New York Announces $19M Settlement In Harvey Weinstein Lawsuit
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“Harvey Weinstein and The Weinstein Company failed their female employees. After all the harassment, threats and discrimination, these survivors are finally receiving some justice.”
App NEWS
Siena Poll: White And Black New Yorkers Divided Over Policing
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54% of Black respondents supported defunding police departments, compared to 24% of white respondents.
Protester Knocked Down By Buffalo Police Leaves The Hospital Nearly One Month Later
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Martin Gugino suffered a fractured skull after being shoved backward by officers at a protest against police violence on June 4. The 75-year-old will continue his recovery at an undisclosed location.
Proposed “Cariol’s Law” Would Require Police To Intervene When Witnessing Excessive Force
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Cariol Horne was fired in 2007 after stepping in to stop a White officer who held a Black suspect in a chokehold.
Crime and Justice
Republican Lawmakers Defend Shale Gas Industry; Grand Jury Says PA Failed To Protect Public From Fracking
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Secretary of Environmental Resources and Energy panel said he was offended by AG’s characterization of natural gas industry
NYPD Officer Accused Of Using Chokehold Charged With Strangulation
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The officer, 39-year-old David Afanador, was suspended the same day the cellphone video appeared to show him choking a Black man on a Queens boardwalk.
Crime and Justice
PA Grand Jury Report On Fracking: State Failed To Protect Public Health
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Grand jury makes proposals on regulation, oversight of fracking industry
Believe It Or Not, Most Fireworks Are Illegal In New York State
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“Fireworks are explosives that have the potential to set fire to nearby homes and other properties. The sound of fireworks can cause distress for individuals with PTSD or other medical conditions, pets and wildlife.”
App NEWS
Local Police Commonly Disbanded In PA, But It Creates Larger Problems For State Police
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“These ideas increase funds, but don’t increase public safety.”
Recovering Buffalo Activist Will Remain In Hospital This Week
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Two Buffalo Police officers have been suspended from the department and are charged with second degree assault.
NYPD Suspends Officer Over Using Apparent Chokehold During Arrest
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Video shows an officer using an apparent chokehold on a man who had been shouting invective at passersby and police. Chokeholds have been banned in New York City since 1993.
App NEWS
Ithaca Plans Yearlong Review Of Its Police Policies And Spending
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The mayor called the process a reinvention of public safety that will include town hall meetings, canvassing, and outreach to a variety of organizations.
Crime and Justice
Incarceration Can Change Views on Freedom
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“It’s right back to hiding and ducking and worrying about everything, especially right now.”
Crime and Justice
What Does The Supreme Court’s Ruling On Sexual Orientation And Gender Identity Discrimination Mean In PA?
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“This ruling may well shape the way that the federal courts interpret other federal statutes that outlaw discrimination based on sex.”
Crime and Justice
PA House Committee Advances Two Police Reform Bills
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Action comes one week after Black Caucus members led protest on House floor
Three More Police Reforms Signed Into Law By Cuomo
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“It’s about people wanting to change. Well, New York will be the place that actually makes the change and we pass laws that have done just that.”
New York Governor: Now Is The Time For ‘Fundamental Redefinition’ Of Policing
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For years, the governor says, Democrats in the state didn’t have the political or popular support to enact reforms. Now, lawmakers have passed sweeping police accountability and transparency measures.
New York Prosecutors Move To Drop Their Own Case After Evidence Issue. The Judge Wants Answers
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Ali Sadr Hashemi Nejad is accused of violating American sanctions laws against Iran, but prosecutors in the Southern District of New York are backing away nearly three months after convicting him.
binghamton
State Leaders Favor Restructuring, Not Defunding New York’s Police
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“A legitimate conversation about whether or not the police are the best people to send for a situation is, I believe, a valid conversation.”
Crime and Justice
State Sen. Fred Akshar Addresses New York Police Reform Concerns
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The Republican discusses the bills during an appearance on New York Now
App NEWS
Lawmakers Repeal New York Law Used To Suppress Police Disciplinary Reports
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Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, the first African-American to hold that title, has long supported the repeal of the provision, but it has long languished in the legislature.
Crime and Justice
GOP Congressman Says The Time For Protests Is Over, Leaders Must Debate Change
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“Now is the time when true leaders will emerge to roll up their sleeves, stay in the room and have the passionate debate.”
Trump Tweets Conspiracy Theory About Injured Buffalo Protester
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One theory floated after the incident accused Gugino of rigging fake blood under his mask to flow upon his fall.
Crime and Justice
New York Lawmakers Resume Work On A Police Accountability Package
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“I’m hopeful that this is our moment, that George Floyd and all those that came before him did not die in vain.”
Featured in Category
Democratic Legislators Take Over PA House Floor, Demand Action On Police Reform Legislation
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Speaker Turzai says he supports calling a special session
App NEWS
Five Bills New York Lawmakers May Pass This Week After Death of George Floyd
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Lawmakers will reconvene in Albany Monday to consider that legislation, which includes a handful of bills that have been in the works for years, but failed to gain support until now.
advocacy center of tompkins county
Hotline Reports More Violent Domestic Assaults, Rape During COVID Shutdown
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“We also saw a significant increase, for us, in calls from adults who were sexually assaulted or rape,” Campbell said.
Uncategorized
De Blasio Promises Cuts To NYPD, Ends NYC Curfew
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The call to end the curfew comes a day earlier than previously planned. De Blasio noted that most protesters had been peaceful, and admitted that the NYPD had sometimes overstepped its duty.
App NEWS
New York Lawmakers Push Police Reform Bills Following George Floyd Killing
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“We want police accountability, we want police reform. We want to make sure that if someone makes a 911 call and a false claim, this is potentially a hate crime.”
