A Need For Nurses

By 2015, the U.S will have a shortage of almost a million nurses, which explains why nursing is the profession everyone wants to get into during the recession.

Approximately thirty states have a shortage of registered nurses and over 41% of nurses are 50 years or older.

Nergish Sunavala reports on a few local people who are taking advantage of the need for nurses.

How high will gas prices go?

The last time the U.S. had an average price of gas per gallon at two dollars was back around Thanksgiving. But just recently, gas prices have been creeping back up, making some people a bit upset.

Summer is only a couple months away, and AAA expects gas prices to continue increasing. This doesn't sit well with some drivers.

"I'm kind of upset. I mean we have trips and stuff planned so it kind of gets in the way of stuff especially in Syracuse. You got a lot of things to do," said Anthony Gonzalez.

The national average price of gas per gallon is at $2.03, up from $1.95 a week ago. In Syracuse, we're way above the national average, with the average price of unleaded fuel at $2.14 that's up by five cents from last week. With the economy in a recession, higher gas prices is making everyday a little bit harder for people.

"Well, with the economy, you don't get as many hours of work, so you don't get as big of a paycheck. About half your pay check goes to your gas to just go to work. It's barely enough money to get gas to put into your car," said Lindsay Goike.

AAA says it expects gas prices to go as high as $2.50...far from what Americans experienced last summer. But that still doesn't make a difference for some.

Stocks Slump Again: Dow Suffers Biggest Drop in Four Weeks

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 254 points to close at 7,522.10. The drop is a 3.3% decrease for the market.

Nasdaq sunk 2.8%. The S & P 500 closed after a 3.5% tumble.

Traders put Wall Street's big March rally on hold after the White House rejected turnaround plans from General Motors Corp. and Chrysler. Financial stocks also weighed on the market as investors worried that banks will need fresh infusions of capital.

Analysts say the pullback, which began with a 148-point drop in the Dow Jones industrial average on Friday, wasn't a surprise given a 21 percent surge in the index over just 13 days in March.

Oil prices ended lower on the New York Mercantile Exchange. They fell $3.97 -- closing at $48.41 a barrel.

Lawnmower Sales Seeing Green

Another business actually doing well in the poor economy - lawnmowers. Many people are expected to buy their own lawnmowers this spring as a one-time cost instead of paying for a lawn care service. Even still, as NCC News reporter Scott Snyder found, purchasing a lawnmower can be a big investment. Watch Scott's story here:

All-CNY Basketball Teams Announced

The top high school basketball players in Central New York are being honored as members of the 2009 All-CNY teams. Jamesville-DeWitt senior and Syracuse recruit Brandon Triche was named player of the year. The top girls honor went to Cazanovia's Kiley Evans, who plans to attend Sacred Heart in Connecticut to continue her basketball career. The teams were chosen by a panel of Section Three coaches. The Syracuse Post-Standard has a complete list of both the men's and women's rosters.

Old NYC Photo Sells Big at Auction

An early photograph of New York City sold for $62,500 at an auction house today. The picture is believed to be from 1848, and shows Manhattan's Upper West Side as open countryside. The photo is actually known as a daguerreotype, which is an early form of photography mostly used for portraits. It shows a white house with shutters, a grassy hillside and a horse-drawn carriage. The picture was recently discovered in New England, and estimated before the sale to be worth between $50,000 and $70,000.

A Tailor-Made Economy

The economy is hurting most businesses, but also helping out some others. Clothing tailors have seen an overall increase in their alteration businesses as more people dig deep in their closets for clothes they already have in an attempt to save money. NCC News reporter Emily Arrighi set out to find if this trend was also the case in Central New York. Watch her story below:

GM CEO Leaving with Huge Pension

General Motors Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner announced his resignation today, and will take with him a pension package worth almost $23 million. In an unprecedented move, Wagoner was basically forced out of the job by the Obama administration when they asked him to step down as they work to restructure and save the automaker. The terms of GM's government loans do not allow the company to give executives severance pay, but do not touch the pensions earned by the employees. Wagoner will receive the estimated $23 million in several payments over the rest of his life. The newest annual report from GM said Wagoner will also receive almost $367,000 from stocks and around $535,000 in deferred compensation. Wagoner has been replaced by Fritz Henderson, the company's Chief Operations Officer.

