WCDO Radio News

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights sent letters to 60 universities under investigation for antisemitic discrimination and harassment, the department is investigating five universities for reports of antisemitic harassment. Additionally, 55 universities are under investigation or monitoring due to complaints to the department, including SUNY Binghamton and Cornell University.

Valley Veterinary Associates on State Route 7 in Unadilla recently added a new 3D Imaging equipment at their facility, to greatly upgrade their ability to diagnose various pet injuries or tumors, Valley Veterinary Associates owner Dr. Jon Davis explains:

(Dr. Davis 2-25-25)

Dr. Davis said that the technology is also available to other veterinarians around the region, previously they would refer pets or farm animals to Cornell University to receive a diagnosis & treatment with the 3D imaging technology.

A.M. NEWS TUESDAY 2-25-25

State Police arrested 24 year old Paige Wallace of Guilford for Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Criminal Possession of a Weapon. Troopers were dispatched to a report of a crash on State Highway 23 in the town of Morris, they found a vehicle that went off the roadway and struck a guiderail. Wallace failed Field Sobriety Tests, She was additionally found in possession of illicit substances and metal knuckles. Wallace was issued appearance tickets to the Morris Town Court on March 10, 2025. State Police arrested 12 people for DWI or driving while ability impaired by drugs, in Troop C, during the week of February 17th to the 23rd.

Animal Adventure Park announced on February 15 that Johari the giraffe passed away at the age of 20, Cornell University will be conducting the autopsy to provide more details about the death of the popular Giraffe.

Crews in the Village of Bainbridge repaired a broken water main break on West Main Street this morning. Water was shut off in the area of the break for a few hours, the water was turned back on & affected village residents do NOT have to boil water.

A.M. NEWS MONDAY 1-27-25

Otsego County Sheriff's Office arrested 28 year old Ladrina Graham of Worcester for Overdriving, Torturing and Injuring Animals; 6 counts of Failure to Provide Sustenance plus Criminal Possession of a Weapon. Graham was arrested following a complaint of an injured dog in the town of Worcester, after filing for a search warrant and finding a deceased dog and 5 living dogs in unsanitary conditions, Graham was arrested, processed and released on an appearance ticket returnable to Town of Worcester Court at a later date. The deceased dog was sent to Cornell University for a necropsy and further charges are pending at this time.

Otsego County Sheriff's Office arrested 40 year old Whitney Bachanas of Milford on 3 counts of Aggravated Animal Cruelty, following a recent animal abuse investigation. Bachanas was charged following an investigation in collaboration with Susquehanna SPCA, Cornell University Veterinary Hospital and Upstate Veterinary Specialties, she was originally charged with multiple counts of animal cruelty in September, and has been additionally charged with 3 counts of Aggravated Animal Cruelty, she was issued an appearance ticket for town of Milford Court.

Otsego County Sheriff's Office arrested 43 year old Whitney Bachanas of Milford woman for animal cruelty after Deputies responded to County Highway 35 in the Town of Milford for a welfare check. Bachanas was charged with Abandonment of Animals, Failure to provide proper sustenance, Deputies located several animals abandoned, malnourished and mistreated. 2 emaciated dogs in critical condition were transported to Cornell University animal hospital. A 3rd dog was located deceased as well as a turkey and a quail. 2 quail were rescued for foster and rehabilitation. The Susquehanna SPCA, Cornell University and Farm Friends Network assisted in this rescue and investigation. Bachanas was issued appearance tickets and is set to appear in court at a later date.

A.M. NEWS FRIDAY 9-6-24

Colorscape Chenango will take place this Saturday and Sunday, in East and West Parks, downtown Norwich, director Michele Erickson comments:

(Michele Erickson 8-26-24)

The performance schedule for all the live acts can be found on www.colorscape.org.

State Police were dispatched Saturday to the report of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle in the town of Ithaca. 19 year old Max Ross of Lafayette Louisiana was in stable condition at Packer Hospital in Sayre, 30 year old Blake Curtis of the Cornell University Police Department has been charged with Vehicular Assault and DWI, Curtis immediately called 911. The investigation is ongoing.

State University of New York Board of Trustees announced an additional allocation of $114 million in direct state tax support across the state-operated SUNY campuses from the Fiscal Year 2025 enacted New York State budget. The money will be used for salary increases and internship funding,

48-year-old Justin Valk of Davenport was convicted of 2nd degree Burglary in Delaware County Court. Valk was scheduled for a jury trial but at a pre-trial conference, he pleaded guilty. Valk admitted that he went to a seasonal home in Harpersfield, with other co-defendants & the co-defendants entered the home and committed larceny. Valk will be sentenced to 6 years in state prison, followed by 3 years of post-release supervision, he was sent back to the Delaware County Correctional Facility pending sentencing. Valk still faces a 2nd indictment involving the death of his wife, those charges are not included in this case.

