Rick Karlin reported in the Times Union the sequestration order signed by President Barack Obama, Fri., Mar. 1, should have little, if any, immediate effect on New Yorkers, at least for the first few weeks. Sequestration is the imposition of automatic, across-the-board cuts amounting to $85 billion. It was triggered when the president and Congress failed to reach a deal on reducing the federal deficit by the self-imposed deadline. For New York, the White House estimates the cuts will mean the loss of more than $275 million in federal funding this year in areas such as health care, education and public safety. "It's not a March 1 impact," said Dave Albert, spokesman for the state School Boards Association, which estimates that schools across the state could lose $102 million starting next fiscal year, which begins in July. And while sequestration may not sink the state budget, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said it is nonetheless "destabilizing." Read the full story in the Times Union.

Nathan Mayberg reported in the Register Star more than 300 people attended a forum Sat., Mar. 2, on the NY SAFE Act held at Columbia-Greene Community College. The event was organized and hosted by Columbia County Clerk Holly Tanner. The panel included Congressman Chris Gibson, state Senator Kathleen Marchione and Assembyman Pete Lopez. The panel discussed gun control and the Bill of Rights. Marchione announced her plans to introduce new legislation to overturn the state's new gun control law. Gibson expressed the opinion the NY SAFE Act will be overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court, and said he would oppose similar gun control measures at the federal level. He said the law “steps on our Bill of Rights.” Read the full story in the Register Star.

Melanie Lekocevic reported in The Daily Mail voters in the village of Athens this month will decide if the mayoral and Village Board terms should be extended from two years to four. If approved, the change would go into effect with the 2014 elections. Village voters will vote for mayor and two village trustee seats on March 19. The term question will appear on the ballot twice, once for mayor, the second for village trustees. Democrat Chris Pfister is running unopposed for mayor, and Trustees Robert June and Anthony Patsky will face off against independent candidate Rick Surrano for the two open trustee positions. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.