Obama: Not Enough Changes in GM and Chrysler for Further Bailouts

President Obama also closed the door for now on any more bailout money given to the auto industry. He said that neither General Motors nor Chrysler has proposed sweeping enough changes to justify further large federal bailouts. Obama demanded "painful concessions" from creditors, unions and others as their price for survival. The industry has shed over 400,000 jobs in the past year as the recession took hold. He said Chrysler's situation is more perilous, and the government will give the company 30 days to overcome hurdles to a merger with Fiat, the Italian automaker. If they are successful "we will consider lending up to $6 billion to help their plan succeed," Obama said.

Adirondack Land Sold to Danish Company

A Danish pension fund is now the owner of 92,000 acres of land in the Adirondack forest, the Nature Conservancy said. The land was sold today to ATP for almost $33 million, and is part of the 161,000 acres bought by the conservancy two years ago from a paper company. A group in Atlanta will manage the land bought by ATP.

The Nature Conservancy said the land will still be used for forestry and recreational activities like hunting, snowmobiling, hiking and fishing. The land is protected by strict conservation laws.

Second U.S. Soldier Convicted of Murder

A second U.S. soldier was convicted today of murdering four Iraqi detainees while he was stationed in Baghdad two years ago. Sergeant First Class Joseph Mayo, 27, out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to premeditated murder in the execution-style killings of four Iraqi prisoners, who were bound and blindfolded. Mayo has been sentenced to 35 years in prison, and will be eligible for parole in 10 years.

In February, Sergeant Michael Leahy, 28, was sentenced to life in prison after he also admitted to the execution-style killing of one of the prisoners and shooting another. He will also be eligible for parole.

Jets to hold Training Camp in CNY?

The New York Jets could be coming to Cortland or Ithaca for training camp.

Despite moving into their $75 million training facility in Florham Park, N.J., less than a year ago, the Jets are scouting other areas - possibly in upstate New York - to hold at least part
of their training camp.

The new facility does not have suitable parking or bleachers for the thousands of fans who normally attend training camp, or dormitories for the players. But that's not why new head coach Rex Ryan wants to go elsewhere.

"Coach Ryan is looking to find a more isolated environment for training camp to promote team-building and we are researching potential locations," team spokesman Bruce Speight said in a
statement.

Ryan sent members of his staff to scout out locations at Cornell and SUNY Cortland last week.

Highlights of New York State 2009-10 Budget

Governor David Paterson and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver are in Albany today to discuss the 2009-10 New York State budget. The budget, expected to be adopted in Albany tomorrow, is set for $131.8 billion, almost $10.5 billion more than the current budget. Here are some highlights:

• More than $21 billion in school aid, one of the highest in the nation and an increase of $1.1 billion from last year


• $3 billion in taxes and fees in everything from vehicle registration charges to public college tuition


• Getting rid of tax rebate checks, except for the STAR exemption program and the NYC STAR credit program


• Adding a nickel deposit for bottled water as well as the carbonated drinks


• Taxing little cigars (cigarillos) at 46 percent, the same rate as cigarettes


• $49 million in cuts to community colleges

11 Die in Pakistan Police School Siege

A group of gunmen, some in police uniforms, attacked a police academy in Pakistan today and held it for hours. Eleven people died during the siege.

The gunmen were throwing grenades and seizing hostages.

They killed at least eight police and three civilians before being overtaken by Pakistani security forces.

Six militants were arrested and eight died in the eight-hour battle to retake the building.

Pakistani police says, more than 90 officers were wounded and about 700 trainees were inside at the Manawan Police Training School when the shooting happened.

Syracuse Youth Rugby Team Finds Success

The Syracuse Silverbacks, the only youth rugby team in Central New York, will play its first match on Thursday against SUNY Binghamton. The Silverbacks play in the New York State Rugby Union as an Under-19 boys team, and takes players from any local high school. NCC News Reporter Amy Johnson went to the Silverbacks' last scrimmage before the regular season starts to see what is drawing local athletes away from the more typical high school sports. Watch her story here!

Cancer Warnings Not Burning Tanning Salons: Could there be Health Benefits from Tanning?

