http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/ny-news/ en-us Sun, 12 Oct 2008 20:15:46 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2103973/posts TROY, N.Y. -- Who is running for president? In an upstate New York county, hundreds of voters have been sent absentee ballots in which they could vote for "Barack Osama." The absentee ballots sent to voters in Rensselaer County identified the two presidential candidates as "Barack Osama" and "John McCain." In the United States, the best-known person named Osama is Osama bin Laden, leader of the al-Qaida terrorist group. Commissioners for the Rensselaer County Board of Elections said they regret the error but do not acknowledge in a statement exactly what the error is. The botched ballots were first reported... WFSB.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2103973/posts#comment Sun, 12 Oct 2008 20:15:46 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2103840/posts PEEKSKILL – Some 200 people, veterans and supporters, rallied at Peekskill’s Riverfront Green Park in support of the McCain-Palin ticket as well as for Republican Kieran Lalor, who is challenging Democratic incumbent Congressman John Hall in next month’s election. The groups New York Vets for McCain and Iraq Vets for Congress rallied on Saturday and heard speeches from Senator William Larkin, a retired Army lieutenant colonel, and rally organizer Ret. Gen. Patrick Garvey, Marine Corps. Reserves, among others. Lalor is former Marine who served in the Iraqi war. midhudsonnews.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2103840/posts#comment Sun, 12 Oct 2008 16:54:55 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2103534/posts A bloody robbery attempt brings a roundup of '60s fugitives The armored Brink's truck pulled up to the Nanuet National Bank near suburban Nyack, N. Y., shortly before 4 p.m. and two guards began loading $1.6 million in cash. Suddenly three armed men in ski masks jumped out of a red van and opened fire. One guard was killed instantly and the other critically wounded. The three bandits and an accomplice dashed off with the loot. "They didn't even ask them to hand over the money," declared an incredulous witness. "They just blasted away." The robbers changed conveyances at a... Time Magazine http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2103534/posts#comment Sun, 12 Oct 2008 03:05:53 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2103052/posts The New York City teachers’ union filed a federal lawsuit on Friday claiming that a policy banning political pins and signs in schools violates teachers’ First Amendment rights by blocking them from political expression. The lawsuit comes nearly two weeks after the Department of Education sent a memo to principals directing them to enforce the longstanding regulation, which requires that all school staff members show “complete neutrality” while on duty. The policy also prohibits teachers from using school property to promote a candidate. Randi Weingarten, president of the union, the United Federation of Teachers, said that while the policy has... New York Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2103052/posts#comment Sat, 11 Oct 2008 13:13:04 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2102956/posts Some longtime Republican strongholds in New York are becoming increasingly Democratic, a striking change driven by demographic shifts, intense voter registration drives by Democrats and allied groups and sagging Republican fortunes at the tail end of George W. Bush's presidency. New York State as a whole has grown steadily more Democratic in recent years, a trend that is unlikely to abate anytime soon. According to the State Board of Elections, registered Democrats now outnumber Republicans by 5.5 million to 3.2 million, with unaffiliated voters at 2.4 million. New York Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2102956/posts#comment Sat, 11 Oct 2008 05:51:15 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2102805/posts MINEOLA, N.Y. (AP) -- Like many commuters, Ron Marino is incredulous about revelations that nearly every employee who asked for disability benefits after retiring from the nation's largest commuter railroad was granted them. But Marino isn't the only one who is venting these days about the Long Island Rail Road. Four separate investigations are under way after it was reported last month that more than 90 percent of Long Island Rail Road employees were granted disability payments by an obscure federal board, allowing them to collect huge payments every year. The New York Post has dubbed this the ''Gravy Train... NY Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2102805/posts#comment Sat, 11 Oct 2008 01:50:19 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2102715/posts <p>The absentee ballots sent to voters in Rensselaer County identified the two presidential candidates as 'Barack Osama' and 'John McCain'</p> <p>TROY, N.Y. -- Who is running for president? In an upstate New York county, hundreds of voters have been sent absentee ballots in which they could vote for "Barack Osama."</p> http://elections.foxnews.com/ http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2102715/posts#comment Fri, 10 Oct 2008 23:52:37 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2102706/posts TROY, N.Y. - Who is running for president? In an upstate New York county, hundreds of voters have been sent absentee ballots in which they could vote for "Barack Osama." AP (via NY Post Online) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2102706/posts#comment Fri, 10 Oct 2008 23:36:48 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2102669/posts NEW YORK (AP) - The teachers' union for the nation's largest public school system accused the city on Friday of banning political campaign buttons and sued to reverse the policy, declaring that free speech rights were violated. United Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten announced at a news conference that a lawsuit had been filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan to challenge the enforcement of the policy. "We couldn't believe it," said Weingarten, who wore a Barack Obama lapel button. The American Federation of Teachers, including