App NEWS
VIDEO: Two Buffalo Officers Suspended After Violently Shoving Elderly Man
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Gov. Andrew Cuomo, in a tweet, called the incident “wholly unjustified and utterly disgraceful.”
App NEWS
Binghamton Protesters: Reduce Arrest Rates, Increase Social Services
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“It takes resources away from the things that we actually need in our community, that make our community thrive.”
Crime and Justice
Cuomo Tells DAs to Hold Looters On Bail, DAs Say No
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“If the police were arresting looters, and they were then being arrested and returned to the street the next day again, that would be nonsensical.”
3 Police Injured During Brooklyn Stabbing Incident
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The late-night incident occurred in the Flatbush neighborhood, when police say a man approached an officer assigned to an anti-looting patrol and stabbed him in the neck.
black lives matter
Black Protesters Tell Ithaca It Has Problems With Racism
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“Understand Ithaca, you’re not innocent. You are guilty, too.”
App NEWS
Governor ‘Disappointed, Outraged’ Over Continued Looting In New York City
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Cuomo stopped short of saying that he would deploy the state’s National Guard to any city without a request by its political leaders.
App NEWS
Binghamton Protesters Promise Repeated Marches Against Racism
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Hundreds of people marched in Binghamton on Tuesday night, as part of nationwide protests over the killing of George Floyd while in the custody of Minneapolis police.
App NEWS
Tompkins County Legislators, Sheriff Condemn Killing of George Floyd
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“It is time for community, for colleagues, who are white, who have the ability and the privilege to be heard — to take action.”
Peaceful Daytime Protest Turns Violent At Night, 2 Police Officers Injured In Buffalo
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Both officers, one a Buffalo Police officer and the other a New York State trooper, are currently in stable condition.
App NEWS
Binghamton Officials React To Fire At Recreation Park
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“I don’t want that to be what people remember out of yesterday’s demonstration.”
App NEWS
Protesters March Through Binghamton In Memory Of George Floyd
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“I’m a mother of two black sons and this is enough. So, we came to make some noise.”
Crime and Justice
Lawsuit Says PA’s Failing Special Needs Kids During Coronavirus School Closures
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“The families claim “online learning is wholly inadequate to meet the needs of nonverbal and partially verbal children with autism who rely upon…in-person instruction.”
App NEWS
‘They Put Me In Solitary For Having Oranges’ — Muslim Inmates Struggle During Ramadan
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Pennsylvania lawsuit highlights challenges faced by Muslim inmates during Islam’s holy month
Crime and Justice
New York Offers Text, Chat Assistance For Domestic Violence Victims
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“That can help them find safe shelter, talk about their safety options, and really connect them to the services they need, during this time and even after this time.”
AAU
New York Attorney General Wins Lawsuit Against Endicott AAU Team
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“Justice has been served for these students who were hoping for a shot at their dreams.”
Cornell Leads Statewide Effort To Provide Protective Face Masks For Inmates
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“The folks that are incarcerated in the prisons in our region are potentially a huge source of contagion.”
Tompkins County DA Candidates Debate Online
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The candidates were asked a range of questions including what lessons they learned from a case last year which gained public attention and drew protests against the prosecution of two young people of color after an incident with police on the Ithaca Commons.
Overdoses Increase In Broome County
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Broome health officials said non-fatal overdoses have increased, advocates said fatal overdoses did, too.
Partial Supreme Court Win For New York Gun Regulation Could Be Short-Lived
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The justices threw out as moot a challenge to New York City’s strict gun regulations, but gun-safety advocates worry that gains in the states may be taken away by a conservative court majority.
App NEWS
Lawsuit Seeks To Extend Mailed Ballot Return In PA By One Week
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Voters who request absentee and mail-in ballots before the May 26 deadline might receive them at different times due to “factors outside their control.”
Amazon Warehouse Safety ‘Inadequate,’ Says New York Attorney General
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Amazon may have violated federal health and safety standards as well as New York’s whistleblower law, the New York attorney general’s office wrote to Amazon in a letter obtained by NPR.
App NEWS
Judge Denies Release Of Two Broome County Jail Inmates
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Judge Jeffrey Tait ruled the inmates did not establish their vulnerability to COVID-19 inside the jail
Decision On Broome Jail COVID-19 Lawsuit Could Come Soon
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It argues for the release of two inmates who claim they are highly vulnerable to the novel coronavirus.
App NEWS
Broome County Works To Release Some Jail Inmates At Higher-Risk Of COVID-19
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The people that have been released are those who are at low-risk for repeat offenses, such as petty larceny or technical parole violations.
App NEWS
Prison Design Creates Ideal Environment For Coronavirus
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Connected vents and small cells help accelerate the virus’s spread, and puts inmates on edge
Crime and Justice
Frontline Health Care Workers Seek Immunity From Malpractice During COVID-19
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“We [should] not have to worry about malpractice suits while trying to save people’s lives.”
Inmate Freed As Coronavirus Spreads At New York’s Rikers Island
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Some officials are releasing inmates as the coronavirus gains a foothold inside correctional facilities across the country.
App NEWS
Can You Be Cited Just For Going On A Drive?
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Pennsylvania DA says he’s withdrawing citation against woman who allegedly violated stay-at-home order
Crime and Justice
New York Budget Includes Bail Reform Roll Back
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“The bail reform that we did last year I’m very proud of, and I think we made the right change now.”
New York Attorney General Seeks Investigation Over Fired Amazon Worker
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The worker helped organize a walkout to demand closure of the facility following several COVID-19 cases. Amazon fired him the same day, saying he violated quarantine and safety measures.
New York State Prisons: 105 employees, 14 Inmates Positive For COVID-19
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“Tell them I am doing well, taking it day by day. Spending most of the days sleeping. Symptoms seem to come and go in waves.”
