Your Morning Edition for Tuesday, April 29th presented by DiSanto Propane!
Getting your day started with the biggest stories from across the Finger Lakes! State budget, Auburn construction site accident, Wayne Co. teen shot in Rochester, and more!
New York State has a budget … finally!
Governor Kathy Hochul and New York lawmakers have finalized a $254 billion Fiscal Year 2026 budget focused on tax relief, public safety, education, and climate action. The plan includes a $1 billion middle-class tax cut, expanded child tax credits, and inflation relief checks, potentially saving families up to $5,000. It boosts funding for mental health services, school meals, gun violence prevention, and infrastructure while banning smartphone use in classrooms and speculative home purchases by private equity firms. Hochul framed the budget as a reflection of shared values and forward momentum amid federal gridlock.
Finger Lakes Forecast: Severe weather threat today
A powerful line of thunderstorms is expected to sweep across Western New York and the Finger Lakes this afternoon and evening, posing a significant threat of damaging straight-line winds. The National Weather Service in Buffalo warned of an “Enhanced Risk for Severe Weather” as a cold front moves into the region. The strongest storms are likely to develop between 5 p.m. and 11 p.m., following an earlier round of less intense convection late this morning.
Fast 5: What’s happening in the Finger Lakes?
A 15-year-old girl from Wayne County is recovering after being shot early Monday on East Ridge Road in Rochester. Police found evidence of gunfire just after midnight, and the teen later arrived at a hospital with a non-life-threatening injury. During the response, officers arrested 20-year-old D’Adrian Tucker for carrying a loaded ghost gun, though his arrest was unrelated to the shooting. The incident remains under investigation, and authorities are asking anyone with information to contact 911 or Crime Stoppers.
Fabsite Industries has been fined more than $7,000 after a fatal construction accident in Auburn last November. An employee died when a saw kicked back while cutting granite curbs at the Cayuga Museum of History & Art. OSHA cited the company for failing to ensure a safe workplace and exposing workers to hazardous silica dust, with both fines later reduced in settlements. The incident happened during work on the West End Arts Campus, which is set to open May 2.
An attorney representing opponents of the Seneca Meadows landfill expansion is urging New York State to delay its environmental review decision. Doug Zamelis says the draft review fails to address Local Law 3-2016, which bans waste disposal in Seneca Falls after 2025. With the state’s highest court recently upholding that law, Zamelis argues the proposal conflicts with local regulations and climate goals. He’s calling for a formal adjudicatory hearing to examine the landfill’s potential environmental and community impacts.
CMAC in Canandaigua is preparing for a blockbuster 2025 concert season, with several shows already sold out and a star-studded lineup on the way. The venue, recently nominated for Outdoor Venue of the Year, will host big names like The Killers, Hozier, Kane Brown, and Brad Paisley. Promoters credit the Finger Lakes atmosphere and new partner The Bowery Presents for attracting top talent. With more acts to be announced, CMAC is poised for one of its most successful summers yet.
Cannabis-related emergency room visits in New York rose 131% from 2019 to 2023, totaling over 135,000 cases last year. The increase followed the 2021 legalization of recreational marijuana and has been linked to the proliferation of illegal dispensaries and easy access to high-potency products. Health experts warn of serious risks, including heart attacks and strokes, especially among frequent users. Despite efforts by Governor Hochul’s administration to curb unlicensed sales, the long-term public health effects remain uncertain as legal dispensaries expand.
BILLS WEEKLY: 2025 Draft recap
