Cannabis licenses issued. CapRegion gets four. North Country, one.
The Capital Region has been issued four of the 36 retail cannabis sales permits by the State Cannabis Control Board, the Albany Business Journal says. The licenses are for retail dispensaries, the places that will sell recreational cannabis for off-site use, like a liquor store but for pot. Three retailers with a business presence in Albany and one in Scotia have been awarded licenses. They will set up shop in locations selected and leased by the state. Brent Rogers won a license to sell in the “North Country,” the list of cannabis retailers says.
Stefanik balks at WIC’s milk reduction.
U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, is protesting proposed changes to the federal WIC program which provides food vouchers to pregnant mothers and their young children. In the proposed regulations, the program has reduced the amount of milk allowable to purchase with the vouchers. The U.S. Department of Agriculture said the proposed changes aim to encourage breastfeeding over bottles and to balance nutritional needs, a story in the Post-Star says. The public can weigh in on the proposed regulations through Feb. 21.
Rutland County sheriff deputy, identified, placed on unpaid leave.
The off-duty Rutland County, Vermont, sheriff’s deputy, involved in Sunday’s shooting in downtown Saratoga Springs, has been identified to the public and placed on unpaid leave, the Daily Gazette is reporting. He apparently is a resident of Glens Falls. The officer, Vito Caselnova IV, was in stable condition Monday at Albany Medical Center. He had been shot 10 times. [Some of the shots were from Saratoga Springs Police but others may have come from the man Caselnova was apparently arguing with, officials have told FoothillsBusinessDaily.com.] Caselnova carried a non-Vermont-department-issued weapon and has been placed on unpaid leave, the story says.
SUNY Poly loses President, again.
Tod Laursen, the latest president to run SUNY Polytechnic, will step down Dec. 14, about two years after he stepped into the role. The college was rocked six years ago when then-President Alain Kaloyeros resigned and was convicted of rigging construction contracts for donors to former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's campaign. The U.S. Supreme Court will hear an appeal. The school does not have a permanent replacement, the Times Union is reporting.
Just in time for the biggest shopping weekend of the year…
Saratoga Living has a holiday gift guide put together by Instagrammers in the area who shop local. [We’ll have a story on shopping local later today. Watch for it.]