Latest news with #WVNY
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Tick Season Has Arrived
PLATTSBURGH, NY (WVNY/WFFF) — Once the warmer weather arrives, so do the ticks. With ticks comes potentially dangerous illnesses, such as Lyme disease. 'Here in the North Country, tick season starts as soon as our temperatures are regularly above 40 degrees. So, depending on the year, we can see most of our year being tick season, and it's going to run all the way through the end of October,' said Molly Flynn, Principal Public Health Educator for the Clinton County Health Department. Ticks are often so small; many people may not notice or feel them on their body. 'He's going to look for a spot like your armpit, or behind your ear, or your hair, somewhere you're not touching. And then he's going to basically bite in and burrow his head down into your skin so that he has direct access to your blood,' said Tia Legge, Agriculture Educator for Cornell Cooperative Extension of Clinton County. 'It sounds terrifying, but actually, typically people don't feel it. Ticks carry diseases that can be potentially dangerous not only for people, but for our pets, as well. 'The most common tick-borne illness in our area is Lyme disease. We've also seen cases of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, anaplasmosis, and Powassan virus. And we also see that ticks are co-infected so that means that they can be carrying more than one disease or illness at the same time,' said Flynn. Keeping your yard clean, with no leaves or brush, and the grass mowed short is critical for tick prevention. When going outdoors, it's best to put on an EPA registered insect repellant, cover as much skin as possible with lightweight, tight-knit clothing, wear close-toed shoes and tuck pant legs into your socks. After being outside, people should always check over their entire body and their pets' bodies for ticks. 'Check your hairline, ears, armpits, belly buttons, waist, behind your knees, between your legs, your ankles and between your toes,' said Flynn. 'Do tick checks on your pets, as well.' If you do find a tick attached to you, it's best to use fine-point tweezers. Grasp the tick close to the head, and pull straight out without twisting, jerking or yanking. Once the tick is removed, you should clean the bite area with soap and water. The tick should be kept in a zip log bag or some other sealed container. Ticks can be brought to Legge, at the Cornell Cooperative Extension, in Plattsburgh, for identification and testing. Both Clinton County Health Department and Cornell Cooperative Extension have extensive resources about ticks. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Weighing in on tariffs, ahead of Trump's ‘Liberation Day' announcement
PLATTSBURGH, NY (WVNY/WFFF) — President Trump's 'Liberation Day' is set for Wednesday. That's when he plans to unvail his framework for more tariffs. Tuesday morning Sen. Chuck Schumer shared some economic data for what he said will be catastrophic for the North Country. Shumer hosted a zoom meeting where he said that Trump's tariffs are a tax increase on upstate New York families and a new national tax on all Americans. 'It's a gut punch to upstate New York's economy… A gut punch,' said Schumer. Plattsburgh's Republican Chair, David J. Soulier, IV does not agree. 'A lot of this is propaganda being pushed by Schumer and the radical left,' said Soulier. 'The reality is that these tariffs are needed to reset the American manufacturing industry and to put America on balance.' Dr. Colin Read is an economics and finance professor at Plattsburgh State explained tariffs in their simplest form. Read said to think of tariffs the same as you would buying something at the store and paying sales tax. 'As soon as something crosses the border, an additional tax is added on that goes to the US Treasury, and then we ultimately pick up that tab as consumers of that product.' Said Read. But according to Schumer, that tab could be considerably high. Schumer said the average family in upstate New York would see an annual cost increase of up to $6,500 for groceries, gas and other purchased goods. Read said that number may be high, but it's in the ballpark. Soulier said that number lacks context and considering the increases we've paid in recent history, it may not be as bad as it seems. He also pointed out the goal of tariffs, which is to bring manufacturing jobs back to America. The White House has been tight-lipped about what President Trump plans to unveil until Wednesday, other than it is related to tariffs. He is scheduled to speak in the rose garden at 4PM. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
U.S. limits Canadian's access to Haskell Free Library
DERBY LINE, Vt (WVNY/WFFF) — The U.S. is now limiting Canadian access to the iconic Haskell Free Library and Opera House. The library has been sitting right on the border since 1904, and has been considered a neutral zone for decades. As it currently stands, Canadians have been able to access the library's main U.S. entrance from the sidewalk without having to go through U.S. Customs. Now, the U.S. Government is putting a stop to this tradition. A U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesperson released a statement citing a rise in illicit cross border activity has led to the decision to stop allowing people free access from the sidewalk on the Canadian side. CBP went on to say that starting October 1, 2025, all visitors who do come from Canadia must go through Customs if they want to use the main entrance to the library. Haskell's Board of Trustees President, Sylvie Boudreau said she has a better solution. 'We will open a Canadian door. On the east side of the building we have an emergency exit. We're going to be able to go through that, go to the library and to the opera house, through that door,' said Boudreau. She said modifications to the property will potentially cost more than $100,000, an expense she's hoping friends of the library will help cover. You can find a go-fund-me site on Haskell's website here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Former Corrections Officer Speaks After Termination From State
