Legislative Gazette Top Stories http://www.legislativegazette.com Linear Publishing/RSS Generator 2.0 Fri, 24 May 2013 01:16:38 EST Members of the New York State Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus, along with Vocal NY, rallied at the Million Dollar Staircase in the Capitol Wednesday to protest current stop-and-frisk practices and push for a bill that would decriminalize small amounts of marijuana. http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2013-05-22-83872.113122-Decriminalize-small-amounts-of-marijuana-end-stopandfrisks-say-Black-and-Latino-lawmakers.html http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2013-05-22-83872.113122-Decriminalize-small-amounts-of-marijuana-end-stopandfrisks-say-Black-and-Latino-lawmakers.html A third rally to protest the New York SAFE Act was held in East Capitol park Tuesday, wrapping up a postcard signing effort to support Assembly bill A. http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2013-05-22-83871.113122-Third-antiSAFE-Act-rally-held-in-Capitol-park.html http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2013-05-22-83871.113122-Third-antiSAFE-Act-rally-held-in-Capitol-park.html Lawmakers are hoping to reduce the number of human trafficking victims in New York state by passing a bill that would improve the state's laws and increase the accountability of traffickers and buyers. http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2013-05-21-83856.113122-Lawmakers-hope-to-reduce-human-trafficking.html http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2013-05-21-83856.113122-Lawmakers-hope-to-reduce-human-trafficking.html New Yorkers from across the state - including hundreds of doctors, nurses, patients, labor unions, community organizations, faith groups, and seniors - delivered 10,000 signatures supporting a single-payer health care bill sponsored by Assemblyman Richard Gottfried, D-Manhattan, and Sen. http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2013-05-21-83855.113122-10000-signatures-for-universal-health-care.html http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2013-05-21-83855.113122-10000-signatures-for-universal-health-care.html Gov. Andrew Cuomo met with chiefs from the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Council to sign an agreement giving the Mohawks exclusivity for casino gaming in northern New York, following suit with the Oneidas in central New York who reached a similar agreement last week. http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2013-05-21-83854.113122-Cuomo-strikes-deal-with-Mohawks-on-casino-exclusivity.html http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2013-05-21-83854.113122-Cuomo-strikes-deal-with-Mohawks-on-casino-exclusivity.html Two names were added to the "Tree of Life" Memorial Tuesday to commemorate fallen EMS personal during a dedication ceremony at the Empire State Plaza. http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2013-05-21-83853.113122-EMTs-honored-at-Plaza-ceremony.html http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2013-05-21-83853.113122-EMTs-honored-at-Plaza-ceremony.html Hannah's law, a bill named after an eight-year-old girl and sponsored by Sen. Greg Ball, R-Patterson, passed the Senate unanimously and was delivered to the Assembly earlier this month. http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2013-05-20-83845.113122-Ball-Paulin-hope-colleagues-will-support-Hannahs-Law.html http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2013-05-20-83845.113122-Ball-Paulin-hope-colleagues-will-support-Hannahs-Law.html Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced last week that New York's smoke-free areas will be expanded to state parks and historic sites to allow New Yorkers and visitors the enjoyment of clean air without secondhand smoke. http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2013-05-20-83844.113122-Another-spring-another-state-parks-smoking-fight.html http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2013-05-20-83844.113122-Another-spring-another-state-parks-smoking-fight.html Justice is served once again for New Yorkers. Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, who recently secured a total of $167,850 in fines from 25 gas stations for price gouging customers in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, obtained a court order to shut down a fraudulent breast cancer charity he says defrauded donors of nearly $10 million and only paid for 40 mammograms in a span of seven years. http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2013-05-20-83843.113122-AG-Schneiderman-shuts-down-phony-breast-cancer-charity.html http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2013-05-20-83843.113122-AG-Schneiderman-shuts-down-phony-breast-cancer-charity.html Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings announced last Wednesday that he will not be seeking re-election and at the moment he has no immediate future political plans. http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2013-05-20-83842.113122-Albanys-Mayor-Jennings-handing-over-the-reins.html http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2013-05-20-83842.113122-Albanys-Mayor-Jennings-handing-over-the-reins.html Gov. Andrew Cuomo has announced a complete restructuring of Long Island's power utility following the lackluster response by the Long Island Power Authority in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy last fall. http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2013-05-20-83841.113122-New-plan-for-future-of-LIs-power-utility.html http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2013-05-20-83841.113122-New-plan-for-future-of-LIs-power-utility.html Moms for a Non-Toxic New York are calling on the Senate to pass the Child Safe Products Act (S.4614/A.6328) that aims to identify and restrict toxic chemicals in children's products. http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2013-05-20-83840.113122-Moms-calling-for-Child-Safe-Products-Act.html http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2013-05-20-83840.113122-Moms-calling-for-Child-Safe-Products-Act.html