

This is the 3rd consecutive year the Assembly passed the DREAM Act, it has failed to gather enough support in the State senate for it to advance to the governor’s desk, governor Cuomo has already allocated funding in his executive budget proposal for the DREAM Act this session.
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