Report: Former NY Governor Set to Enter Presidential Race?

(DES MOINES, Iowa) -- According to reports out of Iowa, former New York Gov. George Pataki may be poised to enter the 2012 presidential race as early as this weekend.

Pataki has signed on to attend a Polk County Republican Party picnic in Des Moines on Saturday, and Darrell Kearney, a spokesman for the county party told ABC News late Monday night that “based on conversations with Pataki staff there is a strong possibility Gov. Pataki will get in the race, and the announcement may come Saturday.”

Pataki sources did not immediately return messages seeking comment on this newest development, but earlier Monday, a spokesman for the moderate former Republican governor had this to say about Pataki’s thinking.

“I can confirm that Governor Pataki is seriously considering getting into the race,” spokesman Dan Catalfamo said. “He is deeply disappointed by the failure of leadership by President Obama on the debt issue and in the lack of serious solutions being offered by the current Republican field.”

Kearney said that members of Pataki’s inner-circle have been telling him he may go from “seriously considering” a run to being an actual candidate on Saturday.

But stepping in to steal some of Pataki's possible thunder is presidential candidate Rick Perry, who organizers said would be a late addition to the picnic lineup. This weekend’s picnic will take place at the Iowa State Fairgrounds and will also feature candidates Ron Paul and Thad McCotter as well as state and local elected officials.

In recent weeks, other candidates, including Mitt Romney and Michele Bachmann, have attended Polk County GOP events.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Cuomo Nominates Madison to Head NY State Thruway Authority

(ALBANY, N.Y.) -- On Monday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo nominated Thomas Madison as Executive Director of the New York State Thruway Authority.

Thomas has served in various positions, including Federal Highway Administrator at the U.S. Department of Transportation as well as Commissioner for New York State DOT. He is the current Vice President and Director of Transportation Policy at STV Inc.

"Tom's expertise in dealing with major transportation projects and infrastructure management will be an invaluable asset to the Thruway Authority," Governor Cuomo said. "Our highways are an essential part of New York's infrastructure, and I look forward to working with Tom to make sure the Thruway thrives as one of the state's key economic arteries."

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Gillibrand Asks Libyan Rebels to Hold Pan Am Bomber Accountable

(WASHINGTON) -- U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) is asking the Libyan Transitional National Council to hold Abdelbaset al-Megrahi fully accountable for his role in the December 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103.

Senator Gillibrand issued a statement Monday describing the release of al-Megrahi as a "total miscarriage of justice."

"Seeing him participate in good health at a pro-[Gadhafi] rally recently was another slap in the face not just for the families of the Lockerbie victims, but for all Americans and all nations of the world who are committed to bringing terrorists to justice," Gillibrand went on to say. "The transitional government should immediately seek justice and hold this terrorist accountable by sending him back to prison."

After being convicted for the bombing, al-Megrahi was released by the Scottish in 2009, when doctors said he was dying from terminal prostate cancer.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Kingston Soldier Killed in Afghanistan

(ALBANY, N.Y.) -- Flags on New York State government buildings will be flown at half-staff on Wednesday in honor of a soldier from Kingston who was killed in Afghanistan on August 19.

Army Private 1st Class Douglas L. Cordo died from injuries suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device in Zabul, officials say.

Cordo was a member of the 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Brigade Combat Team of the 25th Infantry Division based at Fort Wainwright, Alaska.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Intimate Partner Homicides on the Decline: Report

(ALBANY, N.Y.) -- Intimate partner homicides declined 19 percent in 2010 as compared to the previous two years, according to a report released Monday by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services.

Authorities reported 73 intimate partner homicides last year, down from 90 in 2008 and 2009. The report does note, however, the total number of domestic homicides -- which includes those committed by any family member -- rose 10 percent in 2010. Officials attribute the increase to a rising number of domestic homicides involving children under the age of 18.

Adult females continue to be the most common victims in violence committed by someone they know. Forty-four percent of adult female homicide victims were killed by their intimate partner, compared to just 1.7 percent of all male homicide victims.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

EEE Threat Raises Concern in New York

(OSWEGO COUNTY, N.Y.) -- In reaction to the recent death of a child from the Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) virus in Oswego County, several areas of New York have been urged to take precautionary measures against mosquito bites.

Mosquitoes with EEE are considered threats in Madison, Onondaga, Oneida, and Oswego counties. EEE reports tend to occur in the late summer and fall.

Residents are urged to dispose of or clean items that collect rain water, like pool covers, rain gutters, and bird baths.

