Free Republic

The sheriffs thought they were being summoned to the Capitol to discuss ideas for changes to New York's gun control law, the SAFE Act. Instead, Gov. Andrew Cuomo told them to keep quiet. (...) Cuomo invited its leaders to the Capitol last month, people briefed on the meeting said. The group included Sheriffs' Association Executive Director Peter Kehoe and Chemung County Sheriff Christopher Moss. "We didn't get a response (to the analysis) from him, but we could tell after the budget was passed that none of those recommendations were taken into consideration," Moss said. "When we got there, we never...

BALLSTON SPA — A Ballston Lake man who thought he could time travel while driving drunk and on LSD won’t travel any further than state prison for up to three years after being convicted of vehicular assault. According to Saratoga County District Attorney James A. Murphy III, Terrence J. Rudes, 21, of Windy Hill Road in Ballston Lake was driving on Church Avenue in Ballston Spa Sept. 17 when he crossed a double yellow line and hit another vehicle head-on. The driver of that car suffered serious injuries as a result of the crash. Ballston Spa police, who responded to...

Victoria Toensing, attorney for Gregory Hicks will be on at 5:30 pm eastern on "Talk 1300 Albany". Listen live at the link: http://www.talk1300.com/

The seal has been lifted on the sentencing memo for ex-Sen. Shirley Huntley, who wore a wire for the FBI for several months last year. The memo says: Mrs. Huntley met with attorneys for the government and FBI agents regularly over a six-month period. (...) Ms. Huntley upon the prompting of the U.S. Attorney's Office and the FBI recorded and photographed the following individuals on multiple occasions: State Senator John Sampson Melvin Lowe, (former political consultant and associate of New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman) State Senator Eric Adams State Senator Ruth Hassel-Thompson State Senator Jose Peralta State Senator...

<p>A well-known female liberal blogger and radio host at the University of Wyoming (UW) is being accused by police of fabricating a rape threat against herself to appear as if it came from a conservative.</p> <p>The obscene message directed at activist Meg Lanker-Simons was posted on a college “crush” Facebook page earlier this week and immediately ignited outrage from the college community.</p>

Katherine Russell, the widow of Boston bomb suspect, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, was 'an all-American girl who was brainwashed' by her extremist husband according to one schoolfriend. Today MailOnline has gained the first glimpse and pictures of the early life of the woman who, according to those who knew her best, was 'totally transformed' by Tsarnaev. At high school her personal motto was 'Do something about it or stop complaining'. She dreamed of going to college and joining the Peace Corps. She urged her friends to 'lighten up and enjoy the small things,' in life.

Syracuse, N.Y. -- The union representing New York State Police say they believe the state's stricter gun laws could put law enforcement officers at risk. In an email release on Monday, the New York State Troopers PBA said its 6,000-member group "holds widely shared concerns" about the NY Safe Act. Nonetheless, the union takes exception to some state lawmakers accusing the troopers of failing to enforce the law. "The individual members of this union did not write the terms of the bill nor vote on its passage," the release said. "We urge the citizens of New York state to remember...

One of the most popular and respected members of the Obama administration, Clinton faces the possibility that her legacy will be marred by the attacks in Benghazi and questions about diplomatic security. She has taken full responsibility for any security lapses and defended the administration’s sometimes confusing accounts of what happened, saying, “Everyone who spoke tried to give the information they had.”

“The white man was a good shot and the bullet from his Winchester passed through the body of Yaholar.” This simple sentence, describing Massachusetts Democratic Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren’s great-grandfather, John Crawford, may finally put a bullet not simply in the long dead corpse of Native American Louis Yaholar, but also of Warren’s supposed family mythology. It comes from a turn-of-the-20th-century news story uncovered by William Jacobi at Legal Insurrection, who explains the genealogical connection between this random incident of White-on-Native-American violence and Warren’s campaign: // But, while Warren thinks she has found a safe place in her family lore,...

Out today, a 68-page opinion from Judge Katherine Forrest of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, entering a preliminary injunction barring the federal government from enforcing the substantive detention authority codified by the FY2012 NDAA on the ground that enforcement of the relevant provision (section 1021) might interfere with the plaintiffs’ First and Fifth Amendment rights. There’s a lot here, including the central holding (that the NDAA is not merely a “reaffirmation” of the AUMF), but I haven’t had the chance to read it carefully yet. Suffice it to say, I imagine folks will have...

