The New York State Department of Health today announced the selection of regional contractors for the Population Health Improvement Program, to promote the “Triple Aim” of better care, better population health, and lower health care costs. The contractors will convene meetings of local stakeholders and provide a neutral forum for identifying, sharing, disseminating, and helping to implement best practices and strategies to promote better health outcomes. Locally, Bassett Hospital will get $2,438,819 & STHL receives $2,070,848 to participate. More information is available at health.ny.gov.
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State Police in Sidney arrested 52-year-old Shayne Edwards of Unadilla for DWI with a BAC result of .17% and Unlawful Possession of Marijuana following an accident on State Route 7 extension to I- 88 in the town of Unadilla. Edwards was issued uniform traffic tickets and an Appearance Ticket to own of Unadilla January 19th
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State Senator Jim Seward announced that he will be hosting a free senior scam prevention forum on Tuesday, December 16th at the Sidney Memorial Public Library. Senator Seward is partnering with the New York State Department of State to inform senior citizens and others about the alarming trend of senior targeted scams. A specialist with the Division of Consumer Protection will conduct the free presentation, helping senior citizens proactively protect their identities and avoid becoming the victims of a scam. The senior scam prevention forum will take place on Tuesday, December 16th from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Sidney Memorial Public Library, 8 River Street in Sidney. The forum is free and open to the public.
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A new state law bars employers in New York from firing volunteer firefighters, and members of volunteer ambulance squads, for taking time off from their jobs to respond to major emergencies such as hurricanes and snowstorms. The law, approved by the state Legislature this summer and signed by Governor Cuomo, takes affect Dec. 22nd. It requires employers to grant a request from a volunteer firefighter, or a member of a volunteer ambulance corps, for leave to respond to declared states of emergency. The governor can declare states of emergency in cases of man-made or natural disasters
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The New York gaming facility location commission will hold their final meeting on December 17th that is when they are expected to announce the 4 winning proposals to operate casinos in 3 upstate regions. The next to last meeting is scheduled for tomorrow, but no decisions are expected at Tuesday’s meeting. The commission is has been tasked with located 4 casinos in 3 areas of the state, one in the southern tier, the other 2 are the Capital region & the Catskills/Hudson valley region.
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State attorney general Eric Schneiderman has asked governor Cuomo for immediate 7 temporary authority to investigate police officers statewide, whose actions result in the death of an unarmed person. The request would allow Schneiderman to take investigation like the Eric Garner Staten Island case, out of the hands of local authorities. The governor has the power to remove any criminal case from a local prosecutor and assign it to the state attorney general’s office, governor Cuomo may be considering a permanent change in the 2015 legislative agenda to be announced in January.
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