Indian Time - A Voice from the Eastern Door

Massena police getting reports of discarded hypodermic needles

NorthCountyNow -- MASSENA -- Citizens are reporting to police finding hypodermic needles discarded in public places. So far in April, Chief Timmy Currier said, police responded to 11 incidents where someone found hypodermic needles improperly discarded. There is no pattern with respect to location. Needles have been found along Dodge Street, Bowers Street, Somerset Street, Woodlawn Avenue, Highland Avenue, Main Street, Jefferson Avenue, North Main Street, Maple Street, Center Street, and in Springs Park.

Chief Currier said if you come upon a hypodermic needle, if you do not have training in the proper handling of them do not handle it. Call the police station at 769-3577 and report it. If possible wait at the location so you can direct officers to it, and keep others away from it.

Governor announces cooling assistance to help individuals with heat-related health issues

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that $3 million is being made available to provide air conditioners to eligible low-income New Yorkers with documented medical conditions that are exacerbated by extreme heat. The Cooling Assistance Component of the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance’s Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) will begin May 1.

OTDA has set aside $3 million in HEAP funding to provide air conditioning units to eligible households statewide. To qualify, households must meet 2013-14 HEAP income guidelines and have a household member that suffers from a documented medical condition exacerbated by extreme heat. Written documentation from a physician, physician’s assistant or nurse practitioner clearly indicating the need for an air conditioner is required and must be dated within the previous 12 months.

HEAP cooling assistance is provided on a first-come, first-served basis beginning May 1. Local departments of social services will be accepting applications for assistance.

First increase in tuition assistance program in 14 years

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that for the first time in 14 years, New York State will increase funding for the maximum Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) award. With this increase, New York State has allocated more than $1 billion for grants and scholarships for New York students who pursue higher education at a public or independent college or university in the State. Last year, TAP served nearly 400,000 students across the State.

The maximum TAP award is now $5,165, available to New York State residents who attend any public or private college or university in the State. This represents a $165 increase in the maximum award, from $5,000 per student since 2000.

Additionally, students who qualify as an orphan, foster child or ward of the court for the purposes of federal student financial aid programs will now be considered dependent students for the purpose of determining their TAP awards, making them eligible for the maximum award. This means some of the highest-need students will receive an additional $2,140 per year.

In 2012-2013, more than 372,000 New Yorkers attending college were awarded $931 million in TAP funds to help pay their college tuition costs, averaging $3,049 per student. To learn more about New York’s Tuition Assistance Program and other scholarships, grants and loan forgiveness programs offered by the State, visit the HESC website at HESC.ny.gov.

Statement by US Labor Secretary Perez on Senate’s minimum wage vote

WASHINGTON –U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez released the following statement after the Senate’s vote on the Harkin-Reid-Merkley legislation that would have raised the federal minimum wage to $10.10 per hour:

“Today, a minority of U.S. senators blocked a minimum wage increase that a strong majority of the American people supports. In so doing, they have rejected a long bipartisan tradition of rewarding hard work with a fair wage.”

“No one who works full time in the United States should have to raise their family in poverty. But that is exactly the situation for millions of people barely surviving on as little as $7.25 per hour. Life is a daily struggle for these workers who want nothing more than the dignity of a paycheck that can support their families. Too many of them are forced to rely on public assistance just to get by.”

“Raising the federal minimum wage to $10.10 per hour would benefit 28 million workers.”

“On behalf of minimum wage workers in their states, I hope that senators who opposed moving forward on this bill will reconsider their position.”