A.M. NEWS THURSDAY 3-14-24

The Otsego County Sheriff's Office announced the arrest of 35 year old Ashley Williams of Laurens on multiple counts of Aggravated Cruelty to Animals, Abandonment of Animals & Failure to Provide Sustenance to Animals. On February 19th a search warrant was executed which lead to the discovery of 5 deceased dogs in trash bags. Additionally, 5 live canines were seized & were turned over to the Susquehanna SPCA for medical attention. The deceased dogs were transported to the Cornell University of Veterinary Medicine, it was determined that they starved to death and were partially cannibalized by the living dogs. Williams was found in Oneonta, where city police officers and Otsego County probation officers took the her in to custody, she was transferred to the Sheriff’s Office for processing. Additional charges are pending.

The Susquehanna SPCA & the Otsego County Sheriff's Department responded to the Town of Laurens for the report of a possible dog-abandonment case. Deputies discovered 5 dogs deceased in garbage bags and 4 who appeared to have abandoned, the 4 were removed & are currently being cared for at the Susquehanna SPCA, the 5 deceased animals were brought to Cornell University for forensic examinations. The Sheriff's Office is looking for the owner of the dogs, the investigation is continuing. Those who would like to donate the the SPCA to assist with the cost of this type of rescue can go to sqspca.org to make a donation.

21 year old Patrick Dai of Pittsford, and Cornell University, was arrested Tuesday on a federal criminal complaint charging him with posting threats to kill or injure another using interstate communications. Dai is accused of posting messages to the Cornell section of an online discussion site, where he allegedly called for the deaths of Jewish people and a post threatening to shoot up 104 west, which is a Cornell University kosher dining hall located next to the Cornell Jewish Center. The charge filed against Dai carries a maximum term of 5 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. Dai is being held at the Broome County Correctional Facility pending court action in a federal court in Syracuse.

19th District Congressman Marc Molinaro announced over $10 million in federal funding for various local organizations. Greater Opportunities for Broome and Chenango, Inc. is receiving $2,744,923 for its Head Start Program, Cornell University is receiving $3,792,922 for pharmacology research and $776,752 for allergy and immunology research. SUNY Binghamton is receiving $783,365 for alcohol abuse treatment research & The Family Health Network of Central New York, Inc. is receiving $2,300,207 to support the continuation of care.

Chobani announced an expansion of its Scholars Program, adding a pledge of $1 million for those who wish to pursue agriculture. Through its partnerships with Cornell University and the University of Idaho, the Chobani Scholars Program will offer eight $20,000 scholarships ($5,000 each year) over 5 years to historically underserved students interested in studying agriculture, dairy, food science, and/or food entrepreneurship. Chobani Scholars will have an opportunity to intern with Chobani during their college careers. More information is available at the Chobani website.

The Center for Agricultural Development & Entrepreurships Farmer' Survey deadline is tomorrow.  The survey takes about 15 minutes to complete and allows farmers to identify their top food system priorities.  The survey represents the 2nd phase of CADE’s data collection process, from 17 focus groups which were conducted between March and October in partnership with Cornell University, SUNY Cobleskill, and other researchers. The survey can be found at cornell.ca1.qualtrics.com, more information is available at cadefarms.org.

A.M. NEWS Thursday 12/30/21

The City of Oneonta Police Department is investigating a bank robbery at the NBT bank at 1 Wall Street Wednesday at about 11:00 AM.  A single male suspect demanded the teller to hand over an undisclosed amount of money, he  is described a 5’8 to 6’ tall, wearing a dark colored hooded sweatshirt, dark colored pants and is about 220-250 pounds with a heavy build.  He was last seen walking in an easterly direction on Wall Street.  The public is encouraged to contact the Oneonta Police Detectives with any additional information at (607) 432-1111.

The Coronavirus pandemic has thrown the Dairy industry, local Assemblyman Cliff Crouch explains:

(Crouch 4-8-20)

Cornell University economists predict that the Coronavirus could be even more devastating to the Dairy industry than the 2009 recession.

Delaware County meeting will continue today, by teleconferencing.  The Department of Public Works Committee will meet via conference call at 8:45 AM, The Delaware County Finance Committee will meet via conference call at 10:30 AM, and The Delaware County Board of Supervisors will hold its regular meeting at 1:00 p.m. by teleconference as part of the County's COVID-19 response plan.  All business conducted by the Board of Supervisors will be recorded for the public and a full transcript will be made available on the county’s webpage.

