WCDO Radio News

Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 44 year old Jennifer Carr of Worchester and 18 year old Tanner Carr of Worchester for failure to provide proper sustenance for their animals. Bother are accused of failing to feed their horse for approximately 1 week. Tanner Car was charged with 1 count of Failure to Provide Proper Sustenance, in violation of the Agriculture and Markets Law. Jennifer Carr was charged with 4 counts of Failure to Provide Proper Sustenance, Both will appear in Franklin Town Court on January 8, 2015 at 6:00 PM to answer the charges.

Governor Cuomo announced legislation prohibiting the sale of liquid nicotine to minors and requiring childproof containers to protect against accidental poisoning. Liquid nicotine is a composite of nicotine and other chemicals, Concentrated liquid nicotine is highly toxic, it may cause tremors, vomiting, seizures, and potentially, death in children. The Center For Disease Control Report the number of calls to poison control centers involving liquid nicotine rose from 1 per month in September 2010 to 215 per month in February 2014, half of those invovled children under 5.

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County has received a USDA farmer market promotion program grant to open a local food outlet & online ordering in Delhi. The store would be located at the E-Center on Main Street & is scheduled to open on March 1st. The Delaware Bounty will feature food products made in Delaware County; those who are interested in becoming vendors can call 865-6531 or email vsd22@cornell.edu to get a Vendors Application Packet. More information is available at ccedelaware.org.

6 months after proposing a teacher evaluation bill, Governor Cuomo vetoed that bill claiming that it did not fix the issues with the teacher evaluation system. The veto came after the state Education Department released the latest round of evaluation scores, where 95% of teachers rated "effective" or "highly effective" in the latest school year. Cuomo promised to propose "comprehensive reforms" to the teacher evaluation system next year.

Governor Cuomo announced $13.6 million in Community Renewal Funds for 44 projects in regions around the State, following yesterday's Regional Economic Development event. Winning entries came from the Mohawk Valley, Southern Tier, Western New York, Mid-Hudson, and the North Country. Locally, The Mohawk Valley Council will fund 21 projects, including: 7 in Otsego County, The Southern Tier Council will have funding for 9 projects, including Sportsfield Specialties of Delhi & The Town of Delhi to assist in the companies' expansion, as well as $200,000 in Community Development Block Microenterpise Program funds for Delaware County to assist in establishment of 15 agricultural microenterprises and create 22 jobs;

Governor Cuomo highlighted results from the first-ever Farm to Table Upstate-Downstate Agriculture Summit, which was held yesterday in New York City, to explore ways of increasing access to fresh food for underserved populations and growing New York City markets’ access to upstate agricultural producers. A number of proposals will be studied in order to get more upstate produce to the downstate markets, agriculture is still the #1 industry in New York State.

Afton School District residents will vote on a proposal to purchase property located at 43 Caswell St. (the former site of the village garage). The property will be used for parking spaces for staff and students, and parking for athletic events. The property also includes an existing red Morton building which will be used for storage. Purchase price is $45,000, and will have NO EFFECT on the tax rate. Vote will take place in the Lobby at Afton Central School, on Monday, December 8th from noon until 9pm.

Republicans in the state Senate claim that the new federal immigration order could cost New York as much as $2 billion in Medicaid costs. In a letter, Republican Leader Dean Skelos estimated as many as 300,000 immigrants could enroll in Medicaid under the federal policies ordered last month by President Obama. The state has yet to weigh in on what the cost of the new immigration rules will have on New York, which has a large immigrant population. The state Department of Health said it is reviewing the president's order. Gov. Cuomo will release his state budget proposal next month.