its UFT delegates, voted over the summer to endorse Obama's presidential candidacy. -snip- Breitbart http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2102669/posts#comment Fri, 10 Oct 2008 22:44:22 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2101096/posts Hidden in a remote area off a primitive dirt road lies a mysterious 70-acre compound in which more than 100 Muslims live in seclusion, following the teachings of its founder, a radical cleric with alleged ties to terrorism. It's neither a Taliban stronghold outside Jalalabad, nor an extremist madrassa on the outskirts of Karachi. It's a place called Islamberg, a closed and seemingly quiet More..community at the foot of the Catskill Mountains in upstate New York, about three hours north of Manhattan. It's also a compound shrouded in local rumors, mystery — and fear — sitting near the huge reservoir... Liveleak http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2101096/posts#comment Thu, 9 Oct 2008 04:16:40 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2102335/posts Four female employees at the Hawaiian Tropic Zone in New York's Times Square claim widespread sexual harassment at the restaurant escalated into rape and forcible sodomy, the New York Post reports. The women — a former senior manager, a bartender, a hostess and an office assistant — claim their former senior manager, Anthony Rakis, subjected them to months of lewd behavior, according to a $600 million-plus lawsuit filed in Manhattan federal court Tuesday. Rakis, a married, 40-year-old father of two, allegedly was given "full reign" by the Riese Organization — which owns the restaurant — to "sexually assault, molest, batter... Fox News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2102335/posts#comment Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:50:40 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2102315/posts NEW YORK, NY (October 10, 2008) - Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that his office has filed a lawsuit in New York County Supreme Court against Arbitron, the largest media ratings company for the radio market in the United States. The lawsuit accuses Arbitron of deceptively claiming that its Portable People Meter (PPM) system is valid, fair, and representative of diverse radio markets. It also charges Arbitron with failing to disclose important flaws in the PPM methodology to broadcasters, advertisers, shareholders and the public, including serious shortcomings in the accuracy of the new system and its inadequate representation... © 2008 NEW YORK STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL. All rights reserved. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2102315/posts#comment Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:33:41 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2101285/posts The Golden State, which recently scrambled to fill a $15 billion budget gap, still may not be able to meet its payroll without help. California is going to Washington, D.C., to ask for $7 billion to cover its budget shortfall. Otherwise it won't be able to pay for its teachers, cops, firemen, and other essential services. Unfortunately, California won't be alone. A number of other states are experiencing a huge dive in tax revenue and could be going cap in hand to Uncle Sam alarmingly soon. How bad could it get? The potential cost for all the 31 states facing... Business Week/Yahoo http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2101285/posts#comment Thu, 9 Oct 2008 13:07:35 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2101266/posts Many of the 161 blind veterans who live in Orange, Sullivan and Ulster counties have decried the move. Veterans said the small cut won't hurt their wallets much; they'll go on without the five bucks. It's the principle that bothers them, especially during the tenure of Gov. David Paterson, who is legally blind. Times Herald-Record (Middletown, NY ) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2101266/posts#comment Thu, 9 Oct 2008 12:41:45 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2101014/posts 10/09/2008 Straight Talk Town Hall: Thursday October 9, 2008 in Waukesha, WI Please join John McCain & Sarah Palin for a Straight Talk Town Hall on Thursday October 9th in Waukesha, WI. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10/09/2008 Road to Victory Rally with John McCain in Mosinee, WI John McCain will be in Mosinee this Thursday, October 9th. To attend the event, please come in to one of the ticket locations below to get a ticket. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10/09/2008 Road to Victory Rally: Thursday October 9th in Wilmington, OH Please join Governor Sarah Palin for a Road to Victory Rally on Thursday October 9th in... johnmccain http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2101014/posts#comment Thu, 9 Oct 2008 02:04:10 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2100700/posts WASHINGTON Some of John McCain’s friends, from the good old days when he talked straight, feared that his Greek tragedy would be that he would be defeated by George Bush twice: once in 2000, because of W.’s no-conscience campaigning, and again in 2008, because of W.’s no-brains governing. (snip) He unleashed Sarah Palin to slime their opponent and suggested that the Democrat with the foreign-sounding name who came from the Harvard Yard boutique is not on the American side. Campaigning last weekend, Palin cast their Democratic rival as “someone who sees America, it seems, as being so imperfect that he’s... The New York Times Op/Ed http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2100700/posts#comment Wed, 8 Oct 2008 19:07:07 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2100491/posts A public school's decision to fold over a portion of a kindergartner's poster to hide an image of Jesus did not violate the youngster's right to free speech, a federal judge has determined. Antonio Peck's teacher and school principal had "legitimate pedagogical concerns" when deciding to edit the boy's poster for a school display promoting environmental awareness, Northern District of New York Judge Norman A. Mordue ruled in Peck v. Baldwinsville Central School District, 99-cv-1847. Those