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Lawmakers react to controversial Clean Slate Act

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:01 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (WTEN) -- For years, advocates have been pushing for what some call a controversial bill: The Clean Slate Act. The bill would automatically seal criminal records three years after sentencing for misdemeanors and after seven years for felonies. It would not apply to sex crimes. Advocates say existing criminal records make it nearly impossible for those who were previously incarcerated to get a job or proper housing.  Albany advocates for Clean Slate Act "Once you’ve atoned for these mistakes, you should be able to move forward and make yourself and your families whole," said Senator Jamaal Bailey. Bailey said everyone deserves a second chance and passage of the bill will lead to lower recidivism rates, "You want to stop people from committing crimes, give them a job. You want to make sure you keep people off the street, give them a job." Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay said while the bill has good intentions, there are simply some crimes that should not be s...

FASNY: Volunteer firefighters save taxpayers billions

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:01 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10)-- An updated study commissioned by the Firefighters Association of the State of New York found New York tax payers save $4.7 billion a year by having volunteer firefighters. Over the years, there has been a decrease in the number of volunteer firefighters in the State of New York."Since 2000, when there were about 180,000 volunteer firefighters in the state, we’re sitting at around 80,000 today," said John D’Alessandro, FASNY Secretary.To help volunteers, the governor has included some proposals in her budget."The first is a $10 million stipend fund," said Jackie Bray, Commissioner of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services. "So that we can make sure that volunteer firefighters aren’t out of pocket for all the training that we ask them to take to become a firefighter to keep us safe."This is something that FASNY supports."As volunteers, we aren’t in the station when a call comes in. Generally we are at home, have to go to the station and then ...

St. Louis County woman sentenced for depositing counterfeit checks

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:01 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A St. Louis County woman appeared in federal court Monday to be sentenced for a counterfeit check scheme.Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri said Tyra Robinson, 21, pleaded guilty in November 2022 to four counts of bank fraud.Robinson admitted stealing checks from the mail, and using that information to deposit bad checks at banks across the area. All told, she deposited or attempted to deposit more than $40,000, and received at least $22,000 from at least 10 banks. She would withdraw the money before the banks realized the checks were no good. Top story: Search for missing St. Charles woman leads to abandoned car Robinson recruited numerous co-conspirators, who agreed to let her deposit the checks into their accounts in exchange for a kickback.She was arrested on March 10, 2022, when St. Louis police attempted to pull Robinson over in connection with a burglary investigation. Robinson attempted to speed away but crashed in...

Carson Briere, son of former Avalanche forward Daniel Briere, charged for pushing wheelchair down stairs

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:01 GMT

Three misdemeanor charges were filed Monday against the son of former Avalanche forward and now Philadelphia Flyers interim general manager Danny Briere after a video posted on social media showed him and another Mercyhurst University athlete pushing an unoccupied wheelchair down a staircase.Police in Erie, Pennsylvania, filed charges of criminal mischief, criminal conspiracy to commit mischief and disorderly conduct against Carson Briere, who completed his third hockey season at Mercyhurst. Patrick Carrozzi, listed as a senior member of the school’s lacrosse team, faces the same three charges, according to documents filed with District Judge Sue Mack.The two are scheduled to appear in court on May 22.Briere and Carrozzi are seen on a surveillance video at the top of a staircase of a local bar, where they push the wheelchair down the steps on March 11. Police say their actions posed a potential danger to anyone coming up the stairs, while also creating a hazardous condition by block...

“Ted Lasso” visits White House, promotes mental health care

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:01 GMT

WASHINGTON — Fictional soccer coach Ted Lasso used a White House visit Monday to encourage people, even in politically divided Washington, to make it a point to check in often with friends, family and co-workers to “ask how they’re doing, and listen, sincerely,”Comedian Jason Sudeikis, who plays the title character — an American coaching a soccer team in London — and other cast members were meeting with President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden to talk about how mental health contributes to overall well-being.Mental health and looking after one another is a theme of the show, Sudeikis told reporters from behind the lectern as he helped press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre open her daily White House briefing. The Emmy-winning, feel-good show on Apple TV+ just opened its third season.“While it’s easier said than done, we also have to know that we shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help ourselves,” said Sudeikis. “That does take a lot, especially when it’s something that has ...