Spain will restore border controls to France on Saturday, during a summit of European Central Bank (ECB) to be held on 3 May in Barcelona, said Monday the Ministry of Interior. The measure, which will run until next May 4, will involve the temporary suspension of the Schengen Agreement on free movement of citizens among the 27 European Union countries. According to the conservative government of Mariano Rajoy, the land boundaries with France will be reinforced at the border of La Jonquera, Port Bou, Puigcerdá, Camprodon, Les and Canfranc and air borders of Girona and Barcelona airports. The Schengen Agreement...

Unrest is simmering in some quarters of the Washington news universe regarding changes in the way the Department of Labor (DOL) manages its pre-release media “lockups” on sensitive data like weekly jobless benefits and unemployment. For years, journalists participating in the lockups have shown up at DOL at the appointed time, then entered a limited-access area to receive the new data and prepare news stories for release as soon as official embargoes end. The system insures that major news organizations get the data as soon as possible and allows journalists covering the release get a jump on providing analyses and...

When the New York press corps wants to know what Gov. Andrew Cuomo has to say, on the record, it looks to Fred Dicker -- morning radio show host, New York Post columnist, and so-called "dean" of the Albany press corps. With few exceptions, Dicker, a Cuomo friendly, gets exclusive on-the-record access to the Governor's thoughts. Now, Dicker has signed a deal to write a Cuomo biography. Dicker is believed to have made a six-figure deal with HarperCollins, according to a report by the Post's Keith Kelly, putting him in direct competition with Vanity Fair's Michael Shnayerson, who signed his...

(...) Question by Premo: “And you said a few minutes ago that you realize you committed crimes in this case. Is that correct?” Answer by McGrath: “I have been told, yes.” This candid admission according to Gordon, "is in clear violation of the Troy City Charter due to his “disorderly conduct” as outlined in Article VII, subsection C-31." (...) Video of the incident can be seen below, with the relevant portion beginning at 28:33. As Gordon begins reading his letter, McGrath can be seen sitting to the left of the viewer's point of view, and is seen motioning to Kopka...

On Tuesday afternoon, in a stunning rebuke of President Obama, Judge Jerry Smith of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals decided he had heard enough of the president's incessant hyper-partisan rhetoric challenging the independence of the federal judiciary. (...) He then ordered the Justice Department to respond to the court by noon on Thursday with a letter (minimum three pages, single-spaced) explaining with specificity the DOJ's position on "judicial review, as it relates to the specific statements of the president, in regard to Obamacare and to the authority of the federal courts to review that legislation." (Audio of the relevant...

Everybody knows we like to laugh it up here on SoaresSpot on any number of different topics. But this is not one of those times. What I'm about to write below compels nothing other than sober awareness for Albany County voters. That's because there is no funny or jovial element to this story, no appropriately humorous images or photoshopping--absolutely nothing about this incident can be processed and construed that way. Notwithstanding our comprehensive absence of faith in everything about David Soares, this is truly stunning--even for him. In my lap I've this package somebody sent my way the other day....

SARATOGA SPRINGS — A local resident under threat of arrest if he steps on public housing property will be able to do so after all — to attend a public meeting. A trespass notice had been issued against John Tighe based on a complaint made by Saratoga Springs Housing Authority Executive Director Ed Spychalski, who has been the target of criticism in Tighe’s blog. The banishment also made a controversial January meeting of the authority off-limits. But it turns out such a notice won’t lead to the arrest of someone who is merely attending a public meeting on the property....

Under the National Operations Center (NOC)’s Media Monitoring Initiative that emerged from the Department of Homeland Security in November, Washington has written permission to collect and retain personal information from journalists, news anchors, reporters or anyone who uses “traditional and/or social media in real time to keep their audience situationally aware and informed.” According to DHS, the definition of personal identifiable information can consist of any intellect “that permits the identity of an individual to be directly or indirectly inferred, including any information which is linked or linkable to that individual.” RT adds: "Previously established guidelines within the administration say...

Doctor now facing murder owned Colonie clinic where 17 fetuses found in '96 COLONIE — A New Jersey doctor charged with murder last week for performing several late-term abortions in Maryland had once operated an abortion clinic in Albany County at which state investigators discovered 17 frozen fetuses in 1996. The discovery was part of a broader investigation by the New York attorney general's office, which declined to pursue criminal charges related to allegations that late-term abortions, in violation of New York's fetal homicide law, were being performed at the Colonie clinic then owned by Dr. Steven Chase Brigham. At...

