Daily News Feeds

Support NCG
Shop Amazon This Page


Subscribe To Our New Members Only Area Today!

Gain Access To:

Featured And Investigative Reports Editorials and Commentary
Daily News Digest

Log In To Members Area

Subscription FAQ


Special Trial Offer
$2.95 - 30 day Trial Subscription


Help Keep The North
Country Gazette On The Web!
Click Here To See How
YOU Can Help!



COMING SOON !!
Culture of Corruption:
The Schiavo Story
Click Here For Details

â–ª Comments, News tips and feedback on our stories.


 


 


 


 


Contact us here for details






iPower
â–ª NYS Health Proxy Law (PDF)
.
â–ª NYS Living Will Law (PDF)
.










Site Tools

.
.



Terms Of Service

Privacy Policy





Google


Sitemap | Editorials | Letters To The Editor | Perspectives

New Book "Tangled Web" Chronicles Schiavo Case

What a tangled web they weave when first they practice to deceive.

It's a case built on lies and self-serving hearsay.

It's a case built on egregious violations of law and our Constitution.

It's a case overflowing with criminal wrongdoing.

It's a case built by the perpetuation of one wrong legal decision based on inadmissible evidence.

It's a case of raping the public trust.

It's judicial tyranny at its worst.

That is the Terri Schindler-Schiavo case.

Investigative journalist June Maxam, publisher of The North Country Gazette, has written and published over 500 articles relating to the legal, judicial, moral and ethical issues of the Terri Schindler-Schiavo case, the brain damaged Florida woman who was ordered to die by the judicial decree of a Florida probate court judge.

READ MORE

Trooper Brinkerhoff Killed By Stray State Police Bullet

MARGARETVILLE---The bullet that killed Trooper David Brinkerhoff of Coxsackie Wednesday morning as he and seven members of the State Police's elite Mobile Response Team searched a farmhouse for a suspect in the shooting of another state trooper likely came from the weapon of a another state trooper.

READ MORE

Police: Woman Made False Report During Manhunt

SYDNEY---A woman who State Police say made a false report during the manhunt for Travis Trim in Delaware County, wanted for shooting a state trooper, has been arrested.

READ MORE

Menu Sues ChemNutra, Pork Supply In Jeopardy, More Recalls

As the pet food recall reaches it's six week anniversary, there have been nine more recalls in the past 24 hours, Menu Foods and ChemNutra are pointing the finger of blame at each other, the federal government has quarantined more than 6,000 hogs on farms in eight states and pet owners across the country are readying to participate in the nationwide march for pets organized by Pets Need A Voice Too to be held Saturday, April 28 in numerous cities.

READ MORE

Court Reinstates Lawyer's Charges For Sex Communications

ALBANY---Holding that it was clear that state legislators intended to criminalize the activities of adults who engage minors in "sexually infused communication", the state's highest court has reinstated the conviction of disbarred Manhattan lawyer Jeffrey Koslow for sending indecent text messages and e-mails to an undercover investigator he thought was a teenage boy.

READ MORE

My Pet Counts! Post Card Blitz

If you want your pet's death or illness to count for something good, please join the My Pet Counts! post card blitz.

Anyone who has lost a pet due to contaminated pet food or had a pet become ill is encouraged to participate. Post cards may have a picture of your pet, or can be blank. You can purchase postcards or design your own. Each set of postcards represents one pet.

READ MORE

Teacher Faces New Charges of Sexually Abusing Students

QUEENS--A former biology teacher at Cathedral High School in Manhattan, accused last month of sexually assaulting two underage students in Queens, has been charged with raping and sexually molesting three other underage high school students on five separate occasions in the Flushing and Long Island City sections of Queens.

READ MORE

State Banking VIPs Plead In Check Cashing Scam

MANHATTAN---Three individuals and five companies have pleaded guilty to their roles in corruption-related charges involving former New York State Banking Department officials and C.L.B. Check Cashing, Inc. of Springfield Gardens, one of the largest check cashing companies in New York State.

READ MORE

DA: Charity Group's Bookkeeper Stole From Agency

WHITE PLAINS---The bookkeeper for the Westchester Foundation For Autism is accused of stealing from the non-profit agency.

Claudia Gomez, 43, of Windsor Terrace, White Plains, has been charged with third degree grand larceny.

READ MORE

Assembly Package Targets Gun Violence

ALBANY---The state Assembly has approved a nine-bill package aimed at reducing the number of illegal guns, protecting victims of domestic violence and safeguarding children from firearms by ensuring that weapons are stored safely.

READ MORE

Ex-Pinellas Cop Jailed For Civil Rights Violation

PINELLAS COUNTY, FLA---Richard G. Farnham, a former Pinellas County deputy sheriff, has been sentenced to a year in federal prison and a year of supervised release for violating the federally protected civil rights of a man while Farnham was on storm patrol in the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan. Farnham was also ordered to pay $2,300 in restitution to the victim.

READ MORE

Warren County GOP: No Endorsement For Sheriff

GLENS FALLS---For the first time in memory, the Warren County Republican Committee failed to endorse a candidate for sheriff at their meeting Thursday night, setting up what is sure to be a heated Primary on Sept. 11 and an ever increasing likelihood that Warren County will have a new sheriff come Jan. 1.

READ MORE

Commentary - Warren County's Unequal Protection Threat To Society

There's a Constitutional guarantee embodied in the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution which states in relevant part that "no state shall...deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of laws". The essential purpose of this constitutional doctrine is to ensure that the laws and the government treat all persons alike...including those people in Warren County.

