Morning News Brief

Governor Kathy Hochul announced Thursday that 475 million dollars in direct payments would be sent out to New Yorkers to fight inflation.  The 1.7 million New Yorkers who received the state’s Empire State Child Credit or Earned Income Credit on their 2021 taxes can expect a check for 270 dollars per person starting near the end of October.  Governor Hochul and members of the state legislature approved the Additional NYS Child and Earned Income Tax Payment as part of the 2023 Enacted Budget.  Eligible New Yorkers do not need to take any action to receive their checks; checks will be mailed automatically.  

Congressman Chris Jacobs has introduced legislation at the federal level to override the Farm Labor Bureau’s overtime threshold decision which would make it so farms have to pay laborers overtime pay after 40 hours instead of 60.  The Protect Local Farms Act, co-sponsored by Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, would mandate that states couldn’t set the overtime threshold lower than 60 hours a week.  Jacobs says that farming is not like other industries with a normal work week and is subject to the whims of weather.  He also says that changing the overtime threshold will cause farms to cut laborers’ hours, leading many to leave the state to seek higher wages elsewhere.

The woman who was arrested after her dog overdosed on narcotics, twice, failed to show at court August 11th and then again on Thursday.  On the 11th Judge Thomas Burns issued a warrant for Cassandra Elmore after a friend called and said she was in the hospital.  They were informed they needed proof and none was given.  The Batavia Police say they never received the warrant and she was never apprehended.  She was to be arraigned Thursday but once again failed to show.  Court clerks said someone claiming to be an attorney in Pennsylvania but not leaving a phone number, address or filing a motion to change Elmore’s court appointed attorney called but the judge did not excuse Elmore from appearing.  Elmore faces three counts of injuring an animal and multiple charges stemming from a traffic stop on the 30th.  The Judge issued an arrest warrant and 2 bench warrants for her arrest.

Flags across the state are at half staff after the death of the Worlds longest reigning monarch.  Queen Elizabeth the Second passed away peacefully Thursday.  She was 96.  Queen Elizabeth reigned for 70 years, appointed 15 Prime Ministers and met 13 of the 14 US presidents who served during her time on the throne.  The money in the UK will continue to have her face on it for the time being but the royal song will be changed to “God Save the King” for King Charles the 3rd who is now the monarch of the United Kingdom.

After an early game with fumbles and interceptions the Bills found their feet and roared ahead to a 31 to 10 victory over the Rams in California Thursday night.  In the first half Josh Allen threw 2 interceptions and rookie James Cook fumbled the ball on his first touch.  In the second half Mackenzie, Allen and Diggs scored touchdowns to win it.  The Bills next game is at home against the Titans on Monday the 19th.