Joint Legislative Budget Hearings got Underway in Albany starting earlier today. The hearings will be held through February 12th at the Legislative Office Building in Albany, the state budget is due on April 1st.
————————————————
State police made almost 800 arrests for impaired driving over the holiday season, as part of the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign. 48,877 tickets were issued, 783 people that were arrested, there were 643 personal injury crashes, which resulted in 8 fatalities. Police said that there were over 16,000 tickets for speeding, over 9500 for Distracted Driving, over 1200 were Seatbelt violations 1,223, and 437 were charged with violating the Move Over Law.
———————————————————
State Senator Fred Akshar released the results of his recent online survey regarding the “Dream Act”, which would allow for the children of undocumented immigrants to apply for state-funded, free college tuition assistance programs for New York State colleges or universities. Akshar’s survey drew 2,200 total responses, within the 52nd Senate District, 85% of respondents opposed the proposal, 14% supported it, while outside of the 52nd Senate District, respondents opposed the measure 93% to 5% with 1% undecided. The results in the district were very similar to last year’s survey. Senator Akshar plans to release a new public survey on a new issue this week.
————————————-
US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is launching an exploratory committee for a run for the Presidency. Gillibrand made the announcement last week on the “Late Show with Stephen Colbert”, she has since opened up a campaign office in Troy, she has more than $10.5 million left over from her 2018 re-election campaign that she can use toward a presidential run.
——————————————-
The State Labor Department announced the unemployment rates for local counties today, for the month of December. Chenango County had 4.4%, Delaware County was 4.2% & Otsego County was at 4.0%, the statewide rate was 3.9%.
Students in Greece New York alerted Police regarding a plot to attack Islamberg in the town of Deposit with explosive devices. The Greece Police Department arrested 20-year-old Brian Colaneri, 19-year-old Vincent Vetromile of Greece, 18-year-old Andrew Crysel of East Rochester & an unidentified 16 year old following an investigation at Odyssey Academy. Police seized 23 firearms & 3 homemade bombs, the 3 older suspects were charged with 3 counts of 1st degree criminal possession of a weapon or explosive and one count each of conspiracy, they were being held at the Monroe County Jail on $50,000 bail.
——————————————-
Governor Cuomo signed into law the Reproductive Health Act, which protects women’s reproductive rights by ensuring New Yorkers can make healthcare decisions and medical professionals can provide services without fear of criminal penalty.
(Cuomo 1-23-19)
The legislation codifies Roe v. Wade into New York State law & cannot be undone by Federal law changes.
——————————————
Governor Cuomo has directed SUNY and CUNY to assist students with college-related expenses during the prolonged federal shutdown. Payments for tuition and related college expenses will be postponed, and no late fees or penalties will be charged to impacted students. This temporary reprieve will apply to federal employees, dependents of federal employees, and students who are dependent on loans from the federal government that may be delayed.
——————————————
State Attorney General Letitia James announced that New York has joined with other states and the federal government to reach an agreement with Walgreens, to settle allegations that Walgreens violated the False Claims Act by billing Medicaid at rates higher than its usual and customary rates for certain prescription drugs. Walgreens will pay New York State 14.5 Million dollars to the states’ Medicaid program.
———————————————–
Edgar Martinez, Mike Mussina, Mariano Rivera and the late Roy Halladay were elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame yesterday on MLB Network, with Hall of Fame President Jeff Idelson announcing the results. The inductees will join the “Today’s Game” Era electees Harold Baines and Lee Smith at the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies on July 21st in Cooperstown.
————————————————