Gov. Andrew Cuomo proposed at least $80 million in state aid to help New York cities and counties escape a decades-long cycle of higher taxes and reduced services in the face of rising public payroll costs and dwindling populations. http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2013-05-20-83839.113122-Local-leaders-sound-off-on-restructuring-board-proposal.html http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2013-05-20-83839.113122-Local-leaders-sound-off-on-restructuring-board-proposal.html The New York State Common Retirement Fund is valued at $106.4 billion as of March 31 - its highest value ever, with an average rate of return of 10.38 percent for the 2012-2013 fiscal year. http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2013-05-20-83838.113122-Retirement-fund-at-record-high.html http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2013-05-20-83838.113122-Retirement-fund-at-record-high.html Gov. Andrew Cuomo is proposing to set aside $80 million to fund restructuring plans for local governments that are struggling financially. The plan includes a Financial Restructuring Board that will collaborate with the "fiscally distressed" governments, primarily in upstate New York, to better manage their finances. http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2013-05-20-83837.113122-Cuomo-proposes-restructuring-plan-for-local-governments.html http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2013-05-20-83837.113122-Cuomo-proposes-restructuring-plan-for-local-governments.html The actions of now infamous Dr. Kermit Gosnell are raising concern within the realm of New York's abortion debate following his conviction last week of murdering three babies, born alive in his Philadelphia clinic. http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2013-05-20-83836.113122-Gosnell-case-infiltrates-NY-abortion-debate.html http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2013-05-20-83836.113122-Gosnell-case-infiltrates-NY-abortion-debate.html In an e-mail sent to reporters and constituents by Sen. Ruben Diaz, D-Bronx, titled "My Two Cents on Election Reform," Diaz says he feels the pressure to support Gov. http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2013-05-20-83835.113122-Diaz-floats-alternative-to-campaign-finance-reform.html http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2013-05-20-83835.113122-Diaz-floats-alternative-to-campaign-finance-reform.html The New York Association for Pupil Transportation voiced their support for legislation (S.5028) that would allow the installation and use of stop arm cameras on school buses. http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2013-05-13-83761.113122-Sen-Young-wants-cameras-on-school-buses-to-prosecute-dangerous-drivers.html http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2013-05-13-83761.113122-Sen-Young-wants-cameras-on-school-buses-to-prosecute-dangerous-drivers.html A bill banning the sale, purchase and transportation of shark fins passed the Assembly May 6 following the Senate passage three weeks ago. While shark finning is illegal in U. http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2013-05-13-83758.113122-Shark-fin-bill-passes-Legislature.html http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2013-05-13-83758.113122-Shark-fin-bill-passes-Legislature.html Lt. Michael J. Chiapperini of the Webster Police Department, also a volunteer fireman, was killed as he responded to a fire in Webster, Monroe County, on December 24, 2012. http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2013-05-13-83756.113122-16-heroes-added-to-police-memorial.html http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2013-05-13-83756.113122-16-heroes-added-to-police-memorial.html Former state Senate Minority Leader Sen. John Sampson, D-Brooklyn, pleaded not guilty to charges of embezzlement, obstruction of justice and making false statements to the FBI during a court appearance in Brooklyn last week. http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2013-05-13-83755.113122-Docs-reveal-prolonged-effort-to-coverup-crimes.html http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2013-05-13-83755.113122-Docs-reveal-prolonged-effort-to-coverup-crimes.html The New York Public Interest Research Group found more than 100,000 violations of New York state's campaign finance system - all in just the last two years. http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2013-05-13-83754.113122-NYPIRG-100000-campaign-violations-in-2-years.html http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2013-05-13-83754.113122-NYPIRG-100000-campaign-violations-in-2-years.html By TG BRANFALT Jr Gazette staff writer Dozens of protestors filled the hallway of the Capitol with chants of "let the people in" during a Senate hearing on public financing of elections after they were barred from entering the public hearing. http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2013-05-13-83753.113122-Fair-Elections-Act-passes-Assembly.html http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2013-05-13-83753.113122-Fair-Elections-Act-passes-Assembly.html It has been a rough month for New York state legislators. First came the arrest of Sen. Malcolm Smith, D-Hollis, and the arrest of Assemblyman Eric Stevenson, D-Bronx, in early April. http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2013-05-13-83749.113122-More-lawmakers-might-be-under-federal-investigation.html http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2013-05-13-83749.113122-More-lawmakers-might-be-under-federal-investigation.html Gov. Andrew Cuomo hosted New York's first ever Tourism Summit last Wednesday and announced $60 million in funding for a tourism campaign set to take effect immediately to promote New York state attractions. http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2013-05-13-83747.113122-Governor-hears-from-tourism-experts-at-Albany-summit.html http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2013-05-13-83747.113122-Governor-hears-from-tourism-experts-at-Albany-summit.html