PA Diocese Suspends Abuse Victims’ Compensation Program, Citing ‘Economic Turmoil’
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The Erie Diocese, identified by the Pennsylvania attorney general as a place where clergy sex abuse was widespread, is said to have spent nearly $12 million on its victim compensation program.
App NEWS
Activists Show Concern Over Broome Jail Inmates Amid COVID-19
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Officials said the Broome jail is prepared.
Crime and Justice
PA Police Can Now Shut Down ‘Non-Life-Sustaining’ Businesses, But They’d Rather Not
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“Nobody is looking to get anybody unnecessarily involved in the legal system.”
App NEWS
Concern Grows For Inmates In New York Prison System
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The states of California, Ohio and Texas are already releasing some prisoners to prevent a major outbreak in their prisons.
App NEWS
Advocates Fear More Time At Home Could Lead To An Increase In Domestic Violence
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“Now people are trapped in their homes, sometimes unsafe, non respectful loving homes.”
Crime and Justice
Officials Warn Of COVID-19 Scams
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There are reports of scams in Otsego and Steuben Counties.
App NEWS
Bomb Threat Empties Hotel In Downtown Ithaca
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A statement from the Ithaca Police said no suspicious items were found.
Prisoners Make Hand Sanitizer For New York State; Inmate Advocates Compare It To Slavery
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“It is wrong for New York State to have prisoners do those types of labor, because they’re getting paid slave wages.”
Schumer, Reed Want Review Of Federal Funding To Cayuga Nation
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The response was due to the recent destruction buildings and subsequent brawl that occurred days later.
Cayuga Indian Nation Dispute Leads To Brawl
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The cause of Saturday’s conflict goes back over a decade and involves the site of several buildings.
App NEWS
In Binghamton, NY GOP Chair Rails Against Criminal Justice Reforms
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New criminal justice reforms went into effect in the state in January.
Ronan Farrow Lauds #MeToo After Verdict: ‘There Are Harvey Weinsteins Everywhere’
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The New Yorker journalist, who led the reporting on the movie producer’s decades of alleged sexual assault, hailed the bravery of the women who spoke up. Still, he said, “there’s a long way to go.”
App NEWS
PA State Senator Admits Guilt In Child Porn Possession Case
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An account traced to him had uploaded an image showing a sexual act between a female minor and adult male. The office said police found two other images on Folmer’s cell phone.
App NEWS
Momentum Grows For Revisions To New York’s Bail Reform Laws
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The Leader of the New York State Senate says it’s likely that changes will soon be made to the state’s new bail reform laws, which end most forms of cash bail for non violent offenses.
Crime and Justice
Tompkins DA Announces Re-Election Campaign
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Matt Van Houten is running for a second term.
App NEWS
ICE Chief Slams New York’s Green Light Law
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“As a 25-year law enforcement professional, it is unfathomable that information which could be used to prevent crime or a potential terrorist attack, is purposely being withheld.”
Crime and Justice
How To Lower Prison Costs? PA Secretary Advises Medical Parole
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Pennsylvania sentences a lot of people to life without the possibility of parole. Research has shown their odds of reoffending are low after years of incarceration.
Crime and Justice
ACLU Sues Over Northeast Pennsylvania Traffic Stop
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Attorneys say they believe the stop was racially motivated. The ACLU’s client was detained, then placed in ICE custody.
App NEWS
New York Man Accused Of Making Death Threats Against Senator Schumer and Congressman Schiff
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“The rights secured in our Constitution carry with them certain responsibilities. When it comes to the First Amendment, that responsibility includes the obligation not to threaten to kill others.”
Crime and Justice
Harrisburg Becomes 1st PA Roman Catholic Diocese To Declare Bankruptcy
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The diocese has been under financial strain from legal fees and payouts to people its clergy and other affiliates abused over many decades.
App NEWS
Attorneys For Sex Abuse Victims Not Deterred By Boy Scout Bankruptcy
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“On some level, this is the Boy Scouts accepting responsibility for what happened.”
App NEWS
Now Exonerated, Yusef Salaam Changes Minds At Cornell About Incarceration, Justice
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“It did change how I look at people because they’re not, like, all criminals. There are more of, like, people who maybe, like, just had bad luck.”
Crime and Justice
Disgraced Former Minority Leader Won’t Seek Reelection To New York Assembly
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Brian Kolb stepped down from his leadership post after being arrested for drunk driving on New Year’s Eve.
Crime and Justice
New York Senate Proposal To Rollback Bail Reform Sparks Anger
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“Sometimes you’ve got to be profane to be profound.”
Crime and Justice
New York Assembly Speaker Not Ready To Roll Back Bail Reforms
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“You need real data, real information, not cherry – picked stories and sensationalized events to try to paint a picture as to whether the law is working or not.”
Crime and Justice
Attorneys Expand Lawsuit Seeking Abuse Information From PA Dioceses
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They’re adding new plaintiffs from the Philadelphia, Altoona-Johnstown, Greensburg and Harrisburg dioceses.
Wall Street Financier Seeks Early Release Because He Has ‘Less Than 18 Months’ To Live
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A lawyer says Madoff, who is serving a 150-year sentence, suffers from terminal kidney failure. The Federal Bureau of Prisons denied a similar request for release last year.
Here’s What We’ve Learned So Far At New York Trial Of Harvey Weinstein
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New York prosecutors have said their piece; now it’s time for Weinstein’s legal team to take the stage. But before his rape trial moves on, here’s a glimpse of the four biggest courtroom moments so far.
Crime and Justice
Bail Reform Debate Sparks Accusations Of Racism On Social Media
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“They don’t give a damn about our community. What they want is to continue to put black and brown folk and poor white folk (in jail).”
