School district residents head to the polls Tuesday

Monday, May 20th, 2013, 6:24pm

SOUTH COLONIE- "The old axiom no news is good news, I guess we're living with that right now," said Tim Kremer, Executive Director of the New York State School Boards Association.

No news, Kremer said, meaning no outcries or big rallies against proposed school budget votes slated for tomorrow. A far cry from last year, when the property tax cap went into effect, leading to lay-offs, program cuts and school closures.

"There have been cuts and such, but slowly we're creeping back. Last year we got state aid, this year we get additional state aid of a billion dollars," he said.

But the increase wasn't enough for South Colonie schools, which is putting a budget before voters that exceeds the cap. The tax levy increase of 4.98% closes an eight-million-dollar gap, reduces spending and combines modified sports. It also cuts 90-95 positions.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Summer Geocache Challenge at NYS Parks

Submitted by Andrew Murphy, Web Producer

Monday, May 20th, 2013, 8:01am

SARATOGA SPRINGS - The Saratoga/Capital District region of New York State Parks will be hosting 50 all new geocaches in 16 state parks and historic sites.

There will also be a drawing for prizes for anyone who completes 35 of the 50.

The geocache challenge will begin on Memorial Day Weekend and will last until Veterans Day.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Assem. Lopez says he's stepping down Monday

Submitted by WNYT Staff

Saturday, May 18th, 2013, 10:15pm

Embattled Assemblyman Vito Lopez is stepping down on Monday amid sexual harassment allegations. The move comes before expulsion procedures against him were to begin.

Vito Lopez's resignation came in the form of a letter to Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver early Saturday morning. He simply said he was stepping down effective 9:00am Monday.

Hours earlier the Brooklyn Assemblyman released a statement saying he would leave at the end of session on June 20th.

Lopez had been under mounting pressure from both sides of the aisle to take a hike after two of his female staffers accused him of sexual harassment. Then two reports, one from a downstate special prosecutor - the other from the Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) - revealed the allegations in detail.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Alpin Haus fire ruled suspicious

Submitted by WNYT Staff

Friday, May 17th, 2013, 1:01pm

AMSTERDAM - Montgomery County investigators say a fire at Alpin Haus earlier this month is suspicious.

The fire at the store’s Route 5S location destroyed two motor homes and a travel trailer.

Authorities say the fire started in a customer's RV that had been brought in for service.

Police tell us there was no power running to the vehicle.

The store was closed and the motor homes were in a fenced-in lot that only employees can access.

A $1,000 reward is being offered for the arrest and conviction in the case.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Community Sponsors

Eric Limon

Wedding Photographer

2nd Annual Pet Food Drive Held

Submitted by Andrew Murphy, Web Producer

Friday, May 17th, 2013, 9:43am

On Saturday, May 18, The Cat 98.5 FM, Oldies 93.5 FM, and WHUC 1230 AM will be hosting the 2nd Annual Dog and Cat Food Drive to support the Columbia-Greene Humane Society’s Food Bank.

The drive will be held at the Hudson Wal-Mart Supercenter, located at 460 Fairview Avenue in Greenport from 9-3 p.m..

View Comments | Post a Comment

Free cancer screenings for woman 40+

Submitted by Andrew Murphy, Web Producer

Friday, May 17th, 2013, 9:32am

AMSTERDAM – St. Mary’s Healthcare services and Nathan Littauer Hospital will be holding free cancer screenings on Monday, June 17.

The free cancers screening are provided by the Cancer Services Program of Fulton and Montgomery Counties.

The screenings are for women who are 40 and older who don’t have health insurance. The screenings may include mammograms, breast and pelvic exams pap tests and colorectal cancer screenings.

The screening at St. Mary’s is from 4-6 p.m. and the screening at Nathan Littauer is from 1-3:30 p.m.

Pre-registration is required. To pre-register, please call, 518-841-3726.

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