Last we knew, the U.S. Constitution was the Supreme Law of the land, including Warren County and in that he claims to be Warren County Sheriff, Larry Cleveland must treat all persons equally, he cannot deny police protection to a chosen few for retaliatory reasons or pure vindictiveness.

READ MORE

Charred Body Identified As Cop Killer Suspect

MARGARETVILLE---The body recovered early Thursday morning from a Delaware County farmhouse that burned Wednesday night during a state police manhunt has been identified as Travis Trim, the man who police believe is responsible for shooting three state troopers.

The hunt for Trim, 23, of St. Lawrence County, started after Trooper Matthew Gombosi was shot in the chest Tuesday during a traffic stop in the Margaretville area in the Catskills. Gombosi was saved from serious injury by his body armor, treated and released from the hospital.

READ MORE

Inside The First Amendment - A Right For One Is A Right For All
By Charles C. Haynes

In theory, the government treats all religions equally in America. In practice, however, some religions are more equal than others.

But two victories by minority religious groups this month are small but significant steps toward leveling the religious-liberty playing field as promised in the First Amendment.

READ MORE

Judge, Prosecutor Admit To Sex In Chambers

CASTLE ROCK, COLO-A Douglas County judge and prosecutor were making fireworks of their own at the courthouse during the last July 4 holiday, admitting to having had sex in the judge's chambers.

READ MORE

Spitzer Proposes Court Reform

ALBANY---Reforms to modernize the state's unwieldy court system, significantly limit the influence of money and closed-door politics in the selection of state court judges, and enact a long-overdue salary boost for state judges is being proposed by Gov. Eliot Spitzer.

READ MORE

CS Stars Settles For Loss Of Consumer Data

ALBANY---The state Attorney General's office has announced the first settlement under New York's Information Security Breach and Notification Law.

CS Stars LLC, a Chicago-based claims management company, failed to notify the owner of computerized data and approximately 540,000 New York consumers that their personal information was at risk for seven weeks. The company has agreed to implement precautionary procedures and comply with New York's notification law in the event of a security breach.

READ MORE

Pigs Fed Contaminated Feed Euthanized, More Pet Food Recalls

WASHINGTON---The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration notified State authorities Thursday that swine fed adulterated product will not be approved to enter the food supply. Based on information currently available, FDA and USDA believe the likelihood of illness after eating pork from swine fed the adulterated product would be very low; however, the agencies believe it is prudent to take this measure.

READ MORE

Anna Nicole Judge Pleads Not Guilty To Pot Possession

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA---A judge who had a role in the Anna Nicole Smith case has filed a written plea of not guilty after being cited for smoking marijuana in a city park last month.

READ MORE

NYS Trooper Dies, House Involved in Manhunt Burns

MARGARETVILLE-One state trooper was shot to death Wednesday morning and another one wounded in Delaware County as police surrounded a house near Arkville, searching for a suspect involved in the shooting of a third trooper which occurred Tuesday during a traffic stop.

READ MORE

Police: Letter Threatened Prom Goers With Virginia Tech Fate

QUEENS---A 17-year-old student at Middle College High School in Long Island City has been arraigned on charges of writing a threatening letter that warned students and faculty that those attending the senior prom would share a fate similar to that which occurred at Virginia Tech earlier this month.

READ MORE

Three Counties Get Federal Disaster Aid After Nor'Easter

ALBANY--- President Bush has approved New York State's request and has issued a major disaster declaration, making federal recovery assistance available to homeowners, renters and small businesses in Westchester, Rockland and Orange counties following last weekend's devastating spring storm.

READ MORE

Legislature Considers Measures To Protect Crime Victims

ALBANY-In observance of National Crime Victims' Rights Week, members of the New York State Senate Majority Conference have passed a comprehensive package of legislation aimed at protecting victims of domestic violence while the Assembly says it will consider a series of measures designed to give crime victims improved treatment and services.

READ MORE

Brooklyn Lawmaker Faces DWI, Speeding Charges

ALBANY---A Brooklyn Assemblyman and Baptist minister who is the executive pastor of the First Baptist Church in Crown Heights was arrested about 1:45 a.m. Wednesday on Central Ave. in Albany and charged with driving while intoxicated and speeding.

READ MORE

Senate Pushing For Reinstatement Of Death Penalty

ALBANY---With four police officers shot in New York in the last two weeks, including three in the last 24 hours, Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno and members of the Senate Majority Conference called on Governor Spitzer Wednesday to push the State Assembly to pass legislation that would enact the death penalty for people who kill police officers and a bill that would reinstate New York's death penalty law.

READ MORE

Op-Ed - California Dreaming
By Karen Ward, RN

I recently received an article from a nursing colleague that briefly compared some parts of Oregon's physician assisted suicide law with California's proposal to enact assisted suicide defined as compassionate choices. The comparison was in a Bay area newspaper compiled by Steve Geissinger.

READ MORE

Albany Principal Busted For Shuffling Funds

ALBANY---The principal of the Albany City School District's Abrookin Vocational Tech Center will return to Albany County Court on April 30 after being accused of stealing about $40,000 from the Rensselaerville Library where he is a member of the board of trustees.

READ MORE

Brain Injury Survivor Honored For Disability Advocacy

LEWIS---A traumatic brain injury survivor who advocates for disabled individuals in the North Country was honored Tuesday in the New York State Senate.

Sandra Shampang of Lewis was recognized by Senator Betty Little (R,C,I-Queensbury) with the New York State Senate Achievers Award during a Disabilities Awareness Day ceremony in Albany.

