Syracuse Local News - ABC News Radio

NYPD Boss Dodges Questions About Rape Allegations Against Son

2012-01-27T19:25:13Z

(NEW YORK) -- New York Police Department Commissioner Ray Kelly dodged questions from the media about rape allegations against his son, Fox anchor Greg Kelly, on Friday. It was the first time Commissioner Kelly had faced reporters since the allegations surfaced.

At a press conference at Police Headquarters, Kelly told the press to refer all questions to the Manhattan district attorney's office.

Greg Kelly, co-host of Good Day New York, is accused of raping a paralegal in a Manhattan office; through his lawyer, Kelly denied the woman's claims.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Cuomo Outlines 2012-13 Executive Budget and Reform Plan

2012-01-26T14:00:50Z

(BUFFALO, N.Y.) -- Gov. Andrew Cuomo traveled to Buffalo on Wednesday to outline his 2012-13 Executive Budget and Reform Plan.

Cuomo's plan aims to close the state's $2 billion budget deficit through pension reform. The governor said he will not impose new taxes on residents and his plan will also include school accountability in order to improve education in the state. Education has been Cuomo's priority; he's been meeting with education officials this week to discuss a developing a new teacher evaluation system.

"We must continue to hold the line on spending to make sure New York remains a welcoming and open place for families and businesses. This budget further ensures that important reforms are made to our public education system so students come first, and school districts are held accountable for spending. By coming together, we have shown what can be done, and I look forward to continuing to work to create jobs and build a new New York," said Cuomo.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

AG Announces Database Targeting Scammers of Military Personnel

2012-01-26T09:57:50Z

(WASHINGTON) -- New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has teamed up with federal officials to announce new measures being implemented to crack down on companies and individuals who set out to scam military personnel through consumer fraud.

On Wednesday, Schneiderman joined officials from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Department of Defense, and the Federal Trade Commission to announce plans to develop the Repeat Offenders Against Military (ROAM) Database, aimed at cracking down on such scams. Officials say the database will keep track of completed enforcement actions against those who repeatedly scam members of the military, veterans, or their families.

The database will reportedly make publicly available information on legal actions against perpetrators, searchable for law enforcement officials from across the country.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Report: New York State Faces Doctor Shortage

2012-01-25T19:35:26Z

(ALBANY, N.Y.) -- New York State is facing a shortage of physicians in hospitals that could get even worse in the future, according to a report by the Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS).

According to the report, the state could face even more shortages as the departure and retirement rates of doctors increases since the average age of practicing doctors is 52 and 16 percent of doctors are over the age of 65. Rural areas of the state have been hit hardest by the shortage.

“Every patient deserves a doctor,” said HANYS’ President Daniel Sisto. “We must have policies in place to motivate and recruit physicians to practice in New York State, particularly in the communities that need them the most.”

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

State Sen. LaValle Introduces Bill to Make Testing Fraud a Felony

2012-01-25T13:50:34Z

(ALBANY, N.Y.) -- New York State Senator Kenneth P. LaValle of Port Jefferson introduced a bill on Tuesday which would impose tougher penalties for people who cheat on college entrance tests.

The new law would make facilitation of education testing fraud a felony which carries a prison sentence. The legislation is in answer to a widespread SAT cheating scandal in New York involving students from several high schools.

NY Ranked No. 13 in Teacher Quality Report

2012-01-25T10:50:22Z

(WASHINGTON) -- Report cards are out and states across the country have been graded on their quality of teachers, according to a report released Wednesday from the National Council on Teacher Quality.

The Washington-based council ranked New York No. 13 in the 2011 report that graded states’ overall teacher quality policies based on five factors: how effective the state was in delivering well-prepared teachers, expanding the pool of teachers, identifying effective teachers, retaining effective teachers, and booting ineffective ones.

New York was given an overall grade of C, up from the D+ it earned two years ago, according to the report.

No state was awarded an A in the group's report for 2011. Florida received the highest ranking with a B, while Montana received the lowest with an F.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

NY Healthcare Providers Meet Federally Subsidized Program Goals

2012-01-24T18:23:31Z

(NEW YORK) -- With more than 10,000 New York State healthcare providers adopting electronic medical records in 2011, the state successfully met its end-of-year goals for a federally subsidized program designed to improve the quality of care for patients across the state.

The Regional Extension Centers (RECs) program instructs medical professionals how to implement electronic medical records and how to achieve the federally defined "Meaningful Use" of them, qualifying them for reimbursements. Federal and state data has proven that health information technologies improve healthcare and reduce its cost, according to a press release.

New York administers the REC programs via the New York City Health Department which covers the five boroughs. The New York eHealth Collaborative (NYeC), a federally designated public private partnership, covers the rest of the state including Long Island.

The NYC Dept. of Health currently enrolls 4,900 healthcare providers in the program, while NYeC enrolls 5,212.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Schumer Recommends Lorna Schofield for Federal Judge

2012-01-24T14:14:07Z

(ALBANY, N.Y.) -- On Monday, U.S. Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) announced that he recommends Lorna G. Schofield as a judge for the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Schofield, 56, is a graduate of New York University Law School and worked at various law firms as well as being an assistant United States attorney in the Criminal Division of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York. If elected to the bench, she would be the first person of Filipino heritage to serve.

"As a top-flight lawyer and former Assistant US Attorney, Schofield has had a distinguished legal career and would make a fantastic judge," said Schumer. "When I select judges, I always look for three things – excellence, diversity, and moderation – and Schofield exemplifies all of these qualities. I’m pleased to recommend her to President Obama for the Southern District Bench."

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

NY Senators to Introduce Sanctions Bill Against Syria

2012-01-24T10:08:37Z

(NEW YORK) -- U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles Schumer have announced that they plan on introducing a sanctions bill against Syria, in light of the ongoing tension in that country.

The Democratic senators from New York announced Monday that they will introduce the Syrian Human Rights Accountability Act, which will require Syria's President Bashar al-Assad to identify members of the Syrian government and others who have violated the rights of those calling for reform in the country. Once identified, those individuals will then be denied access to visas to the United States and will not be allowed to conduct financial and property transactions in the U.S., according to a release from Schumer's office.

The bill also aims to crack down on companies which sell technology or weapons to Syria for the purpose of censorship or abusing human rights in that country from doing business with the U.S.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

NY Senators to Introduce Sanctions Bill Against Syria

2012-01-24T10:08:37Z

(NEW YORK) -- U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) have announced that they plan on introducing a sanctions bill against Syria, in light of the ongoing tension in that country.

The senators announced Monday that they will introduce the Syrian Human Rights Accountability Act, which will require Syria's President Bashar al-Assad to identify members of the Syrian government and others who have violated the rights of those calling for reform in the country. Once identified, those individuals will then be denied access to visas to the United States and will not be allowed to conduct financial and property transactions in the U.S., according to a release from Schumer's office.

The bill also aims to crack down on companies seeking to do business with the U.S., which sell technology or weapons to Syria for the purpose of censorship or abusing human rights in that country.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio