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New York City Lawmakers Propose Repeal of Decades-Old Bathhouse Ban

New York City Lawmakers Propose Repeal of Decades-Old Bathhouse Ban

New York City lawmakers are advocating for the repeal of a 1985 prohibition on adult bathhouses, a regulation enacted during the AIDS crisis. State Senator Erik Bottcher and State Assemblymember Tony Simone are leading the legislative effort to direct the New York State Department of Health to strike down the ban and implement a new, science-based regulatory framework. They argue that medical advancements in HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, such as 'Undetectable = Untransmittable' (U=U) and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), have rendered the outdated law obsolete. The proposed legislation aims to allow licensed and regulated bathhouses to operate under clear health and safety standards, which proponents believe will create opportunities for public health officials to engage with individuals who may not access traditional healthcare settings. This initiative is part of a broader movement, with other U.S. cities like Minneapolis and San Francisco also re-evaluating similar prohibitions.
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Accomack County Secures Affordable Housing for Accomack Manor for Ten Years

Accomack County Secures Affordable Housing for Accomack Manor for Ten Years

Accomack County officials are moving to preserve affordable housing at Accomack Manor in Parksley for at least the next ten years. The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) has approved a proposed agreement, allowing the Accomack Board of Supervisors to finalize the documents. Accomack Manor, built in 2005 with a $700,000 Community Improvement Grant from DHCD, comprises 90 affordable apartments and two management units. The county had loaned $630,000 of this grant to Accomack Manor LLC for infrastructure improvements. The new agreement extends the loan's maturity date to November 1, 2030, with an option for a further 50-year extension. Crucially, it mandates that Accomack Manor continue to serve low-income households and maintain rents below fair-market value for at least ten years, and potentially longer if the debt remains outstanding.
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Five New York State Troopers Suspended Amid Ongoing Investigation

Five New York State Troopers Suspended Amid Ongoing Investigation

Five New York State Troopers from Troop B in Ray Brook have been suspended as part of an ongoing administrative investigation. The suspensions are linked to an incident that occurred in October of the previous year. Details regarding the specific nature of the incident or the investigation have not been released by the New York State Police. A police spokesperson confirmed the suspensions and the active investigation but stated that no further information could be provided at this time. The troopers are members of Troop B, which covers a region of New York State.
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
Jeep, Ram, Dodge and Chrysler recall: Is your vehicle affected?

Jeep, Ram, Dodge and Chrysler recall: Is your vehicle affected?

The recall affects certain 2026 and 2027 vehicles, including popular Jeep, Ram, Dodge and Chrysler models. Here's how to check if your vehicle is included.
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FHLBNY Awards $70.9 Million in Grants for 47 Affordable Housing Initiatives Across Six States and Puerto Rico

FHLBNY Awards $70.9 Million in Grants for 47 Affordable Housing Initiatives Across Six States and Puerto Rico

The Federal Home Loan Bank of New York (FHLBNY) has announced the allocation of $70.9 million in grants through its Affordable Housing Program (AHP). These funds will support 47 affordable housing initiatives across New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, California, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania. The grants are projected to facilitate the creation, rehabilitation, or preservation of 2,440 housing units. Of these, 1,897 units are designated for very low-income housing, 2,187 units are rental housing, and 253 will provide homeownership opportunities. Randolph C. Snook, president and CEO of the FHLBNY, highlighted the program's consistent support for housing efforts and its role in addressing housing affordability and supply challenges. The AHP, established by Congress in 1989, mandates that each Federal Home Loan Bank dedicate at least 10 percent of its earnings to support neighborhood housing and economic development, with the FHLBNY voluntarily contributing an additional five percent.
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New York State Warns of Fraudulent Website Targeting Holocaust Survivors

New York State Warns of Fraudulent Website Targeting Holocaust Survivors

Governor Hochul and the New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) have issued a warning to Holocaust survivors and their families regarding a potential fraud scheme. The alert follows unsolicited fraudulent correspondence from an entity calling itself the 'Jewish Holocaust Claims Center,' which urged recipients to submit claims for compensation. The DFS was unable to verify the identity, services, or legitimacy of this entity. Consequently, the DFS referred the scam to law enforcement authorities and reported the entity's website to its hosting provider, leading to the website's removal. The DFS has also issued a consumer notice advising Holocaust survivors and their families to exercise caution when contacted about potential eligibility for compensation or restitution and to independently verify any such outreach before providing personal or financial information. The DFS has coordinated with local government and other organizations to publicize this alert.
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Grand Jury Indicts Inmate in Gouverneur Prison Homicide