Crime and Justice
GOP Lawmakers Intensify Pushback Against New York’s Bail Reform Laws
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“This is the number one issue, it’s not even close. This is what people are talking about.”
App NEWS
Survivors Of Childhood Sexual Abuse Want More Time To File Lawsuits
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“A lot of people need more time. Some people are just starting to come to grips with the abuse that happened to them, and they’re not ready.”
Diocese of Buffalo Bankruptcy “Imminent”
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“The abuse scandal has had consequences on the financial condition of the diocese beyond the cost of settling claims. Diocesan parish offertory has declined since August 2018.”
Prosecutor Says Proposed Elder Parole Bill “Ain’t Flying” For New York’s Violent Offenders
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The county prosecutor is willing to consider the idea for offenders who committed crimes at a young age and have proven their rehabilitation while behind bars.
2AWNY
Upstate Counties Consider Creating “2nd Amendment Sanctuaries”
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“They can’t have their cake and eat it too”
Reed: Trump Justified To Freeze Ukrainian Aid
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The Republican believes the President had the right to violate the law by freezing the funds
The New York Trial Of Harvey Weinstein: A Brief Timeline Of How We Got Here
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For years, dark rumors swirled around the movie producer. So how did those whispered allegations result in a full-fledged criminal trial? Here’s an abridged history.
App NEWS
PA State House May Make It Easier To Terminate Rapists’ Parental Rights
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A bill that would change the process made it through a House committee unanimously, and now goes to the full chamber for a vote.
Crime and Justice
Lawmakers, Educators, And Prosecutors Will Study PA’s Juvenile Justice Issues
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Governor Tom Wolf says the goal is to ensure more young offenders leave the criminal system and stay out.
App NEWS
Parents Reflect On How Their Children Should Learn About Martin Luther King, Jr.
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“It’s a hard topic and it’s a simple topic all at the same time.”
App NEWS
Attorney Says Ithaca Police Investigator Asked For, Never Got Help With Cases
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He said Barksdale asked for help to complete investigations of cases she was assigned but the City and police department didn’t provide the support she needed. Barksdale is accused by the City of mishandling dozens of cases, including sex offenses.
App NEWS
As Criticism Grows In New York, Supporters Of Bail Reform Describe Fight As A Civil Rights Struggle
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Bail reform has become a major flashpoint, with Republicans and some Democrats saying the law has meant some repeat offenders and potentially violent suspects being released too quickly.
Crime and Justice
Advocates Call On Lawmakers To Outlaw ICE Arrests At New York Courthouses
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Immigration advocates gathered in Albany on Tuesday calling for state lawmakers to pass a bill that would prohibit ICE arrests at courthouses.
Crime and Justice
Lt. Governor On Bail Reforms: ‘There Is A Lot Of Fear-Mongering Going On’
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“There is a lot of people exaggerating the situation. The vast majority of people, they are non-violent crimes, that’s the premise, they are misdemeanors.”
App NEWS
Senate Dems Face GOP Pressure To Revise New York’s Bail Reform Laws
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“They are tone-deaf. They are not listening to people back in their districts.”
Southern Tier Congressman Requests Leniency For Disgraced Republican Colleague
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Southern Tier Congressman Tom Reed is one of over a dozen current and former members of Congress who wrote letters.
At Supreme Court, Another Potential Loss For Prosecutors Fighting Public Corruption
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The “Bridgegate” scandal infuriated New York motorists and endangered public safety, but if the past is prologue, the high court could treat it as much ado about nothing.
Crime and Justice
One Year In, Crisis Center To Stop School Violence In PA Has Fielded Over 40,000 Tips
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The partnership between Sandy Hook Promise and the state Attorney General’s office aims to prevent mass shootings and help children dealing with problems.
Crime and Justice
PA House Moves To Keep People Convicted Of Gun Crimes In Jail Longer
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The chamber narrowly passed a measure that would require judges to issue consecutive sentences for multiple crimes involving guns.
New York Citizen Dies In Egyptian Prison, State Department Says
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Moustafa Kassem, who sold auto parts in New York, was arrested amid a massive crackdown in Egypt in 2013. He had been on hunger strike for more than a year at the time of his death.
Featured in Category
After Losing Election, Gelson Joins Staff Of New Broome District Attorney
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The Democrat finished third in November’s race.
Crime and Justice
Friends Want Leniency, But Chris Collins’ Ex-Constituents Want An Example Made
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The approximately 170 letters filed in U.S. District Court this week paint very different pictures of disgraced former Congressman Chis Collins.
E-Bikes Still Available In Ithaca Despite Veto By NY Governor
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Alderperson Seph Murtagh said the e-bikes fit in a gray area of the law.
Ithaca Police Failed to Investigate An Array Of Cases, Mayor Says
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“I am shocked and saddened by these revelations, which can easily erode public confidence in the IPD.”
Scams Target Southern Tier Banking Customers
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An FBI spokesperson said people should always report scams to local law enforcement.
Crime and Justice
Assemblyman Pleads Not Guilty At Court Appearance On DWI Charge
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Assemblyman Brian Kolb was in court in the town of Victor on Thursday where he pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor charge of DWI.
Video Outside New York Jail Cell During Jeffrey Epstein’s First Suicide Attempt ‘No Longer Exists’
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After first reporting that the video had been preserved, prosecutors now say that further investigation shows officials “inadvertently preserved video from the wrong tier” within the Manhattan prison.
Crime and Justice
Court Documents Released In New York Minority Leader’s DWI Arrest
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The court papers quote a tow truck driver as saying that when he drove up to the accident scene, Kolb stood up and put his hands up and said, “My wife was driving,” and then said, “You know how women drive.”
Featured in Category
PA Reforms Childhood Sex Abuse Laws In Response To Clergy Scandal
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After a grand jury implicated more than 300 priests in a statewide sex scandal, nearly every case was too old to be prosecuted. Legislators say that problem inspired these new laws.
