IN MEMORIAM: Kittie Johnson, 57; Folk Artist MIDDLEFIELD – Kittie Leslie Johnson, 57, a folk artist here in Middlefield, died peacefully at Bassett Hospital on Friday.…
NORSE ENERGY ASKS HIGH COURT TO RECONSIDER MIDDLEFIELD BAN ALBANY – Norse Energy Corp. has filed a motion to appeal the state Court of Appeals decision upholding fracking bans in the towns of Middlefield and Dryden. As a precedent, Norse’s lawyer Thomas West cites a ban on fracking in Longmont, Colo., that was overturned. Supporters of the New York bans point out that they do not specifically ban fracking, only assert Middlefield and Dryden’s “home rule” right to regulate heavy…
HIGH COURT UPHOLDS TOWN FRACKING BANS ALBANY – The state’s highest court, 5-2, has upheld Middlefield and Dryden’s zoning laws that prohibit fracking in their borders. The decision, issued today by the state Court of Appeals, says the state Legislature has the right to override home rule – the practice that allows localities to act on matters not addressed at the state level – but has not chosen to do so. “The zoning laws of Dryden and Middlefield are therefore…
NY’S HIGHEST COURT TO HEAR TOWN FRACK-BAN ARGUMENTS The state Court of Appeals, New York’s supreme court, will hear oral arguments at 2 p.m. today in Albany on whether towns can ban hydrofracking. The case before the court involves bans passed by the towns of Middlefield and Tompkins County’s Dryden. READ THE SYRACUSE POST STANDARD’S REPORT READ JULIE HUNTSMAN’S OP-ED IN TIMES UNION …