News

NY Gov. Cuomo proposes cheaper sportsmen licenses

Thursday, February 21st, 2013, 12:52pm

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Gov. Andrew Cuomo proposes cutting the price of hunting and fishing licenses in New York in an effort to boost the economy.

Cuomo, a recreational angler and sometime hunter, says Wednesday that he would reduce the fishing license for New Yorkers from $29 to $25 and let the license stay in effect for a full year, instead of expiring at the end of the season.

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Survey finds 2.2M-plus users of 14 NY state trails

Submitted by WNYT Staff

Thursday, February 21st, 2013, 10:16am

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - A first-of-its-kind survey estimates more than 2.2 million cyclists and pedestrians are using 14 of New York state's most popular trails each year.

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USDA: Number of farms in NY was unchanged in 2012

Submitted by WNYT Staff

Thursday, February 21st, 2013, 10:11am

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Federal officials say the number of farms in New York remained unchanged last year.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says the state had about 36,000 farms last year with about 7 million acres in use.

Farms with sales of more than $500,000 grew by 100 to 1,900, those with sales between $250,000 and $499,999 remained at 1,300 and smaller farms with sales between $100,000 and $249,999 rose by 300 to 3,500.

There were 11,300 farms with sales under $100,000, up from 10,800 in 2011.

The agency says there were about 2.2 million farms in the U.S., down 11,630 last year.

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Minimum wage game changed when NY lawmakers return

Submitted by WNYT Staff

Wednesday, February 20th, 2013, 12:51pm

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - When New York legislators return to Albany next week, they will face new challenges in the proposal to raise the state's minimum wage.

The current minimum wage is $7.25 an hour. Gov. Andrew Cuomo proposes raising that to $8.75 an hour, while Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver wants it raised to $8.50 then linked to inflation.

But a year's worth of rallying and negotiations has at least been given pause now that President Barack Obama has proposed raising the federal minimum wage to $9 an hour.

The battle in New York will be in the Senate. Republicans who share control of the majority want to see how Obama's effort fares first.

Cuomo also prefers a nationwide minimum wage increase so states are not pitted against each other.

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NYS Association of Puerto Rican Legislatures breakfast held

Submitted by WNYT Staff

Tuesday, February 19th, 2013, 2:52pm

This weekend the annual conference of the New York State Association of Black and Puerto Rican legislators was held in Albany.

Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli kicked things off Saturday morning at a breakfast held at the Hotel Albany.

There was a full schedule of seminars and workshops.

Saturday was also a chance for New Yorkers to find out if they are owed some of the state's $12 billion in unclaimed funds.

New Yorkers can also check for unclaimed funds HERE, or by calling 1-800-221-9311.

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Gillibrand, Tonko push Made in America Manufacturing Act

Submitted by WNYT Staff

Monday, February 18th, 2013, 7:10pm

EAST GREENBUSH - They're calling it Made in America; it’s a new push to bring more manufacturing jobs back to the Capital Region.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Congressman Paul Tonko held a news conference Monday morning to talk about the new effort.

Those lawmakers are proposing legislation that would create a competition for federal funding that they say would spark growth and train workers with much needed skills.

Senator Gillibrand and Congressman Tonko met with local leaders at XOS in East Greenbush, a manufacturer of equipment that analyzes products like toys and clean fuels.

They say it's an example of a company that could benefit from the Made in America Manufacturing Act.

It would award competitive funding for companies that strategize with other stakeholders to expand plus give them direct access to low interest loans

The legislation would also create job training programs.

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NY handgun licensees can file privacy form

Submitted by WNYT Staff

Monday, February 18th, 2013, 6:31pm

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - New York's licensed handgun owners can keep their information private using a new form from State Police.

The forms, available online, should be submitted at county offices where pistol owners registered.

They can exempt their information from the state Freedom of Information Law, which some newspapers have used to identify owners.

The exemption provision was included in the state's gun control law enacted Jan. 15. It requires stating a reason for the exemption, though it also says they will be granted unless the filing was untimely or the information false.

Under the law, all current licensing information will be exempt from disclosure until May 15.