Crime and Justice
Bill Would Make Anti-Semitic Attacks A Hate Crime In New York
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The bill was introduced last spring, after a wave of anti-Semitic attacks happened across the country, including a shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue that killed 11 people.
App NEWS
New York Democrats Show Cracks Over Support For Criminal Justice Reforms
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“There’s no doubt this is still a work in progress, and there are other changes that have to be made.”
Crime and Justice
New York Attorney General Looks For Some Changes To New Bail Reform Laws
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Some state officials are already asking for revisions to a law eliminating cash bail for people charged with misdemeanors and non-violent felonies.
Annoyance law
Broome County Executive Signs “Annoyance Law”
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Supporters say the law protects first responders while opponents worry about it will be abused.
Crime and Justice
Kolb Steps Down As Assembly Minority Leader
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Deputies say Kolb was taken into custody for driving while intoxicated. There were no injuries, and Sheriff Kevin Henderson said there was minor damage to the vehicle.
Crime and Justice
District Attorney Assigned As Special Prosecutor In Minority Leader’s DWI Case
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Kolb was charged on New Year’s Eve when his state-owned SUV got stuck in a ditch near his home in the town of Victor.
New Lawsuits Against Buffalo Diocese Include First-Time Accusation, Claims Of Cover-Up
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One identifies a local priest as an alleged abuser for the first time, while the other accuses a former auxiliary bishop of providing “hush money” in a 1980s case.
App NEWS
Minority Leader For New York General Assembly Arrested For DWI
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Deputies said Brian Kolb was taken into custody for driving while intoxicated. There were no injuries and Sheriff Kevin Henderson said there was minor damage to the vehicle.
Korchak Sworn In As Broome County District Attorney
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Korchak prevailed in November but not before Battisti challenged the results in court.
Tompkins County Swears In New County Judge
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It’s the first time the county has added a judge in 50 years.
Crime and Justice
New Laws In New York In 2020
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Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, who shepherded the criminal justice reforms through his chamber, said the new laws are meant to change a “racist and classist system.”
Crime and Justice
PA Judge Admonished For Abusing Power At Traffic Stop
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The letter from a statewide board could be used against Judge Dennis Reinaker in future misconduct cases.
Gov. Cuomo Calls New York Hanukkah Attack ‘Act Of Domestic Terrorism’
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A man stabbed people celebrating Hanukkah at the home of a rabbi in Rockland County, a New York City suburb, on Saturday night. The incident comes amid a surge of anti-Semitic violence in the region.
Crime and Justice
New York Ends Most Cash Bail In 2020
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New York will end cash bail for everyone accused of a nonviolent crime and adopt new rules in the pretrial discovery process.
Does New York City Need Gun Control?
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New York City has stricter gun laws than most other American cities — and lower rates of gun violence. But legal challenges could force the city to loosen its gun control. Will a rise in crime follow?
App NEWS
Man Killed After Attacking Ithaca Police Officer With Knife
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Police say the attack appears to have been random and that the specific officer was not targeted.
Annoyance law
Broome County Passes “Annoyance Law”
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It allows police to arrest anyone who harasses emergency first responders. Violators could face up to a year in prison, a $5,000 fine or both.
Upstate Congress Members Vote With Their Parties On Impeachment
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“I went back this weekend, and laid out all the transcripts on my table, got the highlighter out, made lots of notes, reviewed several articles about impeachment, looked at some articles that were written by constitutional law experts and ultimately came to the conclusion that there was sufficient evidence to move forward.”
Annoyance law
Broome County To Consider “Annoyance Law” Thursday
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“Guess what? Protesting is about being annoying”
Crime and Justice
Pennsylvanians Gather On Capitol Steps For ‘Impeachment Eve’
|
Harrisburg’s rally was one of many around the country in which people who oppose President Donald Trump turned out to celebrate his possible ouster.
App NEWS
Upstate Professor Collects Thousands Of Holiday Cards For Kids Impacted By Mass Shootings
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“I’m writing you to wish you a very happy holidays. Remember there will always be people who care about and support you. The world is a better place with you in it.”
Town Pays Over $40,000 For Discrimination Against Same-Sex Couple
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Laurel “Sherrie” Eriksen, refused to issue the license because she had religious objections to same-sex marriage.
Crime and Justice
Brindisi Will Vote For Impeachment, Katko Opposed
|
Congressmen in two of New York’s swing districts will vote along party lines in this week’s impeachment vote in Washington.
Former Clerk Of The Village of Delhi Pleads Guilty To Theft
|
Former clear admitted to writing checks worth $4, 788 to herself from village funds.
App NEWS
Former Congressman, Co-Defendants Settle With The Securities And Exchange Commission
|
Former congressman Chris Collins, his son Cameron, and Stephen Zarsky pleaded guilty to criminal insider trading charges in October.
Crime and Justice
PA House Adds Mandatory Minimums To High-Profile Justice Reform Bills
|
Many Democrats and some Republicans say mandatory minimum sentences are ineffective and biased against black people. The GOP committee chair says he ‘doesn’t see color.’
App NEWS
Despite Concerns From Counties, New York Lawmakers Won’t Revise Criminal Justice Reforms
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The leader of the New York state Senate said lawmakers will not revise criminal justice reforms that will result in an end to most forms of cash bail beginning in January.
Crime and Justice
His Life Sentence Commuted, PA Prisoner Now Faces Theft Charges Dating Back To 1992
|
After 25 years in prison, David Sheppard received clemency for a second-degree murder charge. But he may have to go back to prison for allegedly stealing jeans in 1992.
