Storms could dump more than 1 ft. of snow on NY

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) The National Weather Service has issued winter storm watches or warnings for much of upstate New York, with more than a foot of snow expected in some eastern areas by the weekend.

Forecasters say the snow will begin falling Friday morning in western New York, where winds are expected to gust to 20 to 30 mph in some counties along Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.

By late Friday night, the weather service says some areas of eastern New York along the New England border will receive 8 to 12 inches, and possibly more in higher elevations in the Catskills and Hudson Valley.

Forecasters say the heavy snowfall will be produced by the merging of a strong storm coming out of the west meeting a weaker but moisture-laden system approaching from the south.

Storms could dump more than 1 ft. of snow on NY<

Mom back home in northern NY with 4 newborn babies

FORT DRUM, N.Y. (AP) A woman who delivered quintuplets at a Southwest hospital over Christmas is back home in northern New York with the four babies who survived the birth.

Local media outlets report that Jessica Neri-Lucero and her infants--two boys and two girls--arrived in Syracuse Wednesday aboard two private jets from Arizona, where she gave birth to quintuplets Dec. 25 and 26 at a Phoenix hospital that specializes in multiple births. The first of the quintuplets, a girl, died during birth.

The family was taken by ambulance to Samaritan Medical Center in Watertown, near their home. The babies were reunited with their father and Neri-Lucero's husband, Army Sgt. Esdras Lucero, who had headed back to New York after the births.

The babies will be at the Watertown hospital for an undetermined time.

Data show major crimes nearly flat in NY

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) Preliminary data show an uptick in New York's major crimes last year following a decade-long drop, though law enforcement officials say it remains one of the safest states.

The Division of Criminal Justice Services says New York City showed a 3 percent increase in 2012, while the total in the rest of the state appeared to be flat, with violent crimes up 1.5 percent and property crimes down slightly.

Michael Green, the division's executive deputy commissioner, told legislators Wednesday that federal numbers show New York “continues to be the safest large state in the country,” and the fourth safest overall behind the Dakotas and Idaho.

Statewide index crimes-- murder, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny and vehicle theft--declined to 446,733 in 2011, down 17 percent since 2002.

Flood buyouts for 646 upstate NY properties

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) With New York officials now proposing to spend $400 million to buy and demolish downstate homes damaged by October's Superstorm Sandy, they say 646 buyout applications have been federally approved for $55 million in a buyout program for upstate properties damaged in 2011 by the back-to-back storms Irene and Lee.

The head of the state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services tells lawmakers Wednesday that 60 percent of New York's counties have recovered and rebuilt or are in the process following two of the mostly costly natural disasters on record.

Commissioner Jerome Hauser says the rebuilding targets improvements to avoid catastrophic damage from major storms and flooding now occurring more often.

He says the Cuomo administration's proposed budget shows nearly $13 billion in federal aid passing to local governments.

Western NY police officer charged in son's killing

HERKIMER, N.Y. (AP) A western New York police officer has been charged with second-degree murder in his son's shooting at an Adirondack motel.

Local media outlets report that 59-year-old Michael Leach pleaded not guilty Wednesday during his arraignment in Herkimer County Court after a grand jury indictment was unsealed.

Leach told investigators he shot his 37-year-old son Matthew after mistaking him for an intruder while they were staying at Clark's Beach Motel in the village of Old Forge on July 21.

Herkimer County District Attorney Jeff Carpenter declined to comment on a motive or the evidence that led the indictment.

Leach is being held on $200,000 bail.

The retired Rochester police captain is a part-time officer with the Perry police department in Wyoming County. His lawyer didn't initially return a phone call Wednesday.

NY Bar Association: keep court system funded

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) The New York State Bar Association is urging lawmakers to adequately fund the state's court system.

State Bar Association President Seymour James Jr. on Wednesday said he endorses Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman's no-growth budget plan for the state's court system. Lippman gave his annual address to the judiciary on Tuesday.

James told the fiscal committees of the state Legislature that the effective operation of the court system is crucial to an orderly society.

Proposal to open up East River waterfront

NEW YORK (AP) New York City is proposing a plan that would reconnect residents to a stretch of the East River waterfront now with limited access.

The area runs from the Brooklyn Bridge north to 38th Street.

The New York Times says the plan calls for a new public beach and kayak launch under the Brooklyn Bridge. There's also a proposal for two boat launches at 20th and 23rd streets and marshland and sea wall installations in vulnerable flood zones.

Among the most costly proposals is an elevated bike and pedestrian path over the FDR Drive at 14th Street where the path now narrows to four feet.

Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer has pledged $3.5 million in capital funding toward the new marshlands. Funds for other elements could be financed gradually.

Information from: The New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com

Blast of winter to bring 15 to 25 cm of snow to much of southern Ontario

TORONTO - It's time to make sure snow shovels are handy as a blast of winter is headed for much of southern Ontario. Environment Canada has issued snowfall warnings and special weather statements as far east as Kingston.

Forecasters say snowfall amounts of 15 to 25 centimetres are expected tonight and Friday. The heaviest snow will occur during the Friday morning rush hour along the highway 401 corridor from London to the Greater Toronto area and through the Golden Horseshoe.

There could also be heavy and blowing snow for the afternoon commute. Some freezing rain and ice pellets are possible over the extreme southwest.

(The Canadian Press) (from Broadcast News Ltd.)