Gov. Cuomo to NYers: Prepare for Heavy Rain, Potential Flooding

 

Governor Andrew Cuomo today warned New Yorkers to take precautions against flooding and power outages as a coastal storm containing heavy rain and gusty winds moves through the state starting Sunday afternoon. At the Governor's direction, the State Emergency Operations and Watch Centers are operating in Enhanced Monitoring Mode and agency officials have been preparing for possible flooding impacts by clearing culverts and debris.

Three inches of rain is expected in areas upstate Sunday afternoon through Monday, with up to five inches of rain possible across eastern Lake Ontario and the Finger Lakes, Central New York, Southern Tier, and Mid-Hudson Valley regions. Heavy rains could cause flooding on streams and rivers, low lying roadways, and in urban areas. Lake Ontario could experience minor to moderate lake shore flooding and coastal erosion late Sunday night through Monday as strong winds may increase water levels and wave action along the southern and eastern Lake Ontario shorelines.

"I urge New Yorkers to stay tuned to local weather forecasts and plan their travel accordingly to avoid potentially flooded roads and downed wires," Governor Cuomo said. "State agencies have taken precautionary measures to prepare for this weekend's storm and keep communities safe no matter what Mother Nature sends our way."

Current Weather Watches and Warnings

Flash Flood and High Wind Watches have been issued by the National Weather Service for many portions of the state.

Finger Lakes:

Flash Flood Watch in effect from Sunday afternoon through Monday morning for Allegany, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Wayne and Northern Cayuga counties. High Wind Watch in effect from late Sunday night through Monday afternoon for Monroe, Wayne and Northern Cayuga counties.

Central New York:

Flash Flood Watch in effect for all of Central New York from Sunday afternoon through Monday morning.  High Wind Watch in effect from late Sunday night through Monday afternoon for Oswego Onondaga, Oneida, Madison, and Otsego Counties.

Southern Tier:

Flash Flood Watch in effect for all of Southern Tier from Sunday afternoon through Monday morning.

Mohawk Valley:

High Wind Watch in effect from Monday morning through Monday afternoon for the entire Mohawk Valley.

North Country:

Flash Flood Watch in effect for the North Country counties from Sunday afternoon through Monday morning. High Wind Watch in effect from Monday morning through Monday afternoon for Jefferson and Lewis counties.

Capital Region:

Flash Flood Watch in effect for all of eastern New York from Sunday afternoon through Monday morning, including the Capital Region. High Wind Watch is in effect from Monday morning through Monday afternoon for Western Greene County, the Greater Capital Region and the Helderbergs.

Mid-Hudson Valley:

Flash Flood Watch in effect for all of eastern New York from Sunday afternoon through Monday morning, including the Mid-Hudson Valley.

NYC and Long Island:

Flash Flood Watch in effect for New York City, and Long Island from Sunday afternoon through late Sunday night.

State Agency Preparations

The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services has prepared assets and stockpiles to support response efforts that may arise during the current weather watches in place across the state. The State Watch Center and Emergency Operations Centers are in enhanced monitoring and are operating for the duration of the storm. Additionally, the state's nine regional stockpiles are each prepared with a sandbagging machine, generators, pumps and hoses, and there are over 701,000 fillable sandbags statewide. The Division's swift water rescue teams are prepared for deploying, which includes New York Task Force-2 (NYTF-2), Urban Search and Rescue Teams, boats, and high axle vehicles.

Department of Environmental Conservation police officers, forest rangers and regional water engineers are on alert and monitoring the developing situation. All available assets are ready to assist with any emergency response or flooding events that may occur.

The Department of Transportation has been working to ensure the safety of the traveling public. DOT crews are preparing for the weekend weather by inspecting and clearing obstructions to drainage inlets and culverts; monitoring state-owned bridges for any indications of distress caused by increased velocity of flood waters; and staffing quick-clear crews to respond to infrastructure and flooding issues, including downed trees, and as other issues arise.

