(Undated – Tops Sale) Union officials confirmed that they have been asked by Tops Friendly Markets whether there are any "union buyers" that might be interested in P-&-C stores from Watertown north, including stores in Massena, Canton, Potsdam, Ogdensburg and Gouverneur. The union's website is in line with a WMSA report last week that indicates the grocer believes the North Country stores are outside their market footprint and are attempting to find a buyer for the stores. Price Chopper has expressed interest and wanted to purchase the local stores, but wants to operate them non-union. The site says, "Tops has pledged that any Penn Traffic member that is displaced will be placed on a preferential hiring list for future openings at Tops." But the union says it is not likely a union buyer is available.

(Ogdensburg – Soda Tax) Ogdensburg City Councilor Nick Vaugh yesterday proposed new legislation opposing Governor David Paterson's plan for a "Soda Tax" on soft drinks and beverage syrups. Paterson's 2010-11 proposed state budget calls for a "penny an ounce" tax on soft drinks and a $38 tax on five gallon bags of syrup sold to local restaurants and bars. This new tax would be on top of the new "Bigger, Better Bottle" deposit tax which is costing consumers and businesses an extra 6.5 cents for each bottle of water. Vaugh noted 160,000 New Yorkers are employed in the soft drink business including 50 people at the Pepsi Ogdensburg bottling plant. The industry estimates 6,000 New Yorkers could lose their jobs if the Soda Tax is passed. Vaugh's first-in-the-state local resolution, calls on local legislators Assemblywoman Addie Russell and Senator Darrel Aubertine to put North Country jobs first and stop the Soda Tax from becoming law.

(Heuvelton – Shooting) St. Lawrence County sheriff's deputies and the State Police are continuing to investigate the reports a young male who apparently shot himself in the chest at a house on State Street in Heuvelton over the weekend. Initial reports yesterday indicated the victim was between 17 and 21 years of age and was transported to Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center for treatment. Authorities have not yet provided information in the case, while it remains under investigation.

Louisville – Drug Charges) A Massena man is facing drug charges and a Raymondville man is facing an alcohol count, following a traffic stop over the weekend in the town of Louisville. State police arrested 34-year-old Scott Douillet of Massena for allegedly having a small quantity of cocaine and consuming alcohol in the vehicle. 31-year-old Robert Green of Raymondville is also charged with consuming alcohol in a motor vehicle, during the traffic stop on State Route 56. They face later court action.

(Canton – Dog Bite Resolved) As you might recall, last week St. Lawrence University officials issued an alert regarding a dog-bite victim who faced rabies vaccinations soon, if the dog can't be identified and checked for vaccinations. S.L.U. officials said over the weekend that the owner of the dog involved met with the victim and university Security and Safety staff, has assured those involved that the dog's vaccinations records are complete and current. The university thanked those involved in getting a quick resolution to the case.

(Undated – DANC Members) The St. Lawrence County Board of Legislators is seeking interested individuals to serve on the board of directors for the Development Authority of the North Country or DANC. The agency serves “the common interests of Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence Counties by providing assistance and infrastructure, which will enhance the economic vitality of our region and promote the health and well being of its communities." Those interested in serving will find further information www.danc.org.  The authority board consists of 13 members who generally meet less than 12 times per year. The term of service is four years.

(Clayton – Cleanup) Environmental cleanup of the former Frink America snowplow manufacturing site is complete, clearing the way for the eight-acre parcel along the St. Lawrence River to return to productive use. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation officials say the cleanup of the abandoned industrial site was conducted with $1.5 million in grants from the Environmental Restoration Program. State officials say the cleanup of groundwater contamination was important because the site was an attractive location on the St. Lawrence River, near beautiful views of the Thousand Islands, which will now be turned into productive use as park areas, green space and light commercial development.

(Tupper Lake – New Medical Outlet) A new medical office building will open today in Tupper Lake, after eight months of construction and furnishing. Adirondack Medical Center in Saranac Lake is opening the satellite location called the Tupper Lake Health Center. Chief Financial Officer Patrick Facteau says the new location will offer a health center and laboratory services. Medical imaging will be moved to the new building upon the arrival of a new piece of imaging equipment. The new center will also house office space for private physician practices.

BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — A plan to add more flights between the North Country airport in Plattsburgh and Boston could mean a loss of customers for Vermont's Burlington International Airport. Plattsburgh is poised to receive $2.1 million in federal subsidies to begin flying 34-passenger turboprops between Boston and Plattsburgh up to three times a day in the coming months. The service would be an upgrade over the nine-passenger Cessnas flown by Cape Air, and could attract the Canadian passengers Burlington relies on. Adding a Boston route remains a priority for Burlington, which has not had service to Boston since Big Sky Airlines stopped flying the route from North Country airports two years ago. No word yet on how the Plattsburgh expansion would impact the overall presence of Cape Air in the North Country.

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer has represented New York state for more than a decade with little serious opposition. But this year he has picked up a challenge from a comedian activist. Randy Credico's race against the formidable incumbent is already drawing celebrity intrigue. Credico hopes to take on Schumer in a primary for the Democratic line, but he's also talking to officials in the Libertarian party. He's spoken out for years against New York state's drug laws and has helped push for clemency for men and women who have been harshly sentenced or falsely accused of crimes.

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York Gov. David Paterson has met privately with key Democratic leaders about his re-election plans yesterday even as questions continue to swirl around the state capitol about a variety of unproven accusations involving the Democratic governor's personal conduct. Paterson spokesman Richard Fife says the weekend calls had nothing to do with the accusations, but were "routine re-election campaign calls." A Democrat close to the situation, though, says the meetings included discussions about whether Paterson would resign or announce he will not run. The Democrat spoke anonymously because of the sensitivity of the issue.

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York Gov. David Paterson is offering a compromise ethics bill to the Legislature that would include creating a commission to weigh possible conflicts of interest between elected officials and their law clients and income. Paterson announced his proposal over the weekend even as an enraged Legislature considered overriding his veto of ethics reform adopted by both the Senate and the Assembly. Paterson says legislative leaders in his own party have resisted his attempt to negotiate a compromise, although lawmakers had said it was Paterson who refused to work out a deal. Paterson's new proposal includes elements pushed by the Republican minority of the Senate. The new compromise bill drops a requirement that would have forced elected officials to disclose publicly their law clients and income.


February 5, 2010

(Albany – Prison) North Country State Assemblywoman Addie Russell sent a letter to Governor David Paterson yesterday explaining why his initiative to close the Ogdensburg Correctional Facility is wrong and has demanded the prison be kept open. Russell pointed to a need for the space, citing over 4,000 double- bunkings in prison cells statewide. She also noted that the prison runs smoothly with very few inmate-on- inmate or staff-related problems. Plus the prison receives free steam heat from the nearby psychiatric center. Russell said that rather then cut 278 North Country jobs at the prison, the governor would do better to look at reducing high-cost administrative staff at the Department of Corrections in Albany. She also said there is no also need to replace the water boiler at the Ogdensburg prison, which has been used as an excuse to save the state another $9.4 million by closing the prison.

(Gouverneur – Prison Arrest) State police say an inmate at the Gouverneur Correctional Facility was arrested after being found in alleged possession of a shank – a sharpened piece of metal, fashioned to be used as a potential weapon. Authorities say the item was allegedly found on 52-year-old Carmello Felix during incarceration last month at the Watertown Correctional Facility. Felix was charged with felony counts of promoting prison contraband and possession of a weapon. After arraignment, he was returned to State Corrections officials to continue serving his four-to-eight-year prison term for selling drugs. He will face further court action.

(Madrid – Appeal Denied) Appeal has been denied for a Chase Mills man who will remain in prison for his drunk driving conviction last year. The Appellate Division of State Supreme Court reportedly denied the appeal of 52- year-old George Olmstead Jr. to have his conviction thrown out. Olmstead’s case was in connection with a DWI arrest last year, about a week after he was released on bail in connection with the fatal hit-and-run accident that claimed the life of 12-year-old Matthew Caldwell in early March 2008. Olmstead has been serving a 3⅓-to-10-year sentence.

(Norfolk – Burglaries) St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s deputies are investigating a string of burglaries reported in the village of Norwood and town of Norfolk. Deputies say at least three residents have reported that their homes have been entered and items taken. Investigators are asking that anyone with information regarding these burglaries to contact their office at 379-2222.

