Gates not open yet on forest preserve roads

Outdoor enthusiasts will have to wait a little longer until the gates on all forest preserve access roads are opened.

David Winchell is spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Conservation Region 5 office in Ray Brook. He tells WNBZ the gates are presently closed for mud season and motorized vehicle traffic is prohibited.

"The gates will remain closed until conditions allow for motorized vehicle traffic without any damage to the roads," Winchell said.

Video of U.S. Military killing journalists in Iraq in 2007

After numerous unsuccessful press inquiries and Freedom of Information requests, Wikileaks.com has gotten its hands on a U.S. military video that shows an Army helicopter engaging and killing over a dozen people in Iraq, including 2 Reuters photographers, in 2007.

Before engaging, the Army helicopter crew misidentifies the photographers' cameras as weapons.

Internal U.S. Army investigations have found no wrongdoing by any military personnel involved in the attack.

www.wikileaks.org/

Some of the Iraqis killed alongside the journalists can be clearly seen carrying weapons, but no aggressive posturing is visible in the footage. A van that arrives and attempts to remove the injured is also engaged by the Army Apache crew. Two children were wounded in the attack on the van.

When the children are discovered, the Apache gunner says, "It's their fault for bringing their kids into battle."

Immediately after the incident, U.S. military brass said American ground forces were engaging insurgents at the scene. Reuters is using the footage as evidence that this is not the case.

Reuters is calling for another investigation of the events surrounding the attack.

Wikileaks got its hands on the video through an anonymous source.

This 18 minute video is graphic in nature and includes strong language. It may not be appropriate for all viewers.

FYI, the Apache engages the crowd with a 30 millimeter cannon. For reference purposes, the average deer rifle is 7.62 mm.

Who will run against Gillibrand?

Election season this fall is going to be busy. In New York, candidates are lining up for the gubernatorial race; challengers to Representatives Bill Owens and Scott Murphy are also licking their chops as both Congressmen are up for reelection this November.

But no one seems interested in challenging U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.

Paladino takes a 'Titanic' shot at Cox

Last week, Essex County Republican Committee Chairman Ron Jackson told WNBZ he was completely disgusted with state GOP Chairman Ed Cox. Jackson is openly calling for Cox's resignation.

And Jackson is only one of dozens of Republican officials from across the state angered at Cox at the moment.

What, you might ask, would prompt such intra-party anger towards the state party boss?

Cox has openly endorsed Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy for Governor.

The problem? Levy is a Democrat.

Now, GOP Gubernatorial long shot Carl Paladino has gotten artistic with the rage, distributing this dandy little piece of campaign sniping aimed directly at Cox.

Oh, and GOP nominee-appearent Rick Lazio hasn't stopped throwing haymakers at Cox since he endoresed Levy almost two weeks ago.

Paterson to push back school aid payments until June

Governor David Paterson announced today that he will be pushing back school aid disbursements that were supposed to be distributed tomorrow until June 1.

In December, Paterson got slammed by Superintendents from across the state when he delayed payment of $750 million in school aid until January.

The move could be just another kick in the gut for districts like Tupper Lake, which is quickly running out of cash.

Here's the statement from the Governor's office.

“The only way our State can put its long-term fiscal house in order is through significant, recurring spending reductions. In the short-term, however, plummeting revenues and record deficits have once again forced me to take extraordinary cash-management actions in order to ensure the continued orderly operation of our government. New York State is facing severe cash-flow difficulties at the close of the current fiscal year. This requires immediate action, and as a result, a $2.1 billion School Aid payment originally planned to be made on March 31, 2010 – but not statutorily due until June 1, 2010 – will be made at a later date. The State intends to meet the June 1 statutory deadline for making this payment, assuming sufficient cash is available at that time.

Branch to serve as deputy mayor

We received word this morning that Saranac Lake Village Trustee Jeff Branch has accepted a request from Mayor Clyde Rabideau to serve as deputy mayor.

Earlier this month, Rabideau edged out Branch in the race for mayor. Both candidates have since pledged to work together as new officials prepare to take the oath of office.

In a release issued by Rabideau, the mayor-elect called Branch "an experienced and earnest trustee to whom we will confidently entrust the duties of Deputy Mayor."

Counterfeit state OPRHP press release - Adirondacks closing?

Well this was mailed to us at WNBZ. It's pretty damn funny, but entirely false.

It details a fake plan by Governor David Paterson to save the state parks and historic sites tagged for closure by shuttering the Adirondacks and displacing the locals. They (we) would be given tent cities to use temporarily.

I get the feeling that whoever wrote this thing has more than just a sense of humor, but also a background in PR.

It's worth a read.

OPHP-- Counterfeit press release