News From Our Neighbors

 


ONTARIO COURT: POLICE CAN SEARCH YOUR CELL PHONE IF IT’S NOT PASSWORD PROTECTED

The Court of Appeal for Ontario says it’s all right for police to have a cursory look through the phone upon arrest if it’s not password protected, but if it is, investigators should get a search warrant.

The court’s ruling comes in the case of a man who appealed his robbery conviction, arguing that police breached his charter rights by looking through his phone after his arrest. Kevin Fearon was arrested in July 2009, after a jewelry stall at a flea market in Toronto was robbed, and police found pictures of a gun and cash as well as a text message about jewelry on his phone.

The Appeal Court denied his appeal, saying that police were allowed to look through Fearon’s phone “in a cursory fashion” to see if there was evidence relevant to the crime, but after that they should have stopped to get a search warrant.

However, the court declined to create a specific new rule for all cell phone searches.

CAPE AIR WILL PROVIDE THREE DAILY ROUND TRIPS TO BOSTON’S LOGAN AIRPORT FROM MASSENA INTERNATIONAL UNTIL 2015

US Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that Cape Air has been selected for a new, two-year contract for service at Massena International Airport, through the federal Essential Air Service program. Cape Air will provide three daily one-stop round trips to Boston Logan International Airport via Albany International Airport starting April 1, 2013, through 2015. Cape Air currently provides such service, and this renewal was not certain. “Having local and affordable air service in your region shouldn’t be a special privilege reserved for a lucky few, and Cape Air’s new contract at Massena International Airport will bring more opportunities for St. Lawrence and North County residents and business people – arriving and leaving the area – to connect to flights across the nation,” Schumer said.

NEW PARTY SHOWS INTEREST IN GM SITE, CLEANUP NEARLY COMPLETED

There is a new party; described as a foreign paper manufacturer, interested in redeveloping the former General Motors Powertrain site said Patricia Spitzley, assistant redevelopment manager for Revitalizing Auto Communities Environmental Response Trust. Further details have not been released. RACER officials have said there are several parties showing interest in the site and they have sat down, or plan to sit down, with businesses from Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto and New Orleans

Cleanup at the GM site is said to be nearly complete. The final excavation of a large concrete slab and removal of PCB-contaminated soil under the former plant is slated to begin this spring. Perras Construction of Massena was contracted for the final phase of the work. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency expects the removal will be completed by November 30th.

LOUISVILLE HAVING TROUBLE SELLING SURPLUS LANDS

For several years, Louisville has been trying to sell several vacant lots turned over to them by the New York Power Authority. Daniel O’Keefe, a member of the town council in Louisville, has recently attempted to sell them on eBay, but has had no luck.

According to the Courier observer, “The two lots on state Route 131 are each 2.8 acres and appraised for $80,000 each. One of the lots on Wilson Hill is 4.8 acres and appraised for $43,000. Two smaller lots that are roughly two acres each are valued at $28,000 and $25,000. Each of the three lots are located just past the causeway.”

The prices, however, are not set and the town is willing to negotiate.

STATE AGENCIES CREATE HOTLINE AND WEBSITE TO HELP PROTECT CONSUMERS FROM POTENTIAL UNFAIR GAS STATION PRACTICES

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that he has directed the New York Department of State and the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets to work together to ensure consumers are protected against potential unfair practices at gasoline pumps as fuel costs rise across the nation. In response, the Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection has launched a toll-free hotline and website for New Yorkers to report suspected price gouging at gas stations.

New Yorkers can now report sudden and unexpected increases in retail gas prices by calling the gas pricing hotline at (800) 214-4372.

In addition, the Division of Consumer Protection has also created an online consumer complaint form, where New Yorkers can report suspected price gouging or concerns about improper delivery of quantity. Consumers who wish to file a complaint can visit http://www.dos.ny.gov/consumerprotection/consumer_resources/gas_gouging.html.                                                                                                                                           

STATEMENT OF ADMINISTRATION POLICY - S. 47 – VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2013

(Sen. Leahy, D-VT, and 61 cosponsors)

February 26, 2013 - The Administration is pleased that the House of Representatives has committed to reauthorizing the landmark Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), but the Administration cannot support the House substitute to S. 47 as currently drafted.

The bill omits crucial provisions that would address the high rates of violence experienced by young women on college campuses. The House bill also would inhibit the successful prosecution by tribal authorities of non-Indian perpetrators of domestic violence.  The proposal as currently drafted would continue to allow for disparate treatment of Indian and non-Indian offenders and fails to adequately address serious criminal violations of domestic violence in Tribal communities.  The Administration urges the House to adopt the Senate language recognizing Tribal criminal jurisdiction in domestic violence cases.   

The Administration is disappointed that the House bill does not require covered housing programs to implement emergency transfer plans for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault and does not explicitly protect LGBT victims of crime from discrimination when they seek services or protections funded by VAWA.  

 The Administration urges the House to fulfill its commitment to reauthorize VAWA by scheduling a vote on the bipartisan version of S. 47 that overwhelmingly passed the Senate and was championed by both Democrats and Republicans.

 

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