READ MORE

Senate Votes To Give Boot Camp Teen's Family $4.8 Million

TALLAHASSEE-Although a pair of special masters had recommended to the Florida State Legislature that the claim of a family of a teenager who died last year at the hands of guards of a state-operated boot camp should be cut in half, a state Senate committee refused to accept the recommendation.

READ MORE

Florida's Ex-Corrections Chief Jailed For Kickback Scheme

JACKSONVILLE, FLA---James. V. Crosby Jr., the former secretary of the Florida Department of Corrections, has been sentenced to eight years in federal prison for accepting approximately $135,000 in kickbacks related to the execution of a state contract.

READ MORE

Florida's GAL Program For Children Gets Failing Grade

Florida received a failing grade but New York State earned an A. Nearly half of U.S. states fail to provide legal representation for abused and neglected foster children, leaving them without a voice during judicial proceedings that profoundly impact their futures, a new study has found.

READ MORE

Commentary - Ex-Sheriff Lamy Behind the Scenes, New Website Debuts

As the campaign for the office of Warren County Sheriff begins to gain steam with endorsements piling up for his opponent, Sheriff Larry Cleveland has shifted into the attack mode and there are already allegations of him utilizing department lieutenants and sergeants in an attempt to intimidate other members of the department who do not support Cleveland's reelection.

READ MORE

Commentary - Sexual Predators And Judicial Whistleblowers

CLEVELAND, OHIO--Cuyahoga County prosecutor Daniel Kasaris and North Carolina prosecutor Mike Nifong have a lot in common.

And visiting judge Ronald Bowman, sitting in Erie County Common Pleas Court, seems to be more concerned about judicial whistleblowers than he is to cops who sexually molest young girls. Heaven forbid that someone should make a complaint about governmental corruption.

READ MORE

Pork Contamination Spreads, FDA Widens Human Food Inspection

Consumers may want to steer away from eating pork after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Tuesday that hog farms in at least five states, including New York, have been quarantined amid concerns that hog feed at those farms have been contaminated with melamine. Thousands of hogs could have been affected.

READ MORE

DA: Contractor, Wife Stole From Homeowners

SUFFOLK COUNTY---A Poquott contractor and his wife face grand larceny and other charges for allegedly stealing money from homeowners who hired their company, Long Island Custom Builders, for home improvements.

READ MORE

Man Sentenced For Attempted Arson Of Home For Sex Offenders

SUFFOLK COUNTY---The Mastic man arrested last year for planning to burn down a local house that served as a residence for registered sex offenders has been sentenced to seven years in prison.

READ MORE

HealthSouth Founder Settles SEC Fraud Action For $81 Million

BIRMINGHAM, ALA---In one of the largest settlements against an individual by the Securities and Exchange Commission, fired HealthSouth Corp. CEO Richard Scrushy agreed to pay $81 million in order to end settle the lawsuit brought against him by the SEC.

READ MORE

Two Pet Food Manufacturers Still Mum On Potential Contamination

WASHINGTON----The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday that it's investigation into contaminated pet food and the possible adulteration of food for human consumption is continuing.

READ MORE

DOH Approves Albany County Nursing Home Plan

ALBANY---A plan by Albany County designed to improve nursing home care in accordance with recommendations of the New York State Commission on Health Care Facilities in the 21st Century, also known as the Berger Commission, has been approved by the state Department of Health.

READ MORE

Wiccan Symbol Allowed On Headstones of Deceased Veterans

WASHINGTON---The Department of Veterans Affairs has agreed to allow family members to include a Wiccan symbol on the headstones of deceased veterans.

The reversal of their previous denial came after separate lawsuits were filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

READ MORE

More Schools Settle In College Loan Probe

ALBANY---The first multi-state settlements in the state Attorney General's nationwide student loan investigation have been announced with Washington University in St. Louis in addition to DeVry University and Career Education Corporation, two for profit post-secondary institutions.

READ MORE

Cop Accused Of Sex Act With Teen Boy

SCOTIA---A Scotia police officer has been placed on unpaid suspension after being charged with having sexual contact with a 16-year-old boy.

READ MORE

Girls Gone Wild CEO Sentenced To 35 Days For Contempt

PANAMA CITY, FLA---Joey goes to jail could be the next title for a "Girls Gone Wild" video after the producer of films featuring topless women pleaded guilty to contempt of court Monday and was sentenced to 35 days in jail.

READ MORE

Cops: "Captain America" Groped Women With Burrito

MELBOURNE, FLA---Sporting a burrito in his tights, "Captain America" was busted Saturday night and charged with sexually assaulting a woman during a costume party.

READ MORE

Commentary - Coping With Sheriffs and Skunks

The intimidation tactics have begun. Warren County Sheriff Larry J. Cleveland is in the attack mode.

Cleveland is kind of like a skunk.

READ MORE

Citizens Bank VP Accused Of Stealing Charity Funds

ALBANY---The vice president of communications for Citizens Bank of Albany has been indicted on charges of embezzling funds earmarked for community donations.

READ MORE

Police: State Employee Embezzled Council Funds

ALBANY---An employee in the Governor's Office of Employee Relations is facing charges that she embezzled more than $50,000 from an organization for which she served as treasurer.

READ MORE

Florida AG Suing Gift Of Life For False Claims

TALLAHASSEE, FL - The Florida Attorney General's office has filed suit against a Pinellas County medical services provider for submitting false claims to the Florida Medicaid program.

READ MORE

Gator Aid

HUNTINGTON---A week ago New Yorkers were bearing the brunt of a spring Nor'easter which wreaked havoc from New York City into the Adirondacks.

What a difference a week makes as this weekend, it wasn't only New Yorkers who were basking in 70 to 80 degree temperatures under sunny skies.

