Regional Coverage

By Amy Cavalier

Syracuse – The Syracuse Peace Council is helping Syracuse-area youth speak out against a possible war in Iraq.

"Youth Empowerment for Peace", a group of eighteen Syracuse youth from four high schools, sponsored an educational program last night titled, "Behind the war; What youth need to know".

Andy Mager, co-coordinator of the Peace Council says young people have a role in addressing issues of war and peace and will feel the effects of a war in Iraq.

By Chris Ulanowski

WRVO – Family members of people who were imprisoned under New York's harsh Rockefeller-era drug laws are disappointed that the state legislature failed this year to reform the 30-year-old law.

But they're not giving up, according to this report from WRVO's Chris Ulanowski.

By Chris Ulanowski

WRVO – The Senate passed SONDA and Governor George Pataki signed it into law last night. It's the first time in the 31-year history of the bill that the measure has been allowed to go for a vote.

Yesterday, before the official votes were cast, WRVO's Chris Ulanowski asked Syracuse-area Republican John DeFrancisco how he planned to vote on SONDA and other matters before the State Senate.

By Amy Cavalier

WRVO – Retailers are counting on last minute and post-holiday shopping to bolster their bottom line.

WRVO's Amy Cavalier reports on the Retail Council of New York State's latest report on holiday shopping.

By Elizabeth Christensen

Syracuse, NY – Onondaga County finally has an indoor smoking policy.

An amended version of the Clean Indoor Air Act, also known as the Warner Winslow bill, was adopted by the full legislature yesterday.

The bill will prohibit smoking in public places such as restaurants, bars, and bowling alleys.

Smaller businesses, those with less than 50 seats, will be given 18 months to two years to comply with the new law.

By Chris Ulanowski

Albany, NY – The state's largest public employees union is getting out in front in the debate over the state budget.

New York is facing a budget deficit which could be as high as 10 billion dollars.

Civil Services Employees Association spokesman Stephen Madarasz says his union is worried that members will become "scapegoats" in budget deliberations.

He's scared that state employees will not get the pay raise they've been asking for.

By Chris Ulanowski

New York, New York – Governor Pataki has proposed borrowing four billion dollars from the state's tobacco settlement fund to help relieve New York's mounting fiscal crisis.

That has some fiscal conservatives fuming.

Chairman of the state's Conservative party, Michael Long, says using the tobacco money is wrong.

He says it will increase New York's indebtedness.

Long says the fiscal crisis will be solved in the long term by sound economic development initiatives, not by throwing money at the problem.

By Elizabeth Christensen

Albany, NY – A higher education advocacy group is releasing some information about the economic impact of private colleges on the towns where they're located.

It hopes the figures will encourage lawmakers to spend more on independent schools.

CLICK on the icon above to hear Elizabeth Christensen's full report.

By Elizabeth Christensen

Syracuse, NY – The Onondaga County legislature is expected to vote on an amended clean indoor air bill today.

The anti-smoking legislation passed two weeks ago was changed slightly after County Executive Nick Pirro threatened to veto the measure.

This time around, smaller businesses will be given longer to comply with the bill, which outlaws indoor smoking in public places.

By Karen Dewitt

Albany, NY – Despite New York's fiscal woes, the state's Board of Regent wants the legislature to spend more on education.

CLICK on the icon above to hear the full report from Capitol Bureau Correspondent Karen Dewitt.

By E.Christensen

CNY – The American Cancer Society has issued a report card giving New York State a "D" when it comes to clean indoor air legislation.

CLICK on the icon above to hear a full report from WRVO's Elizabeth Christensen.

By Amy Cavalier

WRVO – Oswego County Lawmakers reduced a proposed property tax hike from 26-percent to 19-percent at a budget meeting last night.

WRVO's Amy Cavalier has this report:

By Chris Ulanowski

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By Chris Ulanowski

WRVO – State and local officials across the nation are detailing how they will respond to the Bush Administration's plan to vaccinate a half-million health care workers against small pox. Health care workers would be among the first responders who would help protect the public against a bio-terror attack.

But New York's largest healthcare workers union, Local 11-99 of the Service Employees International Union, is raising some concerns that would apply to the general public as well.

By Elizabeth Christensen

Auburn, NY – The Seneca-Cayugas of Oklahoma say they will build a high stakes bingo hall in the town of Aurelius within one year.

But WRVO's Elizabeth Christensen reports that local officials think the tribe may be jumping the gun.