The American Cancer Society says you should avoid tanning beds and overexposure to ultraviolet light. Despite warnings about the negative effects of tanning, people are still going. So, why do people keep up their visits to the tanning salon?

Michelle Savoy is visits the tanning salon two or three times a week. On the surface, it seems like it's just another beauty ritual. However, she's not tanning to look better.

"I went to the doctor and asked her to run a few tests. I had a baby last year March 31 so my life has been kind of hectic. So she ran for a thyroid and vitamin D, and I thought that was kind of strange, running a vitamin D test. Ironically, the thyroid came back and the vitamin D was quite low, so she suggested I start vitamin D therapy …100 percent better," said Savoy.

Her doctor prescribed vitamin D supplements and tanning sessions in moderation.

But, warning labels about what U-V light can do to your eyes and skin are right on tanning beds. Even with the benefits, and with precautions like wearing protective eyewear, advocates know that too much sun exposure isn't healthy. Still, that's not enough to stop people from tanning.

"Life is better when you tan," said Stefanie DeCarolis.

Police Officer Stops NC Gunman with One Shot

One shot from a wounded police officer to the gunman's chest stopped yesterday's killing spree in a North Carolina nursing home, police said today. Officer Justin Garner, 25, fired a single shot at 45-year-old Robert Stewart, after Stewart killed seven residents and a nurse in the Pinelake Health and Rehab Center. Stewart also shot Garner in the leg three times and wounded two other people, police said. The chief of police also said he now believes Stewart may have targeted the nursing home because his estranged wife works there. Stewart is scheduled to appear in court next week, where he will face charges of eight counts of first-degree murder and one count of felony assault of a law enforcement officer.

Fargo Flood Waters Retreat As City Now Braces for Snowstorm

The Red River flood waters in Fargo, North Dakota, are finally receding, but the city is now preparing for a snowstorm on top of the flooding. Engineers said they are worried that waves produced by winds from the snowstorm could weaken the sandbag levees put up around the city for protection from the floods. National Guard members are placing plastic sheets over the sandbags to help protect against the expected high waves. The storm is forecast to hit Fargo this afternoon. The flooding of Red River over the weekend in Fargo was caused by melting snow from a previous snowstorm. Schools in the area are already closed for the week, and most Fargo businesses have not yet reopened either.

Baby Bottle Buyers Beware!

A controversial chemical found in some baby bottles may be harmful to infants. As a result, Suffolk County (Long Island area) Executive Steve Levy is banning baby bottles and toddler sippy cups made with the chemical known as BPA. The New York's senior senator wants federal legislation to do the same. The ban applies only to on eastern Long Island. Senator Charles Schumer says it should be extended nationwide. Among other things, Schumer's bill would require random testing of children's food and beverage containers on store shelves. Major U.S. retailers already have removed products containing BPA from their shelves because of the growing controversy. A packaging industry spokesman says the ban will have an adverse impact on consumers' ability to obtain baby products.

Trial Delayed in Softball Game Death Case

A man from the Rochester area who was charged with punching another man at a softball game, which resulted in his death, goes to trial tomorrow. Sean Sanders' trial for criminally negligent homicide was set to begin today in Monroe County Court. But, a court clerk says it has been delayed until tomorrow. The victim Dan Andrews Jr was punched in the back of the head after a recreational league game last summer. Andrews died the
next day from brain damage.

Obama Announces New Plans for Auto Industry, Incentives for Consumers

President Barack Obama announced today that neither General Motors or Chrysler have made enough widespread changes to warrant further federal bailout money.

"We cannot make the survival of our auto industry dependent on an unending flow of tax dollars," Obama said.

But fears of the auto industry's total collapse is prompting the administration to offer GM another 60 days worth of "adequate working capital" to come up with an acceptable restructuring plan, and 30 days for Chrysler to finish a deal that would merge the company with Fiat, an Italian auto company. If Chrysler is successful, Obama said he will consider an additional $6 billion in aid.

Obama also said he will offer incentives to Americans to buy more domestic-made cars. People who bought cars after February 16 will be contacted by the IRS about deducting the cost of sales and excise taxes. The benefits will last until the end of this year. Obama also said the government will guarantee any GM or Chrysler warranties.

