Light at the end of the tunnel: Grand Central annex opens
After years of delays and massive cost overruns, the enormously expensive railway project shuttled its first passengers Wednesday from Long Island to a new annex in New York City's iconic Grand Central Terminal. The new transit center, built inside a massive man-made cavern and served by rail tunnels carved through bedrock, is being heralded as an important addition to the nation’s busiest railway network. The new 700,000-square-foot (65,032-square-meter) terminal, dubbed Grand Central Madison, was conceived and constructed at a time when New York City's transportation system was bursting with passengers. “I've been waiting for 30 years," said John Cannon, a Long Island man who was on the inaugural 21-minute ride from Jamaica, Queens, to Manhattan. “It obviously makes the businesses in Midtown East a more attractive destination for commuters from Long Island,” said Kathryn Wylde, the president of the Partnership for New York City.
wftv.comNY Gov. Hochul proposes ban on new gas hookups to fight climate change
In the same week that the Biden administration reversed course and on whether a ban on the sale of new gas stoves is under consideration, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul proposed banning fossil fuel infrastructure, including lines that power gas stoves and furnaces, in smaller new residential buildings by 2025 and larger ones by 2028. "We are taking these actions because climate change remains the greatest threat to our planet, and to our children and grandchildren." He did not indicate whether he would endorse Hochul's gas ban proposal specifically and when asked by the publication Energywire, his aides only pointed to his general comments in response. Environmental activists in New York eagerly embraced the proposed gas ban put forth by the governor.
wftv.comNurses at 2 NYC hospitals return to work as deal ends strike
Each has over 1,000 beds and 3,500 or more union nurses. Kathy Hochul greeting returning nurses at Mount Sinai just before dawn. “Our bargaining team has been working around the clock with NYSNA’s leadership to come to an agreement,” Montefiore said in a statement. Mount Sinai said in a statement it was pleased to have reached a tentative agreement and that the strike was over. It is fair and responsible, and it puts patients first,” Mount Sinai Health System said.
wftv.comNew York City nurses return to work after deal ends strike
NEW YORK — (AP) — Two New York City hospitals have reached a tentative contract agreement with thousands of striking nurses that ends this week's walkout that disrupted patient care, officials announced Thursday. Each has over 1,000 beds and 3,500 or more union nurses. Kathy Hochul greeting returning nurses at Mount Sinai just before dawn. “Our bargaining team has been working around the clock with NYSNA’s leadership to come to an agreement,” Montefiore said in a statement. It is fair and responsible, and it puts patients first,” Mount Sinai Health System said.
wftv.comNY lawmakers get pay raise making them nation's best-paid
ALBANY, N.Y. — (AP) — Just in time for the New Year, New York lawmakers have become the highest paid state legislators in the nation under a bill signed Saturday. Members of both houses are getting a pay raise of $32,000, for a base salary of $142,000, under a bill Gov. Before the pay boost, state lawmakers in California were the highest paid with a yearly base salary of $119,000, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. The new pay raise comes with restrictions, though. Some Democrats in the legislature supported the pay raise, and said it was necessary in order to keep up with the cost of living.
wftv.comDemocrat Kathy Hochul sworn in as elected New York governor
ALBANY, N.Y. — (AP) — New York Governor Kathy Hochul was sworn in for her first elected term on Sunday, making history as the first woman elected to the position in the state. The Democrat, launching her term as the 57th governor of New York, said her goals were to increase public safety and to make the state more affordable. “Right now there are some fights we have to take on,” Hochul said after taking the oath of office at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany. Hochul also called for making the state more affordable, citing the high cost of living. New York Attorney General Letitia A. James, 64, also took oath Sunday for her second elected term in the position.
wftv.comDemocrat Kathy Hochul sworn in as elected New York governor
New York Governor Kathy Hochul was sworn in for her first elected term on Sunday, making history as the first woman elected to the position in the state. The Democrat, launching her term as the 57th governor of New York, said her goals were to increase public safety and to make the state more affordable. “Right now there are some fights we have to take on,” Hochul said after taking the oath of office at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany.