CLIFTON PARK — Those wondering why Shenendehowa schools recently discontinued sexual education lessons taught by Planned Parenthood left Tuesday's Board of Education meeting disappointed. More than 200 people piled into the Gowana Middle School to speak or learn about the school district's decision to sever its longtime relationship with Planned Parenthood Mohawk Hudson. Planned Parenthood educators had for two decades discussed abstinence, sexually transmitted diseases, teen pregnancy and other topics with district middle and high schoolers as part of its health education curriculum. But the district told Planned Parenthood in October to stop sending the guest speakers after it received...

Federal law authorises state and local governments to divest from companies whose interests in Iran's energy sector directly or indirectly support its pursuit of nuclear weapons. The New York state legislature has passed a bill prohibiting companies doing business with Iran's energy industry from entering into contracts with the state. The bill called the 'Iran Divestment Act' was sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos. It would prohibit companies that provide goods, services or credit worth USD 20 million or more to Iran's energy industry from entering into or renewing state and local government contracts. "The Senate's swift action shows...

In November 2011 there where 1.5 million background checks for gun purchases and in December 2011 there were even more. A total of 3+ million gun sales in 60 days. (Merry Christmas!) Let’s play with these numbers based on gross statistics, neglecting multiple gun purchases (no stats) per person we have: Roughly, 1 in 100 persons in the US bought a gun in 60 days. 1 in 194,000 persons bought a Chevy Volt in those 60 days. 10,000 Chevy Volts was the 2011 production target for Government Motors and they fell short of that target. 10,000 guns were sold every...

"On Thursday, the 22nd, I was pepper sprayed. I was grabbed by the back of the neck and thrown to the ground by police officers," said Colin Donnaruma, an Occupy Albany member. We have heard stories like that since the December day occupiers were told it was time to leave Academy Park. The Albany Police Chief and City answered questions about what they say happened leading up to the police and protester clash. "The initial police presence was minimal because I did not want to create a confrontational atmosphere. As more protesters arrived at the park and the crowd began...

The wanted poster asks for Albany Police Officer Richard Gorleski's address, phone numbers, and email address as well as a map to his home and a picture of it. Occupy Albany member Bradley Russell admits he made the poster and posted it on Facebook. "I have made no threats and I don't want any threats made," Russell tells FOX23 News. "I have no intention of going after this man. On the other hand, if a peaceful drum circle were to show up at his house one day and protest his actions individually [...] I think that would be a legitimate...

GANSEVOORT — There’s been a great deal of debate about the ideal location for Tempered by Memory, the 25-foot-tall sculpture made from World Trade Center steel. Some feel the sculpture should be placed on the lawn of the Saratoga Springs Visitor Center, others at the Lake Avenue firehouse, and others think it doesn’t belong in Saratoga Springs at all. For one day, however, the debate stopped. Saratoga Arts held a private ceremony in Gansevoort Sunday to recognize the efforts of volunteers and donors who made the sculpture possible. Those honored included sculptors John Van Alstine and Noah Savett, local iron...

As the country unites to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Saratoga Springs remains divided over a memorial of that historic and horrific day. A 25-foot-tall sculpture made of twisted steel from the World Trade Center was to be dedicated today at a prominent location on Broadway, the city's main street. Instead, the artwork, "Tempered By Memory," stands in a Gansevoort steelyard, homeless, after objections to where it was to be installed, criticism of its artistic merit, accusations that City Council members were playing politics and heated rhetoric that led to a public apology. The mayor has...

ALBANY -- A "rogue" now-former security guard at the Trinity Alliance was behind a large party that erupted into a brawl and ended early Saturday with four young men stabbed, a Trinity official said. Trinity CEO Harris Oberlander said the so-called stop-the-violence party -- which was advertised on fliers and on Facebook using the organization's former name, the Trinity Institution -- was "totally, totally a fraudulent operation that had nothing to do with any of us." Oberlander said the party organizer, whom he declined to name but said had worked at Trinity for more than a year, has been fired...

Federal officials on Friday rejected Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s proposal to bar New York City’s food stamp users from buying soda and other sugary drinks with their benefits. (...) Tom Vilsack, the secretary of agriculture, said in a statement that the United States Department of Agriculture “has a longstanding tradition of supporting and promoting incentive-based solutions that are better suited for the working families, elderly and other low-income individuals” who rely on food stamps. “We are confident that we can solve the problem of obesity and promote good nutrition and health for all Americans and stand ready to work with...

EXCERPT: After going upstairs and looking around the store, Obama was seen holding five or six books, including "Brave New World" and "The Bayou Trilogy." He went to the cashier after Malia and Sasha had picked out some books of their own, but disagreed with the $32 price he was quoted, which seemed low for the size of his stack. He paid by credit card, telling the cashiers that he uses it only about three times a year. (...)