State Police arrested 59-year-old Carl Pritchard of Exeter
for overdriving, torturing and injuring animals; failure to provide proper
sustenance and failure to provide appropriate shelter for dogs left
outside.  K. Pritchard was arrested after
Troopers responded to a complaint from a UPS driver who observed a dog whose
left leg appeared to be missing, The Susquehanna SPCA responded and a
veterinarian was contacted, who believed that Zoe had chewed off her own leg
after they observed bone fragments in her stomach, she also had previous
untreated injuries and scarred ear tips.
Zoe was transported to Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
for further care.  Pritchard surrender
Zoe due to his inability to pay for any vet bills, he is due to appear in the
town of Exeter court on December 4th.

2 unidentified people were arrested Monday night at
Binghamton University, following protests of republican Economist Arthur
Laffer, who was scheduled to give a speech on campus after being invited to
speak by College Republicans.  Laffer was
not able to deliver his speech; the protest came 2 days after an outside
protest on the campus following a separate event, also by College
Republicans.    State Senator Fred Akshar
announced that he has cancelled his planned visit tonight to Binghamton
University’s campus; he extended an invitation to the leaders of the Binghamton
University College Progressives, College Democrats and the College Republicans
to meet to discuss the incidents.

The New Berlin Art Forum presents the Navy band Commodores
for a free concert Wednesday night at the Unadilla Valley Central School
Auditorium.  Forum Spokesperson Margaret
Murray said that the show is free but tickets are required for this Jazz
Concert:

(Margaret Murray 10-29-19)

Murray said that she will take
ticket reservations through 3:00 PM Wednesday 263-2115, Tickets are also
available at The New Berlin Library & the New Berlin Service Pharmacy.

47-year-old Andrew Menke has died following a Saturday
Afternoon Fire in his 3rd Floor Apartment above the Little Venice Restaurant in
Binghamton over the weekend.  Menke was
discovered in the hallway at 111 Chenango Street, he was taken to Wilson
Medical Center, and He was moved to Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse.  Fire damage was confined to the third-floor
apartment where the blaze originated. The restaurant sustained some water
damage, but was able to re-open Sunday.
The investigation is continuing.

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County will have a
solar power information session this evening at 6:00 PM.  The event will be held at the Hamden Office
on State Highway 10, more information is available at 865-6531.

Norwich City
Police are investigating the theft of 2 vehicles this weekend from the Hayes
Street Parking Lot & West Main Street.
Police said that both vehicles were unlocked, they remind city residents
to always lock up unattended vehicles, and never leave valuables in plain sight
in a vehicle.  so far, the vehicles have
not been recovered & no arrests have been announced.

The body of a missing Cornell
University student was recovered by Ithaca Falls Saturday Night.  18 year old Antonio Tsialas’s death is under
investigation but foul play is not suspected, State Police are assisting Cornell
University Police, Tsialas had not been seen or heard from since Thursday
evening after leaving an event, he failed to meet a family member Friday
afternoon, the investigation is continuing.

The Otsego County Sheriff's department, the Susquehanna Animal Shelter & Southern New York Pig Rescue in Hornell teamed up Monday to remove 4 pigs that were malnourished, from a property on Fisk Road in the town of Morris. Fundraising efforts were underway to have the pigs spayed or neutered by the Cornell University Veterinary program, the name of the owner of the pigs has not been charged, and the investigation is ongoing.

Cornell Cooperative Extension & Chobani have teamed up for a series of informational workshops regarding the financial aspects affecting the Dairy Industry. A workshop will be held at the Quality Inn of Oneonta on Wednesday October 31st, & on Thursday November 1st at the Cornell Cooperative Extension in Norwich. Those interested in attending the workshops can register at 315-866-7920.

Binghamton Police announced that they are looking for 22 year old Orlando Tercero of Nicaragua regarding the death of 22-year-old Haley Anderson, a nursing student at Binghamton University. Tercero and Anderson were previously in a relationship, Anderson was found dead in her Oak Street apartment Friday, while Tercero left the United States for Nicaragua. Anyone with information can contact the Binghamton Police Detective Division at 607-772-7080 or 607-772-7082.

The State Department of Environmental Conservation and researchers at Cornell University are surveying New Yorkers about deer-related interests and concerns. Survey results will be used to guide deer population management decisions.

Governor Cuomo today announced that the state's first industrial hemp research forum would be held Wednesday, February 28th at Cornell University, The forum is part of the Governor's 2018 State of the State proposal to establish New York as a national leader in industrial hemp research, production and processing.

New York State is now home to 400 breweries, surpassing the previous record of 393 breweries set in 1876. The number of breweries has skyrocketed since the state's first Wine, Beer and Spirits Summit in 2012, with 243 new breweries obtaining licenses, and beer being brewed in 57 of the state's 62 counties. Additionally, 202 new farm brewery licenses have been issued since a farm brewery law went into effect on January 1, 2013. Additionally, institutions including Cornell University, SUNY Morrisville, and Hartwick College's Center for Craft Food and Beverage are now engaged in research and offering testing of barely, malt and beer quality, Morrisville and Hartwick also have programs to train New York's next generation of brewers.

