Syracuse's new permit office makes it easier for developers

Homeowners, developers and business owners are getting a break thanks to the city’s new permit office.  According to syracuse.com instead of making trips to multiple buildings to get required permits and approvals, business owners for example can now simply go to the City Hall Commons first floor desk to receive 53 different permits and applications.

Mayor Stephanie Miner said she’s heard complaints about the city’s permit process for years, so she decided to make it a priority when she stepped into office on Jan. 1.

“Throughout my tenure on the council, as well as during the campaign, I ran in to people over and over who were frustrated with the permit process,” Miner said. “They were neighbors trying to put up a deck and developers putting up a building, and they all had the same complaint.”

Miner admits some business owners even told her they canceled expansion plans because they felt the process was too difficult.

Members of Miner’s of transition team called the new permit process “friendlier” and made note of  the easier accessibility of permits from a single desk.

Among one of the changes in effect is the accessibility of the parking permits for the disabled that can now be obtained through both the downtown permit desk and the DPW building on Canal Street.

Montreal Construction president Len Montreal said he sees minor changes already. He also said he even expects to see advancement in the city’s zoning projects which were previously slowed due to special rules.

To read more on this story please visit Syracuse.com

 Erykah Badu's  appears on the Wanda Sykes Show to explain her controversial nude scene 

Erykah Badu’s controversial reveal all scene in her music video “Window Seat” is capturing more attention.

In the video Badu walks down city streets while progressively stripping off her clothes until she is completely naked and eventually shot dead.

According to ew.com the music artist appeared on ‘The Wanda Sykes Show’ to explain how the point of the nude scene in her music video was not understood.

“My point was grossly misunderstood all over America,” Badu said.

Badu also refuted the idea of intentionally insulting the memory of John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in the same place where her music video was taped.

“John F Kennedy was a revolutionary; he was not afraid to butt heads with America, and I was not afraid to show America my butt-naked truth.” Badu said.

Host Wanda Sykes joked about the incident and even recorded her own parody of the video.

To get more on this story and watch Syke’s parody visit ew.com

Supreme Court Justice John Stevens may be retiring

By the end of this month Supreme Court justice John Paul Stevens is expected to announce whether he will retire.

According to cnn.com Stevens told colleagues he wants to decide soon for his own peace of mind and to provide time for selection and confirmation of a replacement justice.

Stevens will be 90 years old by the end of this April and sources said that as of late March he still hasn’t come to a solid decision. 

CNN Senior Legal Analyst Jeffrey Toobin who interviewed Stevens believes he will decide to leave the court this year.

"The fact that he's given interviews to me and others, which is also very out of character for him, suggests that this is part of a leave-taking operation," Toobin said.

In the event that Stevens does decide to retire, the White House must prepare to fill this vacancy.

According to government sources three candidates seem to stand out although it is still early to make definite conclusions, these candidates are Judge Diane Wood, solicitor General Elena Kagan, and Judge Merrick Garland.

To read more about these potential candidates and Justice Steven’s possible retirement decision please visit cnn.com