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Cigarette tax set to rise $1 come September

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:57:45 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (WTEN) -- Taxes on cigarettes will be raised by one dollar come September 1. This is part of the Governor’s "Lead the Way For a Tobacco Free Generation," but where does the tax money on cigarettes go? And will the price change actually lead to people quitting? Our Capitol Correspondent, Amal Tlaige spoke with experts and has those answers. DEC: Backpacker encounters a bear in Greene County "New York is in a really interesting spot when it comes to raising its cigarette taxes; it already has the highest cigarette tax rate in the country," said Adam Hoffer, Director of Excise Tax Policy at the Tax Foundation. In September, taxes on cigarettes will amount to $5.35 a pack. Hoffer weighed in on whether or not this will lead to more people quitting, "Fewer people will buy it, but the real question is how many fewer? And when something that’s addictive, the answer is very few people will actually quit smoking because of this one dollar per pack tax increase." And where exac...

Albany man pleads guilty to manslaughter

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:57:45 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The suspect linked to the fatal shooting of Czsar Lewis in October pled guilty to second-degree murder in court on Tuesday. Laquan Fallen, 24, also pled guilty to criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The indictment alleges that Fallen caused the death of Lewis by shooting him with an illegal handgun. Sentencing is scheduled for September 29.

Mourners in Ireland pay their respects to singer Sinéad O'Connor at funeral procession

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:57:45 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Sinéad O’Connor was remembered Tuesday for bringing “joy to countless people the world over” and then honored by emotional fans who thronged the streets of the Irish coastal town she had called home. They sang “Nothing Compares 2 U” as a hearse passed by carrying the singer's casket to its final resting place. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The funeral held for loved ones and friends reflected her spirituality and the impact she had on her homeland and the music world. Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar and President Michael Higgins attended along with musical luminaries such as Bono of U2 and Bob Geldof of the Boomtown Rats.But the procession to a cemetery for a private burial reflected the broader impact of her life on devotees moved by her pure voice and emotional depth and touched by her sometimes troubled life. Hundreds of people made the pilgrimage to her former home in Bray, the seaside village south of Dub...

Car intentionally crashed into 2nd floor of Pennsylvania home, authorities say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:57:45 GMT

MIFFLIN COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — A driver is facing charges after authorities said he intentionally crashed a car into the second floor of a Pennsylvania home over the weekend. Shortly after 3 p.m. on Sunday, Junction Fire Company said it was called to assist the Decatur Volunteer Fire Company with a reported vehicle accident on Alfarata Road in Decatur Township, about 120 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Upon arrival, responders found a vehicle had crashed into the second floor of the home. The driver had already been removed from the car, according to a spokesperson with the fire department. Three people were inside the home when it was hit.The driver, identified by Pennsylvania State Police as 20-year-old Evan Miller, was transported to a nearby hospital with undisclosed injuries. Authorities have not said if any others were injured. Fatal crash under investigation in Highland According to Juncti...

Grandfather charged after child's gun death in Berkeley

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:57:45 GMT

BERKELEY, Mo. - A man faces criminal charges in connection with the death of a seven-year-old child fatally shot himself while allegedly playing with a gun Monday. Prosecutors have charged Walter Macon, 45, with one count of endangering the welfare of a child (leading to death) and armed criminal action. The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office has identified his grandson, Darnell Macon, as the victim. A spokesperson for the Berkeley Police Department says the shooting happened around 10:20 a.m. Monday at the Mint Townhomes in the 6700 block of Larry Lane. Investigators believe the shooting was accidental. 5-year-old girl shot and killed in Belleville, Illinois According to court documents obtained by FOX 2, Macon was loading studio recording equipment into his truck and allowed his grandson to enter the car. The victim was left alone in the car for around five minutes. During that time, he made his way up to the front seat and found a loaded handgun between the driver's...

