WCDO Radio News

Governor Cuomo announced plans for Binghamton University's Health Sciences and Technology Innovation Park in Johnson City,at a press conference their this morning.

(CUOMO 11-15-16)

The $105 million project includes construction of the new School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, as well as the relocation and expansion of the Decker School of Nursing to Corliss Avenue in Johnson City, near the UHS Wilson Hospital Complex. The move is expected to result in the creation 150 new jobs.

State and Local Leaders, as well as Binghamton Rumble Ponies officials announced this afternoon their plans for 2.5 Million dollars in upgrades to NYSEG Stadium. Plans call for new efficient lighting, new ticket Kiosks, & a new family fun zone, Nyseg Stadium first opened in April of 1992.

Governor Cuomo is scheduled to appear in Broome County this Morning. The Governor will make an Announcement at the Schorr Family Firehouse at 48 Willow Street in Johnson City.

State police continue to investigate the November 1983 murder of 19-year-old Bessie Williams of Johnson City. Williams was reported missing when she did not return home after she picked up her paycheck at the Quality Inn Lodge and Convention Center in Endwell. In April 1985, State Police responded to a report of human skeletal remains in a wooded area in the Town of Barker, which were identified as Bessie Williams, State Police have been attempting to identify a suspect whose vehicle was towed in 1983, from a field bordering the wooded area, the suspect was described as an intoxicated white male, 25 - 30 years old, 5' 07 – 5'10", medium build with a noticeable "pot belly", wearing work boots, jeans and a blue wind breaker, in a late 70s white Ford hatchback, with unknown New York license plates. Anyone with information is asked to call the State Police at 561-7497 and ask to speak with Senior Investigator Terry Shultz.

46-year-old Cindy Fortner of Homer is expected to plead guilty in Broome County Court this afternoon to Conspiracy, in connection with the abduction of her teenage daughters, Shaeleen & Kylea Fortner, from the Town of Binghamton. Prosecutors accused Fortner of arranging her daughters April 2015 abduction and was an accomplice along with 29-year-old Amanda Hellmann of Vestal, who already pleaded guilty to kidnapping & will serve 10 years in prison.

The Chenango County Sheriff’s department responded to a burglary in progress at 268 Round Pond Road in the Town of Smithville Thursday morning. A Sheriff’s Deputy and members of the Greene Police Department discovered a male suspect in the residence, at 11:15 AM, officers noticed smoke coming from the rear of the residence and called for fire department response. The suspect jumped through a window at the rear of the residence in an attempt to escape & suffered injuries. 26-year-old Adam King of Smithville was transported to Wilson Hospital in Johnson City; he was released to the custody of the Sheriff's department. The fire was caused extensive damage to the residence, & is considered to be a total loss. King was charged with 2nd degree Burglary, Arson & Criminal Mischief, and he was arraigned this morning in the Town of Smithville Court and was remanded to the Chenango County Jail on $100,000 cash bail.

Broome County Sheriff David Harder reminded the area public today that they are still looking for Brenda Halpin of the town of Chenango. Halpin is a 37 year old white female, only 5 foot tall & weighing about 90-95 pounds. She was last seen wearing pajamas and may have on a black coat and sneakers. She has long brown straight hair and wears glasses. Brenda suffers from Huntington’s disease which affects her physical abilities including walking normally. Halpin was last seen at her residence on Poplar Hill Road in Chenango Bridge on Friday, April 8th, Anyone with any information is urged to call the Broome County Sheriff’s Office at 778-1911.

The Johnson City Police Department invites the community to pay tribute to fallen Officer David Smith by donating blood at a special blood drive in his memory today. Smith was killed in the line of duty 2 years ago while responding to a 911 call. The Blood Drive is today from 1:00 to 6:00 PM, at 308 Main Street, Johnson City, to make an appointment to download the Blood Donor App, call 1-800-RED-CROSS or visit redcrossblood.org.

Long lines & a packed house greeted presidential candidate Bernie Sanders at the Floyd Maines Memorial Arena in Binghamton this morning. Sanders spoke for about one hour about his campaign platform & urged those in attendance to vote for him on April 19th in the Democratic Party Primary.

(Sanders 4-11-16)

Sanders also has appearances in Albany and Buffalo today, on Tuesday, Sanders will appear in Rochester and Syracuse.

State Police arrested 29-year-old Rebbecca Johnson of Oneonta for Aggravated DWI with a B.A.C. result of .23% and other traffic violations. This arrest occurred after a trooper responded to a 911 report of an accident where a vehicle rolled down an embankment on State Route 23 in the Town of Laurens. Johnson is accused of being intoxicated when she struck a guide rail and then rolled her vehicle down an embankment, She and her passenger were not injured and where able to crawl out by themselves. Johnson was issued tickets returnable to the Town of Laurens court on April 21st.

Governor Cuomo announced that his administration has reached a retroactive one-year labor agreement with the New York State Public Employees Federation. PEF is one of the largest unions in the United States and is New York's second-largest state-employee union, representing 54,000 workers. The one-year contract agreement includes a two percent salary increase retroactive to April 1, 2015.

