Headlines for December 19, 2022

Ithaca Charity to Help Ukrainian Students

The Ithaca Rotary Club has started a campaign to help maintain an underground bomb shelter in Ukraine. Located at a high school with more than 1,000 students in Liev, the fundraiser will cover the costs of electric heaters, benches, windows, toilet, and a medical office. As of now, students spend up to four hours every day in the underground shelter, which is uncomfortably furnished and holds only four portable toilets. You can learn more at ithacarotary.com.  

New York Closes Valve on Puppy Mill Pipeline

According to the Times Union, Governor Hochul has signed a bill into law banning the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits from out-of-state animal mills at New York retail stores. Dubbed the Puppy Mill Pipeline Act, the bill is an effort to combat inhumane breeding practices. It passed through both the State Assembly and Senate with bipartisan support. New York will be the sixth state to pass such a pet sale ban. The Department of Agriculture and Markets reported in July that there are nearly 80 pet stores registered in the state that have been accused of purchasing animals from unethical commercial breeders. Opponents of the bill claim that the legislation will damage the industry and contribute to job losses, and “make acquiring a pet even harder for working-class New Yorkers.” 

Report: New York Prisoner Overdose Rates Two Times National Average

The Times Union reports that prison overdose rates in New York State have grown to more than double that of the rest of the nation. In 2020, 31 incarcerated people died in New York. This has triggered public scrutiny and calls to improve correctional practices and the living conditions of inmates. An October report released by the State Attorney General’s office outlines steps to reduce inmate deaths including enacting additional screenings and examining medical records to check for signals of drug abuse. The report also recommends equipping officers with Narcan, a life saving drug that counters the effects of an opioid overdose but is often only carried by medical staff.