Lake Champlain ferry re-opens between Vermont, New York

There’s another option for commuters traveling between Vermont and New York around the now-demolished Lake Champlain bridge.

The Lake Champlain Transportation Company resumed ferry service this week between Charlotte, Vermont and Essex, New York.

The ferry closed last month because of ice on Lake Champlain.

The New York State Department of Transportation says the plan is to run the ferry weekdays until April 5, at which point the service will run all week, including Saturdays and Sundays.

The Charlotte-Essex ferry is in addition to 24-hour ferry service between the two states at the site of the bridge between Addison, Vermont and Crown Point, which was imploded in December.

Construction on a new bridge is due to begin later this year.

-The Associated Press, 3-24-10

Census: Growth in NYC area, declines upstate

New Census estimates show growth in the New York City region over the last decade and a continuing exodus from some upstate areas.

The population estimates come as Census 2010 begins and give a sense of what that official count could show for New York.

The Census reports that 19.5 million people lived in New York on July 1, 2009, up by more that a half-million since Census 2000. New York City accounted for most of that increase, though Long Island and suburban Hudson Valley counties also grew.

The story was different for many upstate areas, which have been suffering population losses for decades. The Census reports losses in rural counties like Hamilton County, which lost 8.4 percent of its population.

The estimates were released Tuesday.

Army unit plans flight training on Whiteface Mountain

The Army’s 10th Mountain Division Airborne unit plans to use Whiteface Mountain to train for helicopter flights in the rugged mountains of Afghanistan.

The unit from Fort Drum has filed a public notice of the planned training missions from early April to mid-May. Army helicopters would practice landing and taking off from the mountain’s summit and two sites along the Whiteface Veteran’s Memorial Highway in up to 22 missions per week, Monday through Thursday.

Fort Drum has prepared an Environmental Assessment for the proposed operations and is accepting public comments through March 31. The document is available for review at the public libraries in Lake Placid and Wilmington.

John Sheehan of the Adirondack Council environmental group says the training plan was drawn up with input from his group and others, and has their support.

-The Associated Press, 3-22-10

Senator: New York to get billions under new health bill

Sen. Charles Schumer says increased Medicaid reimbursement in the reconciliation health care bill proposed in Washington would save New York billions of dollars over the next 10 years.

Gov. David Paterson says the change is critical as the state addresses projected multibillion dollar deficits.

Schumer pushed for the change that would increase the reimbursement New York and 11 more states get from the federal government for Medicaid coverage of the poor.

Currently, the state gets 50 percent back, but under the agreement announced Thursday the reimbursement will rise to 75 percent in 2014 and 93 percent five years later.

The reconciliation bill is the result of negotiations from an original health care overhaul bill to an agreement between the House and Senate.

-The Associated Press, 3-22-10

Reports: State police called to Peru Middle School

            Just days after police reported a thwarted attack at the Saranac High School, reports indicate troopers were called to the Peru middle School Thursday morning after a student was caught possessing what appeared to be a weapon.

            In a press release issued by the school, it’s stated that a resource officer assigned to the middle school received a report of student misconduct.

            Officials say two students were questioned regarding the incident – both brought prohibited items on campus. One student brought what officials believe was a weapon.

            No injuries were reported. The school is working with Plattsburgh-based state police to ensure the school is safe for students.

            -Chris Morris, 3-19-10

Gillibrand: Ignoring Census 2010 can cost New York

Saying New York lost out on $3.6 billion in federal aid since the 2000 Census because of undercounts, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is urging New Yorkers to take part in this year’s count.

Gillibrand says the state paid a price this past decade after some 200,000 New Yorkers did not send back their Census forms. New York’s official population count in 2000 was just under 19 million.

The number of New Yorkers is expected to be higher in Census 2010.

Gillibrand says it’s critical that the government captures a “true picture” of New York to ensure the state gets its fair share of federal resources, including educational, health care, and public safety services.

NY governor starts delaying tax refund payments

Gov. David Paterson is delaying state income tax refunds by about two weeks for hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers to make sure the state has enough cash on hand to meet financial obligations.

The state limits the amount of tax refunds it pays in the first three months of the year to $1.75 billion. Paterson reduced that cap to $1.25 billion because the state must roll about $2 billion into next year's budget to close the current budget gap.

Delaying payments until April 1 will allow the state to avoid paying out about $500 million immediately. The average state income tax return is about $1,000 and takes about three to four weeks to arrive.

The people affected are those who filed in late February and in early March. They'll have to wait about six weeks.

-The Associated Press, 3-18-10

Mumps cases reported at SUNY Plattsburgh, vaccine clinics scheduled

Associated Press - March 17, 2010 3:05 AM ET

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (AP) - State health officials say three cases of mumps have been confirmed at the State University of New York in Plattsburgh.

They say that all students who haven't had two doses of mumps vaccine should be excluded from returning to school from spring break until they're fully vaccinated.

Innoculation clinics have been scheduled for today -- Wednesday -- and Monday on a walk-in basis at the university health center.

Symptoms of mumps include fever, headache, muscle weakness and loss of appetite along with the characteristic swelling and tenderness in salivary glands. It rarely leads to serious complications.

Officials say they haven't found any connection to an outbreak of mumps that began last summer in Orange and Rockland.

Police: Scary situation avoided at Saranac High School

            Law enforcement and school officials say a student has been expelled from an area high school after it was revealed she planning an attack at the school.

            Plattsburgh-based state police received reports of a potential threat at the Saranac High School last Thursday.

Troopers say the school has a resource officer who launched an immediate investigation while school officials – quote – “simultaneously took proactive measures to assure the safety of the students and the faculty.”

According to school officials, the juvenile student made remarks to other students referring to an attack she was planning. A subsequent investigation revealed the student did make comments referring to an attack – but the plan was never put in motion.

In a release issued by state police Tuesday, it’s stated the student did no possess any weapons or have access to them.

Some reports say the student had established a “hit list” – although officials say the investigation has not turned up such a list.

“At no time during this incident was anyone in any danger, nor was anyone put in harm’s way,” the police report reads.

Police say the girl is currently being held in the mental health unit at the Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital. She has been expelled from the school.

The investigation is considered ongoing.

-Chris Morris, 3-17-10

Former waterfront manager suing city of Burlington

The city of Burlington's former waterfront manager is suing the city for what he calls "outrageous and unreasonable" conduct in suspending him and later firing him.

In a suit filed in Chittenden County Superior Court, Adam Cate says the actions taken against him were "solely for political reasons."

Cate was suspended in June 2008 with pay while the city investigated allegations he had improperly read another employee's e-mail and embezzled city money. No evidence of embezzlement was found, but he acknowledged he read an e-mail exchange between other city officials.

Cate was fired in October 2008, but reinstated. He was fired again last April.

The Burlington Free Press said Cate is seeking damages and attorneys' fees.

-The Associated Press, 3-17-10

New system lets NYers track sex offenders

A new system allows New Yorkers to sign up for alerts when moderate and high-risk sex offenders move into or out of a community.

The state Division of Criminal Justice Services system allows New Yorkers to flag communities of interest to their family and then get alerts by a phone, e-mail, text message or fax. They can sign up for notices involving three communities at once.

There are more than 30,000 registered sex offenders living in the state.

The alerts will be carried by the State Emergency Management Services system.

More information about signing up is at the criminal justice services Web site: http://www.criminaljustice.state.ny.us.

The system announced Monday was created in a law passed last year.

-The Associated Press, 3-15-10

Soda tax proposal falling flat among NY lawmakers

A proposed new tax on sugary drinks appears unlikely to pass the state Senate, despite passionate campaigning by New York Gov. David Paterson and his health commissioner.

Supporters have pushed the tax as a way to combat obesity while bolstering funding for state health programs. But a number of Democratic senators are opposed, along with the entire Republican conference. With a 31-30 Democrat-Republican split in the chamber, the measure isn't expected to draw the minimum 32 votes needed for passage.

The proposal would add an 18 percent tax to the price of soda and sugary drinks with less than 70 percent fruit juice. It's been projected to generate $1 billion in revenue over two years and reduce consumption of the drinks by 5 percent.

-The Associated Press, 3-15-10