Man fatally shot by police officer in small southeast Missouri town

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:57:45 GMT

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. (AP) — A man died after he was shot by a police officer in a small town in southeast Missouri.The shooting happened around 8:30 p.m. Monday in Poplar Bluff, a town of about 16,000 residents 150 miles (241 kilometers) southwest of St. Louis. The name of the man killed has not been released, KFVS-TV reported.Police said an officer responding to a wellness check call found a man lying under a vehicle. The officer learned the man had an active warrant for assault. Anheuser-Busch selling 8 beer, beverage brands to cannabis company As a second officer arrived, the man got into the vehicle and locked himself inside, eventually accelerating in reverse, nearly striking an officer, police said.One of the officers shot the man, who was pronounced dead at the scene.The Missouri State Highway Patrol is investigating.

Biden creates new national monument near Grand Canyon, citing tribal heritage, climate concerns

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:57:45 GMT

By CHRIS MEGERIAN and TERRY TANG (Associated Press)GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz. (AP) — Declaring it good “not only for Arizona but for the planet,” President Joe Biden on Tuesday signed a national monument designation for the greater Grand Canyon, turning the decades-long visions of Native American tribes and environmentalists into reality. Coming as Biden is on a three-state Western trip, the move will help preserve about 1,562 square miles (4,046 square kilometers) just to the north and south of Grand Canyon National Park. It was Biden’s fifth monument designation. Tribes in Arizona have been pushing the president to use his authority under the Antiquities Act of 1906 to create a new national monument called Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni. “Baaj Nwaavjo” means “where tribes roam,” for the Havasupai people, while “I’tah Kukveni” translates to “our footprints,” for the Hopi tribe.“Preserving t...

Stone Brewing, USC partner for school's first official beer

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:57:45 GMT

One of California's most beloved breweries has partnered with one of its most iconic universities to release a special beer just in time for the fall semester.Stone Brewing and the University of Southern California have released Stone Fight On! Pale Ale, which is brewed by the Escondido-based company and celebrates USC athletics.The new craft brew will be the first official beer of the USC Trojans and will be available to purchase throughout Southern California, including at the Los Angeles Coliseum and Galen Center.Stone Brewing describes the Fight On! Pale Ale as a "quintessential" Southern California pale ale that's light-bodied and features a balance of tropical and citrusy hop flavors. "Stone's brewers developed the beer to offer that hoppiness Southern Californians crave in a style that suits tailgates, beach days, and cheering from the stands or at home," the company said in a release.Drew DeHart, vice president and general manager of USC Sports Properties, said the school ha...

UC schools admit record number of California applicants; Latino students lead the pack

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:57:45 GMT

The University of California system announced Tuesday that it had admitted a record number of California applicants for the upcoming fall 2023 semester, with Latinos students leading the pack.About 37.6% of students admitted to UC colleges this year are Latino, a slight increase from last year, when 37.3% of first-year students were Latino. Latino students were once again the largest ethnic group among incoming California freshmen, according to the report. California grad student commutes to class by plane to save on rent Overall this year, the UC system welcomes its largest class of underrepresented students. Aside from Latino students, about 34.2% are Asian-American students, 5.5% are Black students and about 1% are American Indians from California.American Indian representation on UC college campuses grew overall, increasing by 11.6% since 2022, according to the report.In total, the number of first-year students admitted from underrepresented groups increased by 1,494 students,...

Woman fatally shot after fight in Pasadena

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:57:45 GMT

A shooting in Pasadena left a woman dead Tuesday morning.A fight at about 1:11 a.m., and when officers arrived at the 2000 block of North Fair Oaks Avenue, they found a woman in her 30s suffering from a gunshot wound, according to the Pasadena Police Department.The melee had gotten physical before the fatal shot was fired, according to Lt. Cuellar.The woman was taken to a local hospital in critical condition, and she later died there. The relationship between the woman and her alleged shooter, a man in his 50s, has not been released, but Cuellar said this is not a case of domestic violence.The alleged shooter is in custody, and a homicide investigation is ongoing.Nancy Fontan and Sofia Pop Perez contributed to this report.