Your Morning Edition for Monday, Mar. 10th presented by DiSanto Propane!
Prison workers head back to work, NYS groups prep farmers for avian flu, Yates Legislature meets today, Hochul faces budget deadline, and Phelps Town Board to talk water projects!
NYS group helps farmworkers prepare for impacts of avian flu
A New York farmworker advocacy group, Alianza Agricola, is working to educate dairy workers on the risks of avian flu as the virus spreads among poultry and wild animals. With little workplace training provided, the group has distributed educational materials and conducted outreach to help protect farmworkers, who are at the highest risk of exposure. Amid growing concerns over immigration enforcement, organizers also aim to support workers facing increased ICE raids while continuing efforts to improve workplace conditions and safety.
Finger Lakes Forecast: Getting mild this week!
The Finger Lakes region will start the week with sunny skies and mild temperatures, reaching a high of 56 today. A warming trend continues Tuesday, with highs near 63, but increasing clouds and gusty winds may bring a slight chance of showers. Temperatures cool midweek, with highs around 40 on Wednesday and a chance of rain and snow showers overnight before warming back into the 50s on Thursday. The weekend will be breezy and warm, with highs reaching the upper 60s before widespread rain arrives Saturday night into Sunday.
Fast 5: What’s happening in the Finger Lakes?
The Yates County Legislature will vote today on resolutions concerning opioid settlement funds, infrastructure projects, and law enforcement agreements at its 1 p.m. meeting in Penn Yan. Lawmakers will consider contracts supporting addiction recovery services, approve bids for highway materials, and vote on hiring a heavy equipment operator. The agenda also includes renewing a jail identification technology contract, an inmate-holding agreement with Ontario County, and a proclamation for Vietnam Veterans Day on March 29.
Gov. Kathy Hochul faces a budget battle as she works to finalize a $252 billion state spending plan before the April 1 deadline, with lawmakers preparing counterproposals. Key disputes include school funding, congestion pricing, and Hochul’s plan to redistribute sales tax revenue through personal checks. Meanwhile, negotiations over MTA funding, prison reforms, and the impact of federal layoffs add further complexity to the budget process.
The Phelps Town Board will discuss ongoing water projects, a proposed Route 96/488 water district extension, and the construction of a new cold storage building at its Tuesday meeting. Resolutions include authorizing a contract for the Route 96 Booster Station Project and approving a Water Department equipment purchase. A special meeting on March 25 will feature a public hearing on the water district extension, with virtual attendance options available.
Victor residents may challenge the Village Board’s approval of a $142,000 mini-excavator purchase through a permissive referendum, requiring a petition within 30 days to force a public vote. The purchase was authorized through a fund transfer on March 3, but opponents have until early April to submit objections. Meanwhile, the village will hold a public hearing on its 2025-2026 budget on March 17, with proposed salaries for elected officials included in the spending plan.
Most striking New York correction officers are expected to return to work Monday under a new agreement with the state’s Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS). The deal reduces mandatory 24-hour overtime, temporarily rolls back parts of the HALT Act, and establishes a committee to address prison safety concerns. However, some officers remain on strike ahead of a Tuesday Taylor Law hearing, as lawmakers caution that broader legislative changes remain uncertain.
Josh Allen gets major contract extension with Bills
Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills have agreed to a record-setting six-year, $330 million contract extension through 2030, including $250 million guaranteed—the largest guaranteed total in NFL history. The deal follows Allen’s MVP-winning 2024 season, where he led the Bills to a 13-4 record and their fifth straight AFC East title while setting multiple records. With 262 total touchdowns and 30,595 total yards in his first seven seasons, Allen continues to cement his legacy as one of the league’s elite quarterbacks.
MORE SPORTS FROM THE WEEKEND
THE RUNDOWN: 10 MORE FROM AROUND THE FLX!
Sewage spill impacts Red Creek after pipeline rupture in Walworth
University of Rochester announces 2025-26 tuition rates: Undergrad rises to over $69K per year
Hochul warns of worsening Long Island brush fires, criticizes federal funding cuts
Gorham man arrested for criminal mischief after property damage