Sunday marks the final day of the open enrollment period for Medicare, the one chance Medicare users have each year to make any changes they wish to their plan. Medicare plans can change, and users are encouraged to review their plan. If a Medicare user is taking new medications or has been given any new medical diagnosis, his or her plan might not cover new needs. Eligible people can compare plans and enroll in new ones at medicare.gov. Changes made during open enrollment period will go into effect on Jan. 1st

Governor Cuomo launched a statewide toy, coat and school supplies holiday giving drive to benefit families in need throughout New York. The Office of General Services has set up drop-off locations across the state for businesses and individuals to bring the toys, coats and school supplies, which will be distributed to families in need. The drop-off locations will collect donations through December 19.The drop-off locations include the Binghamton State office building at 44 Hawley Street

Governor Cuomo called for reviews and reforms within New York's criminal justice system, in the wake of a Staten Island grand jury's decision, not to indict a police officer in the death of Eric Garner. Cuomo pledged to put the criminal justice review at the top of his agenda for the next legislative session. Ideas could include changes to the state's grand jury process. The governor also called for better training and more transparency in police departments.

The Chenango county health department will hold their last free rabies clinic of the year tomorrow. The clinic for dogs' cats & ferrets will be held at the Norwich fire station from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Constitution Pipeline Company announced that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has issued an order approving construction of its proposed pipeline to increase natural gas supply to New York and New England markets, subject to certain conditions that will ensure the protection of natural resources. The 124-mile Pipeline will travel from Pennsylvania, through Broome, Chenango, Delaware and into Schoharie County, construction will begin as early as the first-quarter next year. Studies indicate that the environmental impacts would be to less than significant levels with the implementation of proposed mitigation measures by the company and FERC.

Governor Cuomo announced that the state would convene a summit of agricultural, food, and distribution leaders to brainstorm ways to sell more upstate produce in New York City this Thursday in Manhattan. Currently, locally grown produce has remained as only a small percentage of the overall food sales in the state, in spite of Agriculture being the state’s largest industry. Lieutenant Governor Robert Duffy will chair tomorrow’s summit.

Oneonta Police have arrested 29-year-old Adam Egal of Oneonta on burglary & petty larceny charges. Egal is accused if breaking into a dorm at Hartwick College over the Thanksgiving break, staying there illegally for 3 days & stealing alcoholic beverages & cash.

Governor Cuomo announced the first round of businesses certified as New York State Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Businesses. The 21 newly certified businesses cover a range of goods and services including construction services, financial services and a variety of commodities. The designation makes each business eligible to participate in contracting opportunities with the State. More information & applications are available by calling (844) 579-7570 or emailing veteransdevelopment@ogs.ny.gov.

The Southern Tier Independence Center is offering help to those looking to enroll in the next round for the Affordable Care Act. Center spokesman Chad Eldred said that there are many misconceptions about what the law means:

(Chad Eldred 12-3-14)

Those who would like more information about the Center can call 724-2111 or log on at stic-cil.org. The deadline to file in this round is Febraury 15th.

Congressmen Chris Gibson is calling on Governor Cuomo to sign into law the Lyme disease bill that passed the State Legislature this year. The Patients’ Rights/Doctor Protection Bill provides that physicians who treat Lyme and other tick-borne diseases according to medical standards should not be subjected to investigations of their medical licenses by the Office of Professional Medical Conduct. Cuomo has not indicated if he will sign the bill.

State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli said the $5 billion dollars in extra money New York is reaping from the bank settlements should not be viewed as a surplus, and should not be spent as though there will be more money coming in the future. DiNapoli said it should not be used for recurring expenses, like tax cuts or increased school aid. According to projections, the state still has a structural deficit of nearly $2 billion dollars for the upcoming budget year. Cuomo and legislative leaders have said they want the $5 billion dollars to be kept separate from the budget and placed in an infrastructure fund.

The State Department of Taxation and Finance launched the continuing education component of New York’s regulations to protect consumers who hire tax preparers. The training program builds on the first phase of the regulations - tax preparer registration, which began in 2010. Each year, about 70% of tax returns are completed and filed by paid tax preparers. The training program will ensure that those who prepare taxes for others are adequately trained. For more information go to tax.ny.gov

Governor Cuomo announced several initiatives to encourage the continued growth of agribusiness across New York. The New York State New Farmers Grant Fund launched Tuesday and is now taking applications. The $614,000 Fund will provide grants of up to $50,000 for eligible farmers who participate in the production of an agricultural product on a commercial farm operation within New York. Funds can be used for up to 50 percent of project costs to lease or purchase farm machinery and equipment; for the construction or expansion of farm buildings or systems; Empire State Development, & the Department of Agriculture and Markets, will administer the Fund.

