(AP) - Sen. Charles Schumer plans to appear in three upstate New York communities to address issues ranging from jobs to law enforcement.

Schumer has scheduled a Wednesday morning news conference at Synergy Dairy in Covington in western New York. The senator will call for National Grid to connect the Wyoming County dairy biodigester to the power grid before the end of the year so the business won't lose $2.8 million in federal tax credit grants.

Schumer then heads to Utica, where he'll join local law enforcement officials to push a plan to ensure convicted sex offenders on parole are quickly tracked down if they stop checking in with their parole officer. Earlier this month, a paroled sex offender was accused of raping and killing a woman at the Utica motel she owned.

Schumer will end the day in Watertown.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

COLONIE - Sammi Gelhaus searched for the perfect Webkinz for her little sister at a Hallmark store Tuesday, and she wasn't worried about the price.

Last Christmas, Sammi was unemployed, but now that she's working in her family's business, there's more money to spend.

"I guess I'm just more confident in buying stuff this year because I have a more stable job," she said.

That sentiment was reflected in a new state wide Siena poll, that surveyed New Yorkers about their holiday spending plans.

Seven percent said they expect to shell out more this year than they did last year, up from four percent.

34 percent planned to cut back on gifts this year, not as many as a year ago.

55 percent said they will spend about the same as last year.

The manager at the gift store Pearl Grant Richmonds in Stuyvesant Plaza  said they're already seeing an uptick in spending.

GUILDERLAND - Some people avoid Black Friday for their holiday shopping. The frenzy, the chaos. The crowds at the mall.

But for one dynamic duo, it's a tactical mission. Brian Richmond and Alexa Ruchel work together at a law firm. They also work as a team, well before Black Friday.

Gathering intelligence. Mapping out the stores. Pricing out deals. And calculating when to arrive, so they can strike with precision.

"I'm usually sitting outside of Walmart or Target," Alexa said.

"I was first in line at Best Buy last year," said Bryan.

That's where we first met Bryan - last Black Friday, bundled up outside Best Buy in cold, rainy weather. Camping out most of his Thanksgiving Day, just to be first.