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Merry Christmas: NY Lawmakers To Become Highest Paid In US After Approving Raise Merry Christmas: NY Lawmakers To Become Highest Paid In US After Approving Raise
Merry Christmas: NY Lawmakers To Become Highest Paid In US After Approving Raise New York State lawmakers have voted to give themselves a significant pay raise days before Christmas, a move that would make them the highest paid in the country. Meeting for a special session in Albany on Thursday, Dec. 22, the legislature approved a bill that raises member pay by $32,000, bringing their total annual compensation to $142,000, beginning in 2023. The final vote in the Senate was 33 to 23 in favor, and 81 to 52 in the Assembly, WRGB reports. Every Republican in the Assembly voted against the pay hike. If the bill becomes law, it would also cap how much legislators can make…

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by Michael Mashburn
Weather
Here Are Latest Projected Snowfall Totals As Storm System Moves Through Region Here Are Latest Projected Snowfall Totals As Storm System Moves Through Region
Here Are Latest Projected Snowfall Totals As Storm System Moves Through Region New projected snowfall totals have been released as a storm system moves through the Northeast on Sunday, Dec. 11 with up to a half-foot of accumulation possible in some interior areas in New York and Connecticut mainly north of Interstate 84. The latest projected accumulation totals are shown in the first image above from AccuWeather.com with areas in light blue expected to see 1 to 3 inches of snowfall, and 3 to 6 inches forecast for areas in darker blue. Parts of New York State north of I-84 and northern Connecticut could see 4 to 6 inches of snowfall, while areas in northern Connecticut…

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by Joe Lombardi
Weather
Some Areas Could See Up To Half-Foot Of Snowfall From Storm System Headed To Region Some Areas Could See Up To Half-Foot Of Snowfall From Storm System Headed To Region
Some Areas Could See Up To Half-Foot Of Snowfall From Storm System Headed To Region Updated story: Projected Snowfall Totals Increase For Parts Of Region As Storm System Moves In A storm system that will sweep through the Northeast could bring up to a half-foot of snowfall to some interior areas in the region the second half of the weekend, according to the National Weather Service. The system is on track for Sunday, Dec. 11. Projected accumulation totals are shown in the first image above from AccuWeather.com with areas in light blue expected to see 1 to 3 inches of snowfall, and 3 to 6 inches forecast for areas in darker blue. Parts of New York State north of I-84…

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by Joe Lombardi
Sports
High School Girls Wrestling, Fast-Growing Nationwide, Now Emerging In NY High School Girls Wrestling, Fast-Growing Nationwide, Now Emerging In NY
High School Girls Wrestling, Fast-Growing Nationwide, Now Emerging In NY After much effort, girls wrestling at the high school level is becoming more popular in New York State. In a report from D1 Women's Wrestling for Thanksgiving 2022, the sport has been given an "emerging sport" status in New York State, along with four other states.  "There is no denying that opportunities at the high school level are at an all-time high," the organization said in a post from Monday, Nov. 21, also listing 36 states as "fully sanctioned," which means they hold approved official championships for Girls Wrestling.  "We LOVE seeing NY in purple on this chart. Nex…

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by Ben Crnic
News
New York State Collects $542M In Mobile Sports Betting Tax Revenue In Less Than 10 Months New York State Collects $542M In Mobile Sports Betting Tax Revenue In Less Than 10 Months
New York State Collects $542M In Mobile Sports Betting Tax Revenue In Less Than 10 Months New York State has collected more than half a billion dollars in mobile sports betting tax revenue since it became available in the state in January. As of the week that ended on Sunday, Oct. 30, the State collected $542 million in taxes, surpassing all other states across the country, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Wednesday, Nov. 9. Hochul said the State also collected an addition $200 million in licensing fees, generating more than $740 million in revenue, which is mainly set to be used for education. "By bringing sports wagering to New York, we have not only opened the door to responsi…

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by Nicole Valinote
Business
Report Cites 'Dramatic' Increase In Film, TV Productions Outside NYC, Including Hudson Valley Report Cites 'Dramatic' Increase In Film, TV Productions Outside NYC, Including Hudson Valley
Report Cites 'Dramatic' Increase In Film, TV Productions Outside NYC, Including Hudson Valley New York State is quickly becoming a regular Hollywood East. The Empire State is seeing a “dramatic” increase in the number of television and film productions that are opting to shoot outside of New York City, Variety reports. The hit HBO series The Gilded Age, Hulu’s The Ultimate Playlist of Noise, and Netflix’s Things Heard and Seen are just some of the many productions that have filmed scenes around New York State in recent months. Variety cited several factors that are enticing productions away from the Big Apple, including an “abundance” of well-preserved 19th century architecture in …

