Running on empty: Police say men robbed NY gas station, were caught when car ran out of fuel

KIRKWOOD, N.Y. — State police in New York say two Pennsylvania men robbed a gas station and might have gotten away if they had also fueled up. Troopers said they caught 29-year-old Lonnie Meckwood, of Carbondale, and 51-year-old Phillip Weeks, of Tunkhannock, after their getaway car ran out of gas while the were trying to escape late Monday night.

Mourners gather in NY to remember train operator killed in DC crash; being hailed as hero

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Mourners are gathering in upstate New York to remember a Washington, D.C., train operator credited with saving lives in last week’s rail crash that killed her and eight passengers.

Constellation Brands 1st-quarter profit falls on charges, but adjusted results top Wall Street

NEW YORK — Wine and spirits maker Constellation Brands Inc. said it is benefiting from consumers switching from higher-priced beverages to those that offer more buzz for the buck.

Military board says gay NY National Guard officer should be discharged

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — A military administrative board recommended Tuesday that a National Guard officer who publicly announced he’s gay should be discharged for violating the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.

Board deliberates in case of gay NY Nat’l Guard officer who protested ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — A military administrative board is deliberating over whether a New York National Guard officer who publicly announced he’s gay should be discharged for violating the military’s ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy.

Schumer, local officials want BIA to redo assessment of putting NY land into trust for Cayugas

AUBURN, N.Y. — U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer said Tuesday that federal officials must do a more detailed study on how the local economy would be affected if 129 acres of upstate New York land are put into trust for the Cayuga Indian Nation.

Corning raises 2nd-quarter glass volume forecast again as sales of LCD TVs improve

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Specialty glass maker Corning Inc. said Tuesday it is getting a big lift from rising sales of flat-screen televisions, most notably in China.

Gay National Guard officer who challenged ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy could be discharged

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — A hearing is under way in upstate New York for an Army National Guard officer who publicly announced he was gay to protest the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.

NY woman accused of reaching over pew and stealing cash from kneeling woman’s purse in church

WESTBURY, N.Y. — Nassau County police said a congregant at a Long Island church disregarded at least one of its commandments: Thou shalt not steal. Police said the 46-year-old woman reached over a pew and took cash from a purse while its owner knelt Sunday at Our Lady of Hope Roman Catholic Church in Westbury. Police said an usher saw the theft, and officers stopped the woman as she left the church.

Man rushing to help car wreck victim on upstate NY bridge falls to death in gap between lanes

CATSKILL, N.Y. — Police say a New York man running to the aid of another motorist fell to his death from a bridge, apparently because he didn’t know there was a large gap between lanes.

Fred Funk has first-round lead at Dick’s Sporting Goods Open

ENDICOTT, N.Y. — A little more rain didn’t faze Fred Funk.

Authorities say the same NY house caught fire two nights in a row; Both blazes accidental

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y. — Authorities said the same house caught fire two nights in a row this week. Nassau County, N.Y., Fire Marshal Michael Mennello said both fires were deemed accidental. They appeared to be related to construction work. No injuries were reported.

Playing dead? Baby opossum stuck inside soda machine at NY gym doesn’t give rescuers much help

JOHNSON CITY, N.Y. — A baby opossum’s instinct to play dead evidently didn’t help matters after it got wedged inside a soda machine at an upstate New York fitness club. The animal ran into the Court Jester Athletic Club in Johnson City, N.Y., near Binghamton, and scurried behind a soda machine in the front vestibule Wednesday evening.

Ex-Rep. Lazio plans run for NY governor; as Giuliani replacement in 2000, he lost to Clinton

ALBANY, N.Y. — Republican Rick Lazio, who ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate against Hillary Rodham Clinton in 2000, is planning to run for governor of New York next year, his spokesman said Thursday.

GOP’s Rick Lazio, who lost to Clinton in 2000, has Web site that indicates run for NY governor

ALBANY, N.Y. — Former Long Island congressman Rick Lazio is apparently running for governor of New York.