Apostolic Administrator Tells Catholic Weekly Buffalo Bankruptcy A “Likelihood”
|
“I think that has to be faced, and sooner rather than later. I would probably be the one to make that ultimate call, but I would want to make sure there wasn’t any other reasonable option.
App NEWS
Supporters Of New York’s Bail, Discovery Law Reforms Rebut Backlash
|
Beginning in January, New York ends cash bail for all nonviolent crimes and prosecutors reveal all the evidence they have to suspects within 15 days.
App NEWS
Scholar: ‘Hard To Know’ If Buffalo Diocese Will Recover From Clergy Sex Abuse Crisis
|
“You pull on one thread with this, and the next thing you know, you’re looking at all kinds of dots that are being connected across the country where the investigator is now being investigated. That’s quite shocking.”
Crime and Justice
PA State Representative Charged With Stealing Over $500,000 From Nonprofit
|
Democrat Movita Johnson-Harrell says she plans to resign. She won her seat in a special election nine months ago, replacing a representative charged with bribery.
Buffalo Bishop Resigns Amid Controversy Over Clergy Abuse
|
Richard Malone had faced scrutiny for allegedly mishandling sexual abuse claims against the priests in his diocese. He announced Wednesday that the pope had accepted his request to “retire early.”
All For Naught? Supreme Court Indicates New York Gun Case May Be Moot
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At issue was a New York City law that allowed residents to have a permit for a gun at home but barred them from transporting the gun elsewhere except to seven shooting ranges inside the city.
App NEWS
More Former Paperboys Say A Rochester Newspaper Supervisor Sexually Abused Them
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Five more paperboys have come forward to say they were sexually abused by a supervisor when they worked for the Democrat and Chronicle in the 1980s.
anthony bridisi
Reed, Brindisi Say NY Criminal Justice Reforms Ignore The Rights Of Crime Victims
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“Repeal this criminal justice reform effort in New York, go back to the drawing board and engage in real criminal justice reform where the rights of victims.”
App NEWS
PA Domestic Violence Groups Say Impact Of New Gun Law Is Hard To Measure
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Under the new Pennsylvania law, a judge is required to order a person to surrender firearms if they are the subject of a PFA order entered after a contested hearing.
albany
NY Public Finance Commission Plan Condemned By State’s Minor Political Parties
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The commission’s work is being challenged in court by the Working Families Party, the Conservative Party, and republicans in the senate and assembly.
App NEWS
A Look At Deposit’s Push To Dissolve Police Department
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The alternative is having sheriff departments from Broome and Delaware cover the area.
App NEWS
Police, Prosecutors Also Concerned Over Criminal Justice Reforms In New York
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“We are forced to stand here, after the fact, calling to the attention of the public, the legislature, and the governor, the serious flaws in these new laws.”
App NEWS
Protest Over Proposed Law Stalls Broome Legislative Session
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The issue was over a bill that would allow law enforcement to arrest people for annoying, alarming or threatening emergency responders.
Crime and Justice
After Years Of Internal Fights, PA Legislature Overhauls Statute Of Limitations
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People abused as children will be able to file criminal suits against their abusers no matter how much time has passed.
Steuben County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges Threatening Congresswoman Ilhan Omar
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Several firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition were found in his home during the investigation into the calls
App NEWS
PA House Moves To Protect Prison Guards By Cracking Down On Inmates
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Among other things, the measures would impose longer sentences for assaulting guards, and punish inmates for a broader range of crimes.
App NEWS
Binghamton Mayor Leads Chorus Of Concerns Over 2020 Criminal Justice Reforms
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“We do not currently have the staffing to meet the timeline that’s in place right now,” Binghamton Mayor Rich David said.
Crime and Justice
PA Will Take Death Row Inmates Out Of Indefinite Solitary Confinement
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They’ll now get at least 42½ hours per week out of their cell, and will be allowed to eat and attend religious services with other inmates.
Crime and Justice
PA’s Governor Says He’s Unaware Of Wrongdoing In Mariner East Pipeline Permitting Process
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Tom Wolf, a Democrat, addressed the situation for the first time Wednesday afternoon, saying he is not aware of any wrongdoing.
Opioid Addiction In Jails: A New York Prison Doctor’s Perspective
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Rikers Island doctor says drug treatment in U.S. jails and prisons is often shaped by societal prejudice, not science.
Crime and Justice
Prosecutors Say They Need More Money To Enact Changes To New York’s Criminal Justice Law
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“Every DA in the state is going to try. What you’ll see is that there are going to be difficulties.”
App NEWS
Tompkins DA Explains How State Criminal Justice Reforms Will Cost The County
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Several other counties have criticized these reforms as another unfunded mandate.
App NEWS
Another Broome County Jail Inmate Dies
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Broome County’s Sheriff said an autopsy concluded the cause of death was natural.
Crime and Justice
Pushback From Police, Republicans To New York’s Bail Reform Laws
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Sweeping reforms that will end cash bail for all misdemeanor and nonviolent felony charges in New York state take effect in January. But some law enforcement groups are objecting.
New York Judge Says Trump Must Pay $2 Million Over Misuse Of Foundation Funds
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The money will go to a group of charities. The New York judge said money raised at a 2016 veterans fundraiser “was used for Mr. Trump’s political campaign and disbursed by Mr. Trump’s campaign staff.”
China-New York Jail Suspects In A Fentanyl Trafficking Case
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The traffickers were caught with 11.9 kilograms of fentanyl — enough to kill nearly 6 million people, by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s standard.
Crime and Justice
Supporters Of Arming Teachers Claim Victory In Schuylkill County Board Election
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“I still stand by, the only thing that’s going to stop a gun is a gun.”
App NEWS
PA Voters Approve Marsy’s Law, But Courts Could Block It
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It could take a year or longer to resolve whether victims’ rights measure is constitutional.
