New Discount Card Will Make Drugs More Affordable

Nearly half a million New Yorkers will soon be able to buy prescription drugs at a more affordable price. A new pharmaceutical card, included in this year's health budget, will allow people between the ages of 50 and 64 to buy generic medications at a 30 to 60 percent discount.

Those who are 65 and older already have comprehensive drug coverage through the state's Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage program. These new cards will assist some of those who have fallen through the cracks.

State Budget Now a Week Late..

Lawmakers are back to work in Albany today, attempting to pass a state budget that is already a week late.

Budget bills were printed over the weekend so they are ready to be presented before legislators in preparation for this afternoon's sessions.

Leaders in both chambers hope to have the 124 billion dollar spending plan in place by the end of the day.

Union Attempting to Block Police Merger

The merger of police departments in the town of Clay and the Onondaga County Sheriff's Office seemed well on its way to a reality. But not so fast.

The Clay Police Benevolent Association, Clay's union for police officers, says that town officials violated a state labor law by not talking with the union before reaching a merger decision.

The state's 40-year-old "Taylor Law" states that all public employers must make agreements with public employee organizations regarding their employees' terms and conditions of employment.

Clay Town Supervisor Jim Rowley says he believes the town is within its rights to make the merger.

Under the plan, all of Clay's 16 full-time officers would be absorbed into the county Sheriff's office. Clay officials say the town will save $1 million in the first year, and as much as $17 million over 10 years.

Syracuse Neighborhood Initiative Vote Today

The Syracuse Common Council will vote today on spending $600,000 for housing initiatives in Eastwood and the South Side.

Most of the money, $500,000, comes from the sale of the Trolley Lot from the city to Onondaga County. This money is proposed to be used for the construction of five residential properties by Home Headquarters, Inc. According to the Syracuse Common Council agenda, these properties are located at 111, 135, 152, 217, and 229 West Kennedy Street.

This project is part of the Syracuse Neighborhood Initiative, which "is working to improve the quality of life in Syracuse neighborhoods by involving residents in efforts to make their communities better, healthier environments."

Reporter Maite De La Rosa will have the results of the Common Council meeting, and what this means for neighborhood, later this afternoon.

Airline Quality Complaints on the Rise

Lost baggage, bumped passengers, and flight delays - a recipe for disaster; and it continues to get worse.

The annual Airline Quality Rating survey released today found that overall, the industry did a poor job last year, and consumer complaints were up 60 percent.

This past year "was the worst year ever for the U.S. airlines," said Brent Bowen, a study co-author and professor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha's Aviation Institute. "Overall operational performance and quality declined once again to the lowest level that it's ever been."

AirTran and Jet Blue have taken the top spots, and were followed by Southwest, Northwest, and Frontier airlines. At the bottom of the list sat Atlantic Southeast Airlines. US Airways had the most complaints out of all airlines.

The study, compiled annually since 1991, is sponsored by the Aviation Institute at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and by Wichita State University.

Reporter John Thompson will have an update from Syracuse Hancock Airport with more from the Department of Aviation and Central New Yorkers on airline quality.

Yahoo Wants Better Deal

Internet giant Yahoo Inc, officially opposed a deal today with the world's largest software maker, Microsoft. This decision comes after a statement by Microsoft over the weekend, warning Yahoo that if a deal isn't reached by April 26th, it will begin a hostile takeover at a less attractive price.

Microsoft's initial offer for Yahoo, made on February 1st, was valued at $44.6 billion, 62 percent above Yahoo's market value. As of Friday, the deal dropped to just under $41 billion.

Yahoo's executive board formally rejected Microsoft's bid on February 11th, saying that it undervalues the company.

"We are not opposed to a transaction with Microsoft if it is in the best interests of our stockholders," said Yahoo Chief Executive Jerry Yang and Chairman Roy Bostock in a letter to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. "Our position is simply that any transaction must be at a value that fully reflects the value of Yahoo, including any strategic benefits to Microsoft, and on terms that provide certainty to our stockholders."

Since rejecting Microsoft's bid, Yahoo has looked at exploring alliances with Google Inc., MySpace.com, and AOL, but no offers have surfaced.

Ballmer acknowledged the other negotiations, but wondered why Yahoo was still dragging its heels when they have another offer on the table.

"This is despite the fact that our proposal is the only alternative put forward that offers your shareholders full and fair value for their shares," Ballmer wrote in the letter.

Bringing Life Back to Neighborhoods

Congressman Jim Walsh and Syracuse Mayor Matt Driscoll have announced a plan to spend $1 milllion to restore rundown parts of six Syracuse neighborhoods. The neighborhoods include the Valley, Westlawn, Eastwood, the Near West Side, Prospect Hill and Tipperary Hill.

The money comes from federal funds Walsh funnels into Syracuse from Washington through his federal program the Syracuse Neighborhood Initiative. Since SNI began seven years ago, Walsh has brought nearly $50 million to Syracuse to help renovate rundown, abandoned buildings and build new homes. Before Walsh retires at the start of 2009, he will bring two more rounds of federal money to the city's neighborhoods. A portion of this round of $1 million dollars will be used to provide home improvement grants to people who can't afford to make necessary home repairs.

Amanda Pascall works for Home HeadQuarters--a non profit agency that distributes home improvement grants and provides housing advice. Pascall says making these home repairs is often necessary to avoid the abandonment of another building in Syracuse. But there are strings attached to the federal money. Only people who have homeowners insurance and who are paid up on their taxes and water bill qualify for the federal aid. But Pascall says those who don't qualify need the money the most. Many peoples' homes are so rundown they can't get insurance until repairs are made.

Pascall says federal money is a huge help, but since it can't help everyone other investors need to be considered. The Gifford Foundation is a private, charitable organization in Syracuse that gives out home improvement grants from an endowment left by the late Rosamond Gifford in the amount of $27 million. Rosamond Gifford was the only child of one of the most prominent families in Syracuse and left her inheritance to the city.

Pascall says it takes money from Congressman Walsh's Syracuse Neighborhood Initiative and private investors to help fix up rundown neighborhoods.