Before traveling, motorists are reminded to check 511NY by calling 511, or by visiting http://www.511ny.org/. The free service allows users to check road conditions and transit information. Mobile users can download the free 511NY mobile app from the iTunes or Google Play stores. The app features Drive mode, which provides audible alerts along a chosen route while a user is driving, warning them about incidents and construction. Users can set a destination prior to departing and receive information on up to three routes.

In preparation for the current weekend forecast, Thruway Authority field staff have been cleaning and inspecting drainage structures. Equipment such as chain saws, chippers and pumps have been checked to ensure readiness. In addition to the routine patrols conducted by State Police on a daily basis, the Thruway Authority has scheduled supervisory staff to conduct roadway patrols and inspections on Sunday, focused in areas forecast to receive the most significant rainfall. This will enable staff to respond quickly in the event flooding develops. Staff will continue to monitor weather alerts from the National Weather Service and adjust monitoring and response accordingly. 

The Thruway Authority encourages motorists to sign up for TRANSalert e-mails which provide the latest traffic conditions along the Thruway. Motorists can sign up for TRANSalerts by following this link: http://www.thruway.ny.gov/tas/index.shtml. Thruway travelers can also get real-time updates by following @ThruwayTraffic on Twitter or by visiting http://www.thruway.ny.gov/ to see an interactive map showing traffic conditions for the Thruway and other New York State roadways.

New Yorkers are encouraged to sign up for NY Alert at https://users.nyalert.gov/ to get immediate alerts on flood warnings and severe storms. 

Source: Press Office, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

Kennesaw State Univ. Cheerleaders No Longer Allowed on the Field After #TakeAKnee Protest

Source: Roland Martin

Trump’s Border Wall Prototypes Are Complete. Now What?

 

This following was published on the NBC News website on October 28. 

by Adam Edelman

The eight looming prototypes rising from the California desert were in keeping with President Donald Trump’s desire for a "physically imposing" barrier between the U.S. and Mexico.

But any construction of the real wall is close to a year off — and there's another issue: There's no money.

The border wall prototypes were made exactly to specification: Four from concrete and four others from non-concrete materials that could be used for stretches of barrier that can be seen through.

But any meaningful construction is still at least 10 months away, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials said.

First order of business? Letting the samples bake for 30 days as the concrete dries. 

Click here for the full article. 

Feds File Charges Related to Mueller Investigation

This video was published on YouTube on October 27. 

Source: CBS News

Can Republicans Pass Tax Reform by Thanksgiving?

Source: CBS News

Congresswoman Details Sexual Harassment on Capitol Hill

Source: CBS News

Keith Olbermann: How Trump Manipulates America With Twitter

This video was published on YouTube on October 27. 

Source: GQ

Russia Fails to Destabilize Ukraine, Yet Again

 

By Matthew Dubas

The following commentary was submitted in response to the recent assassination attempt on Ukrainian politician Ihor Mosiychuk. 

These kinds of events are meant to destabilize and to show Ukraine as a volatile place for foreign investments, where politicians are under threat. The fact that people die as a result is part of the FSB/KGB modus operandi (Litvinenko, Nemtsov, Magnitsky, Politkovskaya, Sheremet, etc). Even in the U.S. we have seen lawmakers targeted, injured, and some killed in what would be described as terrorist acts (some religiously motivated, others racially, etc). In Russia, it is simply another day, where you either have the protection of Putin, or you don't (even if you paid for it).

Ukraine is about to enact laws that would strip parliamentarians of prosecutorial immunity, in addition to creating an anti-corruption court and reforms to the electoral system that would create open party lists instead of the closed system. Some national deputies are known criminals who have avoided prosecution and the typical response for anyone being investigated or forced to appear in court is that the accused develops a condition that requires hospitalization delaying or avoiding the case altogether (as per Ukrainian law). Same thing in Russia and other parts of the former Soviet Union.

The steps that Ukraine is taking (slowly, some say too slowly, others say at the right pace to avoid shock to local consumers) is shifting Ukraine's permanent course away from systems that breed corruption and provide levers for Russian influence.