DOW jumps 500 almost 500 points

The stock market soarded today after the Treasury's plan to purchase billions in bank assets which could balance the economy. According to early tallies, the Dow Jones Industrial jumped 497 points, which marks today as the biggest one day gain in the market since November. Some analysts say the market's response is well, but some analysts disagree.

Steve Leeb, the president of Leep Capital Management isn't very optimistic, "The plan is a rehash of what we've seen before and it still doesn't resolve the issue of how to value the bad assets."

Even though there was such a huge point gain, there was still resistance to stay above 800. Analysts say this is necessay to see a gradual stablization in the market

Former Teachers Space Walking

For the first time in history two former school teachers went on a space walk together. This was not the first space walk for either Astronaut Joseph Acaba or Richard Arnold II, but it was their first with another former teacher. Their mission today was to free up a jammed platform that is located near the solar wings.

The platform would not budge and the astronauts were told to tie it down so would not cause any problems. Space debris was a concern of NASA as Sunday the station had to dodge a 4-inch piece that was projected to come very close and earlier this month the astronauts had to hide in the emergency getaway capsule for fear of debris.

The two crews are aiming for a Wednesday departure and a touchdown on Saturday.

Ban on Lead Products

Everything from a pencil to a book can be a health hazard for a child 12 years old and younger. A new federal law requires products with even the smallest amouts of lead to be banned for children. Confusion has sparked over this law, because of the levels of lead found in books. While books printed after 1986 don't contain lead, federal law regulators say its up for debate.

Home Made Coffee

When it comes to coffee the numbers don’t lie. The 2009 National Coffee Drinking Trends survey, which polled more than 3,000 adults in the United States by telephone in January and February states that 83% of coffee drinkers make it at home. This is up 5% from a year ago. Still, coffee consumption has not dropped, staying steady with 54% of adults drinking it. “The coffee industry as a whole doesn’t seem to be suffering at all, it seems to be recession resistant,” says Mark DiDomenico, the director of Customer and Consumer insights for Sara Lee Foodservice. Samantha Weihl has more.

More People are Buying Homes

Home sales are surprisingly up more than five percent last month. The National Association of Retailors says home buyers are taking advantage of the reduced prices on foreclosed homes. The price of homes have fallen, but are still more than a million dollars on average.

No Injuries in Hospital Explosion

No injuries have been reported in a boiler room explosion at the Adirondack Medical Center in Saranac Lake. Cheryl Breen, the AMC executive director of community relations at the Saranac Lake hospital says that they are still assessing the damage, but they will be moving 33 to 34 patients and even discharging some.

Montana Plane Crash Update

The plane that crashed in Butte, Montana yesterday showed no signs of trouble to air traffic controllers before it crashed. The plane was having difficulty while it was in the air, investigators say it might have been due to the plane being overloaded.

The plane nose dived into a Montana cemetary, killing fourteen people, inlcuding seven children. The plane was configured to carry eleven people inlcluding two pilots, but three more people were on board which could have a been a cause for the crash.

The Pope Finishes Week in Africa

Pope Benedict XVI finished up his weeklong tour of Africa today. During his stay he urged nations and continents to come together, so Earth’s resources can be more equally shared with the world’s poor. In a speech at the airport he urged Angola's leaders to make "the fundamental aspirations of the most needy people" their main concern. He said, "Our hearts cannot be at peace as long as there are brothers that suffer the lack of food, work, a house, and other fundamental goods."

Both Angola and Cameroon have plenty of resources, including oil, but the countries' bishops have accused their regimes of using those resources to enrich a small elite while the most are still poor. Both nations have Catholic presidents.

The Pope’s visit was not without controversy. He continues to reject the use of condoms to help Africa fight the AIDS epidemic. Despite the criticism Africa, which suffers the most from AIDS came in the hundreds of thousands to support the Pope.

Schumer's New PTSD Bill

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer spoke in front of the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Syracuse today to introduce a Veteran’s health bill. Schumer is attempting to get vital treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. There are 31,000 Veterans in the Syracuse area and a study finds that one in five Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans suffers from PTSD. The study also showed that over half of those suffering do not receive treatment.

