Morning News Briefing

Gov. Andrew Cuomo

Cuomo signs Red Flag Bill aimed at the mentally ill.
According to a new law in New York State, residents who are considered mentally ill by a judge can now have their second amendment rights taken away.
Governor Cuomo signed the Red Flag Bill yesterday which allows teachers and family members who suspect someone poses harm to report it to a judge.
The judge can then evaluate and determine whether the person’s guns should be confiscated.

The governor pointed to several school shootings where teachers say there were signs prior to the shooting that the shooter may have posed a risk.
Opponents to the bill argue that the legislation will allow people to easily strip gun owners of their rights.

Batavia City Council was embroiled in another emotion filled evening as the abortion issue continued to be debated at their Monday night meeting.
Seventeen speakers made public comments to council before they proceeded with their conference meeting, fifteen staunchly anti-abortion and two Pro-Choice.
Council ultimately decided by an 8 to 1 vote not to consider a resolution drafted by Council member Rose Mary Christian opposing the recently-passed New York Reproductive Health Act.
Christian cast the only vote to move the resolution to the board’s next Business meeting.
A visibly disappointed majority of the 125 people in attendance in council chambers began to file out after several people were kicked out for speaking out of turn.

National grid has been diligent with repairs and response due to the high winds that damaged power lines in the area.
Currently there are less than 5 customers still waiting for power restoration in Batavia with the remainder of the county back online.

A bill that could lead to a ban on the sale of tobacco products at pharmacies will start making its way through the state legislature this week.
Supporters say it’d be a big step towards limiting exposure to those products which have been known to cause serious health problems.
Data shows 25-thousand New Yorkers die from tobacco-related issues each year.
If approved, pharmacies would have one year to follow the ban or face a two-thousand dollar fine for each violation.

State lawmakers will be back in Albany after having the last several days off.
Their focus is expected to be on passing the state budget which is due in a few weeks.
One item that won’t be in the fiscal plan is a proposed ban on stretch limousines.
Governor Cuomo pitched the idea during his budget address in response to a deadly limo crash in Schoharie that killed 20 people.
Limo companies hit back at the governor after he announced the measure, arguing that it would cripple business