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Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay

Recent Synthetic Drug Outbreak Once Again Points to Need to Strengthen Laws

Earlier this month, it was reported that more than 130 people overdosed on K2, a synthetic drug, in New York City. Emergency responders and eye witnesses stated people were lying on the sidewalks and leaning up against trees and shaking due to the effects from the drugs. While the news media hasn’t reported an outbreak of this magnitude in some time, synthetic drugs are clearly still an underlying problem in communities across the state.

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Ritchie

Getting To Know Your Hometown Heroes

Recently, I had the honor of recognizing many of our “hometown heroes” at my Veterans Hall of Fame ceremony, an annual event that pays tribute to the sacrifices of men and women who have served as members of the United States Armed Forces, and have gone on to make a difference in their communities in their post-military lives.

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Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay

Access to Breast Cancer Screening Improves

There are an estimated 15,000 women diagnosed each year with breast cancer in New York. According the American Cancer Society, an estimated 90 out of 100 women survive breast cancer for five years or more after being diagnosed but we need to do more to improve those rates with early detection. In this legislative session, we passed a bill that will increase access to screenings and remove financial barriers.

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Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay

Maple Syrup in New York Breaks Record; Seniors Can Qualify for Fresh, Local Produce

This year’s maple syrup production season broke a 70-year-old state record. Maple producers recorded collecting more than 700,000 gallons of maple syrup, which was an 18% increase over the harvest in 2015. Warmer-than-normal temperatures extended the maple syrup season and the number of taps also increased. In fact, producers recorded the most taps since 1947.

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Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay

Lessons From Brexit

The vote earlier this month in the United Kingdom to leave the European Union (“Brexit”) has raised the question as to whether something similar could happen here in New York State. More specifically, could Upstate New York vote to secede from New York City and Long Island and form its own state. This issue of secession is not a new one. However, the movement has gained momentum in recent years.

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Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay

End of Session Wraps up with Changes to Heroin Treatment, Some Ethics

The 2016 state legislative session ended in the early morning hours of June 18 after a long week of debate and votes on hundreds of bills. Notwithstanding the broken legislative process, the Legislature and the Governor were able to come to agreement on several pieces of key legislation that will benefit New York.

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Ritchie

Get A Taste of Summer At Your Local Farmers’ Market

Summer in Central and Northern New York, it’s a time for getting outside, enjoying the warm weather, and of course, visiting our local farmers’ market to take advantage of all the fresh, local flavors of the season. Throughout Jefferson, St. Lawrence and Oswego counties, there are dozens of markets that offer everything from direct from the farm fruits and vegetables, to locally produced food and handmade wares.

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