Peter Mantius

AUBURN, Oct. 23, 2024 — Blooms of toxic cyanobacteria “exploded” across the Finger Lakes this worst-ever season, as Seneca, Canandaigua, Skaneateles and Cayuga lakes each had more than 100 reports of harmful algal blooms, or HABs. The outbreaks began in June — earlier than ever — and continued through late October. Swaths of streaky green water were widespread, plaguing the lakes for weeks at a time during the season’s peak in September.

In a response brief filed on May 31 to a lawsuit against the DEC and Seneca Meadows Inc., the agency asserted that it alone has discretion on when to issue, enforce, modify or revoke landfill permits. “The Green Amendment does not alter DEC’s enforcement discretion … and so the plaintiffs cannot compel DEC to enforce against Seneca Meadows,” state Attorney General Letitia James argued for the agency.

DRESDEN, May 30, 2024 — Greenidge Generation President Dale Irwin has shed more than one-third of his holdings in company common stock since the the cash-strapped Bitcoin mining company lost its state appeal for an air permit on May 8. After selling 25,000 shares for $63,797 on May 20, Irwin sold another 8,777 shares for $24,638 on Tuesday, leaving him with 70,962 shares — about 1 percent of the company’s total common shares. Irwin had already sold 5,646 shares on Feb. 28 to raise $23,600.