READ MORE

Safe Child Program Expanding

ALBANY---Every county in New York State reported at least one missing child last year -- except for Hamilton County -- and 27 counties recorded an increase in missing children reports from 2005, according to a new report issued by the Division of Criminal Justice Services.

READ MORE

Commentary - Judge Krogmann: Candidate For Recusal, Oblivious To Ethics

WARREN COUNTY---If one does a Google search for David B. Krogmann, three of the first 10 listings associate Krogmann with North Country Gazette publisher June Maxam.

The Google search also informs us that Krogmann is the president of the Warren County Bar Foundation of which Cathi Radner of Miller, Mannix, Schachner and Hafner is secretary. How cozy. Radner and Miller. Mannix are currently involved in the federal 1983 claim Maxam has against the county which involves the actions of Krogmann and the county against her.

READ MORE

Quest CEO Nacchio Guilty Of Insider Trading

WASHINGTON---A federal jury has found Joseph P. Nacchio, the former chief executive officer of Qwest Communications International Inc., guilty of insider trading charges.

READ MORE

Deadbeat Dad Gets Prison on Child Support Charges

BRONX---An Indiana man has been sentenced to 41 months in federal prison following his conviction after trial for failure to pay child support for twin girls born in the Bronx in 1989.

READ MORE

Sex Charges Net "Hot Stuff" Editor Six Year Prison Term

MANHATTAN-The former "Hot Stuff" editor of U.S. Weekly Magazine lost his sizzle last week after being sentenced in Manhattan federal court to 72 months in prison for the attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity.

READ MORE

Mets Fan Charged With Intentionally Blinding Braves' Players

QUEENS----A 40-year-old Bronx man sitting behind home plate at last night's New York Mets-Atlanta Braves game at Shea Stadium has been charged with temporarily blinding Atlanta's pitcher and shortstop as they were on the field in the eighth inning by flashing a high-powered flashlight into their eyes.

READ MORE

Commentary - Schiavo Figures Don't Add Up

When one takes a look at Michael Schiavo and statements that he makes, a lot of things don't add up.

Over the years, he's told a lot of different stories about what he claims happened the night of Feb. 25, 1990, when his wife, Terri Schindler Schiavo, inexplicably collapsed, suffering brain damage from a deprivation of oxygen.

READ MORE

More Dry Pet Food Recalled, Human Food Supply At Risk

More tainted pet food products surface in the United States and concerns are escalating that the contamination may have been deliberate by Chinese suppliers.

The possibility exists that the human food supply could be at risk because melamine, the same contaminant found in the nation's pet food supply which has killed and sickened thousands of cats and dogs, has now been found in pigs meant for human consumption at a 1500-animal facility in California.

READ MORE

AG Files Against Drexel University In Student Loan Probe

ALBANY---The state Attorney General's office has filed its first legal action against a school in its nationwide student loan investigation.

AG Andrew Cuomo announced a notice of intent to sue Drexel University in Pennsylvania over its revenue sharing agreements with Education Finance Partners. This week, Education Finance Partners (EFP) agreed to Cuomo's College Loan Code of Conduct and would end revenue sharing agreements.

READ MORE

Ex-Judge Convicted Of Bribery For Fixing Divorce Cases

BROOKLYN---Former Brooklyn Supreme Court Judge Gerald P. Garson faces up to 15 years in prison after being convicted Thursday of third degree bribery for fixing divorce cases and two counts of receiving rewards for official misconduct, all felonies.

READ MORE

Ex-Assemblyman Gets Prison For Extorting Judicial Candidate

BROOKLYN--Former Democratic Assemblyman Clarence Norman, Jr. has been sentenced to one to three years in prison for extorting money from a judicial candidate in 2002.

READ MORE

Nursing Home Horror: The Dark Side Of Fraud

ST. LOUIS---The 88-year-old woman at Claywest House nursing home near St. Louis was totally reliant on staff for her care. There was nothing she could do about the ants crawling all over her. Or the waste she helplessly waited in during the weeks leading up to her death.

READ MORE

Texas Toddler Gets Another Reprieve Under Futile Care Law

AUSTIN, TEX---There's been yet another reprieve in the death sentence of 17-month old Emilio Gonzales who has been sentenced to die under the state's Futile Care Law by Children's Hospital, operated by the Seton Family of Hospitals.

READ MORE

Ethan Allen Tragedy Prompts Senate To Pass Boat Bill

LAKE GEORGE---Although so far there's no companion bill in the state Assembly which would be needed before the bill could become a law, the Senate has approved a bill reintroduced by Sen. Betty Little (R-Queensbury) which would strengthen the state laws that regulates tour boats and other public vessels.

READ MORE

Warren County PBA Endorses York For Sheriff

QUEENSBURY--The Police Benevolent Association of the Warren County Sheriff's Department gave Sheriff Larry Cleveland a resounding vote of no confidence and disapproval Wednesday night, voting 38-0 with nine abstentions to endorse retired State Police investigator Bud York for the position of Warren County Sheriff.

READ MORE

Commentary - Double Standards---Warren County Style

QUEENSBURY---When a corrections officer of the Warren County Sheriff's Department saw a woman operating her vehicle erratically on the Northway last June at speeds up to 100 mph, reportedly driving on the right hand shoulder of the highway while talking on a cell phone, he called for assistance from the State Police and then followed her off Exit 17 in South Glens Falls where she pulled into a gas station, up to the pumps.