The sculpture that is creating so much controversy is a memorial made out of steel from the World Trade Center. The original plan was to place the sculpture at the Saratoga Springs City Center. But as it was built it became clear that area wouldn't be big enough to display it. Some people suggested it be placed at the fire house instead. "I have a public safety concern because I don't want visitors in the driveway," said Mayor Scott Johnson. Safety concerns were raised by some, size concerns were raised by others. The visitor center lawn was brought to the...

See scanned documents detailing the Elijah Willingham Sexual Harassment Claim (Google Documents): https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B0Q-lAhWOW_WMTQxYTU3NTYtZWE5ZS00OWM1LWI0Y2YtZmJiZjZmZDdhYTEw&hl=en_US

(...) The delegates, many of them former East German Communists but also younger people, will debate an extraordinary motion put forward by some members: They want their party to declare that the building of the wall was an inescapable necessity. If that leaves any doubts about the Left party’s nostalgia for a wall that imprisoned 17 million people for nearly 30 years, a newspaper survey published this month by The Berliner Zeitung showed that 75 percent of that party’s supporters in Berlin thought the wall was justified or partly justified. (...) Respondents said the wall was necessary to stop the...

ALBANY -- The husband of County Legislator Wanda Willingham was paid more than $45,000 over three years by the county Social Services Department to care for the couple's grandchildren through a program that helps working mothers. But, while it is legal, the arrangement has raised eyebrows. Willingham is chairwoman of the Legislature's Social Services Committee, which in December approved an annual payment of $233,000 from the county to the Capital District Child Care Council. The council provides registration, training, investigations and approves child care providers for county Social Services. Elijah Willingham, the lawmaker's husband, was approved by the council and...

Associate Justice John C. Egan Jr. wrote a nine-page ruling that cited numerous elements of tax case law and went into exhaustive detail defining aspects such as dramatic or musical arts, choreography and whether Nite Moves qualified as a "place of amusement." "Hence, the issue distills to whether the club's admission and private dance fees constitute charges for admission to a 'live dramatic, choreographic or musical performance,'" he wrote. The club sought expert testimony from a cultural anthropologist who researched the field of exotic dance, visited the club and reviewed the dances depicted on the Nite Moves DVD. She offered...

New York could see $11.4 billion in economic activity and up to 18,000 new jobs by 2020 if the state allows gas companies to tap the massive Marcellus Shale formation, according to a report released today by a conservative think tank. The report, paid for by the business-backed Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, found that the state and local governments would gain $1.4 billion in tax revenues alone during the same time period. New York currently has a de facto moratorium on high-volume hydraulic fracturing, a technique used in natural gas extraction in which millions of gallons of water mixed...

Jersey shore star Snooki put Italian two police officers in hospital tonight after she crashed into their patrol car. The 23-year-old was driving the Fiat Multipla with co-star Deena in the front seat and production crew in the back when the accident happened in the evening rush hour. Reports that she had been 'taken into custody' were denied by police but they did say she had been questioned at length about the crash and may face charges at a later date. (...)

ALBANY, NY -- Gov. Andrew Cuomo's administration has ordered an expanded environmental review of proposed "hydrofracking" for natural gas in New York after a well in Pennsylvania spilled chemical-laced water for two days. An internal memo obtained by The Associated Press directs the state Department of Environmental Conservation to review and learn any lessons from the April accident in Pennsylvania's Bradford County. A creek was polluted and homes were evacuated. The review will include an on-site inspection by New York officials.

What started as a battle over fireworks shows led to a sweeping legal victory Friday for environmentalists that could stymie a wide range of events needing city permits, from the Rock ’n’ Roll Marathon to birthday parties held at parks. “According to the strictest interpretation of this, jumpy-jumps and everything else would be subject to environmental review if this ruling stands,” said lawyer Robert Howard, who represented the La Jolla Community Fireworks Foundation in the case. “It’s a breathtaking ruling.” Superior Court Judge Linda Quinn said La Jolla’s annual Fourth of July fireworks show requires evaluation under the California Environmental...

ALBANY, N.Y. — An off-duty state trooper accused of running over a man lying on a rural upstate road was arrested Tuesday on a felony charge of leaving the scene of an accident. Brian Beardsley, 32, was driving with his girlfriend at about 2:30 a.m. Sunday when his pickup ran over Chad Finch, Fulton County authorities said. They said the couple drove off after turning around, confirming a pedestrian was in the road and calling 911. Deputies found the 29-year-old Finch dead from massive injuries near his home in Providence, not far from a restaurant he'd visited earlier and left...

