This year’s cold in Oswego is not only breaking records, but apparently water lines as well.
Mayor Thomas W. Gillen said the below zero temperatures have caused water lines in some neighborhoods to freeze, leaving the residents of those areas without water.
“It’s possible people will be without utilities, specifically water, for an extended period of time, potentially for several days,” the mayor said.
Oswego is currently working with the American Red Cross of Central New York to house impacted people in Laker Hall, a building on the SUNY Oswego Campus.
Mayor Gillen declared a state of emergency in the city to address the situation as quickly as possible.
He advises all residents to check on their neighbors, especially the elderly or disabled, to make sure they are okay.
If you know anyone who needs help, call 911, or (315) 343-1212 for other assistance.
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Governor Cuomo announces budget for energy efficiency plan
By Chelsey Moore
Oswego, NY- A new plan is in motion to help make the state of New York more energy efficient. Governor Andrew Cuomo announced early Tuesday that twelve million dollars will be used to enhance energy efficiency in industrial and multi-family buildings. This plan coincides with the real time energy management initiative launched last year.
Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Real Time Energy Management Initiative was first launched last year with the goal of improving efficiency in commercial buildings, including office buildings, hotels, universities, hospitals and retail stores. This energy management system continuously monitors the energy use of different buildings through sensors meters and other equipment. These systems can pinpoint a building’s operational inefficiencies and help to identify conservation measures and help justify capital improvements.
This initiative is crucial to the success of Governor Cuomo’s plan to enhance the state’s overall energy efficiency because about 60-percent of greenhouse gas emissions in New York come from buildings.
According to Governor Como, the state will continue to invest in “state-of-the-art clean energy solutions to create a greener, more sustainable future for all.”
For more information, go to http://www.ny.gov/.
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Tuesday 3/21 Nightly News
New online security precautions coming to SUNY Oswego; a long-running art show returns to campus; Governor Hochul’s talks with Syracuse officials about major housing projects. These stories and more, at the link here.
Anchors: Jacquelyn Driggs, Kyle Spisak
Weather: Jordan Thirlwall
Sports Anchor: Thomas Turgeon
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New York: The First Tuition Free State in the Nation
by Stefanie Sciolaro
OSWEGO, NY- – On April 8th, Governor Cuomo announced that all public 2 and 4 year universities in the state of New York will offer a tuition free scholarship. The Excelsior Scholarship will allow middle class families, who qualify, to be exempt from paying for college tuition.
In order to qualify, a family’s adjusted gross income must be under $100,000 in 2017. By 2018 that number will go up to $110,000, and by 2019 the amount will increase to $125,000. These incomes will include all student, parent, or spouse incomes within the family.
Students must be enrolled full-time, already have 30 college credits, and continue to complete 30 credits per year, which includes summer sessions, while in college. Transfer students will be eligible if they, or once, they’ve met the 30 credit requirement. If the student loses the scholarship, for now, they will be unable to regain it, though there is an appeal process being put in place.
Once students who are receiving the scholarship graduate, they will be required to stay New York residents for the same amount of time they had received the scholarship in college. Christopher Britts, an education major at SUNY Oswego, is apprehensive of where the state’s getting the money to fund this and what the resident restriction entitles.
“Are my taxes or other college expenses going to go up?… Will they decrease the PELL or TAP grants we get? Because if so and I don’t qualify where does that leave me?… What if I get a job in Cali or Jersey, I have to say no? If so, I’d rather have the loans, then at least I’m free.” says Christopher.
Graduate students are not eligible for the scholarship, nor are students who have already completed an undergraduate degree and are pursuing a second.
Families will still be responsible for other expenses such as room and board, meal plans, and books, but the hope is for the Excelsior Scholarship to help relieve some of the burdens that families face in trying to pay for student’s college education. Financial aid will not be effected if a student receives the scholarship.
Christopher is also a team leader for Mentor Scholar, an after school program helping children with homework, and says this scholarship is good for younger children as well.
“Yes the scholarship needs adjustments and clarification but it really does give them a future to look forward to. Many of these kids come from low income families who before now, college was probably never an option…well now it is. As a future educator and current college student thats a beautiful thing to see.” Chris said.
This scholarship will go into effect and be available to students for the Fall 2017 semester. For more on the Excelsior Scholarship visit http://www.ny.gov, for SUNY (State University of New York) information visit https://www.suny.edu, and for CUNY (City University of New York) information visit http://www2.cuny.edu.