READ MORE

Judicial Panel Muzzles Chairman

ALBANY---Manhattan attorney Raoul Felder, appointed by Gov. George Pataki to the state Commission of Judicial Conduct of which he is currently chairman, has been muzzled by the commission which has blocked him from speaking publicly on behalf of the judicial panel or sign letters for the commission.

READ MORE

Montana Enacts Nation's First Flat-Out Rejection of Real ID

WASHINGTON - The Montana legislature and Governor Brian Schweitzer has enacted the nation's first flat-out statutory rejection of the Real ID Act, which seeks to create a backdoor national identity card system by federalizing state driver's licenses.

READ MORE

Ex-Catholic Principal Admits Kissing Students' Feet

LORAIN, OHIO-A former principal at the Catholic St. Anthony of Padua School in Lorain faces up to 15 months in jail for kissing the bare feet of three 14-year-old boys.

READ MORE

Inside The First Amendment - Amid Va. Tech Horror: Experiencing, Not Just Getting The News
By Gene Policinski

Images of the terror, death and grief at Virginia Tech would be expected to linger with Americans for a long time. Think "Columbine" - then consider all that this single word still conjures up, many years after the 1999 high school shooting rampage there.

READ MORE

Aide Sentenced For Raping 90-Year-Old Nursing Home Resident

ROME---William Morrison, a former aide at the Rome Memorial Hospital Residential Health Care Facility, convicted last month of raping and sexually assaulting a 90-year-old resident of the nursing home, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison followed by 5 years' post-release supervision for first degree rape.

READ MORE

Agreement Reached For Northway Cell Phone Towers

ALBANY---The Governor's office has reached an agreement with Verizon Wireless and the five major environmental groups dedicated to the protection of the Adirondack Park on a "Statement of Principles" to help guide the future development of cellular phone service along the Northway (I-87) corridor.

READ MORE

Federal Disaster Aid Sought For Nor'easter Damage

ALBANY---Governor Eliot Spitzer has asked the Bush Administration to make a major disaster declaration for 12 counties and New York City and to provide federal recovery assistance to homeowners, renters and small businesses following last weekend's devastating springtime Nor'easter.

READ MORE

Op-Ed Judicial System Horrors

The attempted extortion and threats being imposed by the state's judiciary, in particular the state's Chief Judge Judith Kaye, on the state Legislature and Governor's office for a pay raise continues.

READ MORE

Spitzer Unveils New Energy Plan

ALBANY---A comprehensive plan for reducing energy costs and curbing pollution in New York has been announced by the Governor's office.

The plan focuses on energy efficiency, conservation, and investment in renewable energy sources as the keys to achieving economic and environmental goals.

READ MORE

Commentary - National Grid: A Company In Need Of Review

Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink is a well-known idiom.

In Chestertown, northern Warren County, there's plenty of water---excess water---as a result of one of the worst spring snowstorms of the last decade.

What's lacking is electricity and the problem is National Grid.

READ MORE

NYS Senate Adopts Jonathan's Law

ALBANY---Jonathan's Law, ensuring that parents and guardians have access to records pertaining to allegations and investigations of mistreatment of children in residential care facilities, has been passed by the NYS Senate and sent to the Assembly.

READ MORE

Senate Majority Proposes Term Limits

ALBANY---Members of the New York State Senate Majority Conference have announced they will be advancing legislation and a Constitutional Amendment that would impose term limits on statewide elected officials and limit the tenure of legislative leaders and committee chairs.

READ MORE

Assembly Again Target Rockefeller Drug Laws

ALBANY---The NYS Assembly has passed legislation that would update the state's drug laws, restore judicial discretion and enhance public safety.

Key components of the bill would expand the availability of drug treatment as a potential alternative to mandatory prison for lower-level, non-violent drug offenders; increase penalties for violent drug dealers and drug "kingpins" and provide greater discretion to judges in fashioning sentences designed to reduce recidivism and protect the public. It also would create new crimes for possession of a firearm in the sale of drugs and for drug sales by adults to children.

READ MORE

New Source of Contamination Prompts More Pet Food Recalls

Just when you thought the danger of pet food contamination was abating, there's two more recalls including yet another by Menu Foods.

Natural Balance Pet Foods has announced a recall of all its Venison & Brown Rice Dry Dog Food and Venison & Green Pea Dry Cat Food in response to consumer complaints that animals were vomiting and experiencing kidney problems. The California-based pet food company has stated that testing has shown that these recalled foods contain melamine, the same chemical suspected in previous pet food recalls, but from a new source-rice protein concentrate imported from China by San Francisco-based Wilbur-Ellis.

READ MORE

Krueger Files For Stem Cell Research

ALBANY--State Senator Liz Krueger has re-introduced S1257, the Reproductive Cloning Prohibition and Stem Cell Research Protection Act, to encourage stem cell research in New York State. The bill would complement Governor Spitzer's recent funding victory in the 2007-08 FY budget.

READ MORE

State Police Union Endorses York For Sheriff

WARREN COUNTY---The union that represents State Police investigators statewide has endorsed former State Police investigator Bud York in his campaign for Warren County Sheriff.

READ MORE

AG Settles With Education Finance Partners

ALBANY---The state Attorney General's office has announced a settlement with Education Finance Partners. San Francisco based EFP agreed to adopt the Attorney General's code of conduct governing student lending and contribute $2.5 million to a fund devoted to educating college bound students about their loan options. Under the agreement, EFP agreed to end its revenue sharing arrangements with universities. As part of earlier settlement agreements St. John's University and Fordham University already agreed to pay back students who took out EFP loans that earned money for the schools under revenue sharing agreements. St. John's will pay back $80,553 and Fordham will pay back $13,840.