Canada just enacted its version of a Magnitsky Law (S-226), targeting human rights abusers and politicians guilty of "significant foreign corruption" crimes. This really irks Putin and the Kremlin. It is a reminder that the rule of law prevails in a system where countries uphold the law, and it also reminds the world that Russia resembles a lawless mafia state as more and more names are added to lists of sanctioned individuals and companies. As one of the co-sponsors of the bill, Sen. Raynell Andreychuk, rhetorically asked, "Why is the Russian government so nervous about Canada's Magnitsky law?" The fear in the Kremlin will increase when other countries enact similar laws. Canada should expect more politicians to be banned from Russia. Eventually, no one will be allowed in Russia.

Matthew Dubas is editor of the nationally-distributed publication The Ukrainian Weekly. The newspaper is also distributed throughout Canada and serves as a major source of news and information for the Ukrainian community in America and abroad. He has reported on many of the country’s political and social conflicts and worked with ambassadors, politicians, policy advisers, activists and scholars on a range of issues concerning Ukraine. The views expressed by Mr. Dubas do not necessarily reflect those of the publication's management or editorial staff.

Why Strong Winds, Heavy Rain May Pummel New York on Sandy Anniversary

 

By Judson Jones

Sunday marks the five-year anniversary of when Superstorm Sandy hit New Jersey and New York. 

And Sunday night into Monday morning, it's looking more likely that another big storm will lash the Northeast.

 

But -- possibly like your Facebook relationship status -- it's complicated.

 

This forecast banks off a tropical wave down in the Caribbean, a low-pressure system swinging a cold front across the eastern US and a large dip in the jet stream -- which is due to former Typhoon Lan now off the coast of Alaska -- all merging at the same time near the Northeast Coast. The magnitude of the impact depends on whether the weather all lines up. 

 

Click here for the full article. 

 

Source: CNN (via The Empire Report) 

DEA to Dispatch Task Force to Battle Heroin Trafficking in New York

 

By Denis Slattery

The Drug Enforcement Agency is sending a special heroin task force to New York to help combat heroin trafficking.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called on the agency to send one of the teams to New York back in June.

“I’m pleased that the feds have heeded the call. As the overdoses related to illicit fentanyl and other synthetic opioids increase, the new enforcement team will help the NYPD, Long Island and other local police departments across the state contain and beat back the dangerous tide,” Schumer said. 

“We must not let off the gas pedal in the fight against opioid dealers, abuse and death in New York.”

The team will include two new DEA agents and two officers from an existing task force, Schumer said.

Click here for the full article. 

Source: The New York Daily News (via The Empire Report) 

City Announces Plan to Diversify Lower Manhattan Schools

 

By Kate Taylor

Parents and advocates of integration in the East Village and Lower East Side have pushed for a plan to improve diversity in their district’s elementary schools for years.

On Thursday, the New York City Education Department announced that it was implementing a school choice system aimed at increasing the racial and socioeconomic diversity in their district, Community School District 1.

Parents in District 1 have been able to choose among any of the district’s elementary schools. Schools that are oversubscribed assign seats by lottery. Despite this freedom of choice, the district’s schools tend to be segregated by race and socioeconomics. In the 2016-17 school year, for example, the students at East Village Community School on East 12th Street were 58 percent white, but Public School 15, the Roberto Clemente School, on East Fourth Street, had only four white students out of 178.

Under the new plan, priority for 67 percent of the seats in kindergarten and prekindergarten at every elementary school will be given to students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, live in temporary housing or are learning English. Priority for the other 33 percent of seats will go to students who do not fall into any of those categories.

Click here for the full article. 

Source: The New York Times (via The Empire Report) 

Mayor de Blasio’s Opponents Call for Renewed Pay-to-Play Investigations After Donor’s Testimony Surfaces

By Jillian Jorgensen

Mayor de Blasio sidestepped questions — literally — a day after explosive testimony from a donor who said his cash translated into access and favors from Hizzoner.

Meanwhile, his opponents ripped him as corrupt and called for pay-to-play investigations to be reopened Friday.

“Is that what we want in a mayor?” Republican Nicole Malliotakis asked in a phone interview with The News.

“Someone who is looking for the little loophole or the way to skirt ethics laws to get away with something that’s inappropriate? To get away with violating the law? New Yorkers deserve better.”

Click here for the full article. 

Source: The New York Daily News (via The Empire Report) 

Rechnitz Tells Sordid Tale of Influence Peddling That Led to Alleged Seabrook Bribe

 

By Laura Nahmias

The powerful leader of the city corrections officers’ union was emotional.

It was December of 2013, and Norman Seabrook was wine drunk after a lovely dinner in Punta Cana, in the Dominican Republic, on an all-expenses paid trip from his new friend, a youthful Orthodox Jewish businessman named Jona Rechnitz. He’d traveled to Punta Cana along with NYPD Chief Philip Banks, Rechnitz, and his business partner Jeremy Reichberg, where Rechnitz said the four men “played golf, relaxed, smoked cigars” and “ate nice food.” 

But when Rechnitz came to visit Seabrook after dinner one night, “he was highly emotional,” Rechnitz recalled for a jury Friday.

“He said how it was hard for him because everything he had, he had to earn on his own.” He talked about “how hard it is for a black man these days to make a living.” He’d been raised by a single mother.

And Seabrook had recently experienced a personal tragedy.

“His dog had passed away,” Rechnitz recalled Friday in testimony during Seabrook’s federal corruption trial. “He showed me a tattoo of his dog, on his chest.” 

Click here for the full article. 

Source: Politico (via The Empire Report)

US 'Can't Accept' Nuclear North Korea

Source: euronews.

Syria Rejects UN Chemical Attack Report

Source: euronews.

Italian Man Jailed for Infecting 30 Women with HIV

Source: FRANCE 24 English

The Women of the Islamic State Group

Source: FRANCE 24 English

Eye on Africa: Unrest Rages in Kenya Over Presidential Rerun

Source: FRANCE 24 English

Catalonia Independence: "We Had the Responsibility to Proclaim the Catalan Republic"

Source: FRANCE 24 English

The Battle to Host Amazon's 'HQ2'

Source: FRANCE 24 English

Report: First Charges Filed In Mueller’s Russia Probe

 

It is unclear yet who has been indicted or what the charges are in the investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

By Eline Gordts

A federal grand jury in Washington, D.C., reportedly has approved the first charges in the investigation led by special counsel Robert Mueller into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, CNN said Friday evening. 

According to the network, the charges are sealed under order from a federal judge. It remains unclear who has been indicted and on what charges. 

The person or persons indicted could be taken into custody as soon as Monday, CNN said. 

Federal officials have not yet validated the CNN report and a spokesman for Mueller declined to comment to Reuters.

However, if confirmed, it would mark a major development in the special counsel’s probe. “If anybody thinks the Mueller investigation is going to be wrapping up, this decision guarantees it will go well into 2018,” CNN legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin said.

Click here for the full article.

Source: The Huffington Post

President Trump Delivers Remarks on Combating Drug Demand and the Opioid Crisis

This video was published on YouTube on October 26. 

Source: The White House

First Lady Melania Trump Visits Middle School Students in Michigan

Source: The White House

First Lady Melania Trump Announces Halloween at the White House

On Monday, October 30, the White House will open the South Lawn to ghosts and goblins of all ages.

Gates will be open from 4p.m. to 7 p.m. to schoolchildren and parents from over 20 Maryland, Virginia, and District of Columbia schools, as well as military families and community organizations.

During this event, trick-or-treaters will enjoy seeing the South Portico decorated in spider webs, creating a festive look and feel. There will also be bats and orange pumpkins with profiles of past presidents. Fog will fill the air, and the trees and south facade will be lit with different colors throughout the night.

The President and First Lady will hand out cookies created by the White House Pastry Kitchen, as well as Presidential M&M’s and other candies. Various departments and agencies such as the United States Secret Service, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency, National Park Service, and the Department of Education will also be on hand to give out various items and participate in the festivities.

Please note the following items are not allowed on the White House grounds:

Aerosols of any kind

Animals (except guide dogs)

Any pointed object

Backpacks (oversized)

Balloons

Beverages of any kind

Duffle bags and/or suitcases

Electric stun guns

Fireworks / firecrackers

Food of any kind

Guns / ammunition

Insulated metal containers

Knives of any kind

Mace

Selfie sticks

Smoking (including e-cigarettes)

Tablets (including iPads)

Toy weapons of any kind

Water bottles

The Secret Service reserves the right to prohibit any other personal items. However, strollers, wheelchairs, umbrellas (no metal tips), and cameras are permitted. All items needed for medical purposes will be permitted on the tour (such as wheelchairs, electric scooters, glucose tablets, and EpiPens).  Please identify and explain all items needed for medical purposes to Secret Service agents upon arrival.

In the event of inclement weather, the event may be cancelled.  Please call the 24-hour information line at (202) 456-7041 to check on the status of the event.  

Source: The White House, Office of the First Lady

The Power of the Pen: Bills Signed into Law

 

On Thursday, October 26, 2017, the President signed into law:

H.R. 2266, the “Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Requirements Act, 2017,” which division A provides additional FY 2018 emergency supplemental funding for hurricane and wildfire relief and recovery efforts. Division B extends temporary bankruptcy judgeships in specified districts, authorizes four additional temporary bankruptcy judgeships, and increases the fee payable to the U.S. Trustee for bankruptcy cases; and 

S. 585, the “Dr. Chris Kirkpatrick Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017,” which modifies existing whistleblower protections for Federal employees and to require the Department of Veterans Affairs to create a plan to prevent unauthorized access to medical records of its employees. 

Source: The White House, Office of the Press Secretary

Defense Secretary Mattis Visits DMZ: 'Our Goal Is Not War'

 

This video was published on YouTube on October 27, 2017. 

U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis and Republic of Korea Minister of National Defense, Song Young-moo give brief comments during a tour of the DMZ at the Joint Security Area that separates North Korea and South Korea. 

Source: Aiir Source Military

Workplace Efforts to Combat Sexual Harassment

Emily Martin of the National Women’s Law Center discusses private sector efforts designed to combat sexual harassment.

Source: C-SPAN 

'Flashback Friday': Jesse Ventura Victory Speech (Election Night, 1998)

Trailblazers in Black History: Dr. Frances Cress Welsing

Dr. Frances Cress Welsing was an American Afrocentrist psychiatrist. Her 1970 essay, The Cress Theory of Color-Confrontation and Racism, offered her interpretation on the origins of what she described as white supremacy culture.

This video was published on YouTube on September 3, 2013.

Click here for additional information.

Malcolm X - Movements in Harlem

Source: Donnie Mossberg

DL Hughley: Donald Trump's Approval Rating & Losing Support

This video was published on October 26. 

Source: MoorInfo

Family of Slain NYS Parole Officer to Appear at House of Justice

On October 28 at 9 a.m., National Action Network Founder and President Rev. Al Sharpton will host  the family of New York State Parole Officer Sandy Guardiola at the House of Justice, 106 West 145th Street in Harlem. 

Officer Guardiola was killed by Canandaigua police on October 4, 2017. She was off-duty and in her apartment when the shooting took place.

This will be the first public statement by the family since the incident.

The address and rally will be broadcast on WLIB 1190 AM. It will also be available at www.nationalactionnetwork.net and on the IMPACT Television Network.

Source: Mercury

Lawmaker Frederica Wilson Faces Threats After Criticizing Trump

 

by The Associated Press

WASHINGTON — A Democratic congresswoman is facing threats after she criticized President Donald Trump over his remarks to the widow of a soldier killed in Niger, her office said Thursday.

Four-term Rep. Frederica Wilson has remained in Florida this past week and missed several House votes, including Thursday's close budget vote.

"She chose to stay home for safety reasons. We have received a lot of threats. She will be returning next week," said Joyce Jones, a spokeswoman for Wilson. 

Click here for the full article.

Source: NBC News

Mississippi School to Allow ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ to be Optional After Backlash

by Chandelis R. Duster 

A Mississippi school that gained national attention after removing "To Kill A Mockingbird" from its eighth-grade required reading list will now allow the novel to be taught as an option.

