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North Country Leader

Wednesday, December 25, 2024

Local Government News

Local Government

Senator Mark Walczyk returns from Middle East deployment

Senator Mark Walczyk, who serves as a Captain in the US Army Reserve, has returned home after being deployed to the Middle East for 290 days.

By North Country Leader | Dec 17, 2024

Local Government

Assembly examines college capital funding challenges

The New York State Assembly Higher Education Committee recently convened to address the capital funding needs of higher education institutions in the state, including SUNY, CUNY, and independent private colleges.

By North Country Leader | Dec 4, 2024

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Local Government

Library construction funding announced for 116th Assembly District

By North Country Leader | Sep 25, 2024

Assemblyman Scott Gray has announced funding for public libraries in the 116th Assembly District through the New York State Education Department’s State Aid for Library Construction program.

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Local Government

Federal aid approved for New York counties after Hurricane Beryl

By North Country Leader | Aug 30, 2024

Last month, severe storms caused significant damage in Lewis and St. Lawrence counties due to Hurricane Beryl.

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Local Government

Assemblyman Gray hosts 'Day on The Water' honoring disability support organizations

By North Country Leader | Aug 14, 2024

Assemblyman Scott Gray (R-Watertown) hosted a "Day on the Water" event today to celebrate individuals with special needs and recognize the vital contributions of Jefferson and St. Lawrence ARC, DPAO, and NRCIL in their daily lives. These organizations play a crucial role in enriching the lives of individuals with disabilities and making a lasting, positive impact on the community.

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Local Government

Blankenbush addresses flooding impact across District 117

By North Country Leader | Aug 10, 2024

Assemblywoman Blankenbush commented on the recent flooding across District 117, which includes towns and villages in Lewis, Jefferson, Oneida, and St. Lawrence Counties.

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Local Government

75K grant awarded for new water rescue team in waddingtion

By North Country Leader | Aug 5, 2024

Assemblyman Scott Gray (R-Watertown) announced a significant investment in local emergency services on Saturday, Aug. 3. The Waddington Fire Department has been awarded a $75,000 grant through the State and Municipal Facilities Program (SAM). This funding will be dedicated to establishing a water rescue and dive team for the department, enhancing safety and emergency response in the Waddington section of the St. Lawrence River and beyond.

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Local Government

New OSHA proposals may threaten local volunteer fire department operations

By North Country Leader | Jul 29, 2024

Over the past month, torrential storms and extreme weather have devastated Lewis County. Without the support of volunteer fire departments across the county, the devastation could have been exponentially worse. This situation underscores the importance of volunteer fire departments in our counties and highlights potential issues stemming from new OSHA proposals that could potentially close these departments.

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Local Government

Scott Gray unveils strategy to support North Country prisons

By North Country Leader | Jul 24, 2024

Assemblymember Scott Gray (R-Watertown) unveiled a comprehensive strategy today aimed at bolstering support for prison facilities in the North Country. The new approach emphasizes active recruitment, promoting the high standards of existing facilities, and opposing any further rounds of potential closures.

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Local Government

New York announces closure of two correctional facilities

By North Country Leader | Jul 18, 2024

This morning, the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) announced the closure of Great Meadow Correctional Facility and Sullivan Correctional Facility within the next 90 days. Northern New York facilities have not been affected in this round of closures.

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Local Government

New York announces closure of two correctional facilities

By North Country Leader | Jul 18, 2024

Today, President Summers and Executive Vice President Keough announced the closure of the Great Meadow Correctional Facility and the Sullivan Correctional Facility. The Department of Corrections and Community Supervision stated that these facilities must close within the next 90 days. The New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association Inc. (NYSCOPBA) opposes these closures, describing them as a temporary fix that does not address the staffing issues affecting the state.

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Local Government

Proposed OSHA rule threatens volunteer fire departments' viability

By North Country Leader | Jul 12, 2024

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is responsible for creating rules and regulations to ensure worker safety in private and public industries across the United States. While OSHA's efforts aim to protect workers, a newly proposed replacement to the "Fire Brigades Standard" could severely impact emergency services in District 117. This district relies entirely on volunteer fire departments, which may face closure under the new regulation.

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Local Government

Assemblyman Gray supports Watertown Correctional Facility repurpose plan

By North Country Leader | Jul 12, 2024

Assemblyman Scott Gray (R-Watertown) has expressed his support for the proposed repurposing plan of the Watertown Correctional Facility. Gray emphasized the importance of responsible management of state-owned properties, stating, "The stewardship of state-owned properties has been a top issue for my office during my time in the Assembly, whether it’s the decommissioned prisons, the psych center or SUNY campuses, we need to be good stewards of state-owned properties, and we need to make sure they’re repurposed at their highest use."

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Local Government

North Country counties host various summer fairs

By North Country Leader | Jun 24, 2024

Summer has arrived, bringing a variety of outdoor activities across the district. In the North Country and Mohawk Valley, counties dotted with small villages offer unique experiences compared to the rest of the state. From farmers markets to county fairs, this summer is filled with events for everyone in the district.

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Local Government

Assemblymember Scott Gray urges action on high cost of living in New York

By North Country Leader | Jun 21, 2024

Assemblyman Scott Gray (R-Watertown) today highlighted the urgent need for legislative and community action to address the high cost of living in New York state. According to a report, a family of four with two working adults taking care of two children in New York requires an annual income of $139,000 to maintain a comfortable standard of living. This figure is based on the cost of necessities such as housing and utilities, combined with discretionary spending and savings, as calculated by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Living Wage Calculator. With only one parent...

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Local Government

Assemblyman Scott Gray reviews legislative session outcomes

By North Country Leader | Jun 13, 2024

Assemblyman Scott Gray (R-Watertown) released the latest episode of “The Gray Area” video series. In this week’s episode, Gray highlights the passage and implications of key bills, such as those addressing social media algorithms targeted at children and the contentious Climate Change Superfund Act. Gray also reflects on significant proposals that did not pass, including the New York HEAT Act and the Bigger Better Bottle Bill, stressing their potential impacts on the local economy and community.

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Local Government

Legislation seeks regulation and transparency in short-term rental market

By North Country Leader | Jun 10, 2024

The short-term rental (STR) lodging market has evolved significantly in recent years, transitioning from a sporadic presence to a substantial marketplace. This observation comes from an official who traveled to various tourism locations last year to better understand the industry. The official is the ranking Minority member on the committee for Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports Development in the Assembly.

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Local Government

Blankenbush advocates for EMS reimbursement legislation as session nears end

By North Country Leader | Jun 6, 2024

Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R,C-Black River) has co-sponsored legislation aimed at authorizing reimbursements to medical service agencies for providing emergency medical care to Medicaid enrollees. Despite five similar proposals passing through the Senate, only one has successfully made it through the Assembly. With only a few days remaining in the legislative session, Blankenbush emphasized the need to prioritize these proposals.

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Local Government

Counties struggle with financial burden of criminal competency restoration

By North Country Leader | May 30, 2024

In New York, the process of competency restoration is employed when an individual convicted of a crime is found to be incompetent to stand trial due to active mental illness or disability. The defendant cannot be tried until they have been restored to competency, which is the responsibility of the county where they are being tried. Restoration returns the convicted to a state of competency where they can stand trial, and until this point is reached, they remain in the competency program funded by taxpayer dollars. Once found competent, efforts cease with no after-plan for...

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Local Government

Navy veteran Querino A. Alteri reflects on decades of service

By North Country Leader | May 28, 2024

Querino A. Alteri enlisted in the United States Navy in 1943, where he served as a Quartermaster for a decade. He is a veteran of both World War II and the Korean War. While serving, Mr. Alteri had many responsibilities, including interpreting signals and messages. He was skilled in semaphore, a system involving flag communications and navigation. Additionally, he plotted charts, diagrammed celestial navigation, and was responsible for seamanship; he was relied on to “drive the ship,” and minesweeper.