WAMC Northeast Report on WAMC

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has taken his new tax-free plan for businesses on the road. He was in the Hudson Valley today, touting his plan to allow new businesses to operate tax-free on SUNY campuses across New York.

One day after first introducing the plan at several stops across the state, Cuomo was back at it Thursday, delivering a speech at the State University of New York at New Paltz, which would be one of the 64 SUNY campuses statewide designated as tax–free for new businesses.

He says 55 of the 64 campuses are in upstate New York.

Burlington, Vermont Mayor Miro Weinberger announced the permanent appointment of Gene Richards as Director of Aviation at the Burlington International Airport. Essentially the airport manager, Richards moves into the position after 10 months as interim director.

At a meeting of the Massachusetts Governor’s Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Advisory Council in Pittsfield today, resigning Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray said that the collaborative work done between the public and private sector to strengthen students’ opportunities in the STEM fields must continue in his absence. 

There were some tense moments Thursday on an area college campus.  The College of Saint Rose campus in downtown Albany was locked down for close to an hour after someone reported seeing a gunman enter a school building. School officials released a terse text alert, and many students took to Twitter, worried that more bad news was imminent.

Meteorologist Garett Argianas has a look at the evening's weather outlook for Thursday, May 23, 2013 -  as well as a peak into the weekend weather picture. 

The Lake George Park Commission held the first of two public hearings on its draft aquatic invasive species prevention plan Tuesday afternoon. While most who attended expressed support, some are concerned about how the plan could affect boaters’ access to the lake.

Governor Cuomo, who still has not issued a decision on whether hydro fracking should be allowed in New York,  is backing further away from the controversial gas drilling process in his economic development plans for the future.  

Two years ago, Governor Cuomo considered hydro fracking a key component of his plans for economic development in the faltering upstate regions of the state. 

The body of a Berkshire County native killed in Afghanistan earlier this month was welcomed home by supporters who lined the streets of downtown Pittsfield.

The body of 24-year old U.S. Army Specialist Mitchell Daehling arrived Wednesday morning at Barens Air National Guard Airport in Westfield, and shortly after 10:30 was transported through downtown Pittsfield to the Dery Funeral Home.

A long line of supporters gathered along South Street and North Street, many holding American flags.

Today’s word of the day on Sesame Street was champion. I know because I watched it with my three year old Elliot. They talked about what it means to be a champion, at least in the context of life sized muppets and their human friends. As a guest on the show, LA Clippers forward Blake Griffin contested a muppet chicken in a rooster calling contest. And, spoiler alert, Blake won. So he was the champion.