Grand Jury Indicts Inmate in Gouverneur Prison Homicide

A St. Lawrence County grand jury has indicted Savon O’Neal, 32, in connection with a homicide at Gouverneur Correctional Facility. The indictment charges O’Neal with second-degree assault. The incident occurred in April when O’Neal and his cellmate, Shaun Bennett, 45, were involved in a fight. State police reported that corrections officers found Bennett unresponsive on the floor of his cell. Despite life-saving measures administered by officers and medical staff at the prison infirmary, Bennett died. O’Neal was subsequently taken to Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. Authorities have ruled Bennett’s death a homicide, attributing the cause to cardiorespiratory arrest resulting from a closed head injury.
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New Data Reveals Over $124,000 Annual Salary Needed for Comfortable Living in New York State

New Data Reveals Over $124,000 Annual Salary Needed for Comfortable Living in New York State

A new analysis by financial technology company SmartAsset indicates that a single adult in New York State now requires an annual pre-tax income of $124,342 to live 'comfortably.' This figure positions New York as the fourth-most expensive state for a single person, trailing Hawaii, Massachusetts, and California. For a family of four (two working adults and two children), the required annual household income for comfortable living jumps to $291,533. SmartAsset's definition of 'comfortable' is based on the 50/30/20 budgeting rule, allocating 50% to necessities, 30% to discretionary spending, and 20% to savings and emergencies. The salary needed for a single adult in New York increased by 8.4% from the previous year, marking the second-largest year-over-year jump nationally.
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PEF Members Overwhelmingly Ratify New Five-Year Contract with Significant Salary Increases and Enhanced Benefits

PEF Members Overwhelmingly Ratify New Five-Year Contract with Significant Salary Increases and Enhanced Benefits

Members of the New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF) have overwhelmingly ratified a new five-year collective bargaining agreement, with 88% of voters in the Professional, Scientific, and Technical (PS&T) unit approving the contract. The agreement, which runs from 2026 to 2031, includes annual raises of 4.5%, 4%, 3.5%, 3%, and 3%, resulting in a compounded salary increase of 19.3% over its term. PEF President Wayne Spence highlighted the contract's value, noting over $4 billion in new money. Key provisions also include the establishment of a new Employee Benefit Fund to provide improved dental and vision benefits, the continuation of a $600 annual Higher Education Differential, and increases in location and inconvenience pay, along with a hazardous duty bonus for specific members. Furthermore, the contract ensures no additional health insurance co-pays for its duration and eliminates stacked co-pays, addressing significant concerns for the union's members.
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
How do drivers justify speeding? New study gives clues | Exclusive

How do drivers justify speeding? New study gives clues | Exclusive

Taking cues "from surrounding traffic instead of following posted speed limits, it creates a culture that makes crashes more difficult to prevent."
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
Waterview Heights closure draws fresh scrutiny over safety | Exclusive

Waterview Heights closure draws fresh scrutiny over safety | Exclusive

Waterview Heights' impending closure is drawing renewed concern about resident safety and whether enough safeguards are in place during transfers.
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Bloomington's Sue's Landing Supportive Housing Project Aims for October Groundbreaking After Site Change

Bloomington's Sue's Landing Supportive Housing Project Aims for October Groundbreaking After Site Change

The Center for Human Services (CHS) in Bloomington is moving forward with its supportive housing development, Sue's Landing, targeting an October groundbreaking. This project is designed to provide housing for individuals with severe mental illnesses, offering support with psychiatric appointments, medication management, and budgeting. Initially, CHS planned to acquire property off Martin Luther King Junior Drive, but that deal fell through. After a year-long search, a new location off Sherman Street was secured. CHS now owns this property and is soliciting bids from developers, with contract awards expected within weeks. The project, named after former CHS clinical director Sue Pirtle, will feature 24 one-bedroom units, along with communal spaces like a community room, library, fitness room, and a teaching kitchen. The total estimated cost for Sue's Landing is around $11 million.