READ MORE

Cuomo: Verizon Fails To Make Timely Repairs

ALBANY---In a filing earlier this week at the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC), Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo criticized Verizon for providing "chronically poor" telephone repair service in many parts of the State, and called for the PSC, which regulates Verizon, to set stricter standards and mandate customer rebates for inadequate service.

READ MORE

NYS Judicial Panel Calls For Resignation Of Chairman Felder

ALBANY---The members of the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct have unanimously expressed their loss of confidence in the judgment and leadership of the chair of the Commission, Raoul Felder. Felder, a Manhattan attorney, did not participate in the session of commission members seeking his resignation.

READ MORE

Investigator Sentenced For Wire Fraud Scheme

NEW YORK---Michael Lair, 46, of Bozeman, Montana, president of consumerdefense.com, Inc., has been sentenced to 27 months in federal prison for participating in a scheme that sought to defraud parties to high profile lawsuits by claiming to have proof of illegal activity by opposing counsel and opposing parties.

READ MORE

Letters To The Editor - Help Save Emilio Before It's Too Late

Editor's Note: Lanore Dixon, sister of Andrea Clark, former victim of the Texas Futile Care law has issued an appeal in regard to little Emilio Gonzales who will be removed from life support on April 20 and likely die within a matter of hours unless he can be transferred to another hospital.

Please broadcast this far and wide, especially to any medical people who may be able to help Emilio Gonzales, the 16-month boy in an Austin hospital.

READ MORE

Op-Ed - Two Years And Not Much Change
By Pamela F. Hennessy

Today marks the two year anniversary of the death of Terri Schiavo.

I don't imagine I'll ever forget that morning, receiving a phone call from Bobby Schindler to tell me he and his younger sister were just escorted out of Terri's room. Thinking back, that might have been the first time I actually heard him crying.

READ MORE

Commentary - Death Does Not Have The Last Word

Two years ago today, shortly after 9 a.m., Terri Schindler Schiavo died as a result of the long, painful and barbaric process of the court-ordered execution by starvation when her estranged husband Michael Schiavo removed her feeding tube which provided her nutrition and hydration.

READ MORE

Commentary - Malice Aforethought: The Death Of Terri Schiavo
By June Maxam

In 1931, British author Anthony Berkeley Cox, writing under the pseudonym of Francis Iles, penned a murder mystery novel titled "Malice Aforethought".

The novel related the story of a physician who slowly poisoned his domineering wife to death so he could be with the woman that he loved. It is a classic tale of infatuation, revenge and murder. The work was groundbreaking in that it was the first in the genre to reveal the murderer's identity at the beginning and allow the reader to see the workings of a criminal mind.

READ MORE

Commentary - Schiavo Brother Denounces St. Petersburg Bishop Lynch

As the second anniversary of Terri Schiavo's death from dehydration on March 31, 2005, approaches, her brother, Bobby Schindler has released a letter written to Bishop Robert Lynch of the Diocese of St. Petersburg, Florida.

READ MORE

Schiavo's TerriPAC Dodging Requests For Campaign Finance Data
By June Maxam

The letters seeking additional information about campaign finance activity issued by the Federal Election Commission issue stern warnings, stating that there will be no extensions granted and that there will be no additional notices.

"Failure to provide an adequate response by (the response due date) may result in an audit of the committee", is boldly declared in the three letters issued on Feb. 16.

READ MORE

Commentary = Media Bias In Schiavo Case Continues
By June Maxam

When the St. Petersburg Times published an article on March 10, entitled "An exit of her choosing: unafraid and in control", it compared the death of octogenarian Adelaide R. Snyder to that of Terri Schiavo, the woman who was court ordered to die by removal of all hydration and sustenance because her husband said that's what she would have wanted.

READ MORE

Politicians Like Romney Abdicate Role As Public Servants
By Bobby Schindler

Presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney recently stated, "My view was a case like this would normally be left in the hands of a court."

Romney was referring to the attempt by Congress to help save the life of my sister, Terri Schiavo. He mistakenly assumed passing the buck on this issue would gain him political capital. He could not be more wrong, morally or politically.

READ MORE

Brownback Picks Up Bobby Schindler Endorsement

ALEXANDRIA, VA---Kansas Senator and Republican conservative Sam Brownback's presidential bid received an endorsement Tuesday from Bobby Schindler, brother of the late Terri Schindler Schiavo who died two years ago this month in Florida from starvation and dehydration after a court mandated the removal of her feeding tube at the behest of her estranged husband.

READ MORE

Schiavo Sister: Every Human Life Has Equal Moral Value

KENNEWICK, WASH---Suzanne Vitadamo, sister of Terri Schindler Schiavo, spoke about her family's struggle to care for her disabled sister in Kennewick on Saturday as one of the featured speakers at the 3rd Annual It's About Life Conference sponsored by the Knights of Columbus Council.

READ MORE

Exclusive Commentary - Schiavo Case: Cover-Up Continues By June Maxam

'Tis the season of awards.

First there were the Golden Globe awards in January.

Then the Grammys and last week, the Academy Awards.

Now it's time for the North Country Gazette's annual Golden Broom award, given to the public entity which best uses creativity and ingenuity to sweep wrongdoing under the rug, promoting a culture of deception, corruption and distrust.

READ MORE

Commentary - Three Strikes Warrant Schiavo FEC Audit

Dumb and dumber.

That's Michael Schiavo and his brother, Brian.

They just can't seem to comprehend the rather simple language contained in the forms for the Federal Election Commission for campaign finance disclosure of Schiavo's political action committee, TerriPAC such as carrying the ending balance of one quarter forward as the starting balance on the next quarter.

