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Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester receives $300K award

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Senator Pam Helming announced that the New York State Senate passed a Senate Resolution awarding $300,000 to the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester. This critical funding will assist BCCR with its continued outreach and support services to those impacted by breast cancer in the Wayne-Finger Lakes region. The Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester is an independent, grassroots organization dedicated to... more

Legislation aimed at helping those with special needs awaits Cuomo’s signature

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Senator Pam Helming announced that the New York State Senate passed a bill that she sponsored to help improve communication with people who have developmental disabilities. The legislation (S.2565) creates a new optional identification card that can be given to law enforcement officers or other first responders in an emergency and conveys important details, such as potential difficulties with interpersonal... more

Court refuses to dismiss lawsuits against opioid manufacturers

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A New York State Supreme Court Judge has refused to dismiss lawsuits against several large opioid manufacturers in one of the earliest decisions to come out of the cases brought by local governments over the prescription painkillers. In two rulings on Monday (June 18), Suffolk County Supreme Court Justice Jerry Garguilo rejected motions to dismiss brought by Purdue Pharma, Endo... more

NY health department to call for marijuana legalization

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New York’s top health official says a long-awaited state report on marijuana will recommend state legalization. Health Commissioner Howard Zucker said Monday in Brooklyn that officials examined the pros and cons of legalizing, regulating and taxing marijuana and determined the benefits of legalization outweighed the negatives. The report is now being finalized. Zucker’s boss, Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo, has long... more

SF to host services fair to highlight available resources in Seneca County

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After gaining valuable feedback from the community earlier this spring, the Town of Seneca Falls and multiple agencies will partner to host a Community Services Fair. The event is slated for Thursday, June 28th at the Seneca Falls Community Center, located at 35 Water Street. Pizza, wings, and salad will be available and provided by the Town of Seneca Falls... more

Canandaigua VA nursing home ranks near bottom, per report

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You can walk into any nonprofit or for-profit nursing home in New York state and see its most recent inspection report. If you can’t get to the home, you can go to the state Department of Health website. You also can check the federal Nursing Home Compare site for the reports and a star rating that shows how the home... more

NY Assembly OKs universal health care; bill halted in Senate

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The New York state Assembly has again endorsed a single-payer universal health care system. The Democrat-led chamber passed the measure last week for the fourth year in a row. Passage of the legislation is largely symbolic, however. The Republican-led Senate is not expected to take up the measure before lawmakers adjourn for the year next year. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie... more

O’Mara legislation targets methamphetamine-related crimes amid epidemic

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The New York State Senate has approved legislation sponsored by Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C,I-Big Flats) targeting the resurgence of methamphetamine-related crimes locally and across New York State by significantly increasing the criminal penalties for manufacturing, selling, and possessing the illegal and highly addictive drug. The legislation specifically targets meth labs. It would increase the criminal penalties for the possession of... more

Senate bill includes $190M for Canandaigua VA project

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U.S. Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced Monday that $190 million to complete a modernization and expansion project at the Canandaigua VA Medical Center has been included in a fiscal year 2019 Senate appropriations bill. “Our veterans have protected and defended us, and when they finish their tour of duty it is our job to care for them,” Schumer... more

Wayne Co. to host showing of documentary ‘Suicide: The Ripple Effect’

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This week the Wayne County Department of Mental Health and the Wayne County Suicide Prevention Coalition will host a showing of the documentary “Suicide: The Ripple Effect”, a feature length documentary film and MOVEMENT, focusing on the devastating effects of suicide and the tremendous positive ripple effects of advocacy, inspiration and hope that are helping millions heal & stay alive.... more

Details on New York’s $200M effort to fight heroin epidemic

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In April 2017, Gov. Andrew Cuomo held a ceremonial bill signing on Long Island proclaiming the state would now invest $200 million a year to fight the scourge of opioid addiction in New York. There was just one missing point: The state was already spending that much money on the epidemic. A review by the USA TODAY Network's Albany Bureau... more

Helming successful in advocating for rural health initiatives in Albany

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Senator Pam Helming announced that she successfully advocated for several rural health initiatives in the recently enacted New York State budget. These include increases in funding for Iroquois Healthcare Association’s “Take a Look” tours, as well as for Rural Health Networks and Critical Access Hospitals, to bring medical care to rural communities. “The beautiful rural communities that make up the... more

Organization says ‘preventive’ efforts are crucial, as CDC releases new data on suicide

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The Centers for Disease Control says U.S. suicide rates have spiked at an alarming rate over the last two decades. The report came on the heels of news that fashion designer Kate Spade, and renowned television personality and chef Anthony Bourdain had lost their lives to suicide. While suicide remains the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S., since... more

Plea deal being reviewed for Clyde doctor accused of child pornography

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A plea deal for the Clyde doctor accused of sharing child pornography and taking photos of his child patients is being reviewed by federal attorneys. Federal court paperwork filed regarding proceedings held on May 31 for David Blasczak was sealed from public view. However, a brief summary of the status conference with Judge Jonathan Feldman, U.S. Attorney Kyle Rossi, and... more

New York health insurers seek whopping increase for 2019

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The state’s 14 private health insurers are requesting on average a 24 percent increase in rates for individuals next year, citing growing costs and a major looming change to federal health care. The insurers on Monday released their proposed rate increases for individuals and small group plans for 2019. They said they need the substantial increases in part because the... more

Substance abuse film screened in Moravia leads to discussion on recovery

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Kevin Jones said his life has never been the same since May 10, 2013. That was when his stepdaughter, Jessica Gentile, died of a drug overdose. Jones later founded the Heroin Epidemic Action League, which raises awareness of the idea that addiction is a disease and not a moral failing, among other services. Jones said he didn't know Jessica had... more

Big push on for autism support in Rochester, Finger Lakes

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After the disappearance and death of a Rochester City School District student this past March, lead partners behind the planned Golisano Autism Center held an urgent meeting. Trevyan Rowe, 14, a boy with autism, wandered away from school after getting off of his school bus March 8. His body was found the following Sunday in the Genesee River. The tragedy... more

Credibility of top Upstate Medical University official questioned

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The credibility of a top Upstate Medical University official is being questioned after his account of narrowly escaping a car bombing in Afghanistan and some other dramatic claims he made in a 2017 videotaped speech have been debunked in a report by the Albany Times Union. Sergio A. Garcia, Upstate’s chief of staff, said in the speech he was part... more
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