Local News for Tuesday, February 7, 2023

Zeldin Hints at Potential Senate Run Against Senator Gillibrand

On Monday, Republican Lee Zeldin, declined to rule out a potential senate seat bid against Senator Kristin Gillibrand. Zeldin, a former New York State Senator and Congressman, narrowly lost the New York’s gubernatorial race to Kathy Hochul in November. According to the Times Union, he appeared at an Albany news conference Monday with New York’s Conservative party and announced the creation of a federal political action committee. He added the new account would not be managed by his longtime treasurer Nancy Marks. Marks has drawn recent criticism for her work with George Santos whose campaign finances have drawn scrutiny from the FEC and the Justice Department. 

Ithaca Settles with Opioid Firm

The city of Ithaca will receive $25,000 from Israeli owned pharmaceutical company Teva. The settlement is part of a national settlement of claims that it contributed to the opioid epidemic. On Wednesday, Ithaca’s Common council unanimously approved a resolution to settle the Teva lawsuit without discussion. In January, Schuyler County, which has about half as many people as the city of Ithaca, settled with Teva for $116,000. Nationwide, the company has agreed to pay up to $4.25 billion, including $525 million in New York. According to the Ithaca Voice, the settlement did not require Teva to admit to being guilty of the claims.

IFC Lifts Ban on Cornell Fraternity Events for the Spring Semester

Cornell University’s Interfraternity Council has lifted their ban on all frat parties and social events. In November, fraternity presidents and the IFC voted unanimously to suspend Greek events after Cornell Police released crime alerts of mutiple alleged instances of drugging and one sexual assault during parties. The suspensions continued for the rest of the semester. According to the Cornell Daily Sun, IFC President Rocco DeLorenzo, and director of sorority and fraternity life Kara Miller, outlined new sexual violence prevention and risk management reforms that chapters must fulfill in order to hold social events for the Spring semester.