Raccoon killed in Fremont tests positive for rabies

FREMONT CENTER, NY — Sullivan County Public Health has confirmed that a raccoon in the Fremont Center area tested positive for the rabies virus. “The raccoon was killed, and the property owners called public health, just as they should,” said acting public health director Karen Holden. “The head of the raccoon was sent to Albany, and it came back positive for rabies.” 

Portion of road near Liberty closes for six months

LIBERTY, NY — Starting at 8 a.m. on Monday, May 8, the Sullivan County Division of Public Works will close a portion of Denman Road in the Town of Liberty to replace County Bridge 272, which is located approximately one mile south of Denman’s intersection with State Route 52. This section of road is scheduled to be closed to all traffic, and will remain closed for approximately six months.

New office of digital experience in Pennsylvania

HARRISBURG, PA — On April 25, Gov. Josh Shapiro signed an executive order announcing his customer service transformation strategy and establishing the Commonwealth Office of Digital Experience (CODE PA) to improve online services for Pennsylvanians and streamline the way they interact with the commonwealth online, according to a press release. CODE PA will work to provide digital services that are responsive, user-friendly and accessible to every Pennsylvanian, the release stated.

NEPA students invited to service academy information night

WILKES-BARRE, PA — U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright (D, PA-08) invites interested area high school students, their  parents and local educators to attend a U.S. Service Academy information night on Wednesday, May 10, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Wilkes-Barre Area High School. The event is designed to familiarize high school students with the application and nomination process for applying to four of the five U.S. service academies.

Cartwright reintroduces bipartisan MADE in America Act

WASHINGTON, DC — Rep. Matt Cartwright (D, PA-08) reintroduced a bill to make the U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain less dependent on China and other foreign adversaries, according to his office. The Manufacturing API, Drugs, and Excipients (MADE) in America Act will work to mitigate drug shortages and medical supply chain crunches while incentivizing the domestic manufacturing of drugs, active pharmaceutical ingredients (API), personal protective equipment and diagnostics.

Senate approves measure requiring confirmation of PEMA director

HARRISBURG, PA — The PA State Senate approved legislation requiring senate confirmation of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) director, according to Sen. Lisa Baker (R-20) who sponsored the bill. The bill was passed by a bipartisan vote, taking a positive step toward establishing a more robust check and balance system for PEMA, according to a statement from Baker’s office. 

NYS reaches agreement on 2024 budget

ALBANY, NY — Gov. Kathy Hochul on April 27 announced an agreement to address key priorities in the Fiscal Year 2024 New York State Budget. “I promised New Yorkers we’d make our state more affordable, more livable and safer, and this budget delivers on that promise,” Gov. Hochul said. “I am pleased to have reached an agreement with Speaker Heastie and Leader Stewart-Cousins on a transformative budget that improves public safety, transforms our mental health care system, protects our climate and invests in our children’s future.”

False reporting of active shooter ends in arrest

PINE BUSH, NY — The New York State Police and the Town of Crawford Police Department announced the arrest of a 14-year-old male from the Town of Wallkill for third-degree falsely reporting an incident. He was issued an appearance ticket for Family Court and released to the custody of his parents. The male is a student at Pine Bush High School. 

The arrest was the result of an investigation at the Pine Bush High School on April 26. At 12:30 p.m., Orange County 911 received a call for a shooter in the school. Numerous law enforcement agencies throughout the county responded and quickly determined that the call was unfounded. The investigation revealed that the 14-year-old student called 911 using another student’s cell phone and reported a shooter was in the school.

Molinaro introduces autism caregivers act

WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Rep. Marc Molinaro (R, NY-19) on April 27 introduced the Autism Family Caregivers Act, a bipartisan bill that provides caregiver skills to families who care for children with autism spectrum disorder as well as children with other physical, intellectual and developmental disabilities. The bill will establish a five-year pilot program that awards grants to nonprofit organizations, community health centers and hospital systems to provide evidence-based caregiver-skills training to family caregivers of children with autism or other disabilities.

Molinaro votes to advance budget negotiations

WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Rep. Marc Molinaro (R, NY-19) released the following statement on the Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023: “Today, I voted to advance negotiations to avoid a default on our debt, rein in uncontrolled federal spending, and strengthen social security & Medicare. The bill also preserves protections for SNAP and programs that vulnerable New Yorkers rely on, ensuring no aspect of these programs are altered for seniors, pregnant women, individuals with disabilities or families with children.”

According to the the Congressional Research Service of the Library of Congress, the bill also repeals several energy tax credits, modifies the permitting process and other requirements for energy projects, expands work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and other programs, and nullifies regulations for the cancellation of federal student loan debt. For further synopsis of the bill, visit www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/2811.

Bill for land-bank protections passes

HARRISBURG, PA —  A bill extending environmental liability protections to land banks, sponsored by Sen. Rosemary Brown (R-40), passed in the PA Senate this week. The bill would grant the same protections to land banks that are currently given to redevelopment authorities when dealing with abandoned or underused contaminated land, also known as brownfields.

Apply for HEAP cooling

LIBERTY, NY — Sullivan County’s HEAP (Home Energy Assistance Program) office has begun accepting cooling benefit applications and will continue until funds run out. The cooling benefit can provide eligible applicants with an air conditioner in a room in their home if they suffer from a medical condition that is made worse by extreme heat. For more information, call HEAP at 845/807-0142, prompt 2.