Pasta alla vodka for the adults, fried rice for the kids and more weeknight recipes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:01 GMT

1. Ricotta Pasta Alla VodkaIn a 1974 cookbook, Italian actor Ugo Tognazzi published a recipe for pasta all’infuriata, furious pasta, a chile-and-vodka-spiked tomato number. It’s one of the first written accounts of the Russian liquor in pasta and may be related to the penne alla vodka that has been a staple of many Italian American menus. For good reason: The alcohol is said to help fat disperse more evenly, keeping the sauce glossy and creamy, and to enhance the sharp heat and deep savory flavors of the dish. The ricotta serving suggestion draws inspiration from the creamy tomato soup with three dollops of cool, sweet ricotta on top from the now-closed Caffe Falai in Manhattan’s NoLIta neighborhood. The ricotta lends coolness both in temperature and in flavor, lending relief between bites of spicy booziness.By Eric KimYield: 4 to 6 servingsTotal time: 30 minutesIngredientsKosher salt1 tablespoon olive oil4 slices thick-cut bacon (6 ounces), coarsely chopped1 1/2 teaspoons red-peppe...

Man arrested in Bell Gardens High School threat had stolen guns, ammunition, police say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:01 GMT

The man accused of making a social media threat against Bell Gardens High School was arrested with stolen guns and a large cache of ammunition, according to police.Rene Alvizo, 21, a resident of Bell Gardens, faces charges of making terrorist threats, possession of stolen property, and grand theft of a firearm.On Sunday, authorities became aware of a social media post that included a video showing a weapon and the high school, and were "able to identify the suspect that had made the threat,” the Bell Gardens Police Department said in a news release.Bell Gardens Police display a booking photo of Rene Alviso and the weapons and ammunition allegedly found inside suitcase. March 20, 2023. (KTLA) Police guard Bell Gardens High School a day after two adults were arrested for making threats against the school and possessing weapons and ammunition. March. 20, 2023.Bell Gardens High School. (KTLA)A photo of the weapons, ammunition and body armor police allegedly found inside a suitcase belon...

For the Fed, it's 'Sophie's Choice' for interest rates

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:01 GMT

Spare a thought for Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, who this week has the unenviable task of playing out "Sophie's Choice" in real life.Fed officials gather for a regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday. On Wednesday, Powell will announce the central bank's intentions for interest rates.Prior to the banking mess, many on Wall Street had anticipated a half-point increase in light of recent stats showing the economy -- and inflation -- remain stubbornly strong.But trouble in the banking sector is the monkey in the wrench.Higher rates mean higher borrowing costs, which can be a body blow to banks already grappling with the effects of past rate hikes.So if you're Powell, what's the smart play?Do you maintain an aggressive posture on inflation to show that you feel consumers' pain?Or do you skip the expected rate increase to show you feel banks' pain?Tough calls like this are why Powell makes the big bucks (about $190,000, in case you're wondering).I'm going out on a limb and figurin...

SmarDex: The Next Big Thing in Crypto and DeFi

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:01 GMT

As a die-hard cryptocurrency enthusiast, I’ve always been on the lookout for the next big innovation that could redefine the DeFi landscape and fuel the next crypto bull market. While scouring the internet for promising projects, I stumbled upon SmarDex – a groundbreaking protocol developed by a Swiss research team. I must say, this innovation has the potential to revolutionize the DeFi ecosystem by promoting security, transparency, and enhanced liquidity. Today, I’d like to share my thoughts on why SmarDex could be the most in-vogue cryptocurrency in the coming years.But first, let me give you a brief overview of SmarDex. The Swiss research team behind the protocol has published a scientific paper titled “The SMARDEX Protocol: A Novel Solution to Impermanent Loss in Decentralized Finance.” The paper’s immense popularity, ranking among the top 0.1% most-read papers on Academia.edu, highlights its significance in both the academic community and the DeFi ...

Say Goodbye to Dryness and Irritation with Wipe Those Hands Antibacterial Wipes – The Alcohol-Free Solution

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:01 GMT

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of maintaining good hand hygiene to prevent the spread of germs and viruses. Hand sanitizers and wipes have become essential items for many of us, but not all hand sanitizing products are created equal. Many brands use harmful ingredients and alcohol that are drying and irritating to the skin. This is where Wipe Those Hands Antibacterial Wipes come in – the alcohol-free solution to keeping your hands clean and germ-free.Alcohol-based hand sanitizers have been used for decades to kill germs and bacteria on the hands, but they come with a downside. Alcohol can be harsh on the skin, causing dryness, irritation, and even cracking. This can be especially problematic for those with sensitive skin, eczema, or other skin conditions. Overuse of alcohol-based sanitizers can also strip the skin of its natural oils, leading to further dryness and irritation.Wipe Those Hands Antibacterial Wipes offer a better solution to the hars...