READ MORE

Commentary - Kiddie Porn and Schiavo Case---ACLU Hypocrisy

ARLINGTON, VA---Apparently the American Civil Liberties Union, or at least one of its former executives, believes that First Amendment rights and other constitutional guarantees should include the right to possess child pornography.

READ MORE

Commentary - George Felos: Ethics and Spiritual Practice
By June Maxam

It was 17 years ago this week that Terri Schindler Schiavo mysteriously collapsed, certainly forever changing the course of her life as well as that of vulnerable adults throughout the United States.

Right-to-die proponent George Felos used the Schiavo case to promote his own ideological agenda while being compensated by monies that were to have been used for therapy and the rehabilitation of the ward of his client.

READ MORE

Op-Ed - The Media Continues To Get It Wrong
By Bobby Schindler

Time magazine published an article on Jan. 19, by Stephen Pinker entitled "The Mystery of Consciousness," on the science and implications of consciousness. Bobby Schindler, brother of the late Terri Schindler Schiavo has written a response. It follows.

READ MORE

Pope: Compassion Doesn't Justify Euthanasia

Humanity cannot legitimize euthanasia or be "fooled" into justifying it "under the guise of human compassion", Pope Benedict said Sunday, speaking on the Italian Catholic Church's Day for Life.

READ MORE

Commentary - Clear and Convincing Blueprint For Murder
By June Maxam

What do Scooter Libby and Michael Schiavo have in common?

A bad memory.

Thing is, Libby may be acquitted because of his bad memory.

A disabled woman died a premature death because of Schiavo's convenient memory---hardly the clear and convincing standard needed for a death edict.

Former White House aide Scooter Libby, chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, has been charged with perjury and obstruction of justice but the Government's case is built on a bunch of witnesses with bad memories.

Libby's defense is "With so much going on with national security, I don't remember who I told what when. I wasn't lying to you in the grand jury, I just don't remember".

Libby seems to have a convenient memory, a lot like Michael Schiavo.

READ MORE

Op-Ed - If Only My Sister Were A Convicted Murderer
By Bobby Schindler

As the mainstream media editorialize outgoing Florida Governor Jeb Bush, I can't help but compare their opposition to the 34-minute execution of convicted killer Angel Diaz with their support of the 14-day execution of my sister, Terri Schiavo....

READ MORE

Ethics Hearing Set For Schiavo Judge Bailiff, Ex-Sheriff Rice

PINELLAS COUNTY---Former Pinellas County Sheriff Everett Rice, two officers of the Pinellas County Sheriff's Department including one who acts as a bailiff in the court of probate court Judge George W. Greer, and an assistant public defender in the Pinellas-Pasco Public Defender's office are the subjects of a probable cause hearing being conducted Friday, Jan. 26, by Florida's Commission on Ethics in Tallahassee.

READ MORE

Bob Schindler Home

ST. PETERSBURG, FLA---Hospitalized for nearly six weeks after suffering several mild strokes in mid-December , Robert Schindler Sr., father of Terri Schindler Schiavo, has returned home.

READ MORE

Commentary - Media Bias In Schiavo Case Extends To Google

Google is at it again.

What?

Censorship.

For over a year, Google has been systematically censoring articles published at The North Country Gazette news site related to the Schiavo case, particularly articles critical of Judge George Greer and Michael Schiavo.

READ MORE

Commentary - George Felos, Judge Greer, Dr. Bambakidis: A Schiavo Triangle
Part I: By June Maxam

The Cleveland Clinic is in the news.

The Humane Society of the United States has called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Congress to take action in response to the recent surgery demonstration performed on a live dog for a sales presentation at the Cleveland Clinic, a Cincinnati-based animal rights group has asked for a federal investigation into where the Cleveland Clinic gets it research dogs, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture is sending an inspector to the facility to investigate.

READ MORE

Commentary - Schiavo Nursing License Subject Of Review
By June Maxam

What goes around, comes around.

Even for Michael Schiavo.

When a former caregiver of the late Terri Schindler Schiavo was under fire by the Florida Board of Health last August, threatened with having her nursing license revoked for allegedly disclosing confidential information about the disabled woman on CNN, Michael Schiavo was quick to condemn, saying that Carla Sauer Iyer had violated her oath and "is getting what she deserves".

READ MORE

Bobby Schindler Speaker For Upcoming Pro-Life Events

Members of the Schindler family will be in attendance for the March for Life, the annual pro-life rally, to be held in Washington, DC on the 34th anniversary of the decision in the U.S. Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade.

READ MORE

TerriPAC Files Amended FEC Reports

Two amended reports have been filed with the Federal Election Commission by TerriPAC, the political action committee of which Florida nurse Michael Schiavo bills himself as chairman.

On Dec. 1, the FEC had sent three letters to Brian Schiavo, Michael's brother, who is listed as the treasurer for the PAC which was formed in December 2005 with the purpose of "holding politicians accountable", especially Republicans who had tried to save the life of Schiavo's brain injured wife, Terri Schindler Schiavo.

READ MORE

COMMENTARY - Schiavo Judge On The Road Again

DALLAS---What does Pinellas County Probate Court Judge George W. Greer know about the jury system?

How did the civil jury system have any impact on the Terri Schindler Schiavo case?

George Greer is on the road again, this time appearing as a speaker at next month's National Jury Summit to be hosted by the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) on Feb. 8-9 in Las Vegas.

READ MORE

Commentary - Campaign Finance Questions Plague TerriPAC, Schiavo

Michael Schiavo has some 'splaining to do.

