WCDO Radio News

Governor Cuomo announced Empire State Development has approved more than $9 million in New York State Broadband Grants to support 5 projects to expand broadband access to y 33,000 households, 4,500 businesses and 55 institutions across Upstate counties.   During this approval round, Time Warner Cable, will receive approximately $5.3 million to expand services.  Local projects receiving funding the Otsego County Wireless Network for $558,940.

Governor Cuomo said he would sign a bill, if it passes the legislature, to allow state financial aid programs to cover college tuition costs for kids of illegal immigrants. The governor previously has said he supports a federal DREAM Act, but had not taken a position on a state version. While the Assembly intends to pass the measure again this week, it is unlikely there are enough votes in the Senate to send it to Cuomo's desk

State attorney General Eric Schneiderman said the Homeowner Protection Program has worked with 23,760 New Yorkers in the past 15 months, resulting in 6,660 approved and pending loan modifications. Since October 2012, it has helped fund 36 legal aid groups, and 56 housing counseling agencies, to help struggling homeowners avoid foreclosure. Schneiderman has recently proposed legislation to require lenders take responsibility for properties, abandoned by mortgage holders behind on payments, instead of waiting until the foreclosure process is complete. There are now more than 15,000 "zombie properties" statewide, with about 1,000 in the Southern Tier.

Hartwick College hosted U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand for a press conference earlier this afternoon. Gillibrand discussed her proposal to increase access to rural broadband by creating a new grant component to the current Broadband Loan Program, for private sector providers and state and local government,s to acquire funding and resources to deliver high-speed Internet to businesses and families to 1.1 million rural New Yorkers who do not have broadband internet access.

Thirty schools will be eligible for up to $500,000 in state grants through a new community-schools program launched by Gov. Cuomo. The governor outlined the plan in his State of the State address in January as a way to help struggling communities with additional services. Schools have until Sept. 18 to apply for the money. The $500,000 would be paid out over three years. The state Education Department has the application and program details. Go to NYSED.GOV.