Rensselaer, NY, Feb 21, 2013 — The state's largest teachers union has filed a lawsuit against the state's property tax cap, arguing it's unconstitutional.

New York State United Teachers President Dick Iannuzzi says the cap, passed by Cuomo and the legislature in 2011, arbitrarily limits property tax increase to two percent, regardless of whether a school district is rich or poor. The lawsuit also charges that the tax cap violates the principle of one person one vote, because a supermajority of 60 percent of voters is required to override the cap.  Go to full article

Massena, NY, Feb 08, 2013 — A local environmental firm was selected for the next cleanup phase of General Motors' contaminated site in Massena.  Go to full article

Saranac Lake, NY, Dec 10, 2012 — Another North Country hospital is laying off employees. Adirondack Health, which owns hospitals, nursing homes and health clinics in the Tri-Lakes area, announced Friday that it's cutting 17 jobs to help close a $3 million budget shortfall.

Adirondack Health is one of several health care organizations across the North Country to announce layoffs in recent months. Last week, Claxton Hepburn Medical Center in Ogdensburg announced it was laying off six employees and had eliminated a total of nine positions.

Last month, Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital Medical Center in Plattsburgh laid off 17 employees. Also last month, Glens Falls Hospital announced it was eliminating 29 positions and reducing five other employees to part-time hours.

Adirondack Health officials attributed the shortfall to a drop-off in inpatient volume and declining reimbursements.  Go to full article

Massena, NY, Sep 07, 2012 — Labor unions, tribal leaders, and the mayor of Massena gathered at the Alcoa Plant in Massena Thursday. They're concerned the company is bringing in ironworkers from Texas, instead of hiring locally.

There was a fire at the plant last spring, and Alcoa is rebuilding the roof of its caste house.

Alcoa hired a company called Fluor(Floor) of Irving, Texas to do the work.
Rob Cole is business manager of Iron Workers Local 440 in Massena. He says the Alcoa hasn't spoken with them directly about the issue. But his union called Fluor, and the company told them they were hiring Texas workers for the job.  Go to full article

Rensselaer, NY, Jun 04, 2012 — Supporters of raising New York's minimum wage have not given up hope of getting a bill passed in this legislative session. As Karen DeWitt reports, with just three weeks left, demonstrations and efforts to put the bill on the Senate floor continue.  Go to full article

Rensselaer, NY, May 29, 2012 — New York State is on the brink of returning to pre-recession job levels, largely thanks to upstate. That's according to a new analysis from IHS Global Insight. The Innovation Trail's Alex Crichton has more.  Go to full article

Rensselaer, NY, May 16, 2012 — Democrats in the State Assembly approved a bill Tuesday to increase the state's minimum wage. The Republican leader of the State Senate offered a spirited defense of his position opposing the measure, but did not rule the issue out altogether. In Albany, Karen DeWitt has the story.  Go to full article

Rensselaer, NY, May 15, 2012 — A months-old proposal to raise the minimum wage for millions of New Yorkers may be dead. Assembly Democrats say they have the votes to approve an increase today. But Senate Republicans say they won't take the measure up, and it's not on Gov. Cuomo's list for action by the end of this term, June 21. Martha Foley has more.  Go to full article

Syracuse, NY, May 15, 2012 — New York's senators are looking to reduce unemployment among recently retired veterans. They unveiled three new bills at a joint press conference Monday. The Innovation Trail's Ryan Delaney reports.  Go to full article

Washington, DC, Apr 27, 2012 — The US Labor Department has scrapped safety regulations designed to protect teenagers working on farms.

North Country Congressman Bill Owens worked hard to pressure the Obama administration to withdraw the rules.  Go to full article