The current policy requires that veterans track down incident reports, buddy statements, present medals, and overcome other hurdles just to receive support. Schumer says, “We need to remove the barriers that prevent our soldiers and veterans from receiving care…In an era where mental injuries are stigmatized and in a war where danger can strike in any place, it is clear that the current VA regulations are in need of change. This legislation will help our brave men and women access the treatment and support they need.” Scott Snyder has more.

Fire Truck License

Who knew putting out fires was controversial? Volunteer firefighters at the Lyncourt Fire Department have been breaking the law everytime they drive thier fire trucks. A law passed in 2005 states firefighters must have a certified driver's license and training to drive a large truck. In order to get this license it costs $2,400 per driver. Volunteer firefighters say they shouldn't have to pay the fee, which means this fee could come from taxpayers.

Ancient Catch

A Greek fisherman brought up a 2,200 year old catch in the Aegean Sea last week, and it was not an ancient fish. The fisherman caught an old bronze statue of a horseman. Today, a Cultural Ministry announcement says the accidental find was made in waters between the eastern islands of Kos and Kalymnos.

The fisherman gave away the statue and the cleaning process has revealed that it is from the late 2nd century B.C. and represented a male riding a horse wearing ornate breast armor over a short tunic and armed with a sword.

Funeral for Former Assemblyman

Funeral services will be conducted today for former Assemblyman Hyman Miller at the Temple Society of Concord on Madison Street in Syracuse. Shiva will be observed at Miller's residence from tonight through Thursday evening. Miller died at the age of 86 this weekend at Crouse Hospital.

Miller retired from the New York State legislature after serving for 18 years. During his tenure, he represented the Republican members of the Assembly on many important committees including finance, energy, and education.

Miller, a native of Syracuse, was active in the community, a director on the boards of the Syracuse Chiefs Baseball Club, the Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame, and Community General Hospital Foundation. He was a past president of Temple Beth El, a former trustee of Cazenovia College, and past president of the Jewish Community Center.

Obama Calls on Inventors

President Barack Obama’s latest efforts to turn the economy around are focusing on inventors. Like Thomas Edison and Benjamin Franklin’s inventions changed America forever, Obama hopes that Americans can step forward and do the same thing. Obama said that if necessity is the mother of invention, "at this moment of necessity we need you. We need inventiveness."

The plan is that products such as electric cars and solar-tapping windows will help the United States end its foreign dependence on oil and also create jobs. Obama outlined an energy program as part of the $787 billion stimulus package that calls for $39 billion for the Department of Energy and $20 billion in tax incentives for clean energy.

Gallishaw Trial Deliberations Continue

Deliberations continue today for the Galishaw trial after a partial verdict was reached in an assault trial of a woman who blames mold exposure of her infant daughter's hospitalization nine years ago.

On Friday, Brandi Everson Gallishaw was convicted of a misdemeanor account of endangering the welfare of a child, but a unanimous decision was not reached. Justice John Brunetti sent the jury home for the weekend.

Gallishaw was convicted in 2001 for attempting to smother the child. The conviction was set aside last year after evidence supported Galishaw's claim of mold exposure.

NYC Senator Charged

A freshman senator from New York City has been charged with domestic assault. Today, Hiram
Monserrate was indicted on second and third-degree assault charges for his December 19th arrest. His girlfriend Karla Giraldo’s face was cut over her eye and required 25 stitches. Both Monserrate and Giraldo say the incident was an accident.

Monserrate told poilice that he tripped with a glass of water and it hit her in the face. Authorities feel differently as they have evidence, including surveillance videos, that show much more violence. Monserrate was still sworn into office despite the allegations. The Queens district attorney’s office says he is expected to be arraigned later this week.

Staying Pretty No Matter What the Cost

The economy has everyone cutting back on spending. But for some women, no matter how tough economic times might be, there are a few things that they just can't live without. Diamonds are a girl's bestfriend, but cosmetics are not too far down the list. Staying pretty is one thing a woman just can't sacrifice.

Alaska Volcano

Alaska's Mount Redoubt errupted for the fifth time this morning, but geologists expect more explosive activity in the next few weeks or months. The erruption this morning launched an ash plume nine miles into the air.

Alaska Airlines cancelled 19 flights arriving and departing from Anchorage International Airport because of large amounts of ash. The ash from the volcano is rock fragments that can damage plane and car engines.

