Starting Monday, residential brush burning is temporarily banned in New York State.
The ban will remain in effect until May 15th. Department of Environmental Conservation officials say the prospect of wildfires increases during early spring because of the lack of green vegetation. Warm temperatures and high winds also play a factor.
New York fire departments respond to an average of 26,000 wildfires each year during the early spring months. Violators of the burn ban are subject to penalties ranging from $375 to $15,000 for a first offense.
Ithaca Alderwoman Maria Coles says laying off city workers to raise the salaries of some CSEA employees is “not a good equation," but admits every option is being examined as city officials meet with union reps.
The New York Legislature's "extraordinary session" to finally pass the late state budget Wednesday night was anything but extraordinary, with nine senators not showing up and no agreements on which to vote.
Test scores on New York State’s English and Math assessments for students in grades 3 to 8 dropped this year as a result of changes to the formula used to determine proficiency levels.
Federal regulators say corroded steel supports and inadequate maintenance led to the collapse of a loading bin that killed one worker and injured another at the Cargill Salt mine in Lansing last year.
