WCDO Radio News

P.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 1-7-26

State Department of Transportation announced that major construction is complete on the $4 million roundabout project at The intersection of James F. Lettis Highway, Main Street & Maple Street in downtown Oneonta. The $4 million project began in the summer of 2025 and was funded through the Department's Highway Safety Improvement Program. It is the first of two projects in the City and Town of Oneonta, with a second project tentatively scheduled for the 2026 construction season to upgrade sidewalks and enhance the flow of traffic along State Routes 23 and 28 near the southern end of the Lettis Highway. In the coming weeks, some final touches will be added to the roundabout.

The State Department of Health has confirmed that the State's childhood vaccination policies remain unchanged despite recent federal revisions to immunization recommendations. The Department confirmed that there will be no changes to vaccine access, insurance coverage or the federal Vaccines for Children program, which provides vaccines at no cost to eligible children. Health care providers in New York State are advised to continue their "evidence-based immunization practices." State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald. "There was no new science, safety data or discovery presented by the federal government."

Bassett's FoxCare Center in Oneonta is hosting a blood drive with the American Red Cross today from 12:00 Noon to 5:00 pm. at the Conference Room 1 at FoxCare Center in Oneonta. Appointments are available by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS, visiting www.redcrossblood.org, or using the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, walk-ins are also welcome

P.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 12-3-25

41 Year old Trevor Metterhauser of Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to attempted aggravated sexual abuse, aggravated sexual abuse, sexual exploitation of children, and multiple counts of possession of child pornography. The case involves 2 small children, 1 in upstate New York & the Other in Texas. Metterhauser admitted that he conspired with Brandon Whitford to sexually exploit a 4-year-old girl in New York, In December 2022, he traveled to Texas to sexually assault a 2-year-old child and to record that abuse. When Metterhauser was arrested he had multiple electronic devices that contained the sexual assaults; and child pornography he obtained from the internet.

State Police today announced that they issued 13,036 tickets statewide during this year’s Thanksgiving holiday traffic enforcement period. Troopers conducted sobriety checkpoints, deployed DWI patrols, and ticketed drivers who were using handheld electronic devices. Troopers arrested 247 people for DWI and investigated 1,277 crashes, including 2 fatal crashes. In Troop C, there were 1232 ticketed, including 21 DWI Arrests, 434 for speeding, 41 for distracted driving & 35 violators of the "Move Over" Law.

The "Pawstruck" fundraiser for Delaware Valley Humane Society will be this Sunday at Awestruck Ciders in the Sidney Industrial Park, with a variety of activities to raise money, WCDO"s Grace Benkovitz is one of the organizers of the event:

(Grace 12-3-25)

Also, a new fundraising program has been instituted called "Shelter Saviors" where 6 area businesses will match donations for the shelter in December & that will include this Sunday's Pawstruck fundraiser.

A.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 12-3-25

State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald declared that influenza is now prevalent in New York State, health care personnel who have not received this year’s flu vaccine MUST wear masks in areas where patients may be present. The Department has a total of 17,783 positive flu cases, Outside of New York City, week-over-week flu cases are up 114%, to 3,619. Hospitalizations doubled to 413 across the State. Current influenza information is available at health.ny.gov.

Attorney General Letitia James won a court order preventing the federal government from enforcing a provision in the so-called "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" that would strip Planned Parenthood of its Medicaid funds, jeopardizing health care for millions of low-income patients across the country. Attorney General James joined a coalition of 21 other attorneys general and the governor of Pennsylvania in suing the Department of Health and Human Services to block the provision, The United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts issued a ruling granting the coalition's motion for a preliminary injunction, ordering HHS to continue paying Medicaid funds to all states and clinics in the coalition.

There will be 2 American Red Cross Blood Drives in Oneonta today, from 12:00 to 5:00 PM at Fox Hospital & at the SUNY Oneonta Hunt Union, Appointments are available and walk-ins are welcome. Appointments may be made by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS, visiting www.redcrossblood.org, or using the American Red Cross Blood Donor App.

State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald announced that flu is no longer prevalent, the declaration lifts the masking requirement for health care workers who are not vaccinated against flu. Commissioner McDonald declared flu prevalent in New York back on December 18, 2024.

State Police responded to a 2-vehicle crash on State Highway 28 in the town of Milford at about 6:00 AM today.  1 driver was pronounced deceased at Bassett Hospital, following the head-on crash between a Toyota and a Subaru. The investigation continues.

Governor Hochul & State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald updated New Yorkers on the measles cases and encouraged everyone to make sure they are up to date on vaccines. There have been 4 total cases of measles in New York State so far this year, 3 in New York City and 1 in Suffolk County. None of the cases this year are related to each other or connected to the outbreaks in Texas and New Mexico. More information is available at health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/measles.

64 year old Douglas Webb admitted in Chenango County Court to offering a false instrument for filing with the intent to defraud, he admitted to misleading Sherburne Earlville school officials on an application, where Webb allegedly did not disclose a 1987 conviction. Webb was originally indicted for offering a false instrument for filing with the intent to defraud, falsifying business records, plus 3 counts of forcible touching, and 3 counts of endangering the welfare of a child, while serving a bus driver for the district.

A.M. NEWS THURSDAY 12-19-24

50 year old Andras Kasuba of Brooklyn pleaded guilty to DWI & Aggravated Vehicular Assault, in Delaware County Court, on March 18, 2023, the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office responded to a motor vehicle crash on Highway 26, Kasuba was the driver of one of the vehicles. 3 individuals needed extraction due to serious physical injuries sustained in the accident, Kasuba was intoxicated at the time of the collision and had caused the crash, he had a blood alcohol content of 2.5 times the legal limit. Kasuba was remanded to the custody of the Delaware County Sheriff pending sentencing at a later date..

