(Crouch 5-21-14)

Brittany’s Law has advanced in the Senate in each of the last 4 years, it is named after 12 year old Brittany Passalacqua who was murdered in 2009 in Geneva, by John Edward Brown, who was on parole after serving time for violently assaulting his infant daughter, Brittany’s family was unaware of his violent history.

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All area school Budget votes and assorted propositions passed around the tri-County region yesterday. The state education department noted that 97% of district proposed budgets at or below the state’s property tax cap, and close to that percentage passed. Unadilla Valley Voters elected Victoria Gregory, Richard Potter and Kimberly Murray to school board, Oneonta District voters elected Amy Burnsworth and Daniel Buttermann to the school Board to 3-year terms.

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Long time general Clinton canoe regatta participant Dave Price is being elected to the Regatta Hall of Fame on Saturday, for his contributions to the Clinton since the late 60’s. Price was asked if there was a moment along the way containing special memories:

(Dave Price 5-21-14)

Price has been a Regatta committee member and 2 time chairman, he helped initiate the famous “700-Mile Club” & he will be the Race starter in Cooperstown for the 37th time on Memorial Day.

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State lawmakers & advocates for the disabled are pushing legislation to change the “Handicapped” sign picture and also remove the word “Handicapped” from those signs. Advocates claim the word is outdated & offensive; the new sign would portray a person in a wheelchair in motion. Bills have been introduced in the Assembly & the Senate, however its unclear if the proposal will be voted on before the end of the session in mid-June.

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Former Governor David Paterson will take over as chairman of the state Democratic Party, as party leaders from across New York kick off their convention today on Long Island. Paterson became governor in 2008 when Governor Eliot Spitzer resigned following a prostitution scandal. Democrats will begin nominating their statewide ticket today; a new poll shows their candidates with commanding leads.

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The state health department is releasing a “Youth Sexual Health Plan” to address HIV, sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy prevention. The health department said the plan is a guide to ensure that age-appropriate, medically accurate and unbiased sexual education programs are available to all youth. Goals include reducing teen pregnancy; providing HIV and STD screening through school-based centers; increasing access to contraception services; and promoting healthy and safe relationships and decision-making. The plan can be viewed at health.ny.gov

(John Harmon 5-12-14)

Other inductees along with Dave Price & Ed Ray are Paddlers Gary Aprea, Willis Hackett, Jeff Kolka & Blaise St. Pierre.

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State Police arrested 41-year-old Albert Schultes of Windsor for driving with a blood alcohol content of more than four times the legal limit. Schultes was charged with Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated, with a BAC result of .35.   Police said the arrest followed a motor vehicle accident investigation on Cresson Hill Road in Windsor; Schultes was arraigned in the Town of Windsor Court and remanded to the Broome County Jail in lieu of $2,500 cash bail.

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Yonkers Republican John Cahill announced his intentions to run for the state Attorney General position this year, against incumbent Democrat Eric Schneiderman. Cahill formerly served as a top aide to former Governor George Pataki, who joined Cahill at his press conference yesterday.

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Governor Cuomo signed legislation that adds an additional 5 days to the period to gather signatures for designating petitions for the 2014 State and local primary elections. The extension takes into account the time for a Jewish festival, and helps ensure that all interested New Yorkers may participate in the State’s political process. Extending the deadline moves the first day to sign up to May 29th, 42 days before the day to file candidate petitions.

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US Senator Charles Schumer is pushing a plan in the Senate that would allow undergraduate borrowers, with outstanding student loan debt, to refinance at today’s lower rates. Schumer outlined the proposal at Hofstra University today. The Bipartisan Student Loan Certainty Act of 2013 set the undergraduate student loan interest rate at 3.86 percent for the 2013-2014 school year. But he said borrowers who took out loans before 2013 are paying nearly 7 percent or higher. Schumer announced new legislation that will allow them to pay back their outstanding loans at the same rates as new borrowers

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New York State a new scholarship program for those who seek degrees and jobs in a STEM field. The New York State STEM Incentive Program will pay the full, 4-year undergraduate tuition for high school seniors who graduate in the top 10% of their class, and enroll at any State University of New York college campus. Scholarship recipients will have to work in a STEM field, science, technology, engineering or math. Applications are due August 15th; more information is available at HESC.ny.gov.

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State lawmakers are looking at whether to include electronic cigarettes in the state’s indoor public smoking ban. The Senate Health Committee is holding a hearing on the matter today. The panel will consider whether the existing ban on public indoor smoking should be applied to e-cigarettes, and review current regulations on liquid nicotine, which is used in the devices. The committee will take testimony from supporters and opponents of increased regulations

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The Unatego Central School District will hold the annual school budget hearing tonight at 7pm at the school in Wells Bridge. The public is welcome

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