Local News for April 25, 2023

- Montour Falls Gets National Energy Award -

The village of Montour Falls has earned an award from the U.S. Department of Energy for its waste reduction efforts. The Finger Lakes Daily News reports the village got a 2023 Better Project award for a pilot program that taught residents and businesses about food waste reduction. The program happened in 2021 and resulted in removing 156 tons of CO2 from the waste system. That’s equal the amount of energy used by 35 gasoline-powered cars or trucks. The village then created a permanent waste reduction education program.

- New York To Preserve Untested Rape Kits in New Storage Facility -

New York has a new storage facility for untested sexual assault kits. The Albany Times Union reports it may be the first of its kind in the country. Evidence can be stored for up to 20 years. Preserving the kits will give alleged victims more time to decide whether to file charges. The location of the facility is not being made public. Eventually it will accept evidence from all across the state. Medical facilities are moving evidence into storage in phases.