The New York State Office of General Services will hold surplus vehicle, highway equipment, and miscellaneous property auctions locally today & tomorrow. Auctions will be at 9:30 this morning at NYS Department of Transportation, 241 Colesville Road, Binghamton & at 1:30 today at the State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities at 249 Glenwood Road, Binghamton. Tomorrow’s auction will be at 9:30 AM at SUNY Delhi and 1:30 PM at the State Police Troop C headquarters on Route 7 in Sidney. A listing of auctions is on line at nysstore.com; specific items and terms of sale are at ogs.ny.gov.

The Chenango Arts Council has booked the Colonia Theater in Norwich on a number of Wednesday nights, for their "Chenango Film Series” starting tonight. Council director Diane Batson-Smith told WCDO News about the series:

(Diane Batson-Smith 10-15-14)

Memberships or more information about the Chenango arts council programs are available at Chenango arts.org or at 336-2787.

A Free Rabies Vaccination Clinic for dogs, cats, and ferrets will be held tonight from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Delhi Fire Hall, at 140 Delview Terrace. County Officials stated that will be the last Rabies Clinic for 2014, more information is available at 832-5200 or delawarecountypublichealth.com.

NEWS 10-8-14

Broome County officials announced that a prescription drop box has been placed in the lobby of the Broome County Office Building. People are encouraged to drop old, outdated prescription medications into the box to make sure they are disposed of properly and that they stay out of the hands of children and teenagers. The box in the Broome County Office building will be available Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. The   box in the lobby of the Broome County Sheriff’s office and is available for drop off from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm.   Needles will not be accepted at the drop boxes.

State Police arrested 59-year-old Anthony Fischetti of Binghamton, for Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, following a vehicle stop for having a rear license plate lamp that was not working, on State Route 17 in Windsor. An investigation accuse Fischetti of driving with a suspended driver's license in an uninspected vehicle, an inventory of the vehicle discovered 2.5 grams of heroin and oxycodone pills. Fischetti was arraigned at the Town of Sanford Court and remanded to the Broome County Jail with no bail set; he faces action in the Town of Windsor Court today.

State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane today announced the creation of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Heroin Task Force across Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states. New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Massachusetts are on board, with other states expected to be announced in the coming weeks. In the last two years, over 98% of the large-scale heroin trafficking cases prosecuted by the New York Attorney General’s Office have involved heroin flowing between New York and either Pennsylvania, New Jersey or Massachusetts.

It will be the big wrap up 2 days of racing at I-88 Speedway in Afton Friday & Saturday. Track Spokesman Jamie Page explains:

(Jamie Page 10-8-14)

Friday, will feature 7 races, Saturday will feature 5 more races, including the Short Track Super Series with $5,000-plus purse, the full lineup & schedule is available through I88speedway.com.

Governor Cuomo said he will make several international trips in his second term, assuming he wins re-election in November. Cuomo, plans to embark upon trade missions to Canada, Mexico, Italy, Israel and China as part of an effort to help New York firms expand into international markets. Cuomo is up for re-election on Nov. 4. Polls show him with a big lead over his Republican challenger, Rob Astorino, the Westchester County executive.

New York voters may have only one chance to see the candidate’s debate before this year's gubernatorial election. Republican Rob Astorino will not accept an invitation to a one-on-one public radio debate with Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo that was set for later this month. That leaves a single televised debate in Buffalo with Cuomo, Astorino, Green Party candidate Howie Hawkins and Libertarian Michael McDermott. A date for the Buffalo debate has not been announced. The election is Nov. 4

An Otsego County free rabies clinic will be held for dogs, cats & Ferrets tonight, from 6:00 TO 8:00 PM. The Clinic will be held at the Otego Fire Department.

