STATE BUDGET

The Governor said Sunday the State is at the
point where others went off the cliff and he
plans to use his executive powers to shave
about $1.6- billion from this year's budget.
Paterson said he would re-estimate the cost
of some programs and take money from off
budget accounts. Members of the Assembly
abd Senate begin their fourth week of the
Special Session today. The Senate is said to
be dead-set against cuts to education in the
middle of the school year. Paterson said
Sunday the day of fiscal reckoning could be
just weeks away. He warned of a severe finacial
collapse if the State can't meet it's payroll
and obligations to school districts.

LUMBERJACKS WIN STATE TITLE

The North Tonawanda Lumberjacks won their
first State title Sunday at the Carrier Dome in
Syracuse. They beat New Rochelle 14-7 in the
class AA state final. Running back Joe Montesanti
hit Darrick Bloomfield with a 12 yard touchdown pass
midway through the fourth quarter to earn the win.
The Lumberjacks went 49 yards in six plays on their
first possession.

A-E-S SETTLEMENT NEAR

The Somerset Town Board, the Barker
School District, and the County Legislature
will have meetings tomorrow that could end
the payment-in-lieu-of-taxes dispute with AES.
Town Supervisor Richard Meyers told Greater
Niagara Newspapers last week they expect to
have a deal by December 1. HJe said it's
similiar to one being worked out with the school
district and the County. The Town and the
school district have special meetings set for
Tuesday and the Legislature also has a session.
Chairman Bill Ross said an agreement is not on
the agenda but work is progressing on a
settlement. The controversial pilot was o-k'd by
the IDA in 2006. They are appealing the latest
court decision overturning it to the State's highest
court but their decision may not be announced till
after the first of the year.

SCHUMER TELLS N-B-A TO DROP ADIDAS

Senator Chuck Schumer said Sunday he has asked
NBA Commissioner David Stern to terminate it's
contract with Adidas if they don't scrap plans to
ship their game day jersey production overseas.
The work is currently done by about a hundred
workers at American Classic Outfitters in Perry.
Adidas is planning to move production to Thailand.
Schumer said Adidas made an agreement with the
NBA and American Classic Outfitters to make their
jerseys in the U.S. and if they won't live up to their
committment, then the NBA should not be doing
business with them.

EQUIPMENT PURCHASES

Lawmakers in the Falls are slated to consider
several equipment purchases during tonight's
meeting. One of them is a $675,000 aerial
ladder truck for the Fire Department. It would
come from Empire Emergency Apparatus.
Another is a $319,000 asphalt paver from
Gateway Equipment Corporation. Human
Rights Commission Chairman Bill Bradberry
is slated to give his annual update during the
4pm work session.

MACHETE

A 50 year old Falls man told police he got into
a fight with another man early Sunday at a house
party on 18th Street near Willow. He said the man
left and came back with a machete and tried to
attack him. The victim said he tried to wrestle it
away and got punched in the face. Other party
goers took the weapon away from the man and
he left. About two hours later, a resident in the
600 block of 18th told police he saw the same
man slash one of the tires on his '99 GMC Jimmy
earlier in the evening.

CANAL TRAFFIC UP

The State's Canal System saw a five per cent increase
in traffic this year following last year's 22 per cent drop.
Officials say it's partly due to more than 300 canal related
recreational events held along the waterway ranging from
harbor festivals to free cruises. About 40 events were the
norm just a few years ago. Many other canal systems
around the country are struggling to keep traffic up.

HOUSE FIRE

Nobody was hurt Saturday night in a house fire
around 10:45 at 6421 Riddle Road in Royalton. First responders
from the Rapids Volunteer Fire company found the
14 by 70 foot single family home full of smoke but
everybody had gotten out before they got there.
The blaze was deemed under control and out 47
minutes into the incident. The cause is under
investigation, no damage amount was provided.

ATTEMPTED BURGLARY

Another attempted break-in was reported Friday
at Austin's Pizzeria in Gasport. Matt Austin said
someone tried to pry open a side door between
11pm last Wednesday and 4pm Friday. Deputies
had been called to the State Street pizzeria a few
weeks ago when a similiar break-in was attempted.

U-F-O'S

The man considered the founding father of
UFO research will speak at NCCC Wednesday
night. Ted Phillips is the Director of the
Center for Physical Trace Evidence. He's
collected and analzyed over 3,000 UFO landing
and material evidence cases. He's expected to talk
about his current investigation into a site in the
Midwest called Marley Woods. UFO sightings,
strange light orbs, mystery animal sightings, and
animal mutiliations have been reported and are
now being documented. Phillips will speak at
7pm Wednesday in Room E-142. A $3 donation
will be taken at the door for Niagara Hospice.