Delaware County Sheriff's Deputies arrested 34 year old Shawn Stuber of Berne at the Orange County Jail, on an Arrest Warrant issued by the Delaware County Court for failure to appear to a court appearance for 3rd degree Assault. Stuber faced 2 additional, outstanding Bench Warrants issued by the Oneonta and Worcester Town Courts for failure to appear on charges of Making a Punishable False Written Statement and Endangering the Welfare of a Child. Stuber was arraigned in Delaware County Court and was ordered held without bail pending an April 5th court appearance. Upon his release from the Delaware County Correctional Facility, Stuber will be turned over to New York State Police to answer the pending Otsego County charges.

The Chenango County Sheriff’s Office investigated a 2 vehicle crash Wednesday Morning on State Highway 12 near County Road 45 in the Town of North Norwich. Deputies reported that a northbound vehicle was being operated Michael Davis, when he became unconscious, crossed the center line and struck a State DOT dump truck that was parked on the southbound shoulder. Donna Davis was a passenger in the vehicle, she suffered a broken ankle, both occupants were transported to Wilson Hospital in Johnson City.

STATE LAWMAKERS ARE CONTINUING TO WORK TOWARD GETTING a budget finished on time, as conference committee work moves forward. State Senator John Bonacic detailed some of the highlights from the Senate proposed budget that he hopes to see make it to the final State budget plan:

(Bonacic 3-24-16)

Bonacic also said that the state is committing millions of dollars in fighting the heroin epidemic, both house & the governor have vastly different amounts of money proposed toward that problem, which will be ironed out in the final budget document due by April 1st.

State Police arrested 37-year-old Bernadette Kowatch of Arkville, for Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance and Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a motor vehicle, following a routine traffic stop. Kowatch was arraigned in the Middletown Court, posted $1,000 cash bail, and was given a return date of April 14th.

Governor Cuomo reminds New Yorkers that they must register to vote by March 25th in order to cast ballots in the upcoming presidential primaries on April 19. New Yorkers looking to register to vote, or to change their enrollment information, can do so by using the state's online voter registration service on the State DMV website.

State lawmakers are expecting to get an update on the status of the state budget this week, after an agreement was reached on available revenue. Local Assemblyman Cliff Crouch explains:

(Crouch 3-8-16)

Crouch said that he expects Conference Committee assignments to be announced by the end of the week, the state budget plan is due April 1st.

State Police were on the lookout for a Dodge Magnum driven by 27 year old Elvis Guzman of Cincinnatus, following the report of a violent domestic dispute. Trooper Michael Gardner observed the Guzman vehicle & he refused to stop. After a brief pursuit, Guzman purposely drove off of State Route 79 and into a field that led down a steep embankment and into an ice-covered lake in the town of Barker. Trooper Gardner with the help of a passing motorist, tied a rope to his belt and entered the ice-covered water & pulled Guzman out. Guzman's vehicle was located & removed, Guzman was transported to Wilson Hospital in Johnson City where he refused medical attention, he was issued numerous traffic tickets to the Town of Barker court & he was then turned over to the Cortland County Sheriff’s Department for a possible felony assault charge.

Governor Cuomo today announced the launch of the New “New York Broadband Program’s Consolidated Funding Application Portal", which is now accepting applications for the Request for Proposals issued on January 8th . The $500 million program provides funding for high-speed Internet access to unserved and underserved areas across the state, Applications may now be submitted through the New York State CFA Portal, and are due Friday, April 15th. Applicants must be able to complete projects by December 31, 2018. Subsequent rounds of funding will be announced throughout 2016.

The Delaware valley Humane Society is looking for donations of a few items, for the dogs & cats waiting to be adopted at the facility. Spokesperson Erin Johnson explains:

(Erin Johnson 2-18-16)

More information about the Delaware Valley Humane Society is available at 563-7780

The Otsego county Chamber of Commerce will offer the Leadership Otsego program is accepting applications for the class of 2016. Leadership Otsego starts in April and engages emerging and existing leaders in a 6-month program that broadens their knowledge of community organizations and sharpens their leadership skills. An informational session will be held on March 9th at 6:00 p.m. at Roots Brewing Company on Main Street, Oneonta. More information is available at 432-4500.

State Lawmakers are reacting to the Governor's State of the State address & Executive Budget proposal. State Senator Jim Seward comments:

(Seward 1-14-16)

Assemblyman Bill Magee also commented:

(Magee 1-14-16)

Magee will once again Chair the Assembly Agriculture Committee. Lawmakers will begin working on the Budget plan and other aspects of the Governor's agenda. They have until April 1st to get the budget passed.

A Johnson City man has been arrested for endangering the welfare of a child after Narcan was administered for a heroin overdose. Broome County Deputies responded to a residence of 36-year-old Eric Purdy for 2 adults who were unresponsive possibly due to a drug overdose. The residence was also occupied by 3 children, 1 of the children called their mother for help when Purdy would not respond. Purdy and another adult male were found unresponsive; Purdy woke up, while the other adult male required Narcan. Purdy is charged with 3 counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, he faces court action at a later date.

Local lawmakers are weighing in on the Governor's State of the State address & Budget Presentation. First, Assemblyman Cliff Crouch:

(Crouch 1-14-16)

Assemblyman Pete Lopez Comments:

(Lopez 1-14-16)

Both houses of the Legislature will now get to work on getting the budget passed by April 1st, as well as getting agreements on the rest of the Governor’s agenda.