Your Morning Edition for Saturday, August 17th presented by Riccelli Northern!

Greenidge sues DEC over closure demand, Wayne County drops hotel tax, Wells College stakeholders claim unfair labor practices, and plaza update in Geneva.

Greenidge sues DEC in Yates County seeking injunction to block enforcement of order to close Dresden power plant

Greenidge Generation LLC sued the state Department of Environmental Conservation in Yates County Thursday in an effort to block the agency’s order to close its Dresden power plant by Sept. 9. The company, which operates a Bitcoin mining facility at the plant, had vowed since May to seek a state court injunction to annul the agency’s denial of Greenidge’s bid to renew its Title V air permit.

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FLX Forecast: What to expect today?

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Fast 5: What’s happening in the Finger Lakes?

1. NO TAX: Wayne County’s recently adopted 5% occupancy tax on hotels and short-term rentals is likely to be repealed before it was ever enforced. Initially passed last December to boost tourism funding, the tax faced backlash from lodging operators who claimed they were unaware of the new law and requested a delay in its March 1 start date.

2. PLAZA UNCERTAINTY: Geneva’s struggling Town & Country Plaza may see a revival as a new owner, Starwood Property Trust, takes over the site. The shopping center on Hamilton Street has faced a decline in recent years, losing several tenants, including Geneva MoviePlex 8 in March.

3. TRAFFIC CHANGE: Motorists in downtown Canandaigua will need to adjust to new traffic patterns. The changes took effect yesterday, as Phoenix Street became a one-way eastbound from South Main to Mill Street, while Coach Street converted to a one-way westbound from South Main to nearby public parking lots.

4. LANDFILL REPORT: A crucial study on the future of the Ontario County Landfill is set to go public on August 23, following its review by the Board of Supervisors. The draft, compiled by MSW Consultants of Florida, spans 400 pages and provides key data to guide the board’s decision on whether to close the 389-acre landfill in the Town of Seneca by 2028.

5. CLOSURE CONTROVERSY: Contingent faculty members at Wells College, represented by SEIU Local 200United, have filed an unfair labor practice charge against the college with the National Labor Relations Board. The charge comes after the college’s administration allegedly refused to provide critical financial information needed for ongoing negotiations, further intensifying the fallout from the institution’s abrupt closure.

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Seneca County Sheriff’s Office promotes investigator, welcomes new officers

The Seneca County Sheriff’s Office celebrated the promotion of one member and the addition of four new officers during a swearing-in ceremony on August 15 at the Law Enforcement Center. Family, friends, and fellow officers gathered to honor the occasion.

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MORE LOCAL HEADLINES: What Else Is Happening?

• Finger Lakes organization to lead health workforce training in 18 counties

• Seneca Lake Resorts to host free country jamboree with live music and local eats

• Wheels on the Seneca car show returns to benefit local vets

• Seneca County Sheriff’s Office hosts safety training for daycare providers

• Symposium to spotlight Seneca Lake’s water quality challenges

• Hochul orders emergency declarations in Ontario, Schuyler, and Yates counties to expedite storm recovery

• Livingston County Sheriff’s Office seeks new recruits for deputy positions

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AROUND THE US & WORLD: Beyond the Finger Lakes

• Gov. Hochul to speak at Democratic National Convention in Chicago

• Seneca Foods reports modest sales increase, margin pressure in Q1

• CDC links multi-state salmonella outbreak to cucumbers from Florida

• Study reveals sleep’s role in resetting neurons for new learning

• Schumer announces historic Medicare drug price reductions for New York seniors

• Buying premium interior doors: a guide to buying in Toronto

• Harris leads Trump in perceived honesty and discipline, poll shows

• Arizona and Missouri join five other states in putting abortion rights on the ballot in November