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(WNY News Now) In order to avoid wildfires and protect public safety, New York State has implemented a burn restriction, which limits outdoor fires.Throughout the state, this burn ban forbids the lighting of open fires for cooking, uncontained campfires, and outdoor burning for the removal of vegetation and debris. Small, contained cooking fires are permitted, as are backyard fire pits and contained campfires that are no more than three feet in height and four feet in length, width, or circumference. Throughout the year, it is illegal in New York State to burn trash or leaves. Burn restrictions are also in place in a number of municipalities.Visit DEC's FIREWISE New York website to learn more about fire safety and prevention.Share this:FacebookXNote: Every piece of content is rigorously re...

(WNY News Now) DEC's most recent newsletter provides residents and outdoor enthusiasts around Western New York with important updates and interesting options, ranging from steelhead fishing to tree stand safety advice.Do you hunt deer or do you know someone who does? For the 2024–2025 deer season, DEC is extending their Nonlead Ammunition for Eagle Conservation Initiative. Anywhere in the state where firearm hunting is permitted, all licensed deer hunters are eligible, which is the largest change for this season. Similar to previous year, they are gathering information on the dynamics and rates of scavenging at deer gut heaps, including how long it takes scavengers to locate them, how long gut piles endure, and variations by habitat and location.Please join up to participate if you shoot d...

(WNY News Now) In an effort to counteract climate change and protect natural resources, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is providing $4.5 million in grants to assist private landowners in creating new forests.DECsaid that private landowners can now create new forests with $4.5 million through the Establishing Large Forests (ELF) Grant Program. ELF builds on New York State's well-liked Regenerate NY Forestry Cost Share Grant Program and is intended to sustain the establishment of new forests that are essential for wildlife habitat, climate change mitigation, air and water quality protection, and the production of lumber, a valuable renewable resource.In order to cover the costs of creating new forests, private landowners (or their representatives) in New ...

(WNY News Now) The NYS Conservation Council presented Mike Todd, a committed environmental specialist with DEC Region 9, with the coveted specialist Conservationist of the Year award in recognition of his outstanding work in public education and conservation.Congratulations to Mike Todd, who was named the NYS Conservation Council's (NYSCC) Professional Conservationist of the Year. This honor was given to him in recognition of his leadership in preserving our environment by implementing wise conservation measures.After graduating from SUNY ESF, Mike began working for DEC in 2003 as a Fish and Wildlife Technician in the Lake Erie Fisheries Research Unit. Following a couple jobs in Western and Central New York, Mike joined the Fisheries program as an Aquatic Biologist in the Region 9 office...

(WNY News Now) In an effort to battle poverty and offer affordable housing in the struggling city of Jamestown, a $2 million state grant will be used to renovate abandoned, condemned rental properties.New York's Jamestown The New York State Homes and Community Renewal Vacant Rental Improvement Program has granted $2 million to the City of Jamestown's Department of Development in collaboration with Citizens Opportunity for Development and Equality (CODE Inc.).In an attempt to turn abandoned and condemned housing units into reasonably priced long-term rental homes, the Department of Development and CODE Inc. submitted joint applications for more than $2.9 million in October of this year. The Department of Development and CODE Inc. were able to supervise the rehabilitation of up to or aroun...

(WNY News Now) The New York Experience (NYX), the state's first customer experience strategy, seeks to enhance government operations, expedite services, and prioritize the needs of the people in the state's service delivery.In an effort to improve daily government operations and change the way New Yorkers engage with government services, Governor Kathy Hochul announced the start of New York State's first-ever customer experience plan. In order to make state agencies more responsive to the needs of all New Yorkers, the holistic plan, known as the New York Experience, represents a significant step toward increasing their efficiency and equity while cutting waste.According to Governor Hochul, the New York Experience embodies our steadfast dedication to enhancing public services, lowering ad...

As the state fights serious fire hazards, Governor Kathy Hochul gives New Yorkers an update on the state's response to the biggest wildfire since 2008, citing notable containment gains and encouraging continuous vigilance (WNY News Now).The multi-agency response to flames in Orange and Ulster Counties, which is being coordinated with local fire departments and first responders, was one of the updates Governor Kathy Hochul gave today on the wildfires raging around New York State. To fight the fires throughout the state and help control them, more than 1,300 firefighters from more than 400 fire departments have been sent in. More than 550 water drops totaling more than 500,000 gallons have been applied to the Orange County fire by New York National Guard Blackhawk and Chinook helicopters, wh...

(WNY News Now) By lowering bridge strikes and improving infrastructure, the new Schepps Corners Road Bridge improves safety and connectivity in Central New York.Yesterday, Governor Kathy Hochul declared the completion of a $5 million bridge replacement project on Onondaga County's New York State Thruway. In the Town of Manlius, a new bridge was built in place of the Schepps Corners Road bridge (milepost 274.4). Both on schedule and within budget, the project was finished.According to Governor Hochul, funding vital infrastructure is an investment in our communities' safety and connectedness.We are pleased to have completed this bridge replacement on schedule and on budget, and it will give the residents of Central New York the superior quality they deserve.To lessen bridge impacts from over...

(WNY News Now) In an effort to prevent fatalities and lower crash rates, Allegany County is stepping up its efforts to combat drunk driving this Thanksgiving with the beginning of the STOP-DWI High Visibility Engagement Campaign.November 27–December 1, 2024 is the date of the Allegany County, NYSTOP-DWI Impaired Driving High Visibility Engagement Campaign.Today, Allegany County Administrator Carissa Knapp declared that the STOP-DWI Coordinator and Allegany County police agencies will take part in specific initiatives to raise awareness of the risks associated with driving while intoxicated.Millions of people will travel over Thanksgiving holiday in anticipation of spending time with friends and relatives. It's one of the busiest travel periods of the year, and sadly, there is a greater cha...

(WNY News Now) In an effort to improve educational opportunities and address healthcare inequities in New York, Governor Kathy Hochul has announced that the CUNY School of Medicine will become an independent institution.Yesterday, Governor Kathy Hochul declared that the City University of New York is creating the CUNY School of Medicine as a distinct entity from the university itself. Through the change, the 50-year-old institution will be able to increase its influence, streamline accreditation, and further its dual mission of producing diverse medical professionals and offering high-quality healthcare services to underprivileged communities throughout New York City, where over half of the population identifies as Black or Latino and only 16% of those communities have doctors.Every studen...