CLICK on the icon above to hear the full report.

By Chris Ulanowski

Oswego, NY – Almost a year-and-a-half since the 9/11 terror attacks, a comprehensive plan to protect the nation's nuclear industry has yet to be developed. Much of the planning would come from the recently created Homeland Security Department which still awaits Congressional Authorization to spend money. WRVO's Chris Ulanowski reports.

By Elizabeth Christensen

Manhattan – The Cayuga land claim case is heading back to court in Manhattan this morning.

The Second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is scheduled to hear arguments about the role of Seneca and Cayuga counties in the case.

The court will also decide whether 7,000 private landowners can name themselves as defendants.

Cayuga spokesman Clint Halftown calls the proceeding "another delay" in the case. He hopes the court will rule quickly so the land claim can proceed.

By E.Christensen

Syracuse, NY – An executive with the Pyramid Companies says the firm will phase in so-called "Green" power at the existing Carousel Center, even before construction on the Destiny USA project begins.

CLICK on the icon above to hear a full report from Elizabeth Christensen.

By Chris Ulanowski

Oswego, NY – Almost a year-and-a-half since the 9/11 terror attacks, a comprehensive plan to protect the nation's nuclear industry has yet to be developed. Much of the planning would come from the recently created Homeland Security Department which still awaits Congressional Authorization to spend money. WRVO's Chris Ulanowski reports.

By Chris Ulanowski

Oswego, NY – Almost a year-and-a-half since the 9/11 terror attacks, a comprehensive plan to protect the nation's nuclear industry has yet to be developed. Much of the planning would come from the recently created Homeland Security Department which still awaits Congressional Authorization to spend money. WRVO's Chris Ulanowski reports.

By Chris Ulanowski

Oswego, NY – Almost a year-and-a-half since the 9/11 terror attacks, a comprehensive plan to protect the nation's nuclear industry has yet to be developed. Much of the planning would come from the recently created Homeland Security Department which still awaits Congressional Authorization to spend money. WRVO's Chris Ulanowski reports.

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By Capitol Bureau Correspondent Karen Dewitt

Albany, NY – Governor Pataki has yet to address the state's budget crisis.

That has some groups worried that their programs may be slashed.

CLICK on the icon above to hear today's report from Karen Dewitt.

By Amy Cavalier

WRVO – Many people in Central New York will be getting real christmas trees in the coming weeks...and with Oswego County as the second largest supplier in the state, there should be plenty of trees to pick from.

But few people think of the hard work that goes into growing the perfect tree. WRVO's Amy Cavalier takes a look at the farmers who work year-round cultivating what has become a symbol of the holidays.

By Elizabeth Christensen

Buffalo, NY – Counties in New York State are struggling with rising medicaid costs.

One solution, proposd by Erie County Executive Joel Giambra, is to raise the statewide sales tax by one percent.

The state would then eat the cost of medicaid for the counties.

WRVO's Elizabeth Christensen reports that this proposal is getting mixed reviews.

CLICK on the icon above to hear the full report.

By Chris Ulanowski

Whitesboro, NY – The Oneida County village of Whitesboro is conducting a community image survey to allow the public to identify visual character and design preferences for the community. It's the first comprehensive planning review since 1979. WRVO's Chris Ulanowski speaks with Whitesboro planning board chairman Steve Cox.

By Elizabeth Christensen

Amsterdam, NY – Health officials in the Capitol Region are responding to the death of an Amsterdam High School junior from bacteral meningitis.

17 year old Matthew Martuscello died early Wednesday after contracting the disease on a band trip to California.

Fulton/Montgomery County Health Department officials are working with the Amsterdam School District to treat those who had close contact with Martuscello with a course of antibiotics.

By Amy Cavalier

WRVO – A team of State University Professors have been working with meteorological technology....tailoring it to help predict lake effect snow storms and their potential severity so the public can better prepare.

One of those professors is Robert Ballentine, an Associate Professor of Meteorology at SUNY Oswego. WRVO's Amy Cavalier has this report:

By Elizabeth Christensen

Amsterdam, NY – Health officials in the Capitol Region are responding to the death of an Amsterdam High School junior from bacteral meningitis.

17 year old Matthew Martuscello died early Wednesday after contracting the disease on a band trip to California.

Fulton/Montgomery County Health Department officials are working with the Amsterdam School District to treat those who had close contact with Martuscello with a course of antibiotics.