April 13th, 2022 Daily Headlines

Yesterday, New York Lieutenant Governor Brian Benjamin resigned after being arrested in a federal corruption investigation. According to the Associated Press, Benjamin was indicted for allegedly participating in a scheme to obtain campaign contributions from a real-estate developer. The suit alleges that, in exchange for the campaign contribution, Benjamin would use his position to help obtain a $50,000 grant for a non-profit controlled by the developer. Benjamin now faces charges of bribery, fraud, conspiracy, and falsification of records. The same day Benjamin pled not guilty and was released on $250,000 bail. Governor Hochul selected Benjamin as Lieutenant Governor just seven months ago following her ascension from that post. Benjamin is currently the Democratic party designee for the Lieutenant Governor’s nomination in 2022. He was set to face activist Ana Maria Archila and former Deputy Brooklyn Borough President Diana Reyna in a statewide primary.

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The Park Center for Independent Media has announced the 2022 Izzy Award for independent journalism will be given to Greg B. Smith and Jeni Monet. According to the Ithacan, Smith’s work uncovered 5,000 public housing apartments in New York City containing lead paint. Monet has covered historic violence and injustice against indigionous people. The school will also be honoring the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, the Better Government Association, and Block Club Chicago.

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The Coddington Road Community Center in Ithaca is planning to undergo a $4.8 million expansion of its childcare facility. According to the Ithaca Voice, the expansion has been in the works for years, but was set back by the COVID-19 pandemic. Tompkins has a shortage of childcare capacity and the county was classified as a “childcare desert” by the Center for American Progress. Between 2002 and 2020 the availability of childcare slots decreased by 68 percent in Tompkins county.