Agriculture agencies In Chenango county Will host an open house tonight at the 99 Broad Street agricultural Center in Norwich, showcasing 4-H, CCE, FSA & Soil & Water Conservation. The event will include rocket launching with 4-H, snacks with EAT SMART NY, Door Prizes & tours of the Historic building, from 6:00 TO 8:00 PM tonight.

A New Siena poll on the Governor's race was released, it shows incumbent Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo with a 29-point lead over his Republican Challenger Rob Astorino. The poll also shows Cuomo leading by 71 points within the democratic party and Cuomo's still popular among Republicans only trailing Astorino by 10 points within Astorino's own party. The general election is on Tuesday November 4th.

Governor Cuomo today announced $1.4 million in awards to help specialty crops, including agricultural products that go into craft beers and wines, remain strong in New York. The Specialty Crop Block Grant program administered by the State Department of Agriculture and Markets, includes fruits and vegetables, dried fruits, hops, and nursery crops, and works to enhance the competitiveness of New York farms by forming new partnerships to create innovations in agriculture that benefit the State’s economy. New York ranks in the top ten nationwide in a variety of specialty crops, including apples, grapes, sweet corn, tomatoes, pears, strawberries, Christmas trees, maple syrup, onions and cabbage.

State Troopers arrested 46-year-old Donald Hartwell of Bainbridge for Driving While Intoxicated with a BAC result of .15%. The arrest occurred after a stop for not having working headlights while driving on State Route 8 in Sidney, Hartwell was also violating his conditional driver’s license because, he was issued tickets returnable to the Town of Sidney Court on October 9th.

State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli announced a new reduction in management fees for the state’s 529 College Savings Program’s Direct Plan. New York’s Direct Plan has more than 650,000 accounts valued at more than $16 billion. The 529 College Savings Program is an investment tool to help parents save for college. The Direct Plan offers a variety of investment options including three age-based portfolio options that parents can choose from based on risk tolerance and the age of their child. For more information about the program, visit osc.state.ny.us

Governor Cuomo announced that the State University of New York would put in place a comprehensive system-wide uniform set of practices to combat sexual assaults on SUNY campuses. The resolution was passed Thursday by the SUNY Board of Trustees, It includes a system wide definition of consent that is required between participants before engaging in sexual activity; an Immunity Policy to protect students coming forward to report sexual assault; A training program for campus police and administrators, Regarding how to address sexual assault incidents; and a Sexual Assault Victims Bill Of Rights that will inform a student of their rights following an attack, including the option of approaching State Police.

FAGAN FLYERS WILL HOLD A FLY-IN BREAKFAST ON SUNDAY FROM 8 TO 1 AT THE SIDNEY AIRPORT. ORANGE JUICE, EGGS, SAUSAGE, AND PANCAKES WITH REAL MAPLE SYRUP WILL BE SERVED. A 50/50 RAFFLE WILL ALSO BE HELD. ALL PROCEEDS ARE USED TO IMPROVE AND ENHANCE THE AIRPORT. The Grand finale cruise-In will also be held at the Airport Sunday, where a variety of antique & show cars will line up & trophies will be awarded in a number of categories.

The Cancer Services Program of Delaware, Otsego and Schoharie counties will offer free health screenings to women 40 and older who are uninsured. The Bassett Cancer Institute's mobile screening coach will be available Sunday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM at Fly Creek Cider Mill, 288 Goose Street, Fly Creek. Appointments can be made at 1-888-345-0225.

Several area fire companies responded to a fire at the Hillcrest Roller Rink on West Main Street in Sidney overnight. Firefighters from Sidney, Wells Bridge, Deposit, Mount Upton, Walton, Trout Creek, Oneonta, Unadilla, Masonville, Franklin and Bainbridge responded to the fire, which was reported at around 11:40. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Congressman Chris Gibson will join state and local officials at 10:30 This Morning at the Masonville Town Hall for the announcement of an award from the National Association of State Agencies for Surplus Properties. The town of Masonville is being honored for its innovative repurposing of a surplus Army truck for use as a town dump truck and snow plow, which saved town taxpayers more than $200,000.

Sidney Village Police arrested 51 year old Wesley Eignor of Sidney for 7 counts of failure to provide food & drink to impounded animals, in violation of State Agriculture & markets law. Eignor is accused of not providing food and & water to 3 dogs, 3 cats and a bird for an extended period of time, he was arraigned & will reappear in Sidney Village Court at a mater date.

State agencies spent more than $316 million on overtime in the first 6 months of 2014, a jump of $22 million over the same period in 2013, according to State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli. State employees worked more than 7.8 million overtime hours, up 7.6% over the same period in 2013. The total cost of overtime as a percentage of gross payroll rose slightly, from 3.9 to 4.3% in the first 6 months of 2014. Last year, overtime at state agencies rose to a record $611million, up nearly 16 percent over 2012. The largest amount of overtime came from the Department of Corrections, Office of Mental Health, and Office for People with Developmental Disabilities & the Department of Taxation & Finance.

The American Red Cross will host a blood drive at Bassett Medical Center today from 12:30 to 6:30 PM. The drive will take place at the Bassett Hall auditorium in Cooperstown, registration is requested at 547-3701, and walk-ins will also be welcome.

P.m. news Thursday 6-26-14
The Chenango county sheriffs department arrested Adam Simpkin of Afton on charges of 3rd degree Burglary & 5th degree Conspiracy. Simpkin was arrested following an investigation into an incident in Sherburne; he was arraigned in the Village of Sherburne Court and remanded to the Correctional Facility on $5,000 bail pending future court action.

Graduation parties will be held all over the region this weekend, as are high school seniors attend their commencement exercises, and graduation parties. Justin Hamm of the Alcolhol & drug abuse council of Delaware county reminds parents of seniors that Social Host Laws of New York state prohibit serving alcohol to minors in their homes:

(Justin Hamm 6-26-14)

Hamm also said that scientific research in recent years shows that the human brain continues to grow to maturity until about the age of 25 and introducing alcohol to the adolescent brain could reduce cognitive skills and memory.

Governor Cuomo announced $13.8 million in funding to help more than 200 farms across New York implement enhanced soil and water conservation practices. Grants were awarded to 32 county soil and water conservation districts, and provided by the State Soil and Water Conservation Committee and the State Department of Agriculture and Markets. Locally, Broome receives $173,555.00 for 5 farms, Chenango receives $515,050.00 for 4 farms, Delaware County gets $543,492.00 for 18 farms and Otsego County gets $161,678.98 for 3 farms. More information is available at nys-soilandwater.org.

State Police at Oneonta arrested 34-year-old Derick Coveny of Morris for DWI following a motorcycle accident on Walters Road in New Lisbon. An investigation determined Coveny was driving his motorcycle while intoxicated and without a helmet. He was taken to a local hospital and treated for minor injuries. Coveny was issued tickets for New Lisbon Court July 15th

Norwich police are reminding area residents to lock up their parked cars at all times, following a series of larcenies at night. Residents are also asked to report items that have turned up missing from parked cars, as police are trying to uncover a pattern of activity that will help lead to arrests.

New York’s health exchange enrolled nearly 1 million people since October, and the largest percentage were aged 26-34. New York nearly met its enrollment goal for 2016 in its first year of the health exchange, signing up 960,762 state residents. 55 percent chose Medicaid, the federal program for the poor and disabled. About 370,000 chose a private insurer; and nearly 65,000 picked Child Health Plus, the state’s insurance program for poor children. The next enrollment period starts Nov. 15

New York State will receive $6.18 million, from the U.S. Department of Labor, to train unemployed workers for jobs in high-demand industries. New York is one of 32 states, receiving grants totaling $154 million, under the National Emergency Grant Program. The funding will help create or expand employer partnerships that provide on-the-job training, apprenticeships and other occupational training, that result in an industry-recognized credential. The funding also will be used to provide career coaching and counseling, as well as job placement assistance. For more information go to dol.gov

The 5 member Independent Democratic Conference announced it would seek to share power with Senate Democrats after the November elections, ending the coalition with Republicans that ran the Senate for the past 2 years. The move would have implications on policy decisions, such as whether to raise the minimum wage, implement public financing of political campaigns and strengthen abortion rights. Democrats would control all branches of state government when the legislative session resumes in January, if Governor Cuomo and Democrats win election this fall.

