Governor Cuomo and leaders in the tourism industry met in New York City today, to discuss the expansion of efforts to increase tourism this year, beyond last year’s record breaking efforts:
(Cuomo 5-14-14)
Cuomo said that last year; over 54 million people visited the state, after the state spent an unprecedented 40 million dollars in advertising, a move that led to an addition to the state’s over all economy of about 55 Billion dollars. Billy Joel & Former Buffalo Bills Running Back Thurman Thomas are expected to participate in ads for New York state Tourism.
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Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Rob Astorino has chosen Chemung County Sheriff Christopher Moss, as the candidate for Lieutenant Governor for this year’s election. The state Republican Convention kicked off today in Westchester County, the Democratic Convention will be held in Suffolk County next week.
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Jury selection will now begin July 10th for the trial of Aaron Powell of Binghamton, who is accused of murdering his estranged wife and one of her friends in the family home. Jury selection was scheduled to start this Friday, but Powell’s attorney asked for an adjournment at Monday’s pre-trial hearing. Broome County Judge Cawley made the decision to allow the adjournment. Prosecutors accuse Powell of killing 35-year-old Christina Powell and 24-year-old Mario Masciarelli in March 2013, he is charged with 1st degree murder and 2 counts of 2nd degree murder.
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Shipping hydraulic fracturing waste product into the state, for treatment or disposal, would be banned under legislation introduced by Democrats in the state Senate. The 4 bills would also ban the waste from being used to melt ice off roads and bar treatment facilities and landfills from accepting the byproduct. A moratorium on Fracking is still in effect pending a review by the State Health Department, the fracking byproduct is still being disposed of in landfills. The DEC would also establish regulations for disposal of waste product and prohibit the sale or use of the liquid waste.
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A Chenango county Corrections officer has been charged with a felony for unauthorized use of a computer program. 25-year-old Ashley Stewart of Guilford was arrested after an investigation determined that she gained access to the sheriff’s office computer & a program that she was not authorized to use, while employed as a corrections officer. Stewart was charged with computer trespass, she was ticketed & released pending future court action.
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New York’s Industrial Development Agencies supported more than 4,500 projects and provided $554 million in tax exemptions in 2012, but the job gains fell by 2,417 compared to 2011. Comptroller Tom DiNapoli said the 112 IDAs increased the value of tax exemptions to projects by 9.4% in 2012, but the number of jobs gained from the projects fell 1.1%. IDAs have drawn criticism for offering lucrative tax breaks with little public scrutiny and questionable returns. The IDAs doled out $1.3 billion in total tax exemptions in 2012.
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The State Senate voted 44 to 16 to make New York state the final state to permit Mixed Martial Arts, the latest vote in a 6-year bid to make it legal. The bill’s prospects are uncertain in the state assembly, which has declined to vote in favor to authorize the state Athletic commissioner to regulate the sport like it does for boxing. The assembly has until June 19th to pass the bill before the end of the session.