Officials are also keen to remind people that DEET-laced insect repellents should not be used on infants under three years of age.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Gillibrand Seeks to Create More High Tech Manufacturing Jobs in New York

(ONEONTA, N.Y.) -- On Thursday, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) announced new grants to boost New York State's faltering manufacturing industry, which has shed more than 123,000 jobs since 2005.

Sen. Gillibrand's 'Made in America' grant program seeks to provide manufacturers with funding to use technology in order to stay competitive. Using the examples of thriving industries like computer manufacturing -- which has seen an increase in employment while other industries are decreasing -- Sen. Gillibrand said New York needs to create more jobs in that area, as the Empire State is losing manufacturing jobs faster than other states.

"America was built by New York’s manufacturing," Sen. Gillibrand said. "It's time to see 'Made In America' again starting right here in New York.  When we spark more growth in clean-tech and high-tech manufacturing, we'll reinvigorate New York’s great manufacturing communities, start more new businesses, and create more family-supporting jobs right here where we need them the most."

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Lifeguard, 61, Sues NY State for Age Discrimination

(NEW YORK) -- A 61-year-old lifeguard is suing the New York State Department of Parks and Recreation for age discrimination because he wasn't allowed to wear his preferred swimsuit during an annual qualification test.

Roy Lester of Long Beach, N.Y., has always worn swim jammers -- tight shorts that end a couple inches above the knee. But in 2007, when he showed up to complete his re-hire evaluation at Jones Beach on Long Island, he says, the New York Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation didn't allow him to take the test.

The swimsuit regulations on the state parks department website say all lifeguards taking the qualifying test for Long Island beaches must wear boxers, briefs or board shorts -- a regulation, Lester says, he had never encountered until 2007.

"The older you get, the less skin you should show," said Lester, who had been a lifeguard on Jones Beach for decades. "Basically, the state's been trying to get rid of the older guys. They really don't like older lifeguards."

Lester said the jammers had never been a problem in the past during the re-hire test. Neither board shorts nor boxers are an option, he said, because they inhibit speed, a key component of the timed test.

To qualify as a Long Island lifeguard, candidates must swim 100 yards in 75 seconds or less, in addition to taking three other timed tests. Lester, who has completed triathlons in his jammers, recently came in second during this year's National Lifeguard Championships. To maintain speed during the re-hire test, his only other option, he said, would be the revealing Speedo, a swimsuit he refuses to wear.

The parks department said it cannot comment on pending litigation, but spokesman Dan Keefe said, "I can say we do not discriminate based on age."

Lester's 2007 complaint was investigated by the New York State Division of Human Rights, according to an agency document. The agency dismissed the claim that year, saying there was "no probable cause" to believe the parks office engaged in discriminatory hiring practices.

Of the 271 lifeguards hired for the 2007 season, 80 ranged in age from 40 to 80 years old, and six were the same age as Lester, the parks department said during the investigation.

He tried to take the new hire lifeguard test in 2008, according to court documents, and was denied once again because he was wearing his jammers. He sued again in 2009. This time his lawsuit focused on the new hire test instead of the re-hire test. That case was also dismissed by the New York State Supreme Court in Nassau County.

Last week, however, the suit was reinstated by an appeals court.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

51 Commercial Drivers Arrested for Having Multiple Licenses

(ALBANY, N.Y.) -- An investigation by the the New York Department of Motor Vehicles has led to the arrest of 51 people for having multiple driver licenses.

State officials say the arrests were made following an investigation that included facial recognition technology being used to review the records of 600,000 New York State Commercial Driver License holders. The arrested commercial drivers allegedly obtained multiple driver licenses by using an alias.

Drivers who obtained their licenses fraudulently were slapped with first-degree offering a false instrument and second-degree falsifying business records charges.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Judge Tosses Suit Against Bloomberg LP

(NEW YORK) -- A federal judge has thrown out a lawsuit alleging Bloomberg LP discriminated against pregnant women and new mothers returning from maternity leave.

The judge said the company founded by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg increased compensation for women upon their return from maternity leave and did not impose restrictions or reduce responsibilities any more than it would for employees who took similar time off. According to U.S. District Judge Loretta Preska, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission failed to back up its anecdotal evidence with statistical proof.

“‘J’accuse’ is not enough in court. Evidence is required,” Preska said in a 64-page statement.

The class-action lawsuit, filed in 2007 by the EEOC on behalf of 65 female claimants, accused Bloomberg LP of slashing wages for pregnant women and women who just returned from maternity leave.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio