WCDO Radio News

Broome County Area Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo, who has served the 123rd Assembly District for more than 20 years, will not seek re-election in November, Lupardo is set to finish out her term and leave the office at the end of 2026.

The Commerce Chenango Board of Directors announced that Kerri Green is no longer part of the organization, after serving as the President & CEO since 2019, the Board announced that a search for a new President & CEO is underway. Commerce Chenango Members can contact Katie Olson, Director of Membership & Programs, at (607) 334-1402 or by email at kolson@chenangony.org.

Governor Hochul signed a bill by State Senator Fred Akshar and Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo, to rename a portion of State Route 17C after Officer David “DW” Smith. Officer Smith was shot and killed responding to a disturbance in 2014, he served in the Johnson City Police Department for 18 years.

Legislation co-sponsored by Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo of Endwell, is elevating care standards at animal shelters and animal rescue organizations in New York State. The new legislation will require shelters to pass state inspections, to be administered under the division of Agriculture and Markets. Violations could result in denial, revocation, suspension or refusal of license renewal as well as possible fines of between $100 and $1,000 per violation. The new standards take effect in 2025.

State
Senator Fred Akshar & Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo are sponsoring the Demos
Ford Act, named after a Binghamton Boy suffering from Lyme disease.  The Act would establish specific guidelines
and protocols for healthcare providers in the proper diagnosis and treatment of
Lyme disease & other tick borne illnesses.

Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo and State Senator Fred Akshar joined local law enforcement officials Friday to discuss cracking down on impaired driving across the State. Last year, the 2 legislators were successful in securing $1.6 million in state funding for STOP-DWI programs that became available for use to local programs at the beginning of 2018. Additionally, Lupardo and Akshar are also working on legislation that would allow for fines from impaired driving offenses to be collected ahead of other fees and surcharges collected by the state.

Republican Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb dropped his bid for the Republican nomination for governor on Friday; the GOP field is now down to 2 announced candidates, State Senator John DeFrancisco & Joel Giambra, the former Erie County executive.

New York Farm Bureau has released its annual “Circle of Friends,” naming 172 New York State Legislators to this year’s list. The “Circle of Friends” honor is based upon each legislator’s voting record on issues of agricultural importance as well as other evidence of legislative support, including sponsorship of bills that New York Farm Bureau has either supported this year. Local “Circle of Friends” recipients for 2017 are State senator’s Fred Akshar, John Bonacic, Jim Seward & Assembly Members Cliff Crouch, Gary Finch, Pete Lopez, Donna Lupardo & Bill Magee.

State Senator Fred Akshar, & Assembly Members Donna Lupardo and Cliff Crouch will hold a public Town Hall Meeting today, to discuss the ongoing repurposing of the Broome Developmental Center to provide substance abuse treatment to individuals struggling with addiction. Officials from the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, Syracuse Behavioral Health, Broome County Department of Social Services and the Broome County Health Department will answer questions and address concerns related to the repurposing project. The event will run from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Chenango Valley High School.

The next meeting of the Sidney Chamber of Commerce will be tomorrow morning at 7:45 AM at Trackside Dining on Main Street. Upcoming Events for the Chamber include the New Member Coffee Hour on March 22nd, and they will be hosting the 4-Chamber Mixer on April 20th.

Today, the players, coaches and families of the 2016 Little League World Series Champions Maine-Endwell will be treated to a full day at the State Capitol in Albany. State Senator Fred Akshar and Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo will host the events, which will feature resolutions recognizing the team's achievement on both the Senate and Assembly floors.

New State Assembly Democratic Speaker Carl Heastie is making the rounds upstate today. Heastie made an appearance in downtown Binghamton this afternoon with Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo, his visit comes a day after new State Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan appeared in Cooperstown, both parties are looking to win the 52nd State Senate district following the conviction of Republican Tom Libous, who held that seat since 1988.

The State Assembly passed legislation to name a Town of Chenango bridge after fallen State Trooper Christopher Skinner. The Assembly unanimously passed the bill, sponsored by area Assembly members Cliff Crouch & Donna Lupardo, it passed in the Senate a few days earlier. The legislation has now been sent to the governor to be signed into law. Trooper Skinner was intentionally run down while conducting a traffic stop on I-81 between Exits 6 and 7 in Chenango in May of 2014, Almond Upton of Florida is facing multiple charges for Trooper Skinners death.

Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo announced her campaign for a sixth term in the State Assembly at a fundraising event last night at En-Joie Golf Club. Lupardo was first elected to the assembly in 2004. She has no primary opponent, and is unopposed in the November election. In Albany, she is chair of the committee on children and families, and a member of the committees on environmental conservation, higher education, transportation, veterans affairs, and economic development

State Senator Tom Libous & Assembly Members Donna Lupardo & Cliff Crouch met with state officials Tuesday in Albany to discuss the proposed closures of the Broome Developmental Center and the Greater Binghamton Health Center. Libous said that they are concerned about the loss of jobs, and the ability for the community as a whole to handle the patients:

(Libous 11-27-13)

Libous said that he talked with the Governor recently about his concerns, he said that he is hopeful that there could be money in next years state budget to keep the facilities open, if not he has proposed legislation to freeze the closure of mental health facilities until 2015, in order to come up with better plans for those affected. Libous expects to meet with officials again after the Thanksgiving break.

Governor Cuomo holds a wide lead over his potential Republican challengers in the 2014 gubernatorial race, according the latest Polls. A Wall Street Journal-NBC-Marist poll found that Cuomo leads Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino 65 to 23%, with similar leads against Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin and former Republican gubernatorial nominee Carl Paladino. A Quinnipiac University Poll shows Cuomo over Astorino by 56 to 25% margin.

State Education Commissioner John King will visit Binghamton Monday to discuss the Common Core with community members.  The forum is scheduled for 6:00 to 8:00 PM at West Middle School. The forum will be hosted by state Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo and moderated by the League of Women Voters, Assemblyman Cliff Crouch will also be serving on the panel.