(Waddington – Sex Act) A 46-year-old Waddington man was arrested early this morning on a Class-B felony charge of criminal sex act and Class-A misdemeanor count of endangering the welfare of a child. St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Timothy Johnson allegedly had forcible sexual contact with a pre-adolescent child. Johnson was arraigned in Waddington town court and remanded to St. Lawrence County Jail on $20,000 bail or $40,000 bond, pending further court action.

(Canton – Dog Bite) St. Lawrence University officials issued an alert yesterday saying that a dog-bite victim will have to undergo rabies vaccinations soon, if the dog can't be identified and checked for vaccinations. S.L.U. officials say an individual suffered a dog bite while walking along Kip Trail near Pike Road in Canton. They are now asking for the public's help in identifying the dog and its owner. By law, if the dog and its vaccination records cannot be located within 10 days, the victim must undergo treatment for rabies. The dog was described as medium-sized; brown, black and white; and resembling an Australian Shepherd. The person believed to be with the dog was wearing a waist-length, gold or yellow winter jacket. Canton's Animal Control Officer has been notified and campus Security staff are working with local authorities. They ask anyone with information that will assist them contact Security at 229-5555.

(Massena – Winter Carnival) The first-ever Massena Chamber of Commerce Winter Carnival, dubbed "Family Matters" kicked off with opening ceremonies last evening. A full slate of activities will begin today, with the highlight being the Winter Carnival Parade downtown at 7:00 p.m. Fireworks are slated at 8:30 p.m. from Bushnell Field. Other events today include the Massena Cup Hockey Tournament and trophies at the Arena; and Dog Sled Assemblies at the elementary schools. The Carnival’s big day is Saturday with a long list of events. The Carnival wraps up with more activities and a closing on Sunday at Hawkins Point.

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — A New York appeals court has backed state regulations requiring ships on the St. Lawrence Seaway and other New York waterways to replace their ballast water at least 50 nautical miles offshore from its waterways to prevent bringing in dangerous, invasive species. The Appellate Division panel rejected challenges from shipping companies and port officials. The ruling says the federal Clean Water Act permits a state to add conditions to federal vessel-discharge permits. The mid-level court says New York's rules are neither unconstitutional nor arbitrary. The panel ruled yesterday that state conservation officials' scientific evidence supports their concern about protecting against invasive species and pathogens carried by ships from their native waters. Other New York rules require upgrading ballast treatment systems by 2012.

UNDATED (AP) — The beverage industry and a coalition called New Yorkers Against Unfair Taxes say proposed tax hikes on fruit drinks and soda could cost the state 6,000 jobs. Pepsi-Cola Ogdensburg has added a statement at the end of its commercials locally asking consumers to protest against a 17-percent boost in taxes on soda purchased in stores and a 74-percent tax on soda at restaurants. Protesters plan a rally this afternoon at the bottling plant in Syracuse. Meanwhile, state Health Commissioner Richard Daines criticized a new Quinnipiac Poll about the proposed tax. The poll asked if people would support the so-called "obesity tax" or "fat tax" and found that 57 percent were against it and 40 percent were for it. Daines said in another poll, 600 likely voters were asked if they would support a tax on sugary drinks if it came down to a choice between that and reducing Medicaid funding. He said 76 percent said yes. Daines said in polling, it's all in how you ask the question.

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Health and environmental groups are calling on state lawmakers to enact mercury thermostat collection legislation. The groups released a report yesterday showing that thermostat makers have collected less than 5 percent of the mercury thermostats coming out of service over the last 10 years nationally -- and just 1.3 percent in New York. The report finds that the thermostats not collected in that time period accounted for an estimated 66 to 96 tons of mercury. The groups want New York to adopt a law like that in Maine, where there's a 5-dollar bounty on the return of old thermostats. Health experts say mercury poisoning can harm speech, hearing and vision and damage the brain, heart, kidneys, lungs and immune systems. Assemblyman Bob Sweeney says he'll file legislation in the next few weeks to facilitate greater collection of mercury-containing products in New York State.

NEW YORK (AP) — A newly introduced bill would make New York the 21st state to outlaw carrying a gun while drunk. The law would rely on the same blood alcohol level — .08 percent — used to determine whether a driver is drunk. It would make it a class-A misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and a $10,000 fine.