Water Aerobics

The elderly community is turning to the water for exercise. Water aerobics are helping older adults maintain their daily living skills. At the Downtown Syracuse YMCA you can find water aerobics for the full range of ages from teens all the way to the elderly. Water aerobics is one of many classes offered for older people at the YMCA. Crystal Beavers has more.

NPG Workers Reject New Contract

New Process Gear will continue its winddown process. The new contract was rejected by 50 votes.

The new contract would have cut wages but kept the plant open. 580 workers voted against it and 530 voted for the new contract.

Without the new contract, plant owner Magna International said it cannot keep the money-losing plant open.

Attorney General Issues Subpoenas for Information About AIG Bonuses

New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said he'll issue subpoenas after AIG missed this afternoon's deadline for giving him a list of executives who are receiving bonuses.

The company received more than $170 billion in federal bailout money.

They are planning to spend $165 million on executive bonuses.

Cuomo said he wanted the list of names plus information about their work and contracts on his desk by 4 p.m. today. He said his office will investigate whether the employees were responsible for AIG's near-collapse and if the bonus payments are fraudulent under state law.

Common Council Settles Lawssuit

The Syracuse Common Council decided to settle the lawsuit Councilor Pat Hogan brought against the City of Syracuse.

Hogan was the former deputy Parks Commissioner until he was fired by Mayor Matt Driscoll in 2002. As a result, Hogan sued the city.

Many members of the Common Council said the settlement was well deserved.

The city will pay $8,000 to Hogan's lawyer. Also, his status will be changed from "terminated" to "retired." This will qualify Hogan to get healthcare benefits when his term on the council ends.

Community Says Goodbye to Fallen Soldier

Hundreds of people said their final goodbyes to Army Pfc. Patrick DeVoe at St. Mary's Church in Auburn this morning.



DeVoe died in a roadside bomb explosion in Afghanistan on March 8. He was 27 years old.


"It's a tremendous sense of loss," said John Ryan of the National Veterans Organization. "Regardless of ages or time periods that we serve in or even the military branch of service we serve in, all veterans are brothers."

DeVoe joined the Army last year. He had been in Afghanistan for less than a month when he was killed.

"You just never think it's going to be the boy next door," said Ron Podolak. "But, he made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, and I'm proud of Pat."

Beer Tax Backlash

BALDWINSVILLE - It is no surprise that the Central New York beer business is outraged over Governor Patterson’s proposed 118 percent increase of beer taxes.

Head of the Anheuser-Busch Plant in Baldwinsville Steve McCormick says that studies show Beer sales will decrease by almost 2 million cases.

But the beer business isn’t the only area in CNY that is concerned. 86 thousand jobs in NY State are beer related and a loss in sales could close down the Baldwinsville plant. That has local officials concerned.

13th District County Legislator Bob Warner says the tax could be devastating

The worrying doesn’t stop there. Can and bottle distributers, even shippers could be effected.

Owner of Gypsum Express John Wright says the tax hike and a drop in sales could mean Gypsum closing in New York. The company employs 347 people in the state

Overcoming Allergies

There is new hope for the 1.8 million Americans that are allergic to peanuts.

Doctors at Duke University Medical Center and Arkansas Children’s Hospital retrained the bodies of a small group of children to tolerate peanuts by feeding them small pieces of peanuts.

Immune tests show no signs of remaining allergy in the children. More research is being done to confirm the pilot study. Lead researcher Dr. Wesley Burks and the rest of the team will continue to monitor the group.

"We're optimistic that they have lost their peanut allergy...we've not seen this before medically. We'll have to see what happens to them."

There is no way to dice the peanuts as small as the researchers did in the treatment so do not try to do the treatment on your own.

Money for Mrs. Madoff?

NEW YORK - Ruth Madoff, Bernard Madoff’s wife, could get more than $100 million in assets and federal prosecutors say she should forfeit it.

$22 million in Madoff properties are in Ruth’s name. Federal prosecutors are asking courts for help recovering that property as well as millions in cash, stocks, furnishings, yachts, and other boats.

Madoff’s lawyer is arguing she should be able to keep some of the money because the assets in her name were not involved with the fraud.