Health officials in New York have detected the first of the season's mosquitoes with West Nile virus downstate in Staten Island. Officials at Cornell University advise New Yorkers to take steps now to protect themselves from the risks of mosquito-borne illnesses. Those who participate in outdoor activities should wear mosquito repellents, dump out any standing water in gutters, plant pots, tarps, buckets, birdbaths & children’s pools.

Today is the last day to sign up for free income tax preparation in Chenango County through the Colgate University Volunteer income tax assistance program. Residents who earned less than $54,000 may be eligible to participate, more information, can be made through Cornell Cooperative Extension at 99 Broad Street in Norwich, at 334-5841. The deadline to file state & federal income taxes is Tuesday April 18th this year.

On Friday night, October 28, members of the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, State Police, Delhi Village Police, S.U.N.Y. Delhi University Police and Delaware County Probation Department conducted an Enhanced Traffic Safety Enforcement Campaign in the Delhi area. The campaign resulted in the arrest of 4 drivers impaired by the use of drugs and or alcohol; 3 of whom were also charged with Unlawful Possession of Marihuana. Additionally, 2 Walton residents were arrested and charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance that led to the discovery and seizure of heroin. 54 summonses were issued during the detail.

Grant funding will support a partnership between the state Department of Health & Cornell University that will evaluate the effectiveness of a curriculum that promotes healthy relationships and gender roles to adolescent males aged 12-14. The evaluation will assess the curriculum’s impact on participants’ perceptions of gender norms, social norms around violence. The goal is ultimately to reduce youths’ risk for future acts of sexual violence. The CDC grants enhances the states Enough is Enough initiative.

The Ithaca Police Department is opening a homicide investigation after one of two Ithaca College students stabbed on the Cornell campus early Sunday morning, was pronounced dead at Cayuga Medical Center. 19-year-old Anthony Nazaire of Brooklyn was killed, a 2nd student was injured, and was treated and released from a Syracuse area hospital. The incident occurred at around 2:00 AM Sunday at the conclusion of a campus event, several altercations broke out as students left the hall, and police are looking at video recorded by witness on their phones.

Governor Cuomo announced the first 2 major projects awarded under the $5 million Southern Tier Agricultural Industry Enhancement program. The Broome County Cornell Cooperative Extension was awarded $500,000 for a one-stop Agriculture Development Center and a Taste New York Market in Broome County, and $627,055 was awarded to Cornell University for the Stocker Cattle Initiative to further training and research in this industry for Southern Tier farmers.

Dr. Michael Laliberte, who was Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, was named SUNY Delhi president by the State University Board of Trustees Thursday. Laliberte will become Delhi’s 10th chief executive on July 21, succeeding Dr. Candace Vancko, who has served as SUNY Delhi president since August 1999.

The New York State Department of Health, & Cornell University, has been designated as an Integrated Food Safety Center of Excellence by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Each year, roughly 1 in 6 Americans are sickened by food borne diseases; 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die. The New York Center of Excellence pairs the state health department and Cornell University in an effort to prevent and control food-borne diseases, they will engage 11 states from Maryland to Maine as well as local public health partners to create a regional model for food safety improvement.

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County will be conducting NYSERDA’s free energy workshops titled “EMPOWER Save Energy, Save Dollars” Saturday from 10:00AM to 12:00 noon at the Hamden town Hall on State Route 10. More information is available at ccedelaware.org.

A Research Study involving rural women is being conducted by Bassett Research Institute & Cornell University is seeking area women to participate. Spokesperson Elaine Anderson comments:

(Elaine Anderson 11-16-15)

Those who would like more information or who would like to participate can call Elaine at 282-0503 or email her at Elaine@Strong Hearts New York.org.

Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul will spend the day in Broome County today. Hochul will Join Broome County Executive Debbie Preston and Local Officials to Tour Small Businesses in Downtown Binghamton & the Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena at 11:00 this morning, at 12:00 PM she convenes a Southern Tier Regional Economic Development Council Meeting at Binghamton University Innovative Technologies Complex. At 1:00 PM Hochul Hosts an "Enough is Enough" Roundtable at Binghamton University to Combat Sexual Assault on College Campuses & at 3:15 PM Hochul will tour the Cornell Cooperative Extension and Discusses Local Agricultural Issues at their offices at 840 Front Street in Binghamton.

New York state currently ranks 2nd in maple syrup production, and studies are being conducted at Cornell University to see if production can be extended to birch & walnut syrup, Cornell agriculture department spokesperson Julie Suarez explains:

(Julie Suarez 3-12-15)

Suarez said that only 1% of the states maple trees are tapped; New York still trails Vermont for maple Syrup production,