News

By Elizabeth Christensen

Fulton, NY – The building that has housed the Nestle plant in Fulton for 102 years will be put on the market soon.

Nestle officials plan to meet with a corporate realtor in the next few weeks. Their goal is to sell the structure as soon as possible.

The company also announced that fifty of it's most senior workers will be the first to lose their jobs as the company slows production at the Fulton plant. Those workers volunteered for an early-out.

By Elizabeth Christensen

Syracuse, NY – A judge has ruled that the Syracuse Catholic Diocese must release personnel records in the sexual misconduct case of Monsignor Charles Sewall.

State Supreme Court Judge John Grow says the Diocese must release the documents to the judge in the case. That judge will then decide what to show prosecuting attorneys.

The lawyer representing the three men who accuse Sewall of sexual misconduct accused the Syracuse Diocese of stalling the case earlier this week.

By Elizabeth Christensen

Liverpool, NY –
Amateur Repeater clubs from all over the state staked out bridges and Thruway overpasses last night, making sure that pranksters didn't throw pumpkins and other objects down onto passing motorists.

Bob Hamby, Pumpkin Patrol Director for the Liverpool Amateur Repeater club, says a thrown pumpkin can cause serious damage to a vehicle traveling at highway speed.

He says the HAM operators don't apprehend potential vandals, but they are in constant contact with New York State Troopers on patrol.

By Elizabeth Christensen

Syracuse, NY – More than 100 airport screeners graduated from months of training at Hancock International Airport in Syracuse yesterday.

Gary Milano, the Transportation Security Administration's director at Hancock, says the training was intense. The screeners learned to identify objects in x-ray machines.

These screeners are among the first to go through training and be qualified as federal security employees.

By Elizabeth Christensen

Albany, NY – An anti-gambling coalition will be allowed to go ahead with their lawsuit challenging a state law that would greatly expand gaming in New York.

Supreme Court Justice Joseph Teresi says the law, which, among other thing, would allow video slots at horse racing tracks, is "ripe for judicial review."

By Elizabeth Christensen

Vernon, NY – The Oneida Indian Nation has spent the past few weeks "getting out the vote."

Last week, they held a voter registration day for all employees. That event resulted in 100 new voters.

The Nation has also been holding informational meetings, examining where certain candidates stand on issues related to the Oneida Nation and it's enterprises.

By Alessandra Messore

New York – November 1st marks the one year anniversary of a law that bans motorists from using a hand held cellular device while driving.

A spokesman for New York State police, Troop D, says officers have seen a marked decline in drivers on cell phones.

The New York State police say at least 16,000 motorists have been ticketed for cell phone violations.

By Elizabeth Christensen

Albany, NY – Although Winter doesn't officially begin until December 21st, much of Upstate New York will get a taste of the season today.

Ironically, Governor Pataki has designated next week as Winter Preparedness week.

The New York State Department of Emergency Managment has some tips on preparing for wintry conditions:

1. Have a professional check your furnace, woodstove, and chimney to make sure there are no fire hazards.

2. Replace all batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

By Elizabeth Christensen

Albany, NY –
A Marist College poll of likely voters shows Governor Pataki with a mammoth lead over Democrat Carl McCall and Independence Party candidate Thomas GOlisano.

Pataki leads McCall by at least 20 points.

The governor leads Golisano by 30 percentage points.

Still, Pataki says he won't rest on his laurels.

He continues to tour the state, talking with union leaders today.

By Elizabeth Christensen

Albany, NY –
A Marist College poll of likely voters shows Governor Pataki with a mammoth lead over Democrat Carl McCall and Independence Party candidate Thomas GOlisano.

Pataki leads McCall by at least 20 points.

The governor leads Golisano by 30 percentage points.

Still, Pataki says he won't rest on his laurels.

He continues to tour the state, talking with union leaders today.

By Elizabeth Christensen

Albany, NY – Don't be surprised if you don't see as many trick or treaters as you used to.

An Albany Times Union Poll shows that many parents are opting out of traditional trick or treating excursions. Instead, parents are taking their children to parties, community center haunted houses, and malls that offer safe trick-or-treat programs.

Some towns are limiting trick or treat hours. One southern tier town has decided to put a 9 p.m. curfew on trick ot treaters this year.