790 WTNY Headlines

The financially troubled General Brown School District has a budget ready to go before voters....but not everyone is happy with the amount of the tax increase that is on the table. The budget finalized by the Board of Education Monday night calls for a tax levy increase of just under 10% as well as a number of cuts to programs, activities, and staffing. The budget totals over $21 million. Since the financial plight of the district was made public several weeks ago, a number of district residents have been forming community groups to try to urge for financial support for the district. Some were willing to support a 22% tax increase to keep cuts from occurring. District residents will vote on the plan next month.

12:38 PM

New York is sending a coordinated response to officials in Massachusetts in the aftermath of yesterday's bombings at the Boston Marathon. Governor Cuomo issued a statement which says he's deployed officers from several New York law enforcement agencies - including the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services - to assist the people of Boston. Cuomo added that six soldiers and several vehicles from New York's National Guard which were already on scene at the marathon since Sunday will remain there until further notice to work with local officials.

11:00 AM

The horrific blast Monday afternoon in Boston led to immediate concern for some local individuals who were taking part in the high profile Boston Marathon. Thankfully, there have no reports of any of those individuals having been seriously hurt by the two separate blasts. The area did have some with local ties racing Monday. Among them, Colleen Cotey of Norwood who told media outlets that she has just finished the race then the first explosion occurred. She was not hurt.

10:59 AM

One of those involved in the head on crash in Lewis County over the weekend has now died as a result of injuries suffered in the crash. That according to those close with 39 year old Renne Beyer, who announced her passing on Facebook. The Lowville woman was hit by a vehicle head on on Rt. 12 in the Town of Harrisburg on Saturday afternoon. The other driver was identified as 40 year old Debrah Acquire of Watertown, who was also taken to a Syracuse hospital. There has been no word as to her condition or status. The investigation into the crash is continuing and is being conducted by the Lewis County Sheriff's Department.

10:58 AM

Jury selection began Monday in the murder trial of three individuals accused of causing the death of a man in Ogdensburg in late 2010. Charged with second degree murder are Michael Thorpe, Anthony Lalonde, and Michael Durand. The trio are accused of assaulting 83 year old Ralph Lawtown back on November 18, 2010, who later died as a result of chest injuries suffered in the assault. The three are also accused of first degree robbery. No jurors were seated yesterday and selection will continue this morning in Canton.

10:58 AM

The former owner of several regional head shops is facing brand new drug-related charges. Authorities in Oneida County say John Tebbetts the Third of Tebb's Head Shops was arrested last week for allegedly carrying illegal painkillers. In December Tebbetts plead guilty to numerous crimes, including money laundering and drug possession with intent to distribute. He was also the focus of a state case in Watertown in connection with the selling of items from his now closed Watertown store.

10:57 AM

Two people are facing charges following an incident with a BB gun inside a Lewis County trailer park earlier this month. The sheriff's department says they were called to Sullivan's Trailer Park in Port Leyden back on April 4 to investigate several incidents of a 13 year old male being shot with a BB gun. Thirty five year old Jeremy Reese of Port Leyden and a 13 year old male were both charged with reckless endangerment and endangering the welfare of a child. The victim was hit in the chest and lower back, but was not seriously injured.

10:55 AM

He's not quite Bob Uecker looking for a seat in the front row, but a New York Senator recently arrested on federal bribery charges is now relegated to the "time-out chair" at the Capitol building in Albany. That's what New York politicians call the seat where Malcolm Smith was relegated yesterday on his first day in the chamber since his arrest. The "Times Union" says Smith's new seat is parked in a less-than-desirable spot right next to a busy chamber exit. Smith's former and more prestigious seat was located between two high-profile Democratic colleagues.

10:55 AM

The nation's highest court rules it will not hear a challenge to the New York law requiring "proper cause" to legally carry a concealed handgun in public. In making yesterday's ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court didn't offer any explanations for why it rejected the case. Brought by the Second Amendment Foundation, the case garnered widespread support from gun advocates including the NRA and as many as 20 states. That New York law dates back to the early 1980s.

10:54 AM

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