New York Sues To Overturn FCC Ruling On T-Mobile/Sprint Merger
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The next hurdle is a federal trial in December in which a coalition of state attorneys general are challenging the merger as anti-competitive.
Columnist Who Accused Trump Of Sexual Assault, Defamation Files Suit In New York
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The president accused E. Jean Carroll of “totally lying” when she said he assaulted her more than two decades ago. Now, Carroll is taking him to court for allegedly smearing her in the media.
New York Appeals Court Rules Trump Must Turn Over Tax Records
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Lawyers for President Trump say they plan to appeal to the Supreme Court, potentially setting up an election-year decision about disclosing the president’s finances.
App NEWS
In Unprecedented Move, PA Judge Blocks Marsy’s Law Ballots From Being Counted—For Now
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The ACLU and other groups had argued the victims’ rights constitutional amendment is too broad and could compromise the rights of the accused. The judge agreed.
Jeffrey Epstein Case: Former New York Medical Examiner Suggests Doubt On Suicide Finding
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A New York pathologist who observed the autopsy says Epstein’s neck fractures are “more indicative” of homicidal strangulation than suicide. The current medical examiner stands by her conclusion.
Crime and Justice
A PA Hate Crime Bill’s Circuitous Path To Passage
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Once signed, the measure will give grants to nonprofits susceptible to hate crimes. Though few lawmakers ever opposed it, the legislative process was unpredictable.
Crime and Justice
Marsy’s Law Explained
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What Pennsylvania voters need to know about the victims’ rights amendment on the Nov. 5 ballot
Crime and Justice
After Hot Mic Comment, Tensions Between PA Prisons Chief And Prison Staff Flare
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Union leaders interpreted Corrections Secretary John Wetzel’s quiet aside at a prison closure hearing as dismissive.
App NEWS
Ithaca Pacifist, Six Others Convicted On Charges Stemming From Anti-War Protest
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“We have choices about what we consent to and what we don’t consent to. That’s a nonviolent practice of withdrawing consent.”
App NEWS
NYSEG Warns Customers Of Phone Scam
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The company warns customers not to give out personal information to unsolicited callers.
Crime and Justice
Is Marsy’s Law Constitutional? A PA Judge Will Decide Soon.
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Opponents of the victims’ rights amendment say it’s too broad and would cause “immediate and irreparable harm” to the accused. Marsy’s Law backers firmly disagree.
App NEWS
Broome County To Use Cameras To Catch Drivers Who Illegally Pass School Buses
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Cameras will be equipped on stop signs on the outside of buses.
Andrew Cuomo
Cuomo Attends Regional Summit On Legal Cannabis, Vaping Illness Epidemic
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The states also agreed to take more steps to discourage minors from vaping any type of products, including nicotine.
Aviva Friedman
After Mayor Criticizes Columbus Parade Protests, Binghamton Democratic Chair Responds
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Teri Rennia said Mayor David should instead focus attention on the deaths of Broome County Jail inmates.
App NEWS
A Rochester Newspaper Faces Sexual Abuse Lawsuit From Former Paperboy
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ROCHESTER, NY (WXXI) – A former Brighton resident is suing the Democrat and Chronicle and its parent company, Gannett, claiming he was sexually abused by a supervisor when he was a paperboy. Rick Bates said he was 11 years old when the alleged incidents started in the early 1980s. “I’m filing a suit against Gannett to hold them accountable for the conditions they created that left me and other paperboys alone,” he said. “We got up and worked for them at 5 in the morning and made them money, and they left us alone with a predator.” Bates said he delivered newspapers in Brighton around the apartment complex on Eastbrooke Lane where he lived with his mother and an older brother.
App NEWS
Binghamton Mayor Condemns Broome Jail Protest At Columbus Day Parade
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“It’s how they went about trying to execute it.”
Cuomo Campaign Donations from Hospital Org Are Questioned
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Recent reports and studies suggest that the outsized political power of hospitals is a big reason why American health care is so expensive.
App NEWS
DA, Police Chief Speak About April Incident On Ithaca Commons
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The D.A. said it was never his desire that either of the two young African-Americans arrested have criminal records or go to prison.
ACLU
ACLU Files Last-Minute Suit In PA Against Marsy’s Law Amendment
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Marsy’s Law would insert a bill of rights for crime victims in Pennsylvania’s constitution. The ACLU thinks it’s too sweeping and would need to be broken into parts.
New York Jury Orders Arrest of Giuliani Associates On Campaign Finance Violations
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Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman are associates of President Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani and reportedly aided Giuliani’s efforts to have Ukraine investigate former Vice President Joe Biden.
App NEWS
A PA Prison Unit’s About To Go Scandinavian
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The change, which will involve new furniture and roomier cells, will test whether a less punitive prison environment will yield better-behaved inmates
Crime and Justice
PA School Board President Banned From Olympic Sports For Sexual Misconduct
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Larry Wittig resigned from the board in 2017 after the Philadelphia Inquirer first published the allegations, but he remains school board president of the Tamaqua Area School District in Schuylkill County.
Addiction
ACLU Says A Lebanon County Medical Marijuana Policy Violates PA Law
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Lebanon isn’t not the only county that does this. The Pennsylvania ALCU says it has heard at least seven others have similar policies. The group is hoping its suit has statewide implications.
App NEWS
STAP Pleased After Judge Rules Proposed Supervised Injection Sites Do Not Violate Federal Drug Laws
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The Southern Tier AIDS Program wants to open a research pilot site in Ithaca.
Delhi Mayor Disappointed After Clerk Arrest
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Michele Barnes allegedly wrote checks to herself using village funds.
App NEWS
PA Laws Keep Victims Silent, Child Sex Abuse Survivors Say
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The state Senate held a daylong hearing on bills to overhaul the statute of limitations for certain abuse cases. They’ve repeatedly stalled before, and it’s unclear if anything has changed.
