Your Morning Edition for Tuesday, Feb. 25th presented by DiSanto Propane!

Report shines spotlight on NY's healthcare cost and quality, longtime Schuyler DA announces retirement, local community colleges get adult-learning funding, and Sectional hoops starts soon!

Feb 25, 2025

Report finds New York’s healthcare system among the most expensive in the US

A new report from the Community Service Society of New York finds that the state has the second-highest healthcare costs in the U.S., with hospital prices outpacing wages and inflation. Decades of deregulation and hospital consolidation have driven prices up, while access to quality care remains inconsistent, particularly in underserved communities. The report urges policymakers to implement cost controls, increase pricing transparency, and invest in primary care to address rising healthcare expenses and inequities.

Finger Lakes Forecast: We keep melting snow!

The Finger Lakes region will see periods of rain on Tuesday, with showers tapering off by late afternoon and highs reaching the upper 40s. Wednesday will be mostly cloudy with temperatures in the low 40s before another round of showers moves in Wednesday night. Thursday will bring a mix of clouds and scattered showers, followed by a colder shift Thursday night with lows dipping into the 20s. Snow showers are likely Friday as temperatures drop, with the chill continuing into the weekend and highs struggling to reach 30 by Sunday.

FL1 Weather Center

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

Cayuga, Finger Lakes, and Corning community colleges have received grants through Governor Kathy Hochul’s Adult Learner Leadership Initiative to support adult students pursuing degrees in high-demand fields. The funding, part of a broader effort to make community college tuition-free for New Yorkers aged 25-55, will help expand flexible course offerings, recognize prior learning experience, and improve academic support. Each college will develop action plans through the summer, with full implementation set for the fall 2025 semester.
Schuyler County District Attorney Joseph G. Fazzary has announced his retirement, ending a nearly 34-year career, including 28 years as the county’s top prosecutor. Fazzary, known for prosecuting high-profile cases and advocating for crime victims, will step down on December 31, with no immediate plans beyond spending time with family. Chief Assistant District Attorney Jeremy Hourihan is set to announce his plans for the upcoming DA election on February 26.
Beef & Brew, a long-standing restaurant in Geneva, has announced its permanent closure after being sold. In a heartfelt farewell message on Facebook, owner Michael Colvin and the team expressed gratitude to their loyal customers, calling the restaurant a beloved gathering place. While the future of the building remains uncertain, the owners assured that the community and friendships built over the years will live on.
Wells College has officially opened the bidding process for its 127-acre Aurora campus, with offers due by March 13. The sale follows the college’s closure after the 2023-24 academic year due to financial difficulties, with strong interest reported from potential buyers, including developers. The transaction will require approval from the state attorney general’s office.
A Sodus Point man was arrested on multiple felony charges after a hit-and-run in Ontario, according to the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies say Mark Wilson, 52, fled the scene after striking another vehicle in a Walgreens parking lot but was later found in Sodus and taken into custody. He faces charges of felony DWI and Aggravated Unlicensed Operation after allegedly refusing a breath test, with arraignment set for February 25.

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Wayne Co. woman charged after crash that resulted in one person being airlifted

A Wayne County woman has been charged with Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs following a June 2024 crash that seriously injured a passenger, authorities said. Deputies say Sarah Tuper, 33, failed to yield at an intersection in the Town of Rose, colliding with another vehicle and causing one occupant to be airlifted to Strong Hospital. Tuper is set to appear in Rose Town Court for arraignment on March 3.

NYSP issue cease-and-desist letters to striking prison guards

New York State Police have issued cease-and-desist orders to corrections officers at four prisons in response to an ongoing strike, citing violations of the Taylor Law. Workers argue the move is an illegal attempt to suppress union activity, as tensions escalate over longstanding concerns about working conditions. Union attorneys plan to challenge the orders in New York State Supreme Court while officers continue pushing for negotiations.