MORNING EDITION: Geneva votes not to appeal PRB decision, Wayne Chair Ken Miller resigns
Major headlines around the region. Let's get caught up in under 60 seconds.
Welcome to your Morning Edition for Thursday, April 21st. It’s another busy day in the FingerLakes1.com newsroom — with breaking news out of the city of Geneva, and updates on several important stories from around the region.
Geneva City Council votes not to appeal judge’s decision to strike down Police Review Board
The Geneva City Council voted 5-4 not to appeal a state judge’s decision to strike down the City of Geneva’s Police Review Board (PRB). Mayor Steve Valentino cast the tiebreaker vote. Community leaders, including former members of the PRB, gathered at Jordan Hall on Wednesday for a joint press conference held before the council’s meeting.
Wayne County Supervisors chair Ken Miller to resign
Miller has informed the board he will resign, effective May 1. Miller, the Palmyra Town Supervisor, took a 30-day “Family Leave of Absence” after an incident in March in which Miller was found unconscious on the floor of his home, apparently from alcohol intoxication, following a welfare check when Miller failed to show up for a board meeting.
FLX WEEKLY: Gabrielle Sinicropi and Three Brothers Winery (podcast)
Box truck driver ran into NYSEG pole after brakes failed in effort to avoid hurting people
Upon arrival Officers shut down the area of E. State St between Seneca way and Stewart Ave. According to the driver of the truck, his brakes failed coming down E. State St. In order to avoid hurting anyone down the hill, he attempted to stop his vehicle by running into the NYSEG pole.
How does New York’s cannabis licensing rollout compare to other states?
New York State has lagged behind other states like New Jersey in its rollout of legal retail marijuana sales. New York has yet to hand out retail licenses, opting to grant growing licenses to hemp farmers first. Hemp plants grown this summer are anticipated to be available for purchase no sooner than the end of this year, much to the disappoint of New Yorkers eager to buy legal recreational marijuana.
American Rescue Plan Act: What does it mean for local governments?
Most local governments have received their first deposit of funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The second payment, set to be disbursed this spring, will round out your community’s total allocation.
Millions coming to counties in the Finger Lakes through opioid settlement
In 2022, the Finger Lakes region will receive a total of $9 million, with more than $5.5 million going to Monroe County and more than $390,000 going to Rochester. These funds are the result of the $1.5 billion that Attorney General James has secured so far for New York state as a result of settlements with the manufacturers and distributors of opioids. All 62 counties and the five largest cities in the state will begin receiving funds this week, which will be used for opioid treatment and prevention efforts. The Finger Lakes region will receive up to $53 million in total over the years as part of these settlements.
School board updates district safety plan following April 1 incident at Red Jacket High School
The Manchester-Shortsville School Board unveiled some planned changes on Wednesday following an incident earlier this month where a Red Jacket High School student brought a loaded handgun to school. The board’s meeting was packed with parents, some of whom offered heavy criticism to the board for cutting certain safety measures out of the school budget prior to the incident at Red Jacket on April 1.
Car crashes into Kinney Drugs in Seneca Falls
Firefighters were called to Kinney Drugs in Seneca Falls after a car went through the building. Around 7 p.m. on Tuesday firefighters were called along with police and North Seneca Ambulance. The building suffered serious damage in the crash.
National Grid: Power restored for 90% of Upstate New York customers
National Grid released a statement saying power has been restored for 90% of Upstate New York customers following a severe weather event earlier this week. The company said about 221,000 Upstate customers lost power this week. Wind gusts were upwards of 50 miles per hour and brought 18 inches of snow to some areas.
New York State Court of Appeals to decide if district maps will be redrawn, primary elections pushed back
The state Supreme Court’s Appellate Division in Rochester heard oral arguments from lawyers representing Democrat and Republican state lawmakers on Wednesday, April 20, according to Albany Times-Union. The issue of potentially redrawing district maps will ultimately be addressed by the state Court of Appeals.
Cayuga County public defenders join statewide symbolic boycott over wages, caseloads
Cayuga County attorneys are joining other assigned counsel and public defenders across New York to protest heavy caseloads and stagnant rates through a symbolic boycott. From Monday, April 18 through Wednesday, April 20, members of Cayuga County’s panel for assigned counsel are not taking on new clients. Attorneys across the state are participating in the boycott during the same period.
Comptroller DiNapoli finds $965M in billing errors in state Medicaid system
The audit found that the state Department of Health (DOH) made $965 million worth of payments to providers and facilities not approved to treat Medicaid patients, according to News10 NBC. The state’s Medicaid program assists low-income and special needs New Yorkers.
Social Security: Scammers posing as local cops, conning residents into paying them
Authorities in Ithaca are warning residents about a scam involving the Social Security Administration. According to police, IPD has learned about individuals claiming to be from the U.S. Inspector General’s Office contacting Tompkins County residents claiming they owe money to the Social Security Administration.