Tuesday news roundup: Hospitals, schools, and bars

Correction: This post originally said that the Vermont legislature had passed the migrant workers’ driver’s license legislation. In fact, that legislation hasn’t passed and is still in the legislature. 

Hello! Today from our newsroom we have a delightful selection of stories, including but not limited to the following:

In Gouverneur, EJ Noble hospital is open again after a raft of problems caused it to close at the New York State Department of Health’s orders…but patients haven’t returned yet, and that’s a worry.

More details on Brooklyn Senator John Sampson’s arrest on various corruption charges (embezzlement, a coverup), and the reaction to them (the word “staggering” makes an appearance).

And The Vermont legislature’s wrapping up its session, and looking at end of life laws, legal marijuana, and a migrant driver’s license.  It’s also passed a bill that would allow migrant workers to have driver’s licenses, and Gov. Peter Shumlin says he’ll sign that. Gov. Peter Shumlin has said he will sign that bill.

Elsewhere in our region, more school cuts, this time at Northeastern Clinton Central School District (NCCS, in Champlain), where a proposed budget cuts positions (including an English and math teacher, two teaching assistants, and other positions) and electives (and Model UN) as enrollment increases (That story from the Press-Republican.) The new spending plan, up for a vote May 21, includes nearly $90,000 in reductions. Also notable in this story is a comment from NCCS Interim Superintendent Gerald Blair on a recent influx of 68 new students: “They came from a variety of places, and they were not local.”

If you’re a fishing kind of person, St. Lawrence County FishCap will be helping the DEC restock trophy trout in local rivers this afternoon. Details, from FishCap’s Facebook page: “Please plan to meet at the Nicholville Bridge at 2:00pm today. Wear boots or water shoes. We will be transporting fish from the truck to the river. We need all the volunteers we can get. Need more information call Bob 315-600-7533.”

Potsdam fraternities are worried about the future, the Watertown Daily Times reports. It seems there’s a bit of a problem with hazing and alcohol abuse, and an 11-member task force has been researching the issue for the last three months in an effort to fix the problem. There’s some concern that when the task force held a public meeting yesterday, almost everyone who showed up was a student and a member of a fraternity or sorority.

And in Essex County, the Plattsburgh Press-Republican reports, people are going to have to get their drinking in a little earlier if a new rule shortening bar hours gets approval from the New York State Liquor Authority. But don’t worry too much — the earlier time is 3 am (it’s been 4 am for some time now.) The County Board of Supervisors voted 15-1 in favor of the measure.

 

 

Tags: adirondack, education, health care, higher education, law, legislature, leisure, Potsdam, recreation, vermont