Menlo Micro secures financing, looks to Capital Region
Menlo Micro, a semiconductor startup based in California, is looking to site a $150 million manufacturing facility. As the company looks, it has secured $150 million in C funding, mainly aimed at the construction, a story in the Albany Business Journal says. Menlo Micro is considering sites in New York state, California, Texas and Florida, according to the story. The company likes the looks of the Capital Region because of the strong base of semiconductor expertise already here, the story says.
Climate is topic of Women’s Day event
Solutions to the global climate crisis take local efforts, leaders from the North Country Earth Action group told those gathered at the Sixth Annual International Women’s Day Luncheon at The Park Theater in Glens Falls, the Post-Star is reporting. More women need to be at the decision-making table, said one leader, adding that the groups need to lobby John Kerry, the special presidential envoy for climate, and that they need to pay attention to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s climate actions.
Stefanik introduces veterans legislation
Legislation introduced by U.S. Rep. Elise Stafanik, called the Ernest Peltz Accrued Veterans Benefit Act, would release pension benefits to the “eligible survivor” and expand the timeline to include the month of death a family can receive the accrued veteran benefits. It is aimed to speed up the payout of accrued benefits and make sure surviving family can get the benefits, a story in the Post-Star says. Democrats running to oust her say she could have voted yes on earlier legislation aimed at helping veterans.
Landfill or recycle, the cost is the issue in Schenectady
Processing recyclable materials already costs 39% more than moving it to a landfill, and it may go higher in Schenectady, a story in the Daily Gazette says. The economics have shifted and recyclables such as cans and plastic bottles are not as valuable as they have been in recent years, so municipalities must pay more for that waste to be processed. Schenectady pays $61.80 per ton of recyclables and $44.34 per ton of landfill trash, the story says.
Montagnino: Don’t overwork the police
Saratoga Springs Commissioner of Public Safety James Montagnino says the newly established 12-hour work shift for city police will cause officer fatigue and carelessness, a story in the Times Union says. The police moved to the longer workday last spring before Montagnino was elected, and he says many studies show sleepiness is a bigger problem for officers on 12-hour shifts instead of 8-hour shifts, adding that people underestimate just how fatigued they are, the story says.
Cannabis industry is green and white, not black or brown
A rally by the Cannabis Social Equity Coalition focused on the equity provisions in the New York State cannabis laws and regulations that are supposed to help black and brown entrepreneurs gain entry into the field, given that marijuana arrests more heavily affected people of color, than white people, in the past. The coalition fears the provision might be weakening, a story in the Times Union says. They see the bill Gov. Kathy Hochul signed allowing some farms to begin growing without full licensing as favoring white farmers who were already growing hemp.