valid concerns of Antonio's teacher, Susan Weichert, and the principal, Robert Creme, were that parents at the Catherine McNamara Elementary School in Baldwinsville, outside... New York Law Journal http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2100491/posts#comment Wed, 8 Oct 2008 15:24:03 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2100385/posts So, as she readied Apiary for its recent opening there, she and other managers told servers not to sweat that sort of thing. And they made sure the restaurant’s order-tracking software followed suit. So, as she readied Apiary for its recent opening there, she and other managers told servers not to sweat that sort of thing. And they made sure the restaurant’s order-tracking software followed suit. At most upscale restaurants such software lets servers note both the position at a table to which a dish is going and whether the diner is female, so the food’s couriers can plot to... New York Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2100385/posts#comment Wed, 8 Oct 2008 13:36:30 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2100194/posts New York state lawmakers are bracing constituents for a third round of major budget cuts this year, a ripple effect of the crisis on Wall Street. The financial crisis that has felled Wall Street titans is now before Democratic Gov. David Paterson, a new governor who inherited the state's top job when Eliot Spitzer resigned earlier this year in a prostitution scandal. A longtime lawmaker before becoming lieutenant governor, Mr. Paterson must now shepherd the state through its worst financial downturn in years. Mr. Paterson has culled a team of economic experts and sought advice from the likes of Joseph... Wall Street Journal http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2100194/posts#comment Wed, 8 Oct 2008 04:44:17 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2100119/posts Drinking beats smoking, Mayor Bloomberg said Sunday at a beer-soaked street fair in the heart of Germany's capital. After scooping up an anti-smoking award, the mayor bragged that New Yorkers who smoke are now ashamed to huddle outside bars with cigarettes, while non-smokers buy more food and drinks inside. "It turns out that it is economically good for the bar and restaurant business," Bloomberg said. "It's certainly good for everybody except the funeral parlors." The mayor was in Berlin to accept an award from the European Lung Foundation for his anti-smoking crusade. Along with pushing through the smoking ban, Bloomberg... NY Daily sNews http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2100119/posts#comment Wed, 8 Oct 2008 03:06:17 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2099654/posts WATERLOO — Despite an impassioned plea from former village trustee Richard Schreck, the Village Board voted Monday to stop paying health insurance premiums for him and three other former elected officials with 10 or more years service. The payments will stop as of Jan. 1. By a 4-1 vote, the board voted to overturn a 1973 board motion that provided health insurance for life for elected officials who leave with at least 10 years of service. A village board in 1986 voted to stop the practice from that point on. The move affects Schreck; former trustees Steven Craig and Thomas... Finger Lakes1.Com (Waterloo NY) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2099654/posts#comment Tue, 7 Oct 2008 16:22:53 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2099164/posts Univ. of Chicago Press Release, 2002: Obama was a Community Organizer in NY Many researchers and reporters have highlighted Obama’s secrecy about his years at Columbia University in New York City. In our recent article on Obama’s friendship with William Ayers, I wrote: Now the Mainstream Media is onto this story too, and has (finally) noticed that Obama is hiding records from Columbia University, where he completed his undergraduate studies after transferring from Occidental College in California. To be more precise, it’s not just Obama’s academic files that are missing, but more curiously, the files of his life. The Wall... TDBlog http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2099164/posts#comment Tue, 7 Oct 2008 00:59:21 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2099068/posts New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said he intends to sue Arbitron Inc. over the planned rollout of a new electronic radio-ratings system in New York, saying it may drastically reduce advertising revenue at minority radio stations. Wall Street Journal http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2099068/posts#comment Mon, 6 Oct 2008 23:32:08 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2098722/posts MANCHESTER NY— Ontario County sheriff’s deputies said a passing motorist saw someone stealing a McCain for President sign from a yard on North Main Street in the village Sunday night, so the motorist called 911. Deputy Joe Murphy stopped a car — around 8:20 p.m. on Route 96 in Victor — that matched the description given by the caller. He reported finding numerous other signs for McCain and Republican congressional candidate John “Randy” Kuhl — along with some Cub Scout signs — inside in the car driven by Roger B. Wood, 35, of 101 Harper St., Apt. 2, Rochester. Wood... Finger Lakes Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2098722/posts#comment Mon, 6 Oct 2008 16:17:59 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2098401/posts Associated Press ITHACA, N.Y. -- The nine-spotted ladybug was considered so common, charismatic and crop-friendly that it was adopted in 1989 as New York's official state insect. As it turns out, the species may have disappeared from the state nearly two decades before that. Recent surveys in New York and the Northeast have found none of the once-ubiquitous beetles entomologists call Coccinella novemnotata-- or C-9, for short. The decline of C-9 and other native ladybugs happened so quickly and precipitously that scientists have launched a nationwide project to try to understand why some species have all but vanished while others... Washington Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2098401/posts#comment Mon, 6 Oct 2008 03:12:31 GMT