New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald today declared that influenza is now prevalent in New York State, with a total of 23,313 positive flu cases across 60 counties in New York have been reported this season to date. Outside of New York City, week-over-week lab-confirmed flu cases are up 75%, rising from 2,058 cases in the previous week to 3,603. Hospitalizations due to influenza climbed by 48%, up from 270 in the previous week to 399 across the State. More information is available at nyshc.health.ny.gov.

Catholic Charities will hold their 11th annual fundraising Pasta Dinner on May 16th at the Quality Inn of Oneonta, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. Tickets can be purchased at the Catholic Charities offices at the Sidney Civic Center, 176 Main Street in Oneonta or 489 West Main in Cobleskill. More information is available at 60-604-4071.

The Appellate Division of State Supreme Court unanimously upheld a lower court in ruling, that claims that a state commission that investigates ethical violations in New York was created unconstitutionally. The ruling follows a lawsuit from former Governor Andrew Cuomo after the State Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government attempted to force him to forfeit $5 million he received for writing a book on his administrations handling of the COVID 19 pandemic, Cuomo stated that the commission formed by Governor Hochul lacks authority under the state constitution to prosecute him, the ruling upheld a lower court ruling in favor of Cuomo.

A.M. NEWS THURSDAY 5-9-24

State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald announced that flu is no longer prevalent in the State for the 2023-24 influenza season. The declaration rescinds the masking requirement for health care workers who are not vaccinated against flu. McDonald declared flu prevalent in New York on December 6, 2023, which required health care personnel to wear a mask in health care settings, the masking requirements has been lifted.

A free virtual job fair will be held on Wednesday, April 12th, from 11:00am to 1:00pm. All businesses and job seekers from across a 6-county region are invited to attend: including from the local counties of Chenango, Delaware, and Otsego. More information is available at working-solutions.org.

The Town of Unadilla announced their Spring Clean up will be held this Friday starting at 6:30 Am until 2:00 PM. The town will accept, Appliances, Scrap Metal, Electronics, 4 tires per residence, more information is available at town of unadilla.org.

A.M. NEWS MONDAY 3-27-23

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the nomination of Dr. James McDonald to serve as Commissioner of the New York State Department of Health. Dr. McDonald is originally from Cohoes and received his bachelor's degree from Siena College. He joined the New York State Department of Health in July of 2022, serving as medical director of the Department's Office of Public Health. He later was appointed Interim Director of the Center for Community Health and began serving as Acting Commissioner of Health on January 1 of this year.

The Otsego County Sheriff’s Office arrested 24 year old Garyn Huntley of Oneonta following an attempt to flee police during a traffic stop on March 20th in the City of Oneonta. Huntley was charged with Unlawful Fleeing a Police Officer in a Motor Vehicle, Reckless Driving, Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of Motor Vehicle, Failure to Obey Police Officer, Operating a Motor Vehicle without Insurance, Speeding among several other charges, he was released on an appearance ticket for Oneonta Court on April 6th.

The American Red Cross has 2 area Blood Drives today, 1 in Cooperstown from 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., at the Clark's Sports Center, & another in Delhi from 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., at the Delhi Alliance Church, Book a time to give by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, or calling 1-800-RED CROSS.

P.M. NEWS THURSDAY 4-14-22

The Body of 76-year-old James Andrews of Binghamton has been found in Silver Lake Township, Pennsylvania, his body was discovered on April 8 by members of the Binghamton Police Department, FBI Albany and the FBI. Andrews was reported missing to Binghamton Police in August 2019, His death is being investigated as a homicide. Investigators said the owners of the property where Andrews was discovered have cooperated with authorities and did not have knowledge that Andrew’s remains were at their property. Anyone with information is asked to contact Binghamton detectives at 607-772-7080.

The Delaware County Chamber of Commerce is holding its 3rd Friday Business & Breakfast event Friday in Hamden, Chamber President Ray Pucci told WCDO News that Katie McDonald Blaine of GetThere New York will discuss new programs that may further help get Delaware County Workers to & from their Jobs:

(Ray Pucci 4-14-22)

The event will begin at 8:30 AM at the Hamden Inn, to register, go to delawarecounty.org.

The American Red Cross is holding 2 local Blood Drives today. The Franklin Fire Department at 351 Main Street will host a blood drive from 12:30 to 5:30 PM. A Blood Drive will also be held in Cooperstown at the Bassett Hall at 1 Atwell Road from 12:30 to 6:30 PM. Donors can make an appointment by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS

31-year-old Chris Nugent of Deposit was apprehended at an apartment on Court Street in Binghamton earlier this week.  Nugent was wanted in connection with a gang assault case at the Johnson City McDonald's in December, he was sent to the Broome County Jail.  Nugent was charged along 4 other Deposit man for gang assault in an attack that seriously injured 2 people.

Attorney General Letitia James filed the nation's most
extensive lawsuit against the manufacturers, Sackler Family, and distributors
of opioids for their role in the opioid epidemic that has taken hundreds of
thousands of lives and devastated families and communities. The lawsuit alleges
that through years of false and deceptive marketing, and by ignoring their
duties to prevent the unlawful diversion of controlled substances, these six
national prescription opioid manufacturers, the Sackler Family, and four
national prescription drug distributors are largely responsible for creating
the opioid epidemic that has ravaged New York, causing widespread addiction, overdose
deaths, and suffering.

The Tri-Town Coalition on Substance Abuse Prevention will be
holding their next monthly meeting this evening.  The meeting will begin at 6:00 PM & will
be held at the Maiorano Building at 7 Main Street in Sidney.  1 of the topics of discussion will be about
trying to acquire grant money from the Drug Free Community Federal Grant
program.  More information is available
at 437-4274.