Judges could remain on the state court of appeals, until they turn 80 years old if New York voters approve a referendum November 5th to increase the age limit by a decade. The constitutional amendment would also extend the mandatory retirement age for New York’s main trial court to 80. The state Senate voted 54-9 and the Assembly 117-25 to advance the proposal.
——————–
New York regulators said four insurers would pay $2.2 million in restitution to over 3,400 seniors across the state because of overcharges on their policies. The Department of Financial Services said the refunds are for Medicare supplemental insurance and average $624 per policyholder. The department investigation showed the companies failed to comply with New York’s requirement they spend most premiums on medical bills instead of administrative expenses or profits. The insurers are American Progressive Life and Health Insurance Co, Excellus Health Plan, First United American Life Insurance Co and Transamerica Financial Life Insurance Co. Distribution will begin Sept. 30th.
—————————
The New York attorney general’s office is sponsoring a statewide gun buyback program where people can turn in weapons for debit cards. Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said the program aims to remove firearms from places where the guns can be stolen or misused. Officials will begin accepting unloaded working and broken guns in Binghamton and other locations in the state in the coming weeks. More information is available at oag.state.ny.us
——————-
Governor Cuomo signed a bill to restore up to $90 million for programs for the developmentally disabled. Earlier this year, lawmakers had agreed to a plan from Cuomo to cut $90 million in funds for the disabled. The cut was needed to help make up for an unexpected $1.1 billion bill from federal government in healthcare costs, but the agreement drew criticism from the disabled community. The governor charged a work group made up of some of the providers and state officials to address the $90 million; they came up with $40 million in savings through audits. The other $50 million in savings will come from program reductions spread out over time.
————————–
The Chenango county sheriff’s department investigated a motor vehicle accident on state highway 41 in the town of Greene Thursday afternoon at about 2:30 PM. 23-year-old Sean Urich of Little Falls was ticketed for moving from a lane unsafely lost control of the tractor-trailer, & the vehicle overturned onto the shoulder. Urich was airlifted to Wilson Hospital in Johnson City, with lower back *& shoulder injuries.
—————————–
Delaware County Deputies observed 58 year old Cindy Prosser of Oxford traveling South on State Hwy 10 in the Town of Hamden with a flat tire. Upon conducting a traffic stop Prosser was arrested for Driving While Intoxicated. Prosser was released and is to re-appear in the Town of Hamden Court at a later time.
————————
State troopers arrested 49-year-old Bert Dorfman of Binghamton for criminal possession of a controlled substance, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, operating without insurance and suspended registration. The arrest occurred in the town of Dickinson, where a trooper was advised by his license plate reader that a passing motorist had a suspended registration. Dorfman had no valid insurance and had a suspended driver license and registration, upon arrest, he was also found to be in possession of a crack pipe with crack cocaine residue. Dorfman was issued tickets returnable to the Dickinson court on October 8, 2013.
—————————