(Albany, NY) -- Governor Paterson heads to court today to try and stop state senators from getting paid while their inaction continues to grind Albany to a halt. Paterson is asking a judge if he can legally hold the paychecks of state senators who have been battling over leadership of the Senate chamber for nearly a month now. Paterson also told the "Daily News" that it might be time for Senate Democrats to back rogue Democrat Pedro Espada Jr. for a top position in the chamber. Espada's vote to join the Republican coalition helped begin the Senate stalemate. The state Senate is expected to hold another special session this afternoon.
Two Teens Allegedly Stalked Off Duty Police Officer
Two Ogdensburg teenagers are accused of running a woman off the road early Sunday in the Town of Lisbon. The woman however, was a member of the police department. According to the St. Lawrence County Sheriff's Department, Officer Danielle Pryce was leaving the Ogdensburg Police Department after completing her shift when a vehicle began following her and tried to force her off the road. Pryce pulled over in a driveway and the two teens allegedly approached her in an aggressive manner, when Pryce pulled out her gun and identified herself as a police officer. The two teens fled, but police were able to track them down. They are 17 year old Tanner Lawrence and 17 year old Decodie Adams. Both were charged with reckless endangerment, menacing, attempted assault and other charges. They were arraigned and remanded to the county jail on $5,000 cash bail or $10,000 bond.
9:41 AM
State Senators Hold Another Do-Nothing Session
(Albany, NY) -- The holiday weekend has come and gone and the month-long State Senate power struggle is no closer to being resolved. On Sunday, another unproductive special session was held in Albany. Both Republicans and Democrats gavelled in and gavelled out with the session lasting only three minutes. No bills were passed or discussed. The leadership battle started back on June 8 after Democrats Pedro Espada and Hiram Monserrate sided with Republicans to give the GOP a two-vote majority. Monserrate has since gone back to the Democratic party and that's created a 31-31 stalemate.
State Lawmakers Stay In Albany For Long Fourth Of July Weekend
(New York, NY) -- Governor Paterson again took on the role of mediator in Albany in a closed door meeting with warring Senate leaders. But the hour-long sit down did not produce a deal to end the three-and-a-half-week-long power-struggle over the chamber. The Senate remains evenly divided and gridlocked with each side holding 31-votes. Meanwhile, state Senators will not get paid for attending special sessions this weekend, but they will have time to celebrate the extended Fourth of July weekend. Governor Paterson is scheduling a special session for 11 a.m. on Saturday and a 6 p.m. session on Sunday.
8:58 AM
Lewis County Crash Injures Five
An early morning, single vehicle crash in Lewis County sent five passengers to a Utica hospital and resulted in several charges against the driver. The charges against 22-year-old Adam R. Little of Rome include driving while intoxicated.
Deputies investigating the 1:30 a.m. crash on the South Shore Road in the Town of Greig say both speed an alcohol were factors in the mishap. Little lost control of the 2004 Nissan Pathfinder he was operating, went off the road and hit a tree.
Little was arraigned in Town of Greig Court and was released on his own recognizance.
Little was not injured. The five passengers suffered minor injuries.
8:55 AM
Tea Party in Jefferson County
Organizers are hoping for a large turn-out at a tea party in Jefferson County today. The anti-tax tea party at Iron Block Harley Davidson in Adams Center will protest the Obama administration's agenda on health care, energy and the environment and celebrate the founding of the USA.
The owner of the dealership, Erik Dunk, is an outspoken opponent of the Obama administration's policies. He was recently forced to remove controversial anti-Obama messages from an electronic sign facing Interstate 81 at his business.
Similar tea parties are scheduled for numerous locations around the country.
8:53 AM
Fireworks Across NNY
As usual, many communities throughout Northern New York are celebrating the nation's 233rd birthday this weekend with fireworks displays...The show in Clayton last night had to be cancelled due to the rainy weather but Mother Nature is expected to cooperate tonight for shows scheduled in Sackets Harbor here in Jefferson County, in Norwood in St. Lawrence County and at Adirondack Speedway in Lewis County.
Sunday night fireworks are scheduled for Alexandria Bay, Gouverneur, and Oswego.
Monday night the Syracuse Symphony will be at Thompson Park for Watertown's Independence Day celebration. That show, originally scheduled for Thursday night, had to be rescheduled due to rainy weather.
