More rain and more flooding, bridges in region are "in intensive care and getting worse," discussion about casino gambling in Saratoga
It just keeps raining, and with that rain comes more flooding. There have been mandatory evacuations issued in parts of Schenectady County (Rotterdam Junction, Pattersonville) -- and evacuations are being encouraged in others (the Stockade). All roads in Montgomery County were closed overnight because of concerns about flooding. There's been more flooding in the Albany County Hilltowns and Clarksville. And there are road closures in Rensselaer County, [NWS] [YNN] [TU] [Fox23] [YNN] [WNYT] [Troy Record]
The village of Cobleskill in Schoharie County was cut off yesterday by flooding -- preventing anyone from entering or leaving the village. The elementary school there held students into the evening because of flooding -- and eight students stayed at the school overnight. SUNY Cobleskill said five of its dorms were affected by flooding. [Fox23] [WTEN] [CBS6]
People have had enough. Says a Cobleskill resident: "I think this is just ridiculous, and nature needs to stop." In Rotterdam Junction, where a wall of water inundated the hamlet last week like something from a movie, a resident says of the ongoing nightmare there: "Just pinch me. Pinch me and wake me up" [Daily Gazette] [Daily Gazette] [WTEN]
FEMA is building a command center in Colonie. Donations and help have been pouring into aid drives. And a local group that normally provides aid in other countries is sending aid to Schoharie County. [TU] [TU] [TU]
Chuck Schumer says the state's already deteriorating bridges have been hit hard by the all the recent flooding. Schumer says bridges in the eastern part of the state "are a patient in intensive care and getting worse." Schumer says he's also pushing for Congress to allocate $5.8 billion to fund FEMA, which has been running low on money. [State of Politics] [Daily Gazette] [TU]
The state Department of Environmental Conservation has released a draft study on the potential social and economic affects of hydrofracking. It concludes fracking could generate tens of thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions in tax revenue -- but it would also include "significant negative fiscal impacts." (Interesting: almost every story about this report includes different totals for potential jobs and revenue.) [NYS DEC] [NYT] [TU] [Post-Star/AP]
Rochester police say an Amber Alert wasn't issued for the two girls killed by their father in Lake George this week because there were "no indications that the child was in imminent danger or threat of physical harm." Police say Adam Parcells told the mother of his older daughter that they were going for ice cream Friday night -- and she called police when they didn't return. [TU] [Post-Star]
The former Rensselaer County corrections officer convicted of assaulting an inmate and then lying about it to the FBI has been sentenced to 6 months of home detention and 200 hours of community service. [TU] [Troy Record]
There's an ongoing investigation into how the Albany County's Sheriff's office's drug unit buys and sells vehicles. [TU]
The two former Downtown Schenectady Improvement workers who pleaded guilty to stealing metal tree grates from streets were each ordered to pay $24k and sentenced to 1.5-3 years in prison. [Daily Gazette]
The state had begun hearings into possibly allowing games such as poker and black jack at places like the Saratoga Casino and Raceway (you know, the racino). Such a development could result in lots of the development in Saratoga. [Post-Star] [Saratogian]
The four state Senators -- including Roy McDonald -- who voted for the Marriage Equality Act are in line to rake in the campaign cash at an upcoming Manhattan fundraiser. [TU]
Schenectady High School has been removed from the state's list of "persistently dangerous" schools. [Daily Gazette]
Emergency responders pulled two teens out of the Hannacroix Creek yesterday in Coeymans after the got caught by the current while swimming. [Fox23]
People in Malta are still buzzing about the noise they say is coming from the GlobalFoundries plant. [Saratogian]
The city of Schenectady plans to spend $3 million on its golf course in an effort to attract more business. [Daily Gazette]
One of Albany's historic former firehouses (unoccupied) partially collapsed Wednesday. [TU]
Hi there. Comments have been closed for this item. Still have something to say? Contact us.
Comments
"Schumer says he's also pushing for Congress to allocate $5.8 billion to fund FEMA, which has been running low on money. [State of Politics] [Daily Gazette] [TU]"
Conservative Republicans supported borrowing billions for our war efforts abroad over the past decade, but are reluctant to fund disaster relief efforts here at home. I guess there’s more money to be made by the private sector in war than in domestic relief efforts.
... said Bob on Sep 8, 2011 at 11:15 AM | link