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. (AP) — Count on the Super Bowl to bring 110-percent effort from players -- and some annoying cliches from announcers. Pollsters at Marist College asked people planning to watch the game what all-too-familiar phrases they could do without. "It's too bad somebody has to lose" was the most dreaded, cited by more than a third of respondents. "They'll have to treat this like any other game," was No. 2 and "That's a costly turnover," was third. The list was rounded out by "It all depends on where they spot the ball," and "He'd like to have that one back" in the top five.


February 4, 2010

(Undated – P-&-C Futures) The immediate future for P-&-C employees in St. Lawrence County might be up-in-the-air. Workers we spoke to in Massena and Potsdam stores yesterday said that they were being told that Tops Markets might have already decided to close all stores north of Watertown, after the 30-day "business as usual" agreement in the purchase of Penn Traffic stores last week. There has been NO official word to confirm the decision. However, the information appears to be consistent with a statement from Tops' president and CEO Frank Curci earlier this week that the stores on the outskirts of their market territory would be considered for possible closure. Meanwhile, we are told that Tops might sell the North Country stores directly to Schenectady-based Price Chopper, which expressed interest in four of the local stores all along. If true, stores in Massena, Canton, Potsdam, Ogdensburg and Gouverneur could be closed during the last week of February. The closing would be temporary while the stores are gutted for remodeling and would reopen several weeks later. Tops has not yet confirmed or released any details on their plans for the North Country stores. Workers locally say they are being kept in the dark about the future of the stores and jobs.

(Massena – Speed Factor) State police say excessive speed was to blame for Tuesday’s car crash that claimed the life of 17- year-old Robert Rochefort of Massena. Police say they found skid marks at the Route 37-East Orvis Street intersection, indicating Rochefort’s attempts to slow down before he lost control and struck a utility pole. Rochefort, a senior at Massena High School, was headed back into the village from McDonald’s restaurant near the St. Lawrence Centre Mall where he worked parttime. A passenger in the vehicle, Steven LaClair was also injured. He was treated at Massena Memorial Hospital and later released. A small memorial was created by friends at the scene of the accident yesterday morning. Both boys were members of the Massena High School wrestling team. As a result, last night’s wrestling match and hockey game were both postponed.

DANNEMORA, NY (AP) — The search has expanded to Vermont and Maine for a suspect in the killing of a man and a woman in Dannemora on Sunday. State police say they want to question 52-year-old Anthony Pavone of Morrisonville in connection with the fatal shootings of Patricia Howard and Timothy Carter. Troopers found the two shot to death inside Carter's home in Dannemora. Police are also searching casinos within driving distance of Dannemora, including nearby Hogansburg. Pavone is a former Marine and retired state prison guard at Dannemora. He was driving a black 2001 GMC Sierra pickup truck.

(Potsdam – False Murder) Potsdam police have completed a five-month investigation into a falsely-reported homicide with the arrest of a 21-year-old Pulaski man. Police say Matthew Mahaffy is accused of calling a Clarkson University residence hall assistant in September to falsely reported that he had murdered of his girlfriend at Clarkson, had dragged her body into the nearby woods and needed assistance. The R.A. phoned campus security who notified police. A search in the surrounding woods found no evidence. Mahaffy later turned himself in to police. He was arraigned and will answer the charges on March 3rd in Potsdam village court.

(Potsdam – Three Arrests) Potsdam police arrested three SUNY Potsdam students for their part in a downtown restaurant and tavern in December. Police arrested 23-year-old Kyle Green of Maryland and 21-year-olds William Richards III of Niskayuna and Thomas Farley of Nicholville. Farley was charged with third-degree assault. The others were ticketed for disorderly conduct. Police reported that Farley broke his nose in the incident on December 12th. They will all answer the charges next week in Potsdam village court.

(Massena – Fireworks) A 36-year-old Hogansburg man was charged with possessing eight types of prohibited fireworks. Massena-based state police say Tracey Oakes was arrested on misdemeanor counts, following a traffic stop on South Raquette Road in Massena. He has been released pending further court action.

(Massena – Winter Carnival) Tonight will mark the start of what many are hoping could become the start of a tradition – the first- ever Massena Winter Carnival. Opening ceremonies and kickoff are slated for this evening with a reception at the Knights of Columbus Hall. Three full days of activities will take place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

UNDATED (AP) — Ice is consolidating over Lakes Ontario and Erie like a lid on a pot, which should calm down the lake-effect snowstorms. National Weather Service Meteorologist Bill Hibbert says the lakes has been freezing up over the past week and are now about 80-90 percent covered by ice. That means there should be far less lake-effect snow blowing across the upstate New York region. The winds off the lake will still bring some lake-effect snows, though. Hibbert says that's because the ice, which is about 32 degrees, is still warmer than the cold air blowing across it.

