With less than two months to go until taxes are due, newly married gay and lesbian couples are finding out that this year’s returns will be even more time consuming and complicated than ever before. YNN’s John Wagner has more.

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WOODSTOCK, N.Y. — John Condelario and Guy Veronick married last November 6th on their 14th anniversary. And while New York became the 11th state to allow same-sex couples to file joint state taxes, the federal government does not recognize the unions.

“The couple must still file single with the federal government, but they must file either married filing joint or married filing separate with New York state,” said Jean Berasi, a master tax advisor at H&R Block.

“Does it mean more taxes or does it mean it’s going to cost more to do the taxes? This we don’t know,” said Condelario.

It certainly means more paperwork. It involves creating a mock joint federal return because a state return must reflect federal–numbers, tax credits, and deductions.

And depending on their federal tax bracket, it could mean sending a bigger check to Uncle Sam than a hetero-sexual couple would.

“Not something that they’re probably going to enjoy going through, at least certainly the first time, until they understand all the complexities if it,” said Berasi, who works at the Hopewell Junction branch for H&R Block.

“Knowing that we have the right to be married is powerful enough for me to pay a little bit more,” said Veronick. “I don’t think it’s fair. I think the federal government should recognize same-sex marriages for tax purposes.”

The state Health Department says that nearly 2,500 couples have married outside New York City since the state legalized marriage equality laws. And most will head to accountants to double check their not so equal stack of paperwork.

“It’ll cost us more I’m sure for the CPA to run the numbers twice,” said Condelario. “I’d rather go to a tax professional because I’d want to hear from them, they’re the people that know.”

The preparation costs vary by accountant. H&R Block does not charge additional fees for the mock joint federal forms.

John and Guy say growing up they never imagined this day would come. The marriage–and now the taxes that go along with it.

“We fought so hard to get the marriage approved and now it’s going to cost us to be married,” said Veronick.

“I see all LGBT people as the pioneers for all of this,” said Condelario. “You know its the first time, there’s a first time for everything and we got to learn.”

Time Warner Cable and MSG reach a tentative deal; ending the month and a half long viewer blackout. Our Rebecca Spitz joins us from Madison Square Garden, where Jeremy Lin and the Knicks are looking to keep their winning streak alive.

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NEW YORK STATE — We’re learning more about a tentative deal reached between Time Warner Cable and MSG. The deal ends the month and a half long viewer blackout.

MSG and MSG Plus haven’t been available to Time Warner Customers since the New Year, when the companies failed to reach a new agreement.

The heat has been on both companies, especially since the Knicks have been doing so well following Jeremy Lin’s emergence.
Sources told us tonight’s game against the New Orleans Hornet’s will be on Time Warner Cable.

The New York Rangers games and Buffalo Sabres games are also shown on the networks. The Sabres game will also be on tonight.

We’ve also been told the channel FUSE will be back on Time Warner Cable as well.

Governor Andrew Cuomo released a statement on the agreement. He said, “I applaud both Mr. Dolan and Mr. Britt and their companies. I thank them for being responsive to the needs of New Yorkers.”

Time Warner Cable is the parent company of YNN.

Almost six-months ago, Tropical Storm Irene hit the Hudson Valley. The devastation left behind, provided the opportunity for people to step up and help their fellow community members get back on their feet. Our Beth Croughan spoke to one couple in Phoenicia who say that in their time of need, strangers became friends.

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PHOENICIA, N.Y. — “It was kind of a great experience, in that odd, awful, backwards way that life has, you know,” said Ann Davies.

It was an experience that taught Ann Davies and her partner Jan Ryan about the good in people. “We would have lost everything if it wasn’t for the volunteers,” said Davies.

Their home along Jay Street sits where the Stony Clove and Esopus Creeks meet.

Images show what the water looked like days after Tropical Storm Irene and a week after, we found video of volunteers that filled their yard, like mud filled their home.

“The things that were the worst, that got lost, are really your mementos. Pictures, your paper, I write,” Davies said.

As she helped sort through the couple’s home of 20 years, Mary Giuliani was able to salvage a box of recipes. The career caterer was volunteering with her husband, Ryan.

“I brought it over to Ann and I said, ‘we’ve got to save this.’ And she said, ‘oh, thank you because they were my mothers, and I want to give them to my daughter who works in the television and food.’ And I said, ‘well, we have to save it.’ So, we put it out to dry, and off we went,” said Giuliani, who owns Mary Giuliani Catering.

Now, almost six months and hundreds of thousands of dollars later, the two couples chat in a newly-renovated living room. Davies and Ryan just recently returned home. “It’s nice to be home, nice to be home,” said Ryan.

They were able to welcome their guests, connected even after the cleanup. Giuliani met Davies’ daughter while taping an upcoming episode for the Food Network. “And she said that her mom was from Phoenicia. And the first thing I asked her was, ‘how’d she do in the hurricane?’ And she said, ‘oh, not well, they had water up to their first floor.’ Just that sentence, I thought about the recipe box and her mother saying my daughter works in television and food. And I said ‘Juliette (D’Annibale), I think I might know your Mom.’”

The chance encounter created a friendship among the once, strangers. And while Davies’ admits details of the storm are fuzzy, she said the kindness received from people she had never met is something she’ll never forget.

“I think it just brought out the best in people,” said Davies.

