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Doug Hoffman is out. The Lake Placid accountant is officially out of the race for Congress. Hoffman on Tuesday announced that he is ending his campaign and is urging his supporters to vote for Republican candidate Matt Doheny on Election Day. Hoffman was beaten by Doheny for the GOP nod during last month's primary. Several days later Hoffman announced he would be staying in the race, but has now apparently changed his mind. In his statement, Hoffman says it was never his intention to split the Republican vote in the 23rd District. Although Doheny and he have differed on some issues, Hoffman says he must do what is best for the nation and is throwing his endorsement towards Doheny.

Now that Hoffman is out of the race, the election comes down to two candidates and the complexion has been changed completely. With the possibility of a three way race now history, the Matt Doheny campaign is obviously thrilled to have Hoffman's support. The Democratic incumbent, Bill Owens, says his campaign has not changed with the exit of Hoffman, who he beat in last year's special election. He says his campaign will continue to focus on the issues, such as jobs. A three way race had given an advantage to Owens. The question now is whether or not Hoffman's public support will be enough to get his supporters in the Doheny column on Election Day.

1:25 PM

The City of Watertown has finalized a settlement in the litigation case brought about by Ryan Dorr. The city resident was shot by off duty city police officer, Michael VanWaldick, in a domestic incident that occurred at Dorr's home in December 2004. VanWaldick also kidnapped his ex-girlfriend, Jessica Quinta, who was in the Dorr residence at the time of the shooting. Dorr filed suit citing negligence on the part of the city. The city council Monday night approved a $600,000 settlement of the case. VanWaldick is currently serving a 15 year prison sentence for attempted murder.

10:15 AM

A St. Lawrence County woman will not be serving any jail time for leaving her infant son home alone on several occasions so she could go to work. Twenty year old Mercedes Sanderson was sentenced Monday in St. Lawrence County Court to five years probation on charges of first degree reckless endangerment and child endangerment. Sanderson was arrested for leaving the seven month old home alone at their Richville home while she worked at the Dunkin' Donuts in the Town of LeRay for several weeks.. The child has since been placed in the custody of the father, a former Ft. Drum soldier, who has moved to Texas.

10:15 AM

The military has extended the deadline for service members, veterans, and beneficiaries to apply for retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay. The deadline is now December 3, allowing personnel more time to apply for those earned benefits. The program was established to compensate military members whose service was involuntarily extended under Stop Loss from September 11 2001 to September 30, 2009. Eligible members or their beneficiaries are required to submit a claim to their respective military service in order to receive benefits of $500 for each full or partial month served under Stop Loss status.

10:14 AM

Two of the three candidates for Congress will be in Watertown today. Democratic Congressman Bill Owens will be at the groundbreaking for the Hilton Hotel in Watertown. Republican candidate Matt Doheny will be touring Ft. Drum with California Republican Congressman Howard McKeon, who is expected to chair the House Armed Services Committee should the GOP take control of the House of Representatives in the November elections.

10:13 AM

The Disabled Person's Action Organization has been selected to compete for a grant being offered by Pepsi that would go for the construction of a sensory oasis playground for clients of the non profit. The catch is the public is being asked to help. The contest by the Pepsi Refresh Project is being held online, with the top two vote getters awarded the grant, which totals $250,000. Voting began on Friday and will continue through the end of the month. You can vote onlne at: www.refresheverything.com/sensoryoasisoutdoorarea

10:12 AM

After a nasty argument with a newspaper reporter was caught on video, Republican gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino may be putting Mr. Tough Guy to the back burner, saying he wants to get back to the issues. Paladino says he plans to tone down his attacks of Democrat Andrew Cuomo and focus more on showing New Yorkers what he can do for the state. However, Paladino is refusing to apologize for suggesting last week that Cuomo had an extramarital affair. The Republican has posted a new web video showing his kinder gentler side saying the campaign is not about affairs but rather it's about who has the plan to restore prosperity to the state.

10:11 AM

Senator Chuck Schumer is calling for tougher hiring background checks at nuclear power plants. New York's senior Senator made his announcement at Indian Point, calling on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to increase safety standards at nuclear facilities. Senator Schumer is seeking to implement a tougher security system to protect nuclear plants from infiltration. Senator Schumer is making the call after a man with suspected ties to al-Qaeda worked as a general laborer at six nuclear power facilities in New Jersey over a six-year period, starting in 2002.

10:10 AM

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