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The driver of a SUV that was involved in a fatal incident over a week ago in the City of Watertown is facing traffic related charges. Twenty four year old John Preston of Dayton, Tennessee is charged with unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. Preston was driving the SUV that 24 year old Angela Perdue of Watertown exited on Mill St. on April 29. She later died after being struck and dragged by the vehicle. The investigation is continuing into the incident. It's not known publicly if she willingly left the vehicle or was pushed.

10:45 AM

A manhunt that began Sunday ended overnight in Jefferson County. The focus of the search was 51 year old Brian Aikens. Aikens is wanted by the Clinton County Probation Department on two active warrants of grand larceny and possession of stolen property. The vehicle pursuit continued from the Plattsburgh area to the Lewis County Town of Diana, where it was called off. A state police chopper maintained visual observation of Aikens' vehicle and observed him stopping near the Crowner Rd. in Wilna, at which point he abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot. He was apprehended during the night in the West Carthage area.

10:44 AM

The parking situation in Downtown Watertown during the next six months will be an issue before the Watertown City Council this evening. The state plans to begin renovations next month to the parking garage at the Dulles State Office Building on Washington St. As a result, no parking will be allowed, forcing state employees elsewhere. New York State is asking to lease 150 parking spaces in parts of Downtown to those displaced employees. The city faces a similar situation back in the mid 1990's. Some officials have concerns as to what the project will mean for Downtown parking, especially on Wednesday's during the farmer's market. The council will also continue budget discussions this evening.

10:42 AM

A head on collision in St. Lawrence County over the weekend killed a Potsdam woman. The sheriff's department says 74 year old Eleanor Uffer was on Rt. 11 when she crossed into the other lane, striking a second vehicle. Uffer was later pronounced dead at Canton-Potsdam Hospital. Two others in the second vehicle suffered only minor injuries.

10:40 AM

A Philadelphia man was injured following an ATV accident over the weekend in the Town of Theresa. The Jefferson County Sheriff's Department says 34 year old Ricky Gagnon was a passenger on an ATV that was on the Kelsey Rd. Saturday evening when the driver swerved to avoid hitting a second ATV. Gagnon was thrown from the vehicle and was not wearing a helmet. He was taken to Samaritan Medical Center for treatment of his injuries.

10:39 AM

New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli says the state improperly paid a group of prisoners thousands of dollars in workers compensation while they were behind bars. DiNapoli says his review found the State Insurance Fund, the state's largest workers comp insurance carrier, paid seven inmates more than 36-thousand-dollars in benefits they were not entitled to. DiNapoli says The Workers' Compensation Board owes it to businesses and taxpayers to put stronger internal controls in place.

10:38 AM

A recent lawsuit by an out of state brewer means that the price of locally produced beer will be increasing. Some New York lawmakers are hoping to change that. The lawmakers announced a two-step plan to make sure that loss doesn't hurt the growing industry. U.S. Senator Charles Schumer is pushing for passage of the federal Brewer's Employment and Excise Tax Relief Act that would cut in half the federal tax on small breweries. The Senator says it would help small brewers across New York reinvest in their business, hire new employees and keep the retail cost of New York produced beer down. A recent court decision threw out a tax credit that had been granted to in state brewers, calling it unfair competition for out of state brewers looking to sell their product here.

10:36 AM

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