5 things to know this New Year's Day
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10)-- Happy New Year! Meteorologist Kevin Appleby says today's temperatures will be in the low-40s with a cool rain. A wind advisory has also been issued for later today into Thursday.
New details about the injuries Robert Brooks sustained have been released. The City of Albany has a new speed limit starting today and New York has issued new laws for the new year. These stories, and more, are in your five things to know this New Year's Day.
1. Autopsy details Robert Brooks’ multiple injuries from deadly beating: Court paperwork
Robert Brooks, the Greece man who died just one day after being beaten as an inmate at Marcy Correctional Facility earlier this month, suffered multiple horrific injuries, according to new court paperwork.
The document, referencing the autopsy conducted at the Onondaga County Medical Examiner’s Office, wrote Brooks had suffered “multiple soft tissue hemorrhage of the muscles of the anterior right and left sides of the neck, hemorrhage overlaying of the thyroid cartilage, hemorrhage of the genital area soft tissues, the penis and both testes.”
2. Mayor reminds Albany drivers speed limit changes coming soon
Albany has implemented many traffic calming measures like speed humps, red light traffic cameras and more recently those school zone cameras. But come January 1 most roads in the city will drop to 25 MPH.
"We got the authority to reduce the speed limit. We did the study that was required by the state and we found that most of our streets we can lower that speed limit to 25 MPH," said Mayor Kathy Sheehan.
She said the speed limit reduction will bring the city one step closer to safer streets.
3. Deadline approaching for firefighter civil service exams
Local Fire Departments have responded to multiple fires throughout the Capital Region this winter. Making the job even more of a challenge, staffing issues. Schenectady is looking to fill 15 positions. Becoming a firefighter starts with the civil service exam. Test guides and resource booklets are available online.
The deadline to apply can vary based on each city. You’ll have to visit the Civil Service website in the city you wish to apply for. In Schenectady, the last day to apply is January 13. The exam takes place March 1.
4. New law to make EpiPens cheaper in New York
According to Governor Kathy Hochul’s Office, EpiPens can cost upwards of $600 for a pack of two. The governor recently signed a new law requiring insurance companies to cover the cost of EpiPens.
It would cap the amount people would have to pay out-of-pocket to $100.
5. DEC announces new freshwater wetlands regulations
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced on Tuesday new regulations to protect freshwater wetlands across the state. The changes, most of which will go into effect on Wednesday, will expand protection to around 1 million additional acres of marshes, swamps, sloughs and bogs.