Even he and his brother Brian Schiavo have to follow the rules, regulations and law at the Federal Elections Commission.

And things just don't add up.

The Federal Elections Commissions wants some answers in regard to the financial disclosure filings of TerriPAC, Schiavo's political action committee, but so far, although FEC imposed a deadline of Jan. 2, according to the FEC website, the Schiavos haven't favored the federal agency with a response.

READ MORE

Bob Schindler Stable, Begins Rehab

ST. PETERSBURG, FLA---Robert Schindler Sr., father of the late Terri Schindler-Schiavo, has been transferred to a rehabilitation center is now undergoing therapy after suffering several mild strokes.

READ MORE

COMMENTARY - Schiavo Claims Warrant Forensic Accountant

Another day, another lie.

Too many times Michael Schiavo has tried to explain away his conflicting stories regarding important issues concerning the incapacitating brain injury incurred by his wife by saving he has a bad memory.

In some circles, it's called self-decit; in others, it's a symptom of being a pathological liar.

The noun self-deceit has but one meaning: a misconception that is favorable to the person who holds it.

Figures won't lie but liars will figure and in the Schiavo case, there's little doubt that figures, monetary figures and greed, is what the case was really all about. Michael Schiavo just didn't figure it would take so long to kill his wife.

READ MORE

Schiavo Memorial Planned

Contributions are still being received for a national memorial to the life and legacy of Terri Schindler Schiavo.

READ MORE

COMMENTARY - Schiavo Attorney Advances "Dispute Resolution" Service

Just when you think you've heard it all, along comes Constance d'Angelis.

Or McCaughey.

Or Felos.

Or whatever name she's using at the moment.

The one thing that remains constant is her attempted exploitation of Terri Schindler Schiavo.

READ MORE

COMMENTARY - Schiavo Tangled Web Entangles JQC

Six of the 15 members are judges.

Three have connections to Pinellas County.

Two members have direct ties to the Sixth Judicial Court and Judge George W. Greer.

One member is a judge on the 2nd District Court of Appeals, the court which upheld every Greer decision in the Terri Schindler Schiavo case.

READ MORE

COMMENTARY - The Twilight Zone

There is a fifth dimension beyond that which is known to man. It is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition, and it lies between the pit of man's fears and the summit of his knowledge. This is the dimension of imagination. It is an area which we call "The Twilight Zone".

Florida has crossed over into the Twilight Zone.

READ MORE

Bob Schindler Hospitalized

ST. PETERSBURG, FLA---Robert Schindler Sr., father of the late Terri Schindler Schiavo, has been hospitalized after suffering a mild stroke this past weekend, The North Country Gazette has learned. He is resting comfortably and is expected to make a complete recovery.

READ MORE

COMMENTARY - Schiavo: "Terri Belongs To Me!"

Slavery was abolished at the end of the Civil War.

But Michael Schiavo still perceives women as property.

In at least two public forums this year, the hulking 6 foot 6 inch, 250 pound guardian of Terri Schindler Schiavo abusively and possessively claimed that she was his property.

READ MORE

COMMENTARY - Bush, Pinellas Judge, DCF In Constitutional Showdown
By June Maxam

PINELLAS COUNTY---There's another constitutional showdown looming in Florida's Pinellas County between county judges in the Sixth Judicial Circuit and Gov. Jeb Bush.

Tempers are flaring with the judges claiming total autonomy under the guise of judicial independence.

READ MORE

Dog Groomer Faces Animal Cruelty Counts

CLEARWATER, FLA---When Michael Schiavo, a nursing supervisor at the Pinellas County Jail, decided to cause the death of his wife by denying her food and water for 13 days, the Pinellas County Court and Judge George W. Greer sanctioned it and railed against all attempts to save the disabled woman's life.

READ MORE

COMMENTARY - The George Greer Protection Society

To envelop or surround protectively, to insulate.

That's the definition of cocoon according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary.

Pinellas County Court Judge George W. Greer's in a cocoon.

So who's protecting him, insulating him from accountability?

READ MORE

Commentary - Missing PBA Files Track Back To Sheriff

QUEENSBURY---When Warren County's new public safety building opened in October, 2004, Warren County Sheriff Larry Cleveland allegedly gave the State Police the old furnishings and equipment from the former quarters of the Warren County Sheriff's Department.

However, legally the county, and specifically Cleveland, cannot gift county owned property from the quarters of the former sheriff's department. Any equipment deemed surplus would have to be offered to the public through legal notices and there is no record of such occurring regarding the furniture. There was no resolution by the Warren County Board of Supervisors authorizing the gift or sale of furnishings or equipment to the state police.

But wait, there's more.

READ MORE

Grief To Anger: Memorial Pet March Planned, Answers Demanded

"Our pets are our companions, our soul mates, and our hedge against emotional turmoil…when the FDA protects our pets, the FDA protects the health of millions of Americans as well".

Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va),the white-haired senior statesman of the U.S. Senate, a pet owner himself, appeared at the Senate hearing Thursday on the pet food recall in the nation's history to emphasize how important pets are to everyone.

READ MORE

New York's Spring Storm Downgraded

GLENS FALLS---The National Weather Service in Albany has downgraded the storm now enveloping the Northeast.

A Winter Weather Advisory is now in effect until 6 p.m. EDT Monday with a flood watch in effect through Monday afternoon. This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northern Saratoga, Southeast Warren and Southern Washington Counties.

READ MORE

 
   
 
 
 

COPYRIGHT 2006 - NORTH COUNTRY GAZETTE
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED - NO UNAUTHORIZED REPRODUCTION