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — Activists say they're dissatisfied with President Barack Obama's spending plan for Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway cleanup and will ask Congress for more money. Obama successfully requested $475 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative in his 2010 budget, but is seeking just $300 million in the fiscal 2011 plan released this week. Great Lakes advocacy groups say they will lobby Congress to boost next year's total to at least this year's figure. Andy Bucshbaum of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition praised Obama for requesting historically high amounts of money for the lakes. But he said still more is needed to deal with long-underfunded problems such as toxic sediments and invasive species. He said restoring the lakes will boost the economy and create jobs.

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York conservation officials said yesterday they want to remove dozens of waterways from the list of those considered "impaired" by pollution, citing measures to reduce stormwater and agricultural runoff, sewage discharges and smokestack pollution. The Department of Environmental Conservation would include all or part of 590 lakes, ponds, streams and rivers on a list requiring plans to reduce pollution under the federal Clean Water Among the waterways the DEC would remove are Cranberry Lake in southern St. Lawrence County.

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York Gov. David Paterson says the projected deficit for the upcoming fiscal year has grown by $750 million to more than $8 billion. But state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli says Paterson's proposed budget relies on unrealistic revenue projections. The state's projected deficit for fiscal year 2010-2011 is now $8.2 billion. The problem is the recession, and changes in financial-services-sector compensation that brought in revenue lower than expected. The downturn has also increased demand for Medicaid services, which is driving more spending. Paterson will present a plan for closing the shortfall Feb. 9. DiNapoli warned yesterday that Paterson's budget relies on billions of dollars from overly optimistic revenue and savings assumptions that may not happen.

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Even as their bipartisan ethics reform was vetoed by Gov. David Paterson, Republican and Democratic senators have begun accusing each other of hypocrisy and impropriety, making an override unlikely. Lawmakers need a two-thirds majority to override Paterson, who says the legislation didn't go far enough. He's inviting Republican and Democratic lawmakers from the Senate and Assembly to negotiate. Yesterday, the Senate Democratic Conference issued a statement accusing Republicans of "blatant hypocrisy" for finding fault with the vetoed bill. On Tuesday, Senate Republican leader Dean Skelos said his party members wanted to work with Paterson to improve the bill and that they want independent ethics enforcement instead of leaving it to Democratic counsel.

February 3, 2010

(Massena -- Rochefort Fatal) One Massena teen was killed and another injured in a one-car accident last evening at the intersection of State Route 37 and East Orvis Street. Massena-based state police say 17-year-old Robert Rochefort, a senior at Massena High School, was headed back into the village on Route 37 around 5:00 p.m. when his vehicle went off the right side of the road and slammed into a utility pole. The auto struck on the driver’s side. A passenger in the vehicle, Steven LaClair was also injured. He was transported to Massena Memorial Hospital for treatment. Both boys were members of the Massena High School wrestling team. Massena Central School officials have arranged for grief counselors to be on hand to assist students and staff today. All Massena sporting events for today have been canceled.

(Dannemora – Manhunt Continues) The massive police manhunt continues today for 52-year-old Anthony Pavone of Morrisonville, wanted in connection with the fatal shootings of Patricia Howard and Timothy Carter of Dannemora on Sunday. Authorities say Howard called state police at 4:00 a.m. Sunday to report that Pavone was outside the home and wouldn't leave. Police say Pavone was driving a black 2001 GMC Sierra pickup truck. Troopers arrived to find signs of forced entry and both occupants dead of gunshot wounds. Authorities say there is no indication yet that Pavone left the area, although they have not ruled out the possibility. Police are continuing to search nearby woods and roadways, but so far there have been no signs of the man. The suspect was also known to frequent casinos in the U.S. and Canada, and they have been alerted as well.

(Massena – Village Board) – Mayette-1 At last night’s village board meeting, Massena village residents expressed their concerns over residency requirements and how they are enforced, public comment periods and the formation of the village’s hiring committee. The issue following recent controversy over the hiring in the Department of Public Works. Mike Mayette was one of those who commented about whether a hiring committee should even be needed, when trustees are supposed to be doing the job.  The issue came to a head in recent weeks after the DPW hiring of a Virginia man, described as a longtime friend of Massena Mayor Randy Delosh, over a half-dozen other candidates from the North Country.

