790 WTNY Headlines

We are just about ready to start winter, but the DPAO is thinking summer, specifically their Summer Concert Series. Those concerts have received a new boost, thanks in part to a new sponsor. The non profit announced Friday that the local Toyota dealers in the area will be the main sponsor for the series next year. The concerts are the biggest fundraisers for the DPAO. Executive Director Joe Rich says the support is needed more than ever, especially with the weak economy. The Dealmaker Auto Group had been the primary sponsor the past several years. Rich says it was decided by the DPAO not to continue the business relationship, but thanked Dealmaker for all their help over the years.

Rich says negotiations on the concert lineup next year are continuing. One change is that all concerts will be held indoors due to the costs involved with putting on an outdoor show.

12:19 PM

(Albany, NY) -- National Grid crews are busy working to clear downed trees and power lines throughout the Greater Capital Region Friday morning. The first significant winter storm of the season leaves about 150,000 residents without power. Most of the outages are in Albany County, where nearly 50,000 remain in the dark. Columbia, Schenectady, Rensselaer, and Saratoga counties are also greatly affected. The company says it could take several days to fully restore all power.

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Metro Networks Communications Inc., A Westwood One Company

12:17 PM

The search for a missing Watertown woman continued Thursday, with still no sign of where she may be or what happened to her. The investigation was aided with the help of a state police forensics team from Oneida. Those investigators examined the car of 33 year old Annette Vazquez, who was last seen at the State Street McDonald's drive thru Monday morning. Her car was found Monday night along Arsenal Street. Thursday's search included an air search of the area. Her ex boyfriend, Ramon Robles, is considered to be a person of interest. Police say their main focus now is trying to find Vazquez. Anyone with any information can call Watertown Police at 782-2233.

12:16 PM

A Jefferson County man was taken into custody Thursday morning after police say he lunged at them with knives when they responded to a domestic call. State police say they were called to Wayne Lago's home on County Route 47 in the Town of Champion following a domestic dispute. The other party said that Lago had armed himself with two knives and was threatening to kill the caller and any responding police patrols. When they arrived, Lago was standing at the front door, still armed. He lunged towards police, who used pepper spray and batons to finally subdue him. Lago was charged with first degree unlawful imprisonment and second degree menacing and was ordered held in the Jefferson County jail on $20,000 cash bail or $40,000 bond.

12:15 PM

A Ft. Drum man is facing charges of breaking into the Town of LeRay Municipal Building last month. Twenty-one year old William Sheard IV allegedly burglarized the building on November 28 by breaking a glass door to the building, stealing food and beverages. He was charged with third degree burglary and was arraigned in Town of Pamelia Court where he was released to military police pending a future court appearance.

12:14 PM

(Albany, NY) -- Governor David Paterson now has just ten days to decide what to do about collecting cigarette taxes from Indian reservations. The State Assembly has sent the Governor a bill which requires the state to start collecting the money. The measure was actually passed back in August, but lawmakers held on to it so the Governor could have more time to negotiate a deal with the tribes. Now that the measure is on his desk the clock is ticking. The bill would in effect cut off the supply of cigarettes to the smoke shops if they refuse to pay taxes on sales to non-Native-Americans. The state is attempting to find ways to increase revenue to fill huge budget gaps, but the tribes say treaties dating back hundreds of years exempt them from paying.

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Metro Networks Communications Inc., A Westwood One Company

12:13 PM

(Albany, NY) -- Senator Chuck Schumer says the EPA is looking to tax farmers for every dairy cow they own. The proposal has been dubbed the "cow tax" and would charge farmers $175 annually for every dairy cow, and $87.50 for every beef cow. The ultimate goal is cleaner air. Cows produce methane, which, when combined with oxygen, creates carbon dioxide. The EPA says it is not proposing a cow tax, that it's just one of many ideas to be considered in the reduction of greenhouse gases in compliance with the Clean Air Act. Schumer wants even the idea of the cow tax taken off the table. An EPA representative countered by saying that they would need the help of Congress to pass the measure with a majority vote.

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Metro Networks Communications Inc., A Westwood One Company

12:11 PM

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