Company plans to sue over fracking ban
John Holko of Lenape Resources, a local natural gas drilling company that operates gas wells in Avon, has notified the state Department of Environmental Conservation of his intention to sue the State of New York over Avon’s fracking ban. Holko says that the ban violates state law and prevents him from continuing producing gas in the town, even from standard gas wells that have been in operation for years. State law supersedes local regulations pertaining to gas development. The DEC says that it will abide by court rulings on local ban laws.
Comptroller puts stop payment on fraudulent benefits
State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli says that he has stopped the payment of some $1.4 million in bogus unemployment benefits. The comptroller’s office says that the false claims were made on behalf of employed people, deceased persons and illegal aliens. However, DiNapoli also added that $1 million in bad payments had already gone out, and that a staggering $383,000 of that sum is deemed uncollectable due to the state’s fiscal calendar. Even more embarrassing is the fact that some of the false payments were made to 91 new state employees who collected over $100,000 in undeserved benefits. DiNapoli says that his agency will be collecting those payments.
Sunny today with a high in the upper 80s. Tonight, cool and partly cloudy, with a low of 65.