P.m. news Wednesday 5-7-14
Governor Cuomo yesterday honored 20 fallen police officers from law enforcement agencies across New York State, including 5 who died in 2013 in the line of duty. The names of the 20 officers join the 1,340 others who have been inscribed in the black granite walls of the Police Officers' Memorial, which represents 140 police agencies statewide and five federal agencies. More than 400 people attended the remembrance ceremony, which was held at the Empire State Plaza in Albany.

A bill that would require labels on food products containing ingredients from genetically modified crops has passed a hurdle in the state Assembly. The Assembly's Consumer Affairs and Protection Committee endorsed the measure. A vote of the full Assembly has not been scheduled. The bill would apply to genetically modified fruits, vegetables and processed foods, as well as items that contain ingredients like oil or sugar, that are derived from genetically engineered crops.

Legislation before state lawmakers would prohibit magazine publishers from automatically renewing a customer's subscription without their consent. The bill is an attempt to protect consumers, by outlawing the practice by some publishers of requiring a reader to notify them, if they do not want their subscription renewed. Identical versions of the legislation have been introduced in both the Senate and the Assembly. No votes on the legislation have been scheduled

Richard Ball was confirmed by the State Senate as New York's agriculture commissioner. The Senate completed Ball's confirmation yesterday, he had been serving as acting commissioner since January. Ball has owned a 200-acre Schoharie County Farm for 2 decades & is a former board member of the New York Farm Bureau.

Republican Gubernatorial candidate Rob Astorino made a stop in Broome County yesterday advocating for natural gas drilling. Astorino said the State DEC reports at least 25,000 jobs could be created through natural gas drilling. Astorino claims he will allow natural gas drilling, if he becomes Governor, but would put public health first by setting up the proper regulations before moving forward. Astorino is challenging Governor Cuomo in the upcoming November election.

New York has the distinction of being the worst state in the nation for retirees, according to a new study from Bankrate.com. New York has the highest tax rates in the nation as well as the 4th highest cost of living. The state ranked poorly when it came to the general well being of its retiree population, with poor grades for the quality of health care. New York State has implemented tax cuts in this year's budget reaching $793 million this year and $1.7 billion next year.

State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced a $475,000 settlement with Office Depot, for improperly overcharging over 500 New York government entities. The investigation found that Office Depot had inadequate systems in place to ensure compliance with a promise to the state and overcharged by hundreds of thousands of dollars. The settlement ensures that every impacted agency will receive refunds for 100% of the overcharged amount. Office Depot was not renewed last year for a contract for office supplies with New York State.

The work at the Sidney High School Athletic Fields is continuing, with the weather cooperating so far. Sidney Superintendent Bill Christensen said that a good portion of the work will be completed after the current school year:

(Bill Christensen 5-7-14)

Christensen said that the renovations to the athletic fields and Auditorium should be completed by the fall.

State Senator Jim Seward will be at Sidney Central School this morning at 10:00 AM.  Senator Seward will take part in New York Agricultural Literacy Week & will read to first graders at Sidney Elementary from the book, “Who Grew My Soup?”  by Tom Darbyshire.  The agricultural themed book stresses the importance of local farmers and their role in providing nutritious food.  The event is coordinated by New York Agriculture in the Classroom, State Department of Agriculture and Markets, the State Education Department, Cornell Cooperative Extension and the New York Farm Bureau.

The Chenango county sheriffs department arrested 22-year-old Tyler Barnes of Norwich  on charges of 4th degree Criminal Mischief & 2nd degree Harassment .  Barnes is accused of striking someone in the faces during a dispute and breaking some of the victim’s property, Barnes was arraigned in the Town of Norwich Court and was remanded to the Chenango County Jail on $100 cash bail.  Barnes is to reappear in the Town of Norwich Court at a later date.