Guiliani is set to appear this Saturday on an episode of the Food Network’s Barefoot Contessa. SHe said it will air at 10 a.m.

While Whitney Houston’s funeral was private, that didn’t stop fans from gathering near the church to remember the singer’s life. Our Ruschell Boone is outside the Newark, New Jersey Church, where hundreds of fans came to mourn her death.

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YNN highlights the coolest and newest apps for your cell phone or mobile device in the twice-weekly segment “App Wrap.” YNN’s Adam Balkin filed the following report.

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Archaeologists think that since as early as 3000 BC, board games have been a constant, reliable, analog, low-tech form of entertainment, but even after all those years of proven success, they look to be next up for a change via the iPad.

Game Changer

“Game Changer,” for one, is a system that can ease old-schoolers into the digital age. You plug the iPad into a dock and then it becomes the center of the game, but the entire contest isn’t played just on the screen.
“We have some of the action on the iPad, but especially for the young kids, we have action off the iPad on the sides in an interactive way so the pieces are registered on the sides, and with the game skins we can change it into different game boards,” says Walter Reeskamp of Identity Games.
The games are loaded up as apps. Swap out the boards for the appropriate app, and each time a piece is moved or a token is earned on the sides, that all registers on the iPad. The Game Changer set, which comes with six games, is available now for the iPad for $60.

Duo Plink

Plop the Plink down on its outline on the iPad and then fire up one of several Plink-enabled trivia-type games. Then up to four players choose answers to questions by
placing their color stone over whichever side lines up with their answer. The Plink then rotates and swallows up whichever stones are on the correct answer. The object of all the games is to be the first to lose all your stones.
“On the bottom of the Duo Plink there’s a little sensor which, when the iPad makes a selection, that’ll send a visual blink and the Duo Plink recognizes that and tells it to turn left or right,” says Kyle Kappmeier of Discovery Bay Games.
The Duo Plink, which is also only for iPads at the moment, is also out now for around $30s. Right now there are five games at the app store, and they range from free to $1.99.

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It’s been a tough season thus far for the St. Rose men’s basketball team, but the Golden Knights looking to send their senior class out with a win on Senior Day. Rob Gutierrez, Brian Hanuschak and Sheldon Griffin the 3 seniors on the roster.

A future Golden Knight having a good time on the court at the half.

First half Golden Knights up by 9. Running the floor, Brian Hanuschak with the slam to put St. Rose up 31-20.

More from the seniors, Hanuschak gets it inside to Sheldon Griffin who goes off glass for the score, he had 15 points. Golden Knights still up by 11.

On the other end AIC cutting into that lead off the inbounds David Campbell with the one-handed slam to get the Yellow Jackets within 5 at the half.

Second half more from the Golden Knights. Kareem Thomas banks in the 3 pointer. Thomas had 16 points in this one, 36-29 St. Rose and they go on to win this one 56-52.

It’s been nearly six months since Tropical Storm Irene and the remnants of Lee hit the region, but many are still dealing with clean up efforts. As our Lori Chung Reports Senator Chuck Schumer is pushing for funding for those effected in the Mohawk Valley.

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MOHAWK VALLEY, N.Y. — Two-hundred million dollars is available for folks in the Mohawk Valley affected by Irene and Lee. But Senator Charles Schumer said the money isn’t coming fast enough.

Many business owners said they haven’t seen any of that money, and as a result, haven’t been able to make needed repairs.

On Monday, Schumer joined local and state officials to call on the federal government to release that money. The money itself has already been approved, but the guidelines on how to spend it still have to be green-lit, before any of it gets to the people who need it.

In addition to helping out business owners, part of the $200 million could be used to establish a long-term recovery plan, as well as fix up damaged infrastructure.

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. — Police are looking for the owners of stolen property that was recovered in the City of Schenectady.

The property includes a variety of jewelry, U.S. and foreign currency, cell phones, photos, a football card in a protective case, and a designer watch. Police arrested a suspect who was in possession of the items that are believed to have been stolen during burglaries and larcenies from cars.

Police are not releasing pictures of the items in an attempt to prevent false claims, but police said some of the items are very distinctive and may have been taken in crimes committed in surrounding areas.

The Detective Division can be reached at 382-5245.

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SCHOHARIE COUNTY — Senator Chuck Schumer will be in Schoharie today, as he pushes for the release of federal disaster relief funding.

He said money has already been approved for areas affected by Tropical Storm Irene and the remnants of Lee, but bureaucratic process is holding it up.

Schumer introduced a bill securing $200 million in economic development funding for projects in disaster areas, but said lawmakers still have to approve spending guidelines for the money.

Schumer, along with Congressman Paul Tonko and local leaders, will ask Congressional committees to end these delays and release the funds.

Schumer will also tour the future site of a training center at the Tech Meadows Industrial Park in Glens Falls. He will call for an additional federal investment in the site in an effort to grow the local economy and meet the demands of high tech companies in the area.

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UNITED STATES — Drivers are shelling out more money at the pump than ever for this time of year. AAA said the national average for a gallon of regular unleaded gas is $3.55, up 27 cents since January 1st.

Some experts said prices could reach $4.25 by late April, and up to $5 by Memorial Day. That could be worse in New York since we’re usually paying more than the national average. The state average currently sits at $3.87. The Capital Region is on par with that at a $3.83 a gallon.

Experts say higher gas prices could hurt consumer spending and slow down the recent economic improvement.