WCDO Radio News

Following the January tax law changes made by Congress under the American Taxpayer Relief Act, the Internal Revenue Service announced today it plans to open the 2013 filing season and begin processing individual income tax returns on January 30th.  The IRS originally planned to open electronic filing this year on Jan. 22; more than 80 percent of taxpayers filed electronically last year. Updated information will be posted on IRS.gov.

The Chenango county sheriff’s department arrested 37-year-old Jared Backus of Afton on an active bench warrant out of the Town of Norwich.   Backus was arrested for failing to appear for a scheduled Court date last month to answer to a Petty Larceny charge, he was arraigned in the Town of Oxford court & was remanded to Chenango County Jail on $1,000 bail and scheduled to appear in the Town of Norwich court at a later date.

The Oneonta Common Council hired a police officer Anthony Capristo at last night’s meeting at city hall.  The council also approved 4th ward alderman Michael Lynch to be acting mayor, and approved members of boards and commissions at last nights meeting, the first meeting of 2013.

The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 was passed by Congress and signed by the President, extending deadlines for Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) through December 2013.  The legislation allows the program to continue the same, as before, more information is available at labor.ny.gov.

Oneonta city police charged 22-year-old Marissa Hetzel with 2nd degree vehicular assault, leaving the scene of a person injury accident & DWI and several lesser charges, following the report of a bicyclist being hit by a vehicle Tuesday morning on the Lettis Highway.  Police reported that the unidentified bicyclist suffered multiple fractures, severe head and chest trauma, and was taken first to Fox Hospital and later to Bassett hospital in Cooperstown for emergency surgery.  Hetzel was arraigned in Oneonta City Court and was released on $2,500 bail, pending re-appearance in court at a later date.

Oneonta police arrested an area woman on charges of DWI early Tuesday morning.  44-year-old Lisa Sperry of Oneonta was charged following an investigation into a property damage accident in the Clinton Plaza parking lot off of Main Street.  Sperry faces court action at a later date.

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman today announced that his office has posted information online detailing charitable donations raised for Hurricane Sandy relief.  The 88 charities that have responded to the survey reported raising approximately $400 million for Hurricane Sandy relief. The five charities reporting the most contributions and pledges are the American red cross at 188 million, the robin hood foundation at 67 million, The Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City at 45 million dollars, the empire state relief fund at 15.4 million and the salvation army at 14.3 million.  More information is available at charitiesnys.com (/Documents%20and%20SettingsmgraceLocal%20SettingsTemporary%20Internet%20FilesContent.OutlookEKWHY6Hwww.charitiesnys.com).