Higher energy and commodity costs triggered in part by hurricane damage on the Gulf Coast appear to have slowed manufacturing growth in New York State for the 3rd straight month.

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York says its general business conditions' index fell to just over 12 in the first half of October, down from 15.6 in September and nearly 24 in July.

23-year-old John Carmody of Scipio disappeared in Owasco Lake on Friday night. He reportedly tossed back a life preserver and swam away from friends who tried to rescue him.

On Saturday, a man wanted for firing a gun during a dispute with 2 other people climbed a tree while trying to elude cops. The suspect eventually was caught after he came down and ran back toward the shooting scene. He's been charged with attempted murder.

Sunday, police rushed to a nearby neighborhood to deal with reports of an intruder, a big black bear. Officers closed down a few streets as the animal wandered around before scampering up a tree.

Rochester station News Eight Now reports several ferry workers confirmed the news. One of them, Doug Buell, said he was notified September 29th.

Rochester Mayor William Johnson said he was not surprised by the job cuts, since the ferry has reduced its schedule twice since opening June 30th.

A state official and Governor Pataki's former campaign manager says some state employees got thousands of dollars of bonuses as perks for their work after the September 11th attacks.

Robert Ryan's comments to an Assembly committee hearing yesterday were part of an investigation into reports of abuse and political hiring at hundreds of state authorities.

Rochester is one of six cities across the country using the Shotspotters. The money comes from a federal grant with the help of Congresswoman Louise Slaughter.

Federal officials searched 2 of 3 campuses at a Kentucky school yesterday that until recently was led by Massachusetts Governor and New York GOP hopeful William Weld.

About 40 agents from the FBI and the US Department of Education's inspector general's office conducted the search of the financially troubled vocational school.

Decker College is under investigation by the state attorney general's office for possible consumer fraud violations. The US Department of Education has cut off financial aid money.

Authorities say 1 Canadian and 1 American face federal alien and drug smuggling charges after the arrests beside the Niagara River in North Tonawanda.

The US Secretary of Veterans Affairs says he will keep an open mind when he decides next year on the future of more than 25,000 Rochester-area veterans.

Norman Snyder Junior gave 5 million dollars yesterday for U-Albany's business school. The money will be used as an endowment for general support for the school.

Federal documents say 18-year-old Anthony Greco of Cheektowaga agreed earlier this year to plead guilty. The deal would give him 18 months to 2 years in prison.

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