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Officials Announce Plans To Bring National Offshore Wind Training Center To Suffolk County Officials Announce Plans To Bring National Offshore Wind Training Center To Suffolk County
Officials Announce Plans To Bring National Offshore Wind Training Center To Suffolk County State officials announced plans to bring a National Offshore Wind Training Center to Long Island. Gov. Kathy Hochul and Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone announced the land transfer between New York State and Suffolk County for the center on Thursday, Oct. 20. "Next year, we'll all be back for the ribbon cutting," she said. "When we open next October, the training center will be housed in the future Brentwood Community Center. Finally, get that one finished. Let's get that done. It'll be a one-stop shop for training, development, and education in Brentwood." The governo…

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by Nicole Valinote
News
Drought Watch Remains In Effect For These NY Counties Drought Watch Remains In Effect For These NY Counties
Drought Watch Remains In Effect For These NY Counties Drought conditions have improved in New York State since the summer but a drought watch remains in effect in seven counties. The State's Drought Management Task Force updated the drought status to "Normal" from "Drought Watch" for multiple regions including most of upstate New York because of recent rainfall and higher levels of ground and surface water.  "Despite the encouraging hydrological conditions, all New Yorkers are urged to continue reducing unnecessary water waste, fixing leaks, and choosing efficient water fixtures," the New York State Department of Environmental Conservatio…

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by Joe Lombardi
Politics
Brand-New Poll Reveals Shift In NYers' Consumer Sentiment Brand-New Poll Reveals Shift In NYers' Consumer Sentiment
Brand-New Poll Reveals Shift In NYers' Consumer Sentiment New Yorkers are feeling more optimistic about the economy, according to a new Siena College poll released Wednesday, Sept. 14. The New York State Index of Consumer Sentiment was up 9.1 points to 70.8 in the third quarter of 2022, the poll found. That’s 12.6 points above the nation’s Index of 58.2. The current index rose nearly 12 points from the previous quarter to 64.1 and the future index increased nearly eight points from 67.6 to 75.2, researchers found. Future confidence in the state is 17.2 points higher than the nation’s 58.0. “New Yorkers’ collective sentiment continues to o…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Construction Begins On $9.5 Billion 'New Terminal One' At JFK Airport Construction Begins On $9.5 Billion 'New Terminal One' At JFK Airport
Construction Begins On $9.5 Billion 'New Terminal One' At JFK Airport Construction is now underway on a $9.5 billion, 2.4 million-square-foot terminal at John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens. Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the groundbreaking for the New Terminal One on Thursday, Sept. 8. "Our state-of-the-art renovations of New York State's airports are critical and long overdue - especially at JFK, the nation's front door to the world," Hochul said. "The investments we are making today will ensure all New Yorkers, and the tens of millions of people who come here every year, have a first-class travel experience tomorrow - all while creating more than …

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by Nicole Valinote
Business
New Bed Bath & Beyond Store Closures Include Westchester Location New Bed Bath & Beyond Store Closures Include Westchester Location
New Bed Bath & Beyond Store Closures Include Westchester Location Struggling home goods retailer Bed Bath & Beyond has announced 56 new store closures that it says will be implemented by the end of the calendar year. The closure list includes five locations in New York State: Nassau County: 251 Airport Plaza Blvd., Farmingdale  Orange County: Orange Plaza 470 Route 211 East, Wallkill Westchester County: 500 East Sandford Blvd., Mount Vernon Oneida County: 4805 Commercial Drive, New Hartford  Clinton County: 73 Centre Drive, Suite 100 Plattsburgh  The company is due to report its results for the second quarter later this …

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by Joe Lombardi
Schools
COVID-19: 'No More Quarantining,' Hochul Says, Outlining New Guidelines For NY Schools COVID-19: 'No More Quarantining,' Hochul Says, Outlining New Guidelines For NY Schools
Covid-19: 'No More Quarantining,' Hochul Says, Outlining New Guidelines For NY Schools Schools across New York State will ease their COVID-19 restrictions this fall to be more in line with federal guidelines, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced. During a public health briefing in New York City Monday, Aug. 22, Hochul said the state health department will advise school districts to enact new measures that are meant to keep kids in the classroom. Earlier Report: COVID-19: CDC Announces Sweeping New Guidance, Including For Schools, Quarantines That includes ending the “test to stay” policy, which previously required that students who had close contact with COVID-19 show a negative tes…

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by Michael Mashburn