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(WNY News Now) – The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation kicks off the highly anticipated regular firearms season for deer and bear hunting in the Southern Zone urging hunters to participate in critical Chronic Wasting Diseas testing in select counties.The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced that the state’s most popular big game hunting season begins on Saturday, Nov. 16, and continues through Dec. 8. With an estimated 470,000 licensed hunters participating, approximately 60 percent of the total statewide deer harvest and 30 to 60 percent of the statewide bear harvest occurs during this season.DEC is simultaneously responding to an isolated detection of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in a captive deer facility in southern Herkim...

(WNY News Now) – The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has finalized a new regulation that allows License Issuing Agents to recover costs tied to printing and mailing paper sporting licenses, as part of a shift away from plastic tags.The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced the adoption of a regulation that enables License Issuing Agents (LIAs) to recover costs associated with printing and mailing paper sporting licenses and other items sold through DEC’s Automated Licensing System. DEC is transitioning plastic Valeron material to plain paper for all hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses and associated tags. With this change, LIAs now supply their own paper, printers, and ink. The new $1 printing fee enables LIAs to cover their mat...

(WNY News Now) – Governor Kathy Hochul announces the inclusion of 24 community-based organizations in a statewide partnership to enhance New York’s Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP), aiming to improve home care services for thousands of residents.Governor Kathy Hochul today announced 24 community-based home care providers will join the new statewide partnership to strengthen New York’s Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program, which provides vital home care services to New Yorkers. This follows the Governor’s previous announcement of Public Partnerships LLC as the lead partner in New York’s effort to protect and strengthen CDPAP. The State will continue to announce additional CDPAP partners in the coming weeks. This statewide partnership is expected to begin in Jan...

(WNY News Now) – With over 300,000 seniors in Western New York at risk of losing critical telehealth access, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer calls on Congress to act before December 31st and protect Medicare’s telehealth services, particularly for rural communities.Standing at Olean General Hospital, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer launched his push to protect Medicare’s telehealth program, which could expire in just two months without Congressional action. Schumer said it is critical we avoid the upcoming telehealth cliff for Western NY seniors, which is especially important to rural areas like Cattaraugus County, to maintain this vital lifeline for accessible healthcare. “Telehealth services are essential in places like Cattaraugus County; it is a lifeline for our rural ar...