INTERVIEW: Ithaca Mayor Svante Myrick On April Commons Incident
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Myrick sat down with Celia Clark at WSKG’s Ithaca studio.
With Her Charges Dismissed, African-American Woman Wants Ithaca Police Penalized
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“I’m not asking for anyone to lose their job. I wish that they would just realize that there’s some sort of consequence to their actions.”
Congressman Reed Reacts To Collins Resignation
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“We urge Governor Cuomo to waste no time in calling for a special election to ensure the people of New York’s 27th Congressional District have proper representation in Washington.”
New York Congressman Resigns, Changes Plea In Insider Trading Case
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“What is almost certain right now is that it seems like his political career, for now, is over.”
App NEWS
Judge Dismisses Charges Against Woman Involved in Ithaca Commons Incident
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The judge said police didn’t properly handle situaton.
App NEWS
‘Shooting People Is Deescalation’: Three Days With Teachers Training To Use Guns In Schools
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“You bring the gun up. Somebody comes around the corner. They’ve got something in their hand. You bring the sights up to your line of sight. You give them verbal commands. You see it’s a knife, he brings it up. You fire a shot.”
Plácido Domingo Withdraws From New York’s MET Following Sexual Misconduct Allegations
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The opera star, who has been accused by 20 women, was scheduled to perform Verdi’s Macbeth starting on Wednesday night. In an email, he told Met staffers that he will never perform there again.
Crime and Justice
PA House Re-Introduces Contentious Bills To Reinstate Mandatory Minimum Sentences
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A bipartisan consensus has been rising around bills that seek to make sentencing less punitive. But House Republicans are holding fast to one of their longtime, tougher-on-crime priorities
Crime and Justice
New Law Extends New York’s Statute Of Limitations For Sex Crimes
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“There has been an ongoing and pervasive culture of sexual harassment and abuse in our society, and it is made worse by the fact that victims of second- and third-degree rape only have five years to bring a legal claim against their attacker,”
App NEWS
PA, Again, Call For Leach To Resign. He Doesn’t Plan To.
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The caucus has released a final report about sexual misconduct allegations against Leach. It found “unprofessional” behavior, but no sexual harassment.
As Drugmakers Face Opioid Lawsuits, Some Ask: Why Not Criminal Charges Too?
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“The Sackler family does not belong in bankruptcy court,” Rep. Max Rose said of Purdue Pharma’s owners. “They belong in handcuffs.” He and others want charges for drug companies linked to the crisis.
App NEWS
PA Lawmakers Reel After Folmer’s Ouster
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The top Republican, arrested on child pornography charges, was heavily involved in efforts to overhaul redistricting and elections laws.
PA State Senator Resigns After Arrest On Child Porn Charges
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Mike Folmer, 63, was arrested at his home on Tuesday. According to court documents, he told police that he “had been dealing with some personal problems.”
Crime and Justice
State Senator Arrested In PA On Child Pornography Charges
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The state attorney general says the high-ranking Republican is not “above the law.”
App NEWS
Lawsuit Claims Trans Woman Jailed In Steuben County’s Men’s Lockup
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The suit alleges Jena Faith was held in a facility that does not correspond with her gender identity.
Fugitive Couple From New York State Caught After Weeks On The Run
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The U.S. Marshals Service says Blane Barksdale, 56, and wife Susan, 59, “overpowered and kidnapped” three people, including two security guards, on Aug. 26 during extradition from New York to Arizona.
Diocese of Rochester Files Chapter 11; Not Ruled Out For Diocese of Buffalo
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The Diocese of Rochester, which faces approximately four dozen lawsuits filed under the Child Victims Act, filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection Thursday morning.
App NEWS
Catholic Diocese of Rochester Files For Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection
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The diocese claims to have between 200 and 999 creditors, and estimates its assets to be between $50 million and $100 million, with liabilities in excess of $100 million.
Crime and Justice
PA Lawmaker Sentenced For DUI
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Representative John Galloway was charged after an incident in May, when police found him driving with a BAC of .16
Acting Police Chief Nominated For Top Spot In Ithaca’s Police Force
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Appointment needs approval from the Ithaca Common Council.
Buffalo Bishop Restates He’s Staying, While Critic Says Call To Resign Is “Major Move”
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“The fact that his own kind of kitchen cabinet of support, a kitchen cabinet of reforms, has turned on him and said you must leave, this could be the tipping point.”
Crime and Justice
Clergy Abuse Victims Call For Forgiveness
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The two men want to propose an alternative to the anger and bitterness the scandal has wrought.
“Movement To Restore Trust” Asks For Buffalo Bishop’s Resignation
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A panel of lay Catholics formed last year to address concerns about the Diocese of Buffalo’s child sex abuse scandal has asked Bishop Richard Malone to resign.
Crime and Justice
Postal Feature Might Protect Mail From ‘Porch Pirates’
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For people concerned about “porch pirates” walking off with their packages, the U.S. Postal Service offers a free service to help customers keep track of their mail.
Buffalo Bishop Admits Secret Recording Broke Church Law, Restates He Won’t Resign
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Hours after WKBW-TV broadcast a story featuring audio secretly recorded by Malone’s former secretary, the bishop suggested Fr. Ryszard Biernat broke church law.
App NEWS
Gun Control, Social Security Debated At Reed Town Hall
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The Republican reaffirmed his opposition to an assault rifle ban and described it as a slippery slope that might lead to the repeal of the Second Amendment.
Crime and Justice
New Tool Allows School Districts To Catch Drivers Who Illegally Pass Buses
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School districts in New York have a new tool to catch drivers who pass school buses that are stopped to drop off or pick up kids.