Veterans in New York seeking health insurance have been wrongly placed in the state’s Medicaid program, rather than federal programs. State comptroller Tom DiNapoli said the mistakes occurred because of poor coordination between the state Health Department and local social-services departments. The audit found from January 2013 through October 2013, Medicaid paid more than $105 million for services provided to veterans,  many of the veterans were also entitled to benefits through the VA. New York has about 913,000 veterans. To view the report, visit osc.state.ny.us.

Governor Cuomo announced today that the New York State Police would join other law enforcement agencies, across the state, in a special effort to crackdown on impaired and distracted driving during Super Bowl Weekend. The statewide STOP-DWI and Texting-While-Driving Crackdown efforts will start on January 31st and will run through February 3rd.   State Police will be collaborating with County Sheriff and municipal law enforcement agencies across the state in this coordinated effort to reduce the number of alcohol related and distracted driving injuries and deaths.

The Department of Agriculture and Markets is not keeping up with the demands of its inspection schedule, allowing thousands of food-related businesses to operate without updated inspections, according to an audit (http://www.osc.state.ny.us/audits/allaudits/093014/13s27.pdf) by State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli.  Auditors found that as of June 4th inspections that were due for almost 5,000 establishments had not been completed. Another 439 new establishments did not yet have a required initial inspection completed prior to opening for business.

New York State may adopt a medical marijuana program this year, where the drug could be administered in a pilot program through 20 hospitals.  Governor Cuomo commented during the state of the state address last week:

(Cuomo 1-13-14)

State senator Tom Libous of Binghamton disagrees with the initial proposal:

(Libous 1-13-14)

The Democratic led state assembly has passed medical marijuana bills in the past; it has always failed to pass in the Republican controlled state senate.

The state Legislature starts its 2014 session in earnest this week. Lawmakers return to Albany today and tomorrow for session days. The Republican-dominated coalition in charge of the Senate will issue a report on hearings lawmakers held across the state on New York’s regulatory climate. Democrats in control of the Assembly have already introduced legislation to speed implementation of a $9 an hour minimum wage by the end of the year, a full year ahead of schedule.

Delaware County Deputies arrested 41-year-old Michelle Wright of Margaretville for 2 counts of 4th degree Grand Larceny, Criminal possession of stolen property, & Criminal impersonation.  Wright was arraigned and was remanded to the Delaware County Jail on $500 cash bail.  Wright is accused of using a credit card that did not belong to her and charged in excess of $1,000 dollars on that card.  She is due back in the Town of Roxbury Court on January 15th.

Shortly after 11:30 am the Norwich Fire Department responded to a fire alarm activation at the DCMO BOCES Chenango campus. Norwich units arrived on scene and found the building evacuated with no smoke or flames showing, firefighters found a small fire in a bathroom that was quickly put out.

Governor Cuomo has nominated Richard Ball as the next Commissioner of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.  Ball operates a farm & retail business in Schoharie County, he faces state senate approval prior to taking the position. Ball replaces Darrel Aubertine, who had been the commissioner since 2011.

Governor Cuomo signed legislation that authorizes local municipalities to adopt their own laws regulating or licensing pet dealers. The “Puppy Mill” Bill was passed by the legislature at the tail end of the 2013 session, previously, state law blocked local governments from enacting their own pet dealer laws. The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets will continue to enforce existing state laws pertaining to animal care by pet dealers.

New York State’s 64-campus university system is undertaking a virtual expansion, adding new online degree programs, and enhancing academic and technical support for students taking classes via computer. The State University of New York goes live Tuesday with eight new online degree programs at six campuses and plans to add more in September. SUNY currently offers more than 12,000 courses and 150-degree programs online. For more information go to opensuny.org.

New York would have the toughest texting-while-driving penalties in the nation under a proposal by Governor Cuomo. The governor pitched a law that would suspend the driver’s license for 1 year, for those under age 21 caught texting while driving. Currently, there is a 6-month suspension for teens caught texting while driving.  Cuomo also proposed revoking licenses for 5 years, for drivers with 2 drunk-driving convictions in a 3-year period and full revocation of driver’s licenses for those with 3 convictions. Currently, 2 DWI’s within 10 years leads to a minimum 1-year suspension.