MORNING EDITION: Monday, April 25th
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Get caught up in under 60 seconds with the biggest stories and media that matters from the FingerLakes1.com Team. Our weekday newsletter gives you the biggest headlines, most recent podcasts and interviews, and so much more.
Organizers react to Geneva City Council’s vote not to appeal judge’s decision that invalidated Police Review Board
On Wednesday, April 20, the Geneva City Council voted 5-4 not to appeal a judge’s decision that struck down the city’s Police Review Board (PRB). This decision is much to the dismay- but not surprise- of organizers and PRB members. The now-invalidated PRB came to fruition with the passage of Local Law 1-2021. Despite holding their first meeting in late June 2021, the PRB never heard a case.
Researchers will present analysis of nearly 4,000 public comments on Greenidge air permit
After FOILing for the comments, researchers used text analysis to find that at least 98% of the public comments are opposed to Greenidge, a peaker plant converted to a 24/7 Bitcoin mine by the Connecticut-based private equity firm that owns it. Researchers will provide anonymized sample comments consistent with NYS FOIL laws, and a demonstration of their simple-to-understand technology and methodology.
Legenday Cornell lacrosse coach Richie Moran dead at 85
Legendary Cornell men’s lacrosse coach Richie Moran died Sunday. He was 85. A University Tweet said “The greatest of ambassadors of Cornell Men’s Lacrosse, Cornell University, and the Ithaca community. The world of lacrosse, and all of us, mourns the loss of legendary coach and mentor Richie Moran. Coach passed away early this afternoon. We’ll miss him forever.” Moran led the Big Red to NCAA national championships in 1971, 1976 and 1977 and his teams won 42 straight games in the ’70s, still an NCAA record.
On Earth Day, USDA announces $800 million in climate-smart rural infrastructure
On Earth Day, the US Department of Agriculture announced $800 million dollars for climate-smart rural infrastructure. Reporter Rod Bain reports from Washington. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing nearly $800 million in climate-smart infrastructure (PDF, 587 KB) in 40 states, Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands.
CDC lists 23 New York counties as high risk for COVID-19, recommends indoor masking
The CDC encourages people to wear masks in those counties, which include Cayuga, Onondaga, Ontario, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Tioga, Wayne and Yates. 17 more counties, including Livingston and Wyoming are in the medium risk category.
Varick to consider short-term vacation rental regulations
The Town Board will hold a public hearing on the proposed law May 7 at the town offices. With the rise of services such as Airbnb, homeowners near the Finger Lakes are increasingly renting their properties for vacation use. In some cases, that’s led to complaints from neighbors about increased noise and traffic.
In the wake of complaints, Hornell imposes four dog limit per household
In response to what city officials say is an increasing number of complaints about large numbers of dogs living in poor conditions, residents will only be allowed to keep four dogs over the age of four months per household, beginning May 18. Households with more than four dogs now will be exempt, as long as all the dogs are licensed. Proof of vaccination is required at the time of licensing. Licenses are available at the City Clerk’s office during regular business hours.
Wayne County accepting applications for Farmworker Housing Program
Wayne County is home to thousands of acres of active farms and farmland that require in-person labor to prune, prepare, plant, maintain and harvest crops and animal products. Farmers in the region often supply housing for such farmworkers on site, either seasonal or year-round, depending on the nature of their business. The New York State Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program is offering new funding through the federal CARES act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security). The program specifically targets mobile-manufactured home replacement for farmworker housing.
Ovid Street temporarily closed after Friday afternoon kitchen fire in Seneca Falls
Police say there were no injuries reported after a structure fire on Friday. Around 4:52 p.m. Seneca County 911 received a report of a residential structure fire at 92 Ovid Street. Police responded along with the Seneca Falls Fire Department. Mutual aid was called in from Waterloo, Fayette, and Aurelius.
UR Medicine Orthopaedics & Physical Performance opens in Canandaigua
UR Medicine Orthopaedics & Physical Performance provides 15,000 surgeries and 220,000 outpatient visits to patients throughout western New York each year. It offers inpatient and outpatient orthopaedic care at Thompson Hospital, as well as numerous UR Medicine hospitals and clinics in Rochester and the Southern Tier. The Main Street Canandaigua outpatient clinic expands Canandaigua-area patients’ options for specialty outpatient care close to home.
Cayuga County Legislature Democrats favor plan to shrink legislature to 11 members
The Citizen reports the caucus, made up of Christina Calarco, Elane Daly, Aileen McNabb-Coleman, Brian Muldrow, Heidi Nightengale and independent Tricia Kerr, issued a statement Thursday in support of the plan to shrink the legislature. In its announcement, the caucus said reducing the number of members “can result in appropriate legislative participation and representation.” District lines must be redrawn every ten years following the federal census, with each district roughly equal in population.