Wind chill advisories for some upstate NY areas

SARANAC LAKE, N.Y. (AP) The National Weather Service has issued wind child advisories for the eastern half of upstate New York, where brisk winds will make it feel like 25 to 35 below zero in some northern areas.

Forecasters say Thursday's daytime temperatures won't break the teens in most upstate areas, and wind gusts of up to 30 mph later in the day will make it feel even colder in the Adirondacks, where the pre-dawn temperature has plunged to minus 31 in Saranac Lake.

Low temperatures from Syracuse east are in the single digits or below zero.

The weather service says conditions will warm up a bit over the weekend, with highs hitting the 20s. Temperatures in the 30s and 40s are expected in some upstate areas next week.

Northern Ontario sees wind chills down to -50C

Residents in parts of northern Ontario can expect to step into a deep freeze if they venture out this morning. Environment Canada has issued wind chill warnings for communities including Moosonee, Attawapiskat, Kapuskasing, Timmins, Sudbury, Kirkland Lake and North Bay.

Residents of those areas are warned to brace for wind chills as low as minus 50 Celsius on top of temperatures as low as minus 40 into this morning. Frostbite and hypothermia can occur within minutes if adequate precautions are not taken when outdoors.

Environmentalists praise Cuomo's NY budget plan

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) Environmental groups are generally pleased with Gov. Andrew Cuomo's proposed $143 billion 2013-14 budget, noting that it increases the fund that supports myriad environmental initiatives.

After years of budget and staffing cuts, Cuomo's plan maintains current agency funding and staffing levels.

A coalition of groups called Friends of New York's Environment said Wednesday it was happy that Cuomo included a $153 million investment for the state's Environmental Protection Fund. That's a $19 million increase over last year's level, with the additional money coming from unclaimed returnable bottle deposits.

Under Cuomo's plan, the Department of Environmental Conservation would get $40 million from the New York Works capital program.

The overall DEC budget proposed by Cuomo is $897.8 million.

Vermont House gives final OK to budget adjustment

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) The Vermont House has given final approval to a mid-fiscal-year budget adjustment that takes savings from Medicaid and uses the money to address other growing demands in human services.

The biggest new line item is more than $4.5 million for the ReachUp program, which helps people move from welfare to work. Others are $3.2 million for child development and about $2 million each for general assistance and mental health.

The money is coming mainly from an overestimate during last spring's budget process of how much was going to be spent on Medicaid. The changes apply to the budget for the fiscal year that ends June 30.

Gov. Peter Shumlin is set to deliver his budget address for the fiscal year that begins on July 1 on Thursday.

NY parents admit neglect in shotgun death of son

FORT EDWARD, N.Y. (AP) An upstate New York couple has admitted to child neglect for allowing their son to handle a shotgun that went off and killed him in an apparent accident.

The Post-Star of Glens Falls reports that Louis and Nichole Cota entered the plea Wednesday in Washington County Court.

Their 13-year-old son, Gary Cota, was shot in the head at the family's home in Fort Edward in Washington County on June 5 while he and a friend handled the shotgun.

A judge in Clinton County, where the couple now lives, will determine what penalty will be imposed on the couple.

Prosecutors and police will meet soon to determine if charges will be filed against the other boy involved.

NJ man dies in upstate NY snowmobile accident

LAKE PLEASANT, N.Y. (AP) A retired police chief from New Jersey is dead and another man hospitalized after a snowmobile accident on Oxbow Lake in Hamilton County.

Sheriff's deputies say 59-year-old James S. Paganessi of Flemington, N.J., was pronounced dead at the scene at 1:04 a.m. Saturday. Deputies say 55-year-old Thomas Vollers of Far Hills, N.J., was seriously injured during the accident in Lake Pleasant, about 65 miles northwest of Albany in the Adirondacks.

Paganessi was police chief in Readington Township, N.J., for nine years, retiring in 2009.

Vollers was listed in critical condition at Albany Medical Center Wednesday afternoon.

Deputies say speed was a factor in the accident, and investigators are awaiting toxicology reports.

Cops: Northern NY fire chief stole from department

AU SABLE FORKS, N.Y. (AP) State police say a northern New York fire chief has been accused of stealing more than $3,000 from his department.

Troopers say 32-year-old Jason Whisher was arrested Wednesday after other members of the Au Sable Forks Volunteer Fire Department reported discovering forged checks and stolen money.

They say Whisher, who was also the department's treasurer, is facing charges of second-degree forgery and third-degree grand larceny.

He was released after his arraignment in Wilmington Town Court and is due back at the town of Jay court on Jan. 28. Court officials weren't available to say if he entered a plea or has a lawyer.

(All stories copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)