Morning News Briefing
Written by Michael Baldwin on June 30, 2021
The Batavia City Board of Education will act on seven resignations when it meets for its reorganizational meeting Thursday evening. Leaving…a Special Education Teacher, a Teacher Aide, a Data Processing Clerk and others. Board committee assignments and building assignments will also be made.
The New York State Department of Health will temporarily increase the Women, Infants and Children’s nutrition program’s fruit and vegetable benefit through the American Rescue Plan. For the next four months, WIC participants will now receive $35 per month for fruits and vegetables instead of $9 or $11. The goal of the program is to increase the nutritional quality of WIC-approved foods and reduce the prevalence of childhood obesity. New York State began implementing the increase June 1 and will continue until September 30.
Industrial Development Agencies (IDAs) reported 4,320 active projects valued at $109 billion for 2019, a 3.3 percent, or $3.5 billion, increase in project values from 2018, while net tax exemptions totaled $796 million in 2019, compared to nearly $784 million in 2018. Project values have increased by 48 percent since 2009, while the number of active projects has declined by six percent over the same period, according to a report released today by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.
Empire Access announced today that it has been named fastest Internet provider in the United States for 2021 by PC Mag, beating out national and regional Internet providers. Empire Access is a fast-growing fiber optic telecommunications service provider, offering high-speed Internet, digital television, phone and security services to homes and businesses – all enabled by Fiber Optic technology – to over 25 communities in Upstate New York and Northern Pennsylvania. After starting with one telephone line in Steuben County, NY, Empire Access has grown significantly as a family-owned, locally based communications provider.
Congressman Chris Jacobs is joining members of the Republican Study Committee and Texas Governor Greg Abbott for a trip today to the Southern Border with Former President Trump. Jacobs will be traveling to McAllen, Texas in the Rio Grande Valley sector. This sector is consistently considered the epicenter for illegal entries, in part due to the intense terrain and dense forest cover.
On Thursday the Genesee Country Farmers Market starts a new program called Double Up Food Bucks. Spend up to $20 in SNAP — Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — and receive $20 matching funds. SNAP is accepted at the market. Redeem for tokens at the market kiosk. The Farmers Market at Bank Street and Alva Place downtown is open Tuesdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursdays 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Fridays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
New York state is now accepting applications for $2.7 billion in funding for income-eligible renters who fell behind on rent or utility payments during the COVID-19 pandemic. National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation (National Fuel) is encouraging all eligible customers to apply for up to 12 months in back rent and up to three months of future rent payments, as well as up to 12 months of overdue gas bill payments. The Emergency Rental Assistance Program or ERAP is funded largely by the most recent federal stimulus package and provides the money directly to landlords and utility companies on the renter’s behalf.