Helping Small Businesses

WASHINGTON - The 21 largest banks receiving government money will now have to report monthly on their small business lending. The Obama administration made this announcement today as part of a package aimed at boosting the credit available to struggling small business owners.

All other banks receiving money will have to report quarterly. The package also includes $730 million from the stimulus plan to reduce small-business lending fees and to increase the government guarantee on some Small Business Administration loans.

The White House figures that making loans available to small businesses will help gain popularity for the bailout program.

Former Utica Mayor Buried

Former Utica Mayor Ed Hanna was buried today in Utica's Calvary Cemetery after his funeral service at Historic Old St. John's Roman Catholic Church.

The colorful mayor died on Friday at the age of 86. A police escort took him to his final resting place. He was also honored by a color guard.

The outspoken Hanna served as mayor for two terms in the 1970s and two terms in the 1990s.

He stepped down in July 2000 due to health problems and accusations that he sexually abused four men who worked for the City of Utica.

Hanna called the allegations lies, but the city approved a $250,000 settlement. Hanna agreed to contribute $75,000 to help cover legal expenses.

Going Green

Syracuse - Saint Patrick’s Day is tomorrow and the Empire Brewing Company is giving new meaning to “green beer”.

The micro-brewery in Armory Square is the first company in New York State to run on 100 percent state produced renewable energy.

What does that mean for a brewery? Director of Brewing Tim Butler says a local farmer comes and picks up waste grain for feed for her animals, the water used in the brewing process is recycled, the company uses local ingredients, and has a garden in Cazenovia where it grows its own vegetables and herbs.

But going green isn’t saving Empire any green. Butler says that the switch, that began last summer and took about eight months, ended up costing the company money. But he says other benefits that the company and community gain from the switch are more than worth it.

First Woman Schools Chancellor Selected by NY Board of Regents

The Board of Regents has selected Merryl Tisch as New York state's schools chancellor. This is the first time a woman has been selected for this position.

As chancellor, Tisch will present policy decisions to the public, teachers, administrators, teachers unions and politicians.

Tisch was a first grade teacher at a private school and has served on the Board of Regents for 13 years.

Her first task in the unpaid position will be to find a successor to state Education Commissioner Robert Mills, who is leaving the post in June.

She also wants to make math, English, science and other basic areas more relevant to today's needs.

"We must reinvigorate our focus on the academic core," Tisch said.

She comes from one of Manhattan's most prominent families. Tisch and her family are a major philanthropic force supporting the arts and health care. She serves on a variety of organization boards.

Tisch is New York's 36th chancellor and will serve a three-year term.

No Bailout for Bonuses

NEW YORK/WASHINGTON –

New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo will investigate whether American International Group bonus payments are fraud.

This comes after President Barack Obama said earlier that “recklessness and greed” led to the financial problems of AIG and he’ll try to put an end to that. The president was making an appearance to announce help for small businesses when he talked about AIG.

"All across the country, there are people who workhard and meet their responsibilities every day, without the benefit of government bailouts or multimillion-dollar bonuses. And all they ask is that everyone, from Main Street to Wall Street to Washington, play by the same rules."

It came out over the weekend that AIG was paying large executive bonuses. $165 million was made payable to executives by Sunday.

AIG has received more than $170 billion in federal rescue money and is 80% owned by U.S. tax payers

Space Debris Dodging

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA will decide later today if it will move the international space station to avoid a piece of debris from an old Soviet satellite. The debris could come within about half a mile of the space station on Tuesday.

The space station had a close call with debris last week but was not moved. If NASA does decide to move the space station, it will have to fire the station’s engines to nudge it out of the path of the debris.

The debris is from a Soviet satellite that broke apart in 1981. NASA’s records show it has moved the space station out of the way of debris eight times in the past.

NPG Workers Voting on New Contract

Workers at New Process Gear began voting this afternoon on a new contract that could save the factory from closing.

Owner Magna International has been taking steps to shut the money-losing plant down after workers rejected a contract last month.

The contract that was voted down would have cut wages to $13 per hour. The new contract would reduce wages from about $20 an hour to $16. The new proposal calls for the plant to break even, or come close to breaking even, by July.

Even if the plant breaks even, Magna expects to cut the 1,400-member workforce by about half.
Voting on the contract will end Tuesday afternoon.

