News

A New York congressman once again has introduced a bill concerning war powers.

Republican Congressman Chris Gibson has reintroduced the War Powers Reform Act, which amends the War Powers Resolution to clarify when the President needs congressional approval before deploying Armed Forces. Gibson, a retired Army colonel, says that over the past few decades, presidents of both parties have not complied with the provisions as originally intended. Vermont Democrat Peter Welch is one of the bill’s 30 co-sponsors. Gibson first introduced the War Powers Reform Act in 2011.

Old-fashioned mechanical lever voting machines have been replaced with electronic devices in most elections in New York since the Help America Vote Act in 2002. Many of the older devices are still in use in local elections, and advocates for the disabled are demanding change.

Some school and fire districts may still use older voting booths with levers - advocates for the disabled across New York are calling for the elimination of the old in favor of scanner machines that "read" votes marked on special forms

The Quebec Minister of International Relations was on the SUNY Plattsburgh campus this afternoon to talk about the partnership between the Canadian province and New York State.

Heroin deaths and overdoses surged in Massachusetts in December following a decline during the summer

State Police reported 114 suspected opioid deaths in Massachusetts last month, almost double the number from November.  The figures do not include suspected drug-related deaths in the state’s three-largest cities.   Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Karen Polito said the administration will announce a plan within a week or two to tackle the crisis.

A freshman New York state senator is pushing forward with what he said was a priority if elected – beating back the scourge of the heroin epidemic. He is unveiling his plan this evening in Westchester County.

Republican state Senator Terrence Murphy will be at Mount Pleasant Town Hall in Westchester to roll out his agenda for stemming the heroin epidemic.

The maneuvering for the next Speaker of the New York State Assembly is going on largely behind the scenes, and government reform groups say that’s the wrong way to begin a new era in what’s been called "the people’s house."  They’ve asked the announced candidates to commit to an open process, and want an answer before the weekend.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is adopting new grading standards for maple syrup to match international standards. Maple producers say it’s needed so that consumers have a better understanding of what they are buying.

The Baker Administration is seeking to strengthen ties between state government and local municipalities in Massachusetts.

       Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, who is the administration’s primary liaison to cities and towns, began a statewide tour Thursday to visit mayors and other officials.  Her first stop: Holyoke City Hall for a meeting with Mayor Alex Morse.  She offered assurances that when the administration takes steps within days to close a projected $765 million state budget gap, cities and towns will not be burdened.

Meteorologist Garett Argianas delivers the evening weather forecast for Thursday, January 29, 2015.

Some newer Assemblymembers are using the selection of a new Assembly Speaker to push for change, and have written a letter to the candidates vying to replace Sheldon Silver.

Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara, along with more than 20 other more recently elected Democrats, are credited with helping push Speaker Silver out of his leadership post, when long time veteran members initially resisted.

Santabarbara says ideas include whether there should be limits on how long someone can be speaker. Silver held the post for 21 years before his arrest on corruption charges.