America was shocked and saddened when news of Robin Williams’ death hit last month. The iconic actor and comedian that made his fame making others laugh sadly took his own life. Many questions arose following his death, and many counselors reminded...

News of tragedy struck again this month when State Police investigated a case in which a woman was stabbed and later died in Cazenovia. Her alleged killer is a man with whom she was living. According to news reports, their two young boys were home during...

There have been a number of reported overdoses due to heroin and other opioids in recent months. According to the Centers for Disease Control, among people 25 to 64 years old, drug overdose caused more deaths than motor vehicle traffic crashes...

In 1961, Ruth Colvin, a resident of Central New York, read an article in the newspaper claiming that more than 11,000 people in her town were unable to read. Shocked by this information, Ms. Colvin decided to take it upon herself to do something about...

As Election Day draws closer, campaigns often ratchet up their rhetoric. The governor's campaign is doing just that. The governor and his allies formed a political party to help advertise his support of a package of bills known as the Women's Equality...

During the first week of September, the nation pauses to celebrate Labor Day. The holiday was created in the 1880s, and by 1894, Congress passed an act naming the first Monday in September officially as Labor Day. The holiday grew in popularity as labor...

In 1994, the state began what’s called the Linked Deposit Program (LDP). LDP began as a way to assist and encourage manufacturers and small businesses to undertake investments, which would ultimately lead to a stronger economy. According to an annual...

Assemblyman Will Barclay (R,C,I—Pulaski )released the following statement today following the release of Unshackle Upstate’s scorecards for legislators. Barclay scored 100%. Unshackle Upstate is a pro-taxpayer, pro-business advocacy organization that...

There have been a number of new laws signed and chaptered in New York in recent weeks. I want to update readers on a few involving mandated reporters, unlawful surveillance, screening of volunteer firefighters and ambulance personnel, and maternal depression....

Assemblyman Will Barclay (R,C,I-Pulaski) is pleased to announce his support for two newly-introduced bills that will create opportunities for veterans. Barclay is urging his colleagues to prioritize passage of A.9774 during the upcoming legislative...

The New York State Department of Budget reported in its quarterly update that the state estimates it will receive $4.2 billion in 2015 from financial settlements reached by the Department of Financial Services, Department of Law, and the Manhattan District...

My office receives a lot of inquiries from constituents who wonder why their energy bills are so high. These inquiries are well founded, as New Yorkers pay some of the highest residential energy costs in the nation. In fact, New York's energy...

On Aug. 7, 1782, George Washington first presented a Badge of Military Merit to soldiers for “any singularly meritorious action.” The award he created from his headquarters in Newburgh, NY, was a purple, heart-shaped piece of silk and had the word...

Tourism is a big industry for New York. According to recent state statistics, the New York tourism industry generated $59.2 billion in direct spending, which produced an estimated $7.5 billion in state and local taxes in 2013. The industry also is reportedly...

The implementation of the Common Core Learning Standards was easily the most talked about issue in K-12 education this year. Common Core is an initiative adopted by most states, including New York, that, in theory, is supposed to set new educational...

Assemblyman Will Barclay (R,C,I-Pulaski) is pleased to once again sponsor the Assembly Summer Reading Challenge. Students who read at least 15 minutes per day for 40 days this summer will receive a certificate from Barclay’s office and be invited...

The Legislative Session has come to a close for the year. There were many good measures that passed and many more, however, that did not come to floor for a vote. Here are a few noteworthy items that passed that I was pleased about. This list is not...

The 2014 NYS legislative session has come to an end. During the final week, hundreds of bills were passed. However, the legislation that got the most attention was legislation that legalized medical marijuana. On a number of occasions in...

Unfortunately, our office often hears firsthand accounts from local residents who have been scammed. I wanted to let people know of common scams local residents have experienced recently and how to avoid scams and identity theft. One scam currently...

We’ve seen many cases in recent months concerning heroin use and overdoses. It has become a public health epidemic. The stories are sad and often tragic. Overdose rates have increased substantially. Deaths from heroin overdoses in New York more than...