WCDO Radio News

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, who is a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that several of her priorities were included in the 2026 Energy and Water Development, Commerce-Justice-Science, and Environment funding bills. $11.75 million in funding will go to the Delaware River Basin Restoration Program to support wildlife, improve water quality, and enhance recreational access to the basin, $28 million was allocated to help New York households increase the energy efficiency of their homes and lower their energy bills.

The State Department of Motor Vehicles will launch a new technology system, All DMV offices will close at 2:00 PM on Friday, Feb. 13, with online and phone services also unavailable during the transition. DMV operations are expected to fully resume at the start of business on Wednesday, February 18, People who need to renew a license or non-driver ID, or complete other transactions before February 13, are encouraged to use the online options on the DMV website.

The new federal budget includes a $9.7 million appropriation
for the Delaware River Basin Restoration Program, which is a 62% increase over
last year.  The Friends of the Upper
Delaware River & their partners have secured almost $1.5 million for on-the-ground
stream protection and restoration projects throughout the Upper Delaware River
watershed below the NYC reservoirs over the last few years, projects protect
the wild trout fishery, enhance river related recreational opportunities,
mitigate flooding, protect public infrastructure, and create local jobs.

The Delaware County Chamber of Commerce will hold Job and
Resource Fairs on Wednesday, April 10th from 11:00 am to 3:30 pm at ONC BOCES
in Grand Gorge and on Thursday, April 11 at DCMO BOCES Harrold Campus in
Masonville.  Employers will be connected
to a viable workforce consisting of recent high school and college graduates as
well as adults who are eager to obtain employment.   There is no fee to participate, but
registration is required.  To register or
to obtain more information, go to delawarecounty.org or call 746-2281.

The Delaware River Basin Restoration Program received $6
million in funding in the new federal budget bill.  The funding level for the program was
increased by $1 million from last year’s appropriation.  The Program provides grants throughout the
Delaware River basin, where communities are working on flood prevention,
aquatic habitat protection, and building river based recreational
economies.  More Information is available
at delriverwatershed.org

Governor Cuomo announced that
all Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients will receive next
month's benefits no later than March 7 - approximately one week earlier than
scheduled. The early release is intended to ease the burden on recipients that
have been forced to stretch February's benefits for more than six weeks because
of the recent unprecedented shutdown of the federal government.  Nearly 20,000 New Yorkers were furloughed
during the federal shutdown and many more were working without pay for 35 days,
leaving countless New Yorkers with no choice but to seek emergency food assistance
for the first time.

State Police responded Friday night to a pedestrian that was
struck by a vehicle on State Route 23 near the entrance to Wal-Mart in the town
of Oneonta.   The pedestrian disregarded
the crosswalk sign and crossed in front of the vehicle's path on State Route
23, the pedestrian has been identified as 62-year-old Steven Grant of Oneonta,
and He was airlifted by Life Net to Wilson Memorial Hospital with serious
injuries.  The driver of the vehicle, a
31-year-old male has been cooperative with troopers.  At this time, no tickets have been
issued.  The investigation is continuing.

Delaware County Sheriffs Deputies arrested 45-year-old Ronald Conrow of Stamford for Aggravated Unlicensed Operation, alcohol related, using motor vehicle without ignition interlock device and uninspected motor vehicle. Conrow was also arrested for violation of probation. He was arraigned in Village of Delhi Court and sent to Delaware County Jail without bail to await further action of court. The owner of vehicle Conrow was operating 44 year old Pamela Pitcher of Delhi was charged with facilitating unlicensed operation and loaning a vehicle without ignition interlock device, she will appear in Village of Delhi Court at later date.

Congressman Chris Gibson announced the introduction of the Delaware River Basin Conservation Act, which seeks to protect the Delaware River watershed and strengthens the region’s outdoor economy. The bill creates a Delaware River Basin Restoration Program within the Fish and Wildlife Service, The legislation would require consultation between federal and state agencies and local governments and groups to develop a basin-wide conservation strategy that is science-based, cost-effective, and includes flood mitigation projects & public access and recreation. Congressman Gibson is one of 14 co-sponsors of the

Main Street Baseball, LLC of Florida has filed a lawsuit against the Binghamton Mets for breach of contract, relating to a sale of the team & the backing out from that sale. Main Street seeks a 6-month injunction to keep the B-Mets ownership from selling the team, after they released emails from team president Michael Urda where he said that he had no problem selling to a group that would move the team out of Binghamton. Urda released a statement to the press Tuesday saying they did sign a Letter of Intent with Main Street Baseball in December, that contained the provision that the “Relocation to Wilmington Delaware would not be allowed under the conditions of the sale.” Urda stated that a second ownership group has come forward that wants to keep the team in NYSEG Stadium, and that he has faith in the court system.