'Beverly Hillbillies' star Donna Douglas dies at 82

Donna Douglas, the voluptuous Louisiana-born actress who played critter-loving Elly May Clampett on the 1960's CBS series 'The Beverly Hillbillies" died on New Years day. 

Donna Douglas, who played hillbilly bombshell Elly May Clampett on the baby-boomer-beloved 1960s sitcom The Beverly Hillbillies, has died. She was 82.

Mario Cuomo, former New York governor, dead at 82

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Mario Cuomo, the three-term New York governor and father of the state's current governor, died Thursday at the age of 82, according to multiple media reports.

Cuomo is among the most iconic New York governors of the 20th century, known for his liberal views, soaring speeches and deeply held beliefs that made him among the most prominent Democrats of his time. His death came the same day as his son, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, was inaugurated for a second term.

-USA Today

Bruce Wagner takes oath of office

Schodack Town Justice Bruce Wagner was sworn in by Schodack Town Justice Paul Peter during New Year's Day swearing-in ceremonies for Republican elected officials at the Rensselaer County Court House.

'Gilmore Girls' actor Edward Herrmann dies

Edward Herrmann, whose face and voice are familiar from so many roles in TV and film, died Wednesday in New York.

But he was also known for his Emmy-nominated portrayals of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in made-for-TV movies in the 1970s, as well as for numerous roles in films such as The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) and The Aviator (2004).

More recently, he voiced Roosevelt again for Ken Burns' PBS series, The Roosevelts: An Intimate History, in 2014.

More States Than Ever Will Raise Their Minimum Wage On New Year's Day

Dave Jamieson dave.jamieson@huffingtonpost.com

If you're a minimum wage earner and of drinking age, be sure to raise a glass when the ball drops Wednesday night. There's a decent chance you'll be getting a pay raise.

Thanks to a raft of state-level laws and ballot measures this year, 20 states will be hiking their minimum wages on New Year's Day -- evidence of a growing nationwide move toward higher mandatory pay despite congressional inertia on the issue.

New phase of e-recycling to go into effect

ALBANY, N.Y. – The final phase of the New York Electronic Equipment Recycling and Reuse Act goes into effect January 1 making it illegal to throw old electronics in the trash.

Waste collectors cannot pick up discarded electronics, but there are hundreds of locations in the Capital Region that will properly recycle old electronics for free.

Many unused electronics stay tucked away in a corner collecting dust, or they’re tossed in the dump.

“They’ve sat in a box,” Albany resident Robert Morrissette said. “I haven’t done much with them.”

In the final phase of the act, consumers are required to recycle their e-waste rather than put it outside for garbage pick-up.

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Rensselaer mayor demands answers on casino location selection

RENSSELAER, N.Y. – It was announced on Monday that Governor Andrew Cuomo sent a letter to the Gaming Commission, asking them to reopen the bidding process for the Southern Tier, and now the Rensselaer mayor wants in.

Mayor Dan Dwyer is now demanding answers and a review of the Gaming Commission.

In a letter to Cuomo, Dwyer states he wants to see a so-called “score card” on how Rensselaer and Hard Rock were beat out by the Rivers Casino in Schenectady.

“I need some answers,” he said.

Cuomo’s intervention into the casino debate comes after he said the decision was solely up to the Gaming Commission and after board chairman Kevin Law stressed the commission had no plans to issue the fourth license. 

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NYT: Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver under investigation

Updated: 12/30/2014 8:30 PM
Created: 12/30/2014 9:22 AM WNYT.com
By: WNYT Staff

ALBANY - To many people, it sounds redundant -- an ethics investigation at the state Capitol.

This time, the subject of the apparent probe couldn't be much bigger.

The official comment from Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver's office is: there is no comment.

According to the New York Times, federal authorities are now looking into the possibility that questionable payments were made to Speaker Silver, and if they were, they weren't disclosed on his financial disclosure reports.

If the New York Times report is true, then Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver may have received "substantial" payments from a law firm that specializes in seeking tax reductions for its clients -- and that income may not have been properly disclosed by Silver.

"I think once the feds show up and begin investigating, they don't do that lightly," said Republican Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin, from Melrose

McLaughlin -- a long time Silver critic -- says he's long past the point of calling for the speaker to resign, hoping others at the Capitol feel the same way.

"If they do the right thing next week and turn around send a message a not re-elect this man, that would be the end of Sheldon Silver in Albany and I think that would be a bright day for the state of New York if he goes," McLaughlin proclaimed.

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