Biloxi Junior High School, in Biloxi, Mississippi, removed the book originally after complaints of offensive language earlier this month. But in a letter to parents and students on Monday, the school's principal, Scott Powell, said the novel will be an optional read for students and not be a requirement.

Click here for the full article. 

Source: NBC News

Corey Feldman Seeks Help in Exposing Hollywood Pedophile Ring

Corey Feldman has created a new INDIGOGO campaign, but this time its not to raise $ for an album, or tour, but it is about something much more important. Corey is attempting to make his life story into a Major Motion Picture. His idea was created in response to the tens of thousands of comments he receives urging him to come forward with details about his abusers while growing up as a child in the industry.  

This video was published on October 25.

Source: Corey Feldman 

 

Trump Calls Opioid Crisis a 'National Shame'

Source: CBS News

'Nobody Called 911': Witnesses Rob, Take Photos of Unconscious Woman

Source: CBS News

Inside the Secret Mission That Got a Navy SEAL Killed in Africa

A Daily Beast Exclusive

An exclusive investigation into the fatal final days of SEAL Team 6 member Kyle Milliken in Somalia.
 

By Christina Goldbaum

MOGADISHU, Somalia—If it weren’t for the shot that killed Navy SEAL Kyle Milliken, villagers in Daarasalaam, Somalia, might not have noticed anything amiss that night in May. For hours earlier, Milliken and his team had moved silently through the town, leaving boot prints that sank into the wet gray clay, and at least five dead bodies in their wake. Only when an Al Shabaab militant, concealed beneath the low-hanging branch of a mango tree, spotted Milliken standing over the bodies of two fellow fighters and fired did the silence that evening finally break.

The militant’s shots fatally wounded Milliken and led to a messy, hours-long evacuation that ended as the sun started to climb over the horizon that morning. The team left syringes, bandages, and muddy footprints that hardened in the blazing heat the following day, and the villagers of Daarasalaam retraced the team’s steps, piecing together a narrative of the raid that had resulted in the first U.S. combat death in Somalia since the infamous Black Hawk Down incident in 1993.

In recent weeks, the death of four U.S. Special Forces soldiers in Niger on Oct. 4 has lead some in the United States to question the presence and activities of U.S. soldiers in Africa. The secrecy of U.S. Africa Command or AFRICOM and of American Special Operations Forces has exacerbated suspicions about the dangers they face in roles often described only as “advisors,” and the U.S. government’s findings about that incident may never be made public in their entirety.

But an extensive investigation by The Daily Beast has given us some important details about the equally secretive mission in which Milliken was killed. And while that incident occurred five months prior to the American deaths in Niger, and on the other side of the continent, it provides important insight into the nature of AFRICOM’s operations and the actual risks involved for U.S. troops, their allies, and local populations. 

Click here for the full article. 

Military Times Poll: What You Really Think About Trump

 

By Leo Shane III

President Donald Trump enjoys far stronger support among members of the military than the American public at large, according to the latest scientific Military Times poll.

Yet while Trump is especially popular among enlisted troops, officers have a much lower opinion of him.

And women and minorities in the ranks share similar skepticism.

Overall, about 44 percent of all troops surveyed in the Military Times poll have a favorable view of Trump, while roughly 40 percent have an unfavorable opinion of him. That’s a stark contrast to opinion polls of the general public, which have shown Trump’s popularity at less than 40 percent and an unfavorable rating as high as 56 percent.

Yet, the poll of more than 1,100 active-duty troops, conducted in September, shows a deep divide over service members’ opinions of the commander in chief, whose first nine months in office have been marked by military policies that have drawn both praise and concern from Pentagon leaders.

While almost 48 percent of enlisted troops approve of Trump, only about 30 percent of officers say the same, the poll shows.

Click here for the full article. 

SPLC to Senate: Colleges Must Uphold Free Speech But Can Denounce Racist Speakers

SPLC President Richard Cohen testified today before the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions about the responsibility of universities to uphold the First Amendment rights of controversial speakers. It's an issue that schools are confronting in the wake of deadly violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, and a white nationalist movement emboldened by President Trump’s rhetoric. Read more of his remarks to the committee.

Click here for the full article. 

Source: The Southern Poverty Law Center