Cuomo, Legislature promise tax cuts in new budget

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York legislative leaders have reached a deal on a tentative 2013-14 budget that would keep spending increases under 2 percent while providing tax rebates and breaks over the next two years.

Cuomo says the $135 billion budget deal includes a $350 rebate check for middle-class families with at least one child and a household income of $40,000 to $300,000. The checks wouldn't be sent to taxpayers until 2014, an election year for Cuomo and lawmakers.

The deal also would raise the $7.25 hourly minimum wage to $9 over three years. But it wouldn't include automatic increases tied to inflation, which Democrats sought.

The proposed budget would include the second extension of a temporary millionaire tax increase that raises $2 billion a year.

NY appeals court to consider local fracking bans

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) Towns that want to control land use through zoning against the drilling industry are being pitted against landowners who say state law trumps local authority when it comes to oil and gas development in New York.

Arguments are scheduled Thursday in a state appeals court in two cases over who should control oil and gas development.

In the last few years, more than 50 New York municipalities have banned gas drilling and more than 100 have enacted moratoriums on drilling activities. The bans stem from local residents' concerns about potential adverse impacts if the state lifts its 5-year-old moratorium on gas drilling using high-volume hydraulic fracturing, or fracking.

Trial-level state Supreme Court judges upheld bans that were challenged in the towns of Dryden and Middlefield. Appeals of those decisions will be argued Thursday in the mid-level Appellate Division. A decision is expected in about six weeks.

NY strikes deal nanotechnology deal with Israel

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) New York state has a new agreement with Israel aimed at increasing collaboration on nanotechnology research.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday that his administration has signed a memorandum of understanding with Israel that will expand technological and economic relations in nanotechnology, which involves manipulating matter on an atomic scale.

The agreement outlines collaboration between the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering in Albany and the Israeli Lead Innovation and Commercialization Agency.

Cuomo says the agreement will enable billions of dollars in investments and new high-tech jobs in New York and Israel.

NY State Police hold training in Lake Placid

LAKE PLACID, N.Y. (AP) Members of the New York State Police and other law enforcement agencies are wrapping up two days of training for responding to “active shooter” situations.

The training session began Wednesday and ends Thursday at the former W. Alton Jones Cell Science Center in Lake Placid.

State police officials say the training uses simulations to train officers how to enter a building and confront a person firing a weapon. The training includes classroom presentations as well as realistic exercises involving room and stairwell clearing techniques.

Instructors from the New York State Preparedness Training Center are leading the sessions.

Vt. State Police to participate in tweet-a-thon

WATERBURY, Vt. (AP) Vermont State Police are taking part in a 24-hour tweet-a-thon.

The state police will be joining more than 100 agencies around the world that are participating in the Global Police Tweet-a-thon on Friday, to highlight use of social media by law enforcement.

State Police spokeswoman Stephanie Dasaro says police use of Twitter will give Vermonters a glimpse into the daily activity during a typical shift of a trooper. She says the department also hopes its participation will influence the growing use and acceptance of social media by public safety agencies.

Dasaro says 100 agencies from the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Sweden, Iceland, and Australia are participating.

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