Governor Cuomo calls for a 4.4% increase in school aid

UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - While Governor Andrew Cuomo's 2013-2014 Budget proposal avoids any tax increases, it calls for a 4.4 % increase in school aid. The plan is up 0.4 % from last year and in total brings an additional $889 Million to New York schools.

Snow Emergency declared in Utica

UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - The City of Utica has declared a Snow Emergency. This means all vehicles must be off the roadways by 10pm tonight

DEPUTIES: Woman used a shovel to assault victim

OXFORD, N.Y. (WKTV) - A Chenango County woman is accused of assaulting another person with shovel.

Obama takes oath, speaks of 'limitless' possibilities for the nation

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama has begun his second term by declaring that the nation's "possibilities are limitless."

Gun owners rally in NY state capital

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - A group of angry firearm owners gathered at the state Capitol in Albany as part of a series of nationwide rallies protesting new gun control proposals.

Griffo: Reward schools that submitted teacher evals on time

(WKTV) Senator Joseph Griffo (R, Rome) is urging Governor Andrew Cuomo to reward the schools that turned their work in on time.

Health experts stress primary care doctor is best for minor ailments

UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - Those television and radio advertisements meant to steer patients with minor ailments from the emergency room are working. But- it's also created another concern. Urgent Care locations in Upstate New York have seen a 50% increase in visits for thing like sore throats and earaches.

Cuomo launches website to explain new gun law

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - The Cuomo administration is launching a website to answer questions about the state's new gun control measure signed into law this week.

Poll: NY voters oppose 'fracking' by narrow margin

LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. (AP) - A poll suggests New York voter sentiment has shifted from support of shale gas drilling to opposition by a narrow margin.

Time's up for NY districts on evaluation plans

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) - Time is just about up for New York school districts to adopt a teacher evaluation plan or lose out on state aid. As of late Wednesday, all but four districts had submitted plans in advance of Thursday's state-imposed deadline.

Little Falls man named next director of NY State Fair

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) - An executive with the state Thruway Authority and Canal Corp. has been named the next director of the New York State Fair. State Agriculture Commissioner Darrel Aubertine says Thomas Ryan of Little Falls will replace Dan O'Hara as fair director as of Feb. 1.

Governor signs gun law, slated as toughest in the nation

Listing of the details of the law

ALBANY-(WKTV)Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law the NY SAFE Act (Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act) late this afternoon.

NYS passes first US gun control bill since Newtown, CT massacre

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - New York's Legislature has passed the nation's toughest gun control law and the first since the Newtown, Conn., school shooting. The bill calls for a tougher assault weapons ban and provisions to try to keep guns out of the hands of the mentally ill who make threats.

Griffo Statement on Senate Gun Control bill

Senator Joseph A. Griffo (R-C-IP, Rome) issued the following statement in legislation that was passed by the Senate overnight Monday.

NY Senate passes 'landmark' gun control laws

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - New York's Senate where Republicans hold strong sway has approved what supporters say will be the toughest gun laws in the nation.

Chairman of legislature says stricter gun laws would crush Herkimer County

HERKIMER COUNTY, N.Y. (WKTV) - The chairman of the Herkimer County Legislature says passing stricter gun laws in New York State would devastate the county.

NYS purchases 518 acres in Foresport, will become a state forest

FORESPORT, N.Y. - New York State has purchased 518 acres of land in northern Oneida County which will become the area's newest state forest, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Joe Martens announced on Monday.

AP Sources: NY has tentative deal on gun control

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - People familiar with the internal negotiations say Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders have a tentative deal to enact the nation's first gun control measure following the Newtown, Conn., school shooting.

Possible HIV exposure at Buffalo VA hospital

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) - The Veterans Administration has told western New York members of Congress that more than 700 patients at the Buffalo VA Medical Center may have been exposed to HIV, hepatitis B or hepatitis C because of accidental reuse of insulin pens.

Griffo confident MMA will be allowed in NYS in 2013

UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - State Senator Joe Griffo (R-47) is hopeful that Mixed Martial Arts fighting will become legal in New York State this year.