MALONE, NY (WVNY/WFFF) – Earlier this week, the state made a final deal with striking corrections officers, leading to thousands going back to work in New York prisons. Corrections officers said working inside the state's prisons is just too dangerous. 'At Upstate we had several exposures,' said Deven Hooper, a former C.O. (corrections officer) at Upstate Correctional Facility, in Malone, New York. 'There had been several safety situations that had come up before that. We were trying to get people's attention that there was something going on, that we needed help. During the same period, The Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) Commissioner, Daniel Martuscello, sent out a memo advising that 70% staffing would become the new 100%. 'We had been running our facilities at 70 percent so well that it was going to become our new norm, our 100 percent,' said Hooper. That is when thousands of corrections officers at 38 of New York's 42 prisons staged an unsanctioned strike. For 22 days officers, along with family, friends, and supporters stood outside their respective prisons demanding one major change. 'The only thing that we really wanted out of this was safety inside the facilities, for the corrections officers, for the guys that work down back and for the incarcerated individuals. The state responded by issuing notices. During one of several online press conferences, Martuscello was joined by the commissioner for Homeland Security and Emergency Services, Jackie Bray. 'Yesterday, we began terminations of corrections officers. Today, we terminated health insurance for officers who have been AWOL,' said Bray. Hooper is still trying to come to terms with losing his health insurance. 'I have 3 kids at home. I have a wife. I support all of them. To suddenly have my insurance cut off…,' said Hooper. 'We struggle, but we find ways to get around it. If she wants to cut off our insurance, so be it. We're better than that. We knew she was playing a game from the beginning. During all of this, mediations and negotiations took place. The state put out several officers, but the officers rejected them, saying that the safety issues were not corrected. 'It didn't address the safety situations. As for the HALT Act, it was only a 90 day stop on HALT,' said Hooper. 'It's just a band-aid for the situation.' The final offer from the state came out last Saturday. It was dependent on 85 percent of officers returning to work on Monday. Even though only 77 percent returned, leaving at least 2,000 officers behind, it was enough for the state to honor the deal anyway. 'I understand everybody has their own situations. Everybody has their own reasons for going back,' said Hooper. 'But I, personally, couldn't cross the line, not for the deal that came down through the line, not for the lack of safety that came through.' Those that did not return were sent termination letters from the state. 'Termination letters have been sent to over 2,000 people who have remained on strike,' said Martuscello, at Monday's online press conference. Hooper, along with the remaining officers on strike at Upstate Correctional Facility, say despite being fired, they're proud to stand up for what they know is right. 'I'll stand here until the very last day,' said Hooper. Just a few days after the strike ended, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed an executive order banning those officers from working any state-related positions, including police forces. Considering the dire need for more corrections officers in the state, even before all this, it's still unclear if some sort of reconciliation is likely or even possible. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Burlington voters say yes on Town Meeting Day
BURLINGTON, Vt. (WVNY/WFFF) — Although it may have been considered an odd year, Burlington ballots still had a lot in front of voters. The balance of power could have switched, but democrats still ended up with the majority on the council. Six questions were also on the ballot. Three charter changes were supported by the majority vote. Votes said yes to giving the city council jurisdiction over redistricting. They also said 'yes' to a change that would give the council authority over rental notifications. The third charter change involves banning firearms at any establishment that serves liquor, such as a bar. A similar amendment passed in 2014 with 68 percent of the vote, but the legislature never approved it. ' Burlington voters have made clear their support for this important policy change. My administration will advocate for the legislature to respect the will of the voters and adopt this charter change,' said Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak. The changes will need to go before the legislature for final approval, as do all charter changes in Vermont. When it comes to the makeup of the city council, it will remain a democratic majority. In the south district, the democrats hang on to the council seat. Ranjit Singh won 73 percent of the vote. Singh will take over for a long time City Councilor, Joan Shannon, who decided not to run again. She leaves with 22 years on the 12-member group. In the east district Allie Schacter will represent democrats for 2 years. The balance of power is 7 democrats to five republicans. Next Town Meeting Day, all 8 ward seats will be on he ballot. After the polls closed, Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak expressed her gratitude to everybody who made Town Meeting Day a success, as well as those who participated. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