news.yahoo.comBuffalo roads reopen as search for storm victims contines
BUFFALO, N.Y. — (AP) — Roads reopened Thursday in storm-besieged Buffalo as authorities continued searching for people who may have died or are stuck and suffering after last week's blizzard. Suburban roads, major highways and Buffalo Niagara International Airport had already reopened. Buffalo police and officers from other law enforcement agencies also searched for victims, sometimes using officers’ personal snowmobiles, trucks and other equipment. With the death toll already surpassing that of the area's notorious Blizzard of 1977, local officials faced questions about the response to last week's storm. The National Weather Service forecast that any flooding would be minor, but state and local officials said they were preparing nonetheless.
wftv.comGood Samaritans in Buffalo step up to the plate as western N.Y. hit by 'blizzard of the century'
A ravaged Buffalo, N.Y., faced more snowfall on Tuesday as the death toll from the weekend’s blizzard continued to rise. The National Weather Service recorded more than 49 inches of snow in Buffalo, where authorities said at least 28 people have died. On Christmas Eve, Sha’Kyra Aughtry said she heard a man outside screaming for help. Alex Campagna, a dentist in nearby Williamsville, wrote on Facebook that at 2 p.m., he heard a "frantic knock on the door today during the worst blizzard I've experienced." Buffalo man assisting a friend.
wftv.comMore snow in store for Buffalo after blizzard 'for the ages'
BUFFALO, N.Y. — (AP) — Storm-battered Buffalo braced Tuesday for fresh snow while still striving to recover from an epic blizzard that killed at least 28 people, stranded others in cars for days and shuttered the city's airport. County Executive Mark Poloncarz called the blizzard “the worst storm probably in our lifetime,” even for an area known for heavy snow. “I’ve lived here my whole life, and this is the worst storm I’ve ever seen,” the 48-year-old said. Kathy Hochul toured the aftermath in Buffalo — her hometown — and called the blizzard “one for the ages.” Almost every fire truck in the city became stranded Saturday, she said. The National Weather Service said the snow total at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport stood at 49.2 inches (1.25 meters) at 10 a.m. Monday.
wftv.comMore snow in store for Buffalo after blizzard 'for the ages'
BUFFALO, N.Y. — (AP) — Storm-battered Buffalo braced Tuesday for fresh snow while still striving to recover from an epic blizzard that killed at least 28 people, stranded others in cars for days and shuttered the city's airport. County Executive Mark Poloncarz called the blizzard “the worst storm probably in our lifetime,” even for an area known for heavy snow. “I’ve lived here my whole life, and this is the worst storm I’ve ever seen,” the 48-year-old said. Kathy Hochul toured the aftermath in Buffalo — her hometown — and called the blizzard “one for the ages.” Almost every fire truck in the city became stranded Saturday, she said. The National Weather Service said the snow total at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport stood at 49.2 inches (1.25 meters) at 10 a.m. Monday.
wftv.com'Blizzard of the century' leaves nearly 50 dead across US
Emergency crews in New York were scrambling Monday to rescue marooned residents from what authorities called the "blizzard of the century," a relentless storm that has left at least 25 dead in the state and is causing US Christmas travel chaos. Blizzard conditions continue to prevail in parts of the US Northeast, the stubborn remnants of a massive sprawl of extreme weather that gripped the country over several days, causing widespread power outages, travel delays and at least 47 deaths across nine states. In New York state, authorities have described ferocious conditions, particularly in Buffalo, with hours-long whiteouts, bodies being discovered in vehicles and under snow banks, and emergency personnel going "car to car" searching for more motorists -- alive or dead. The perfect storm of fierce snow squalls, howling wind and sub-zero temperatures forced the cancellation of more than 15,000 US flights in recent days, including at least 2,600 on Monday, according to tracking site Flightaware.com. Buffalo -- a city in Erie County that is no stranger to foul winter weather -- is the epicenter of the crisis, buried under staggering amounts of snow. "Certainly it is the blizzard of the century," Governor Kathy Hochul told reporters, adding it was "way too early to say this is at its completion." Hochul said some western New York towns got walloped with "30 to 40 inches (0.75 to 1 meter) of snow overnight." Later Monday, Hochul spoke with President Joe Biden, who offered "the full force of the federal government" to support New York state, and said he and First Lady Jill Biden were praying for those who lost loved ones in the storm, according to a White House statement. The National Weather Service forecast up to 14 more inches Monday in addition to the several feet that have already left the city buried in snow, with officials struggling to get emergency services back online. Erie County executive Mark Poloncarz told a press briefing he was "heartbroken" to report the blizzard-related death toll had climbed to 25 county-wide. Poloncarz said Erie's death toll will likely surpass that of Buffalo's infamous blizzard of 1977, when nearly 30 people died. "We do expect that there will be more" deaths from the ongoing storm, he added. With more snow in the forecast and most of Buffalo "impassable," he joined Hochul in warning residents to bunker down and stay in place. - 'Gut-wrenching' - National Guard members and other teams have rescued hundreds of people from snow-covered cars and homes without electricity, but authorities have said more people remain trapped. Erie County Sheriff John Garcia called the storm "the worst" he has ever seen, with periods of zero visibility and authorities unable to respond to emergency calls. "It was gut-wrenching when you're getting calls where families are with their kids and they're saying they're freezing," he told CNN. Hochul, a native of Buffalo, said she was stunned by what she saw during a reconnaissance tour of the city. "It is (like) going to a war zone, and the vehicles along the sides of the roads are shocking," Hochul said, describing eight-foot (2.4-meter) drifts against homes as well as snow plows and rescue vehicles "buried" in snow. "This is a war with mother nature," she said. The extreme weather sent temperatures to below freezing in all 48 contiguous US states over the weekend, including in Texas communities along the Mexico border where some newly arriving migrants have struggled to find shelter. - Sweeping power outages - At one point on Saturday, nearly 1.7 million customers were without electricity in the biting cold, according to tracker poweroutage.us. That number has dropped substantially, although there were still some 50,000 without electricity mid-day Monday on the US east coast. Due to frozen electric substations, some Erie County residents were not expected to regain power until Tuesday, with one substation reportedly buried under 18 feet of snow, a senior county official said. Buffalo's international airport remains closed until Tuesday and a driving ban remained in effect for the city and much of Erie County. Road ice and whiteout conditions also led to the temporary closure of some of the nation's busiest transport routes, including part of the cross-country Interstate 70 highway. Drivers were being warned not to take to the roads -- even as the nation reached what is usually its busiest time of year for travel. burs-mlm/bbk/caw
news.yahoo.comWestern NY death toll rises to 28 from cold, storm chaos
The death toll from a pre-Christmas blizzard that paralyzed the Buffalo area and much of the country has risen to 28 in western New York, authorities said Monday as the region dug out from one of the worst weather-related disasters in its history.
Deadly winter storm brings record low temperatures across US
A dangerous winter storm continued to wreak havoc across much of the U.S. on Sunday, bringing record-low temperatures and bringing several major cities to a halt. >> Read more trending newsAt least 18 people have been killed as a result of the deep freeze overnight and into Christmas morning, The Associated Press reported. According to the National Weather Service, New York City experienced record lows, including a 15-degree reading at Central Park, CNN reported. In Dallas, residents woke up to Christmas morning temperatures that rose from the upper teens to mid-20s, The Dallas Morning News reported. In Memphis, Tennessee, high temperatures Sunday were forecast to be at 31 degrees; last year’s high was 77, according to WHBQ-TV.
wftv.comWeather Updates | NY governor calls storm 'life-threatening'
“It’s a frigid start to your #ChristmasEve across the area,” the National Weather Service in Tallahassee tweeted. Duke Energy said that it was putting planned emergency outages in place because of high demand and that trees felled in high winds had also damaged some lines. ___BUFFALO, N.Y. — Officials are describing the ongoing blizzard in western New York around Buffalo as potentially the worst the area has ever seen. “This may turn out to be the worst storm in our community’s history,” Poloncarz said during a news conference Saturday. ___MONTPELIER, Vt. — Almost 400,000 electric customers across the six New England states remained without power on Saturday morning.
wftv.comMore than 5,000 flights canceled, 1 million without power as winter storm hits US
A massive winter storm moving across the United States is bringing frigid temperatures, whiteout conditions and power outages to more than half the country. >> Read more trending newsThe storm, which put approximately 60% of the U.S. population under some form of winter weather advisory or warning, was blamed for approximately 1.4 million power outages by Friday evening, The Associated Press reported. “The National Weather Service’s Watch Warning graphic depicts one of the greatest extents of winter weather warnings and advisories ever,” the agency said Thursday, according to CNN. Kathy Hochul said in a news conference Friday, CNN reported. A number of cities, including Atlanta, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Tallahassee, are forecast to see their coldest high temperatures ever on Dec. 24, CNN reported.
wftv.comNew York Gov. Kathy Hochul Picks Conservative Anti-Abortion Judge for New York's Highest Court
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday nominated Hector D. LaSalle—a conservative jurist who has sided with crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs)—to lead the state’s highest court for a 14-year term. LaSalle’s history as a right-wing judicial activist is in direct contrast with the governor’s previous pledges to support abortion rights in New York.
news.yahoo.comNY legislators pass bill making them nation's best-paid
ALBANY, N.Y. — (AP) — Just in time for Christmas, New York legislators returned to the state capital Thursday to give themselves a nice holiday gift: a pay raise that would make them the nation’s best-paid state lawmakers. Outside income would be capped at $35,000, starting in 2025. Some government transparency and watchdog groups said after the bill was introduced late Monday that it doesn't do enough for regulating outside income. Members of the U.S. Congress, for example, are excluded from making any outside income while they are in office from certain professions that could pose conflicts of interest, such as being a lawyer. New York's legislators got their last pay raise in 2018.
wftv.comNew York bans pet stores from selling cats, dogs, rabbits
Kathy Hochul and takes effect in 2024, lets pet shops work instead with shelters to offer rescued or abandoned animals up for adoption. It will also ban breeders from selling more than nine animals a year. While that law requires pet stores to work with animal shelters or rescue operations, like New York is doing now, it does not regulate sales by private breeders. In 2020, Maryland banned the sale of cats and dogs in pet stores, triggering pushback from shop owners and breeders who challenged the measure in court. We're not going to survive this,” said Ortiz, who considers the ban unfair to stores that work with responsible breeders.
wftv.comNY state health commissioner resigning to return to Harvard
ALBANY, N.Y. — (AP) — New York's state health commissioner will resign Jan. 1 after 13 months in the job to return to Harvard University's T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Bassett, a former New York City health commissioner, became the state health commissioner on Dec. 1, 2021, taking over for Howard Zucker. Before becoming state health commissioner, Bassett worked at Harvard, where she was director of the François-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights and a professor at the T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
wftv.comWave of sex abuse lawsuits seen as NY opens door for victims
Sexual assault victims in New York are getting a one-time opportunity to sue their abusers under a new law expected to bring a wave of litigation against prison guards, middle managers, doctors and prominent figures including former President Donald Trump.
New York emerges as exception to strong election for Dems
While Democrats were celebrating a stronger-than-expected midterm performance across much of the U.S. this week, New York was emerging as a notable exception where losses and lackluster results prompted a round of soul-searching and finger-pointing inside the party.