Two New York City council members have introduced legislation that would ban the spraying of glyphosate-based herbicides and other toxic pesticides in parks and other public spaces. The measure would prohibit the application of synthetic pesticides within 75 feet of a natural body of water. It would encourage city agencies to start using biological pesticides, which are derived from naturally occurring substances rather than synthetic ones. “Parks should be for playing not pesticides,” a co-sponsor of the measure, New York City council member Ben Kallos, told Environmental Health News. “All families should be able to enjoy our city parks without having to worry that they are being exposed to toxic pesticides that could give them and their families cancer.” Also on rt.com Bayer beware! Monsanto found guilty of poisoning French farmer Glyphosate is the world’s most widely used herbicide. It is the active ingredient in agrochemical firm … [Read more...] about New York calls for Monsanto’s ‘toxic’ pesticides to be banned from city parks
Million dollar listing new york
Rapper 50 Cent sells massive Connecticut mansion for almost $16 million less than he originally asked
Rapper 50 Cent's massive Connecticut mansion just sold for $2.9 million – 84 percent less than what he first sought for it 12 years ago, according to the Wall Street Journal, which spoke to people familiar with the deal. 50 Cent bought the 51,657 square foot home in Farmington, Connecticut, from former boxer Mike Tyson in 2003. He paid $4.1 million for it and then poured millions of dollars into renovations, according to the WSJ. It still holds the record for the most expensive house sold in town, but 50 Cent wanted even more for it when he put it back on the market. His original asking price was $18.7 million in 2007, the paper reports. There were no takers, and the mansion has been on and off the market for years. Most recently, 50 Cent had been asking $4.95 million for it. The house boasts 21 bedrooms and 35 bathrooms, as well as a movie theater, gym, indoor pool and basketball court, according to a listing on Zillow. In a 2018 episode of Bravo's "Million … [Read more...] about Rapper 50 Cent sells massive Connecticut mansion for almost $16 million less than he originally asked
New York sues billionaire family behind maker of OxyContin
New York is suing the billionaire family behind the company that created OxyContin, joining a growing list of state and local governments seeking to hold not only the firm but its owners accountable for the nation’s opioid crisis.The state, which averages nine opioid-related deaths per day, on Thursday expanded an existing lawsuit against pill maker Purdue Pharma to add members of its controlling Sackler family as defendants.Five other companies that produce opioid painkillers and four drug distributors, which buy medications in bulk and sell them to pharmacies, were also added as defendants.“This is an extensive lawsuit that leaves no stone unturned,” New York attorney general Letitia James said at a news conference. While other states and localities have filed similar suits, New York is taking some novel approaches, such as seeking to bar the companies from marketing and distributing painkillers in New York unless they abide by strict safeguards.The suit claims drug … [Read more...] about New York sues billionaire family behind maker of OxyContin
Recession: Elmira, New York, Danville, Illinois struggle amid US boom
Paul Davidson USA TODAY Published 12:11 PM EST Feb 25, 2019 It’s not exactly a tale of two cities. More like a saga of two stragglers. Nearly 10 years after the Great Recession ended, just two metro areas – former manufacturing strongholds Elmira, New York, and Danville, Illinois – are mired in an economic downturn, according to Moody’s Analytics’ recession tracker. That’s the fewest number in recession since the late 1990s, Moody’s data show. That’s good news: It means the U.S. economy is so strong that it has lifted even the handful of the 400 metro areas that were floundering. In 2018, the economy grew a healthy 3 percent and generated an average of 223,000 jobs a month. “The rising tide is lifting all boats, even places that have struggled,” says Moody’s economist Adam Kamins. The bad news: Despite the booming economy, Elmira and Danville remain outside the party looking in, stuck in a … [Read more...] about Recession: Elmira, New York, Danville, Illinois struggle amid US boom
Feds: New York CVS employee stole $2.5M worth of diabetic test strips
Will Cleveland Rochester Democrat and Chronicle Published 12:51 PM EST Feb 10, 2019 ROCHESTER, N.Y. – A New York man is accused of stealing more than $2.5 million worth of diabetic test strips from his Rochester employer, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced Friday. Antonio Rivera, 35, of Williamsville was charged by complaint with with theft of pre-retail medical products; trafficking in stolen pre-retail medical products; conspiracy to sell and distribute stolen pre-retail medical products; and wire fraud. The charges carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, prosecutors said. Rivera is accused of stealing 20,203 boxes of diabetic test strips worth $2,535,307.62 At one point, Rivera allegedly had $718,629.68 in "wire fraud proceeds" in his PayPal account, according to the criminal complaint. Since February 2007, Rivera was employed as a senior assistant purchasing manager for CVS Pharmacy. In June 2017, he was transferred to CVS in Rochester. … [Read more...] about Feds: New York CVS employee stole $2.5M worth of diabetic test strips