Coup between parties in NY Senate chamber leaves critical policy, personal dignity in its wake

ALBANY, N.Y. — It should have been clear when state Democratic senators resorted to flicking off the chamber lights to try to thwart a shocking Republican power grab that this wouldn’t be the brightest moment in New York politics.

Paychex posts lower 4th-quarter profit, hurt by recession

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Payroll and personnel services provider Paychex Inc. said Wednesday its fiscal fourth-quarter profit and sales declined in what the company called one of the most challenging years in its history.

Pepsi Bottling Group will distribute Rockstar Energy Drink in Mexico

SOMERS, N.Y. — Pepsi bottling company The Pepsi Bottling Group Inc. on Wednesday said it will distribute the Rockstar Energy Drink Inc.’s Rockstar drink in Mexico, expanding its distribution agreement for the beverage.

Democrats, Republicans stage dueling sessions in NY Senate as power struggle continues

ALBANY, N.Y. — Evenly split political factions turned the New York Senate Tuesday into a two-ring legislative circus of sharp words, laughter and jeers, including a derisive “Duh,” where Republicans and Democrats dueling for control held simultaneous sessions in the ornate chamber.

Cornell probes theft of school computer with personal information; thousands could be affected

ITHACA, N.Y. — Cornell University officials are investigating the theft of a school computer that may have compromised the personal information of thousands of current and former students, faculty and staff.

Wild turkey lands inside cab of manure-hauling tractor trailer, sending truck into a ditch

OSWEGATCHIE, N.Y. — A wild turkey landed inside the cab of a manure-hauling tractor trailer, startling the driver and sending the truck rolling into a ditch off a northern New York road. State police said Scott Fisher, 38, was traveling in St. Lawrence County near the Canadian border when the turkey flew in through an open window.

Annoyed Syracuse woman calls 911, then allegedly keys police car she said was blocking her car

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Police in Syracuse said a woman who was annoyed that a police car was blocking her own car first called 911 and then vandalized the squad car. Police said the woman called 911 Saturday to report the “emergency” — that a patrol car was blocking her car. They said she then keyed the patrol car because they didn’t move it quickly enough.

3 decades later, NY woman gets probation for killing newborn son whose body was in trash can

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — A 50-year-old Syracuse, N.Y., woman will spend five years on probation for killing her newborn son and tossing his body in a park trash can nearly 30 years ago.

Powerful allies help freshman senator from New York find her footing ahead of primary election

ALBANY, N.Y. — By any measure, New York’s new Democratic U.S. senator, Kirsten Gillibrand, got off to a rocky start. She was neither a Kennedy nor Clinton, just an unknown appointed by an unpopular governor.

NY governor Paterson orders special Senate session to settle power fight, pass critical bills

ALBANY, N.Y. — Unsatisfied with New York senators’ efforts to resolve their paralyzing power dispute, Gov. David Paterson is ordering a special session beginning Tuesday.

Gillibrand, NY’s new senator, trying to build a record, gets a little help from her friends

ALBANY, N.Y. — By any measure, New York’s new Democratic U.S. senator, Kirsten Gillibrand, got off to a rocky start. She was neither a Kennedy nor Clinton, just an unknown appointed by an unpopular governor.

John Daly leaves a damaged bus behind as he heads for Europe

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. — John Daly’s bus turned out to be too big for a tunnel.

Bad way to make a point: NY bar patron arrested after whacking woman with high-heeled shoe

HAVERSTRAW, N.Y. — This woman really knows how to get to the point — but not in a good way. Police arrested a bar patron early Friday after she whacked another woman on the head with a high heeled shoe. The victim was treated for cuts on her head. The suspect was charged with assault.

AP source: Governor to force NY Senate into special session if it doesn’t resolve standoff

ALBANY, N.Y. — New York Gov. David Paterson will order the state Senate to meet in a special session Wednesday if battling senators fail to resolve a two-week power struggle, a state official said Friday.

AP source: Paterson to force NY Senate into special session if it doesn’t resolve standoff

ALBANY, N.Y. — A New York state official says Gov. David Paterson will call a special session of the state Senate Wednesday if battling senators fail to resolve a two-week power struggle.