Randy Gorbman

There are new guidelines from the federal government that could help hemp farmers in New York state expand their operations.

The news comes from Senator Chuck Schumer.  The Senate Minority Leader and New York Democrat says that the Federal Reserve and other federal agencies have confirmed that it is legal for banks to provide services to industry hemp-oriented businesses and farms.

What do Rochester, Los Angeles, Orlando and Washington D.C. have in common?  They are all on the list of the 9 best cities in America to visit in 2020.

The list was put together by Smarter Travel, which Don Jeffries of the local tourism group Visit Rochester said is a well-read magazine in the travel industry. The article references new growth and revitalization in Rochester, as well as special events next year such as the 100^th anniversary of the 19^th amendment which granted women the right to vote and the 200^th birthday of Susan B. Anthony.

Finger Lakes Community College has received the largest gift in its history. The Sands Family Foundation will donate $3 million to FLCC to help it more than double its nursing program.

The donation will cover nearly half the cost of an expanded wing at the main campus in Canandaigua. It will be called the Sands Center for Allied Health.

Besides the associate degree program FLCC now has for registered nursing, the college will also launch a licensed practical nursing certificate program.

A Geneva company, RealEats America is the $1 million winner of the Grow-NY business competition.

It was the first year for the Grow-NY food and agriculture effort which focuses on enhancing food, beverage and agriculture related industries. Gov. Andrew Cuomo says the effort will help create a lasting economic impact on New York’s agribusiness.

Seneca Falls will be getting a big economic boost from New York state.

Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced that the town will get $10 million in funding as part of the state’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative.

Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul delivered the news Wednesday at the new home of the National Women’s Hall of Fame.

“It is gifted with a history that others can only dream of; what happened here, an epicenter of social movements that literally propelled our nation into a far better place,” Hochul told those gathered in Seneca Falls.

New York state is launching a statewide survey to pick a new license plate design.  Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the survey on Monday, and his website will allow New Yorkers to choose among five proposed designs.

Voting will also be available to the public at the governor's exhibit at the Great New York State Fair starting Aug. 21. The license plate with the most votes will become the state's official license plate and will be available to customers beginning April 2020.

There’s a change in ownership coming for the del Lago Resort & Casino in Seneca County.

The Wilmot family, Rochester-based developers who operate Wilmorite, have owned half of that casino in the town of Tyre.

The casino concept was something long championed by Wilmot Chairman Tom Wilmot, and del Lago opened two years ago.

The federal government’s congressional watchdog agency is taking a look at a controversial plan that helps adjust water levels on Lake Ontario.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo made an announcement about Lake Ontario homeowners Wednesday on WXXI’s Connections, saying some money from the resiliency development plan will go to private homeowners.

The governor announced a plan to build back the lakefront in a more resilient way in May. When he did, he said the state was looking to fund large-scale, big-picture projects to protect the lakeshore from flooding and high water levels.

Wegmans says it will run a pilot program in two stores to remove plastic bags as of next Monday,  July 29. That will happen at stores in Ithaca and Corning.

The company notes that the decision comes after its announcement in April that Wegmans will eliminate plastic bags at all of its New York State stores ahead of the state ban that takes effect on March 1, 2020.