(Undated – Tops Markets) Workers, shoppers and local communities are getting antsy waiting for Tops Markets to review its new assets – the former Penn Traffic stores, including P-&-C operations in the North Country. Still unknown is how many supermarkets Tops will be closed, although Tops president and CEO Frank Curci says it's "only a small handful." It's reported that Tops will likely try to sell the less profitable or unprofitable stores to other supermarket chains. But another possible factor in closing is said to be geographic -- the stores on the farthest edges of Penn Traffic's territory could also be candidates for closure or sale. No decision has yet been made on which stores that will be. Yesterday, Curci asked for patience from the public as the transition to Tops continues and is expected to take time. Meanwhile, under terms of the agreement signed last Friday, Tops will continue to operate business-as-usual at the P-&-C stores.

(Ogdensburg – Business Support) Businesses in the Ogdensburg and surrounding communities are starting to lend their support to the fight to save the Ogdensburg Correctional Facility from closure under Governor David Paterson’s 2010-2011 state budget proposal. They are making a formal plea – some in their commercial advertising – to give support to keeping the prison open. They are urging St. Lawrence County residents to contact their state legislators to demand that the prison – and its 287 jobs – be saved.

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York would get an additional $3 billion under President Barack Obama's new budget proposal for county and local governments' Medicaid costs. Obama's budget would extend Medicaid assistance for an additional six months. Of the $3 billion, upstate New York would get only $150 million. Schumer says budget legislation includes language to ensure local governments get a funding share to help them offset costs. By the end of 2010, New York state and county governments will have received an estimated $11.1 billion from the federal government in stimulus funds. Budget aid for counties is expected to help local governments avoid property tax hikes and avoid layoffs of police, firefighters and teachers.

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York state Education Commissioner David Steiner says that if proposed cuts in education funding go through, public schools across the state might never fully recover. Steiner is asking the Legislature for a $170 million increase in foundation aid, the largest category of state funding, which is weighted toward the most needy school districts. He said at a state budget hearing that it will be far more expensive for the state to catch up in coming years if school aid increases are delayed now. Gov. David Paterson has proposed a 5 percent cut in school aid to help contend with a fiscal crisis.

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Gov. David Paterson is vetoing an ethics bill approved by the Legislature to police itself, saying it's too weak to get Albany out of its long-standing ethical muck. Lawmakers say they will now try to negotiate a compromise with the governor. But the Senate Democratic majority is ready for an override attempt even as the Republicans needed for that two-thirds vote say they won't vote against Paterson. The bill would require lawmakers to disclose more of their outside business interests and require them to say broadly how much outside income they earned. It also would force more disclosure by lobbyists, including which lawmakers they are trying to influence, and create an enforcer of campaign finance laws.

NEW YORK (AP) — During an appearance taped for last night's "Colbert Report," Stephen Colbert feigned indignation at former Governor Eliot Spitzer for leaving office just as the banking system was collapsing. But the former "Sheriff of Wall Street" blasted U.S. bankers, saying they had destroyed the economy and were not doing their jobs because banks were not investing in the U.S. economy.

ALBANY (AP) — A proposal to help consumers calculate fuel efficiency when they buy a car has been passed by the state senate's Environmental Conservation Committee. It calls for auto dealers to display how many gallons of gas each new vehicle uses to travel 1,000 miles. State Senator Daniel Squadron says using gallons-per-mile is easier for consumers to calculate how much fuel a car will use than the traditional miles-per-gallon measure. Squadron says his proposed bill allows consumers to choose which cars will save them the most gas and the most money. A companion bill was introduced in the state Assembly.

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Gov. David Paterson says he'll keep pushing legislation to lift the cap on charter schools in New York. Paterson says the state is close to reaching its limit and there are now 30,000 students enrolled. Noting that the Legislature last month didn't approve his measure to lift the cap, Paterson says he'll try again either in revisions to his proposed budget legislation or as a separate bill. He says the move would improve New York's chances of getting $500 to $700 million in federal "Race to the Top" aid. He's still looking at raising the cap from 200 to 460 schools, a level in the application for the federal money.