
ASSEMBLYMAN HARASSMENT-CUOMO
Cuomo: Expel Lopez now over sex harass claims
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Gov. Andrew Cuomo says Democratic Assemblyman Vito Lopez must be expelled from the Legislature over claims of sexual harassment.
Cuomo dismissed Lopez's announcement Friday that he'll leave the Assembly at the end of session on June 20 to run for New York City Council. That was likely Lopez's plan anyway, because he intended to run for the council seat representing Brooklyn.
Cuomo, who is also head of the state Democratic party, had said Thursday Lopez should resign or be expelled.
Lopez has denied sexually harassing anyone. While two scathing investigation reports released this week found no basis for criminal charges against him, they document a pattern of lewd behavior toward young women staffers.
NY CASINOS
Seneca head: Cuomo acts like bully with casinos
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) - The head of the Seneca Indians has accused Gov. Andrew Cuomo of engaging in "playground bully tactics" over their casino disagreement.
Seneca Nation President Barry Snyder sharply criticized Cuomo in a prepared statement on Friday, a day after the governor said the Senecas could lose their ability to operate casinos after their compact expires in 2016.
At issue is more than $500 million in casino payments the Senecas have withheld from the state since 2009. The tribe claims New York violated a contract with the tribe by allowing video slot gambling in its exclusive territory. The tribe runs casinos in Buffalo, Niagara Falls and Salamanca.
Cuomo wants to expand casino gambling in New York.
Snyder says the Seneca Nation has acted in good faith.
ROCHESTER SHOOTING
Rochester police say 3 hurt in street shooting
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) - Authorities in Rochester say three people have been taken to a hospital with gunshot wounds after a shooting on a city street.
Police tell local media outlets the injuries to the man and two women aren't life threatening.
The shooting was reported just after 3 p.m. Friday on the city's west side.
Investigators say they don't know yet what was behind the attack, but the scene is safe.
CHIEF JUSTICE-UPSTATE NY
US Chief Justice Roberts marks Jackson Center
JAMESTOWN, N.Y. (AP) - U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts has returned to his native upstate New York to help mark the 10th anniversary of the Robert H. Jackson Center.
Roberts, who was born in Buffalo, spoke for about 15 minutes from the front porch of the center in Jamestown on Friday morning. He reflected on the changes in the Supreme Court since Jackson sat there but noted that today's judges share the same ideals as their predecessors.
Jackson served on the Supreme Court from 1941 to 1954 after getting his start as a country lawyer in western New York. The center was dedicated 10 years ago by Roberts' predecessor, Chief Justice William Rehnquist.
More than 2,000 people attended Roberts' talk, including federal and state judges from New York and Pennsylvania.
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