Art Still Important Despite Economy

The economy has affected art programs nationwide, and Central New York programs are also facing challenges.

At the Community Folk Art Center in Syracuse, class participation is down. Fewer adults are taking classes, but the center is still seeing a lot of kids come in.

"With the children's programming, especially with the winter break art camp, we kind of broke even," said Qiana Williams, the Director of Education Programs.

Even when money is tight, many still see art as an important expense.

"Creativity doesn't stop just because of the economic crisis," Williams said.

Parents are still making sure their kids get to take art and dance classes.

"I would do whatever I could to keep her involved," said Syd Southworth, who enrolls her daughter at the Community Folk Art Center. "My view is that a well-rounded individual is very important and that includes academics and that includes art."

Some programs still might be cut at the center due to low enrollment.

"Community Art Center will continue to offer what it can within its means," said Williams.

The Center's commitment to providing classes means a great deal to Crystal Teng, who is learning Capoeria, an African and Brazilian dance.

"You have to sacrifice something but art is something that I probably leave at the very, very last," Teng said.

Iraqi Soccer Player Killed

BAHGDAD – An Iraqi amateur soccer player was shot and killed during play on Sunday.

The striker for the Buhairat amateur team was shot in the head by a fan as he was about to kick what could have been a game winner. In the final minute of play, Buhairat was down one nil to Sinjar club when a Sinjar fan shot the striker. Police Major Muthanna Khalid says that a spectator was arrested.

Improved security has more Iraqis going to sporting events, but security at amateur games is often still lax.

A Reason for Running

Last Labor Day Jane Magari began running races, before then she says she had trouble with any physical activity, even walking up hills. Five races later and one hundred pounds lighter, Magari says she has gained confidence as she has lost weight and that’s all she has needed to keep hitting the pavement.

“Seeing the results motivates me and wow, running has made a big difference”
Magari uses a journal and a program from Runner’s World magazine to help her win the battle with her weight.

“When I lost weight it was always reaching a destination and reaching a goal weight and then celebrating, thinking I was going to a certain point and that was it... I would gain all the weight back... It's going to be a constant journey for me for the rest of my life to stay healthy.”

Magari’s next goal has nothing to do with numbers on a scale. She’s training for the Mountain Goat this summer. A ten mile, uphill, run. This new challenge even has her family excited and that has her even more motivated. Magari says one of her sons asked if he could wear her finisher’s shirt to school and tell all his friends that his mom ran ten miles.

CIA Interrogations

The CIA destroyed nearly 100 videotapes of interrogations and other U.S. treatment of terror suspects, far more than previously acknowledged by the Bush-era, the Obama administration said today.

The interrogations were a highly controversial issue during the administration of President George W. Bush, with many Democrats and other critics saying that some methods used amounted to torture- a contention Bush and other officials rejected.

It is not clear exactly what was on the recordings.

Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters he hasn’t spoken to the president about the report, but called the news about the videotapes “sad” and said Obama was committed to ending torture while also protecting American values.

No Retirement in Florida for NY Public Workers

Albany, N.Y. - Think an early retirement is the answer to the current economic crisis? Think again...

New York Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli told school board members losses are continuing in the state's public worker pension fund. The fund dropped about 20 percent of its value last year and rate increases are likely in 2011.


Municipalities and school districts could face contribution rate increases in future years.


The fund had $122 billion on Dec. 31 is down from $154 billion only nine months earlier.

Horses...a luxury worth keeping?

The equestrian world has always been tied to the luxury world. But as luxuries are feeling the economic pinch, does that mean people will give up horse-riding?

Bull Hill Farm in Lafayette breeds and sells the expense Irish Draught breed. These horses sell for anywhere ranging from a thousand dollars to a hundred thousand dollars. Employees at Bull Hill Farm say people are not likely to give up their horses if they are committed.

Paul Ferenack, a horse farmer says, “ people who are interested in this type of horse generally are in the income range that are although affected by the economy are willing to sacrifice other things in order to have a horse.”

Tom Pellitteri, a horse lover, says "the money that goes toward supporting the horses is less money I have to spend on myself for rent and because when they are gone a part of me will be missing."

Regardless of the high cost of this luxury, the emotional payoff seems to be well worth it for some.