News

Cuomo projects $90M for State Parks construction

Sunday, May 19th, 2013, 8:25am

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - The Cuomo administration says about $90 million will be spent this year on construction projects at 50 of the state's parks and historic sites.

It says that will cover almost 90 projects to upgrade infrastructure or fix potential health and safety problems.

Planning will also begin on 60 more projects to be undertaken in coming years. There are 179 state parks and 35 historic sites in New York.

The funding includes $7.4 million in New York City, $11.3 million in the Capital Region and $7.9 million in the Finger Lakes. It also includes $13.2 million in the Hudson Valley; $10 million on Long Island, $4.8 million in the Mohawk Valley, $4.7 million in the North Country, $5.8 million in the Southern Tier and $16 million in western New York.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Tkaczyk introduces fracking waste legislation

Submitted by WNYT Staff

Wednesday, May 15th, 2013, 12:54pm

ALBANY - State Senator Cecilia Tkaczyk is pushing new legislation she says will protect New Yorkers from hazardous fracking waste products being shipped here.

High volume hydraulic fracturing is not legal here in New York State.

While two agencies, the Health Department and Department of Environmental Conservation continue to debate the possible health impacts of hydrofracking, Senator Cecilia Tkaczyk says the waste products from hydrofracking are being dumped here in New York State.

She says truck loads of it is coming from Pennsylvania and other states where hydrofracking is allowed.

Tens of thousands of tons have already been shipped into New York State.

Tkaczyk says the waste would likely qualify as hazardous but there's no way to check it because they're exempt from regulation right now.

She introduced legislation that would ban the dumping.

View Comments | Post a Comment

NTSB: drop BAC threshold from .08 to .05

Submitted by WNYT Staff

Tuesday, May 14th, 2013, 11:53pm

ALBANY - The National Transportation Safety Board said on Tuesday they intend to get tougher on drunk driving. With an ultimate goal of reaching zero alcohol related highway deaths, the NTSB proposed lowering the blood alcohol content to determine a drunk driver from .08 to .05.

More than 100 countries around the world have already adopted .05 as the legal standard. European nations that have done that have seen alcohol related fatalities more than cut in half.

Drunk driving kills 10,000 Americans every year. The NTSB thinks this country needs to do better.

"Alcohol impaired crashes are not accidents," says Deborah Hersman, chairman of the NTSB, "They are crimes."

View Comments | Post a Comment

Freeze warning puts some plant life at risk

Submitted by WNYT Staff

Monday, May 13th, 2013, 2:08pm

LATHAM - The freeze warning out Monday night can put some plant life at risk.

So, if you planted vegetables or some annual flowers, they need to be covered.

NewsChannel 13 stopped by Faddegon's Nursery in Latham to get some tips on the best way to protect your plants.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Mayor: Hudson only NY city running on 100 percent wind power

Submitted by WNYT Staff

Thursday, May 9th, 2013, 5:52pm

HUDSON - In Columbia County, the Mayor of Hudson says his city is now the only community in New York to be run on 100 percent local wind power.

It will be supplied through viridian energy.

The mayor says the move will save the city more than $41,000 over the next year and close to half a million over the next decade.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Cuomo pushes idea of sharing wealth of casinos

Submitted by WNYT Staff

Thursday, May 9th, 2013, 10:26am

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Gov. Andrew Cuomo wants any future new casinos to provide revenue to several counties surrounding each one, not just the county that's host to the facility.

View Comments | Post a Comment

NY Governor talks casino revenue sharing during tourism summit

Submitted by WNYT Staff

Wednesday, May 8th, 2013, 5:56pm

ALBANY - Several times during his summit with tourism leaders from around the state, Governor Cuomo encouraged counties and communities to work together in regional efforts to draw visitors. An idea that most embrace.

"I believe we'd be more effective if we had those counties really working together in a region, because most tourism, especially nowadays, is working region-wide, said Cuomo.

Several times during his summit with tourism leaders from around the state, Governor Cuomo encouraged counties and communities to work together in regional efforts to draw visitors. An idea that most embrace.

But when it comes to casino gaming, neighboring counties find themselves on opposite sides of an effort to land a full-fledged gambling hall.

View Comments | Post a Comment