Free Republic

State Democratic lawmakers are trying to pump the brakes on the Hochul administration’s “nearly impossible” green-energy rule requiring more new large trucks to be emissions-free. The proposal, pushed by state Sen. Jeremy Coney Cooney (D-Rochester) and Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo (D-Binghamton), would postpone the start of the Democratic governor’s edict until at least Jan. 1, 2027. Hochul’s recent “Advanced Clean Trucks” rule requires manufacturers of vehicles greater than 8,500 pounds to sell an increasing number of zero-emission vehicles in New York, starting with a 7% zero emissions sales percentage in 2025 and ramping up every model year through 2035, to 40%...

Governor Kathy Hochul announced that construction is underway at Town and Country Apartments, a 256-unit affordable housing complex in Binghamton. The $94 million rehabilitation project will modernize the 22-building garden-style development, fully electrify its infrastructure, and improve energy efficiency by 20%. The project is part of Hochul’s five-year, $25 billion Housing Plan, which aims to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes across New York State, including 10,000 with support services for vulnerable populations. The initiative complements efforts by New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), which has financed over 1,260 affordable housing units in Broome County in the past...

The doors to the last full-size Kmart store in the United States will close forever on October 20. WJAR reported on Sunday that an employee confirmed the location in Bridgehampton, New York, will close up shop on that date. “Kmart has been slowly closing stores for years since merging with Sears in 2005 under the management of hedge-fund CEO Eddie Lampert. Sears Holdings, the parent company of Kmart and Sears, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2018,” the report said. According to Fox Business, the department store chain ran about 2,300 locations in the 1990s. Transformco, which owns the smaller...

A new study has discovered that tattoo inks could be linked to cancer or organ failure. An analysis of 54 inks commonly used in tattoo parlors across America has uncovered that a staggering 45 of them contained unlisted additives, including chemicals known to pose alarming health risks. Multiple inks contained 2-phenoxyethanol, which can cause toxic effects in high doses. Researchers involved in the study found the most common additive to be polyethylene glycol, which is a compound that can cause acute renal failure. The study was led by Jonn Swierk from the Department of Chemistry at Binghamton University, and was...

Given the opportunity, leftists wave their hands and shout “You’re a racist!” at anyone who disagrees with them — especially conservatives. What happens when one of the Democratic Party’s leaders in Congress is exposed as a racist? They keep right on voting for him like the hypocrites they are. Which brings us to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. In 1992, as a student at Binghamton University in upstate New York, Jeffries penned an opinion piece for the college newspaper headlined “The Black Conservative Phenomenon.” The editorial was rife with racism and included a defense of anti-Semites. ... Jeffries .. a...

The annual “Rod Serling Celebration” was held for more than 100 fifth graders Tuesday morning in the Binghamton City School District. The students were able to witness a mock performance of a Twilight Zone, the famous series founded by Serling, at Binghamton High School today. Before the presentation, kids were familiarized with the show from their class, emphasizing that each episode has its own life lesson. “I like the eye of the beholder,” said 5th grader Diggston Davis. “I like that because it’s not about the beauty on the outside it’s about the beauty on the inside.” Students also got...

SUNY Binghamton officials have rebuked a professor who said white students should clam up in class and let others lead academic discussions, according to a report.

A Bushkill, Pa. woman and six other individuals are facing a multitude of charges, including counts of terrorism, assault, and kidnapping, following a failed takeover of the Pine Ridge community on Monday. According to a criminal complaint from Pennsylvania State Police out of Blooming Grove, Tonia Scott, 49, of Bushkill was the alleged ringleader of a group of armed individuals who sought to forcefully take the land occupied by the Lehman Township community on the afternoon of Nov. 18. A police interview with Scott revealed that she had claimed rightful ownership to the land of the Pine Ridge and Saw...

Italian Americans in Syracuse will gather in Columbus Circle Monday, to pay tribute to the Italian explorer, possibly for the last time. And they're not happy about it. After years of controversy and discussion, Mayor Ben Walsh made the final decision on the future of the controversial statue last week. The statue will be coming down. "The city of Syracuse will move forward with steps in local and state law, to remove the Columbus statue, the heads of Indigenous people of the Plains, the bas relief plaques, and have them removed to a private site," Walsh said during a press...

Two conservative students were shut by a crowd of leftist protesters while they attempted to recruit for their Turning Point USA chapter at Binghamton University in New York. The situation became so tense that police arrived on the scene, as video obtained by Campus Reform shows. Lacey Kestecher, president of Binghamton University's Turning Point USA chapter, was joined Wednesday by classmate John Lizak and Taylor Cisinski, a TPUSA regional manager, to recruit for their conservative group. The students also sought to advertise an upcoming College Republicans event featuring the prestigious economist Dr. Aurthur Laffer.  However, the students’ efforts were quickly met with...

