Local News: January 18, 2024

- TCAT announces Spring schedule, some routes will still be limited -

The Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit (TCAT) the county’s public bus service announced its Spring schedule. Many of the route cutbacks from the fall will remain in place. TCAT says they have hired some new drivers but not as many as they need. The other problem they had was a supply chain shortage that delayed bus repairs. TCAT says that’s improving and buses can be repaired more quickly.

- Hochul proposed repeal of potency tax may help state’s legal marijuana economy -

Governor Kathy Hochul’s budget includes a proposal to repeal the state’s “potency tax” on marijuana products. Industry stakeholders say it would encourage more people to buy from legal retailers. The Albany Times Union reports the tax would be replaced with a 9 percent excise tax. Some growers and retailers prefer replacing the potency tax with a flat-rate tax similar to a legislative proposal introduced last year. The legal marijuana industry has faced setbacks over the past 2 years. Licensed growers cultivated about 300,000 pounds of marijuana in 2022. Most of it was never sold and rotted in storage as the state tried to set up ways for farmers and retailers to connect.

- Quaker Oats expands its national product recall -

Quaker Oats has expanded the recall of products first announced in December. The products could be contaminated with Salmonella. Salmonella can cause serious illness that is sometimes fatal, especially for young children, elderly people, and those with weakened immune systems. The FDA has posted a list of the latest recalled items. They include several versions of Cap’n Crunch cereal bars, some Quaker Chewy Granola Bars, and cereals. Consumers should check for the recalled items and dispose of them. A complete list of all the recalled products can be found at QuakerRecallUSA.com.