BROADALBIN -- A car driven by an off-duty state trooper likely hit a Northville man who was found dead in the road, and the victim had a previous DWI conviction for striking a teenage girl, authorities said. The Fulton County Sheriff's Office said the trooper, Brian Beardsley, 32, was driving with his girlfriend on county Highway 110 around 2:41 a.m. Sunday when he struck Chad E. Finch, 29, of South Shore Road. Deputies say the original call to police was made by an unidentified woman who reported that she saw what appeared to be a body in the southbound lane...

Fairhope, Ala. (CN) - A police officer beat an elderly man who called 911 to report an accident and stop a drunken driver from leaving the scene of a crime, according to a complaint in Baldwin County Court. Dorsey Henderson says he investigated an auto accident that happened across the street from his house. After determining that one of the drivers was belligerently intoxicated, he told the man not to leave and called the police. When Officer Trent Scott arrived on the scene, Henderson tried to tell him what had happened and that he had put the driver under "citizen's...

HUDSON, N.Y. - Residents of the Hudson City School District voted against the 2011-2012 proposed school budget Tuesday night, however following the polls closing the board of education reversed the decision. The results of the Hudson school budget vote showed 1,249 residents against the budget, and only 424 in favor of the budget. The school board voted in the budget after polls closed, despite the rejected budget results. The school board's vote was split 4 to 3. According to the Hudson City Superintendent, the budget presented was less than a contingency budget would be. Under state law, the Board of...

The French government has fingerprinted U.S. journalists who will travel with President Obama to France for the G-8 summit next week. Journalists were required to submit to “biometric” fingerprinting at the French Embassy in Washington, an embassy spokesman confirmed. The requirement raised some eyebrows among the White House press corps, whose members did not undergo the same security measures for Mr. Obama’s trip to Latin America in March.

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Monday ruled against a Kentucky man who was arrested after police burst into his apartment without a search warrant because they smelled marijuana and feared he was trying to get rid of incriminating evidence. Voting 8-1, the justices reversed a Kentucky Supreme Court ruling that threw out the evidence gathered when officers entered Hollis King's apartment. The court said there was no violation of King's constitutional rights because the police acted reasonably. Only Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg dissented. Officers knocked on King's door in Lexington and thought they heard noises that indicated whoever was...

Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings once again stretched his wings of power and vetoed a bill that would have allowed Albany homeowners the privilege to raise and house chickens (and definitely no roosters) in their backyards. (...) What I found amusing about Mayor Jennings argument is that he called the proposal “a flawed and “piecemeal approach” to the broader issue of urban agriculture.” Of course it’s a piecemeal approach, you first put the pieces together and then you enjoy a meal after the chickens are mature. What really is the concern here? A fear that residents are going to raise so...

An advisory has been sent to law enforcement officials advising them to be vigilant about train security based on information uncovered after the death of Osama bin Laden, officials said. Officials stressed the advisory is general in nature and the information apparently uncovered from the bin Laden compound dates back more than a year. According to NBC News, U.S. officials say they have not found reference to specific plots. Instead, they say they've found what they call "aspirational" items -- events al-Qaida operatives were interested in trying to make happen. A government advisory sent Thursday says that as far back...

A former New York City police detective was acquitted Thursday of stalking an 11-year-old girl as she walked to school last June in Albany.

Federal stimulus funds to finance panels designed to cut energy bills AVERILL PARK -- The Averill Park Fire District is turning to solar power to run its firehouse with help from a state grant through the federal stimulus program. Work to install four motorized solar panels that track the sun's path each day started late last year under a $247,000 grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. The grant covers 90 percent of the project's total cost. The panels are expected to cut the district's electrical bills by at least $6,137 per year, according to NYSERDA....

(...) Under their Constitution, if a President's departure is temporary - the President will be back - then the President can deputize a VP or Prime Minister. The USA has its eyes on the current VP (Omar Suleiman) to become the head of the transitional government. Note, however, Mubarak's departure can not be characterized as "temporary." He is not coming back! If his departure from the Presidency is permanent (which this one is), then the Egyptian people, according to the Constitution, should be looking to the speaker of the People's Assembly to assume the presidency and an election must be...

There are no excuses for the contradictions. How can it be that Bush's America understood the problem of repression in the Arab world, but Obama's America ignored it until last week? How can it be that in May 2009, Hosni Mubarak was an esteemed president whom Barack Obama respected, and in January 2011, Mubarak is a dictator whom even Obama is casting aside? How can it be that in June 2009, Obama didn't support the masses who came out against the zealot Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, while now he stands by the masses who are coming out against the moderate Mubarak? There...