P.M. NEWS MONDAY 3-7-22

State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli has directed staff to prohibit all new investments in Russian companies and to review the New York State Common Retirement Fund’s current investments and assess whether they present financial risks that warrant further restrictions or divestment. DiNapoli is also reaching out to the Fund’s investment managers to urge them to conduct a similar examination to mitigate investment risk and minimize market impact.

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State Senators Peter Oberacker & Fred Akshar announced “The New York Gas Tax Relief Act” in an effort to combat the increased costs at the pump. Senator Oberacker explains:

(Oberacker 3-7-22)

Senator Oberacker said that part about sending money back to the state’s Dedicated Highway and Bridge Trust Fund, follows a recent report from State Comptroller’s office that just 17 cents of each dollar in the state’s Dedicated Highway Bridge and Trust Fund goes toward capital projects.

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The Broome County Office of Emergency Services reported that 226 drivers passed school buses with their stop arm out in February. Over 1,500 violations have been recorded by its School Bus Stop Arm Camera program since the beginning of the school year last September. Fines are $250 for 1st offenses, additional fines could be $275 and $300.

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Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that more than $1.65 million in goods and services have been recovered for New Yorkers who received faulty or fraudulent service from auto dealers and repair shops. The DMV Office of Vehicle Safety investigates complaints from consumers, In 2021, the agency was able to recoup refunds for 540 customers totaling more than $385,000. The DMV investigated complaints about the quality of the repair work done on customer’s vehicles & were able to get those consumers $78,000 of additional repair work completed at no additional charge.

A.M. NEWS MONDAY 3-7-22

The State Health Department reported over 115,000 people tested for COVID 19 Saturday, with 1566 Positives, for a Positivity rate of 1.36%. Patient hospitalizations were down to just over 1500, with 269 Patients in ICU, 139 of them on ventilators, there were 12 New deaths reported by healthcare facilities.

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Delaware County Public Health reported 40 new positive COVID 19 cases for the week of February 26th to March 4, the county has had 15 deaths from the virus since the beginning of the year.

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The Chenango Blues Festival is scheduled to return, on Friday, August 19 and Saturday, August 20th at the Chenango County Fairgrounds in Norwich. This year’s festival will be headlined by Jimmie Vaughan, more information is available at chenangobluesfest.org.

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