In 1959 Rod Serling's TV series, "The Twilight Zone," made its debut on CBS. Though not a major success at the time, the show that served up horror and science fiction stories as winking tales of contemporary society has taken on legendary status, influencing films and TV ever since. David Pogue looks at how Serling crafted a TV classic with New York Times television critic James Poniewozik, and talks with the writer's daughter, Jodi Serling, about the influence that his hometown, Binghamton, N.Y., had on Serling's allegorical tales. Pogue also talks with Jordan Peele, the writer-comedian behind the Oscar-winning "Get...

Dr. Richard Antoun of Binghamton University, a retired professor of anthropology with a specialty in comparative religions allegedly was stabbed four times in the chest by a Saudi national, Abdulsalam Al-Zahrani, a cultural-anthropology grad student. Professor Antoun was a peace activist, and a convert to Judaism, and was known on campus as "a really nice guy."

On April 16, the United Muslim-Christian Forum (UMCF) held an interfaith event in Owego, New York, featuring Christian and Muslim speakers, including the mayor of the town. Its Web site proudly hosts a photo of Binghamton Mayor Matthew T. Ryan holding a UMCF sign. Far from the model of tolerance it casts itself as, the UMCF is a front for an anti-Semitic, Islamic extremist group named Muslims of the Americas (MOA), and the keynote speaker warned that Allah will destroy whoever supports Koran burnings, and possibly the entire country. The MOA was exposed in the Christian Action Network’s (CAN) 2009...

BINGHAMTON, NY--Some state workers are being told not to come to work because of the snow. But it's no "snowday" for them. They are losing a vacation day. According to Binghamton University's website, all non-essential employees are not allowed to come to work because of the state of emergency. But they'll have to use a vacation day.

Although much attention was focused on the elections on Tuesday of decidedly left-of-center Democrats in Boston and New York City, little reported was the major gain of Republicans in two Northeastern states long considered "no man's land" for the GOP. Republicans took considerable new ground in contests for city halls and county offices in New York and Connecticut. In New York, Republicans re-elected county executives in Westchester and Nassau Counties, captured the mayoralty in Binghamton and a majority of the county legislature in Erie County for the first time since 1977, and won a special election for the state Assembly...

Contrary to flag etiquette, the rainbow flag was hoisted higher than the American flag. The campaign in Binghampton, New York, June 3, had an interesting twist. As we raised the American flag to begin our efforts in favor of traditional marriage, a group of people standing on the opposite side of the street – in front of City Hall – were about to do the same. However, they were not raising old glory. Instead they were hoisting the very symbol of the opposition: a rainbow flag, with the approval of city mayor Matthew Ryan. Breaking with flag etiquette Those in...

The Interfaith Agenda rolls on... Just last week we had the Ground Zero mosque Imam Rauf revealing the old switcheroo, and now this:Looks like there will be no parade in Binghamton, NY this year to celebrate Muhammad's birthday. Instead, they will be holding an "Interfaith Program" in nearby Owego, NY.Here's what it says on the website of Binghamton's "United Muslim-Christian Forum":Upcoming Event: UMCF Interfaith Milad Celebration is April 16th!FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMarch 26, 2011Muslims and Christians to Celebrate the 4th Annual Milad-un-Nabi Honoring the Birth of the Holy Last Messenger Muhammad(Eternal Peace and Blessing be upon him)(Owego, New York) -...

update from February 18, 2011: Trial postponed for a second time.WBNG-TV Action News, February 18, 2011:The Broome County District Attorney's Office says the court has postponed the murder trial for Abdusalam al-Zahrani, 45, from Saudi Arabia.An examination by two Broome County psychologists this week determined he is incompetent to stand trial. [...]The DA's office says doctors concluded Al-Zahrani lacks the capacity to understand the proceedings against him or assist in his own defense.An order of examination has been issued, and he will be committed to a state mental health facility.He could be tried if and when he is found to...

Welp, it's that time again. Time for the "United Muslim-Christian Forum" a.k.a. the "Muslims of America" from Islamberg to go all Interfaith/Co-Exist/Universalist/Pluralist on us in Binghamton, NY. This time, they'll be repeating last year's Interfaith-arific gathering which was described as the "1st Annual celebration of the birth of Jesus, Son of Mary." From their press release:In this upcoming joyful holiday season, where love and reverence for Jesus, born of the chaste Mary, is widely celebrated by Christians the world over, the United Muslim-Christian Forum (UMCF) is embarking on its 2nd annual event as a time for Muslims to acquaint those...

some photos of Bill Clinton speaking at a rally for a desperate Maurice Hinchey. Binghamton, NY.