WCDO Radio News

The federal government has designated 24 New York counties as natural disaster areas following a severe summer drought that has adversely impacted some water supplies and farms. Farmers in the affected areas may be eligible for assistance, including emergency loans, from the federal government. The state will conduct on-site assessments of farms affected by the drought as well, Cuomo’s office said. 15 counties declared as the primary natural disaster areas cover, 1 of the contiguous counties named in the declaration is Broome County. Many other counties locally & into the North Country are requesting primary disaster declarations.

The New York State Gaming Commission granted Tioga Downs a Class III commercial gaming license on Tuesday. The license will allow Tioga Downs to complete its transformation into a full-scale casino, replacing the current Video Lottery Terminals with slot machines and allowing the facility to add Blackjack, Roulette, Craps, a Poker Room and other casino card games that would be permitted by the gaming commission. A multi-million dollar expansion is underway; Tioga Downs received the state's final license, with Tuesday's full commission endorsement.

The White House Rural Council and the Postal Service are hosting 60 workshops in 24 states over the next few months for rural businesses to learn how to access new customers abroad and take advantage of international trade assistance. Local entrepreneurs can take advantage by attending a workshop today at the Binghamton Post Office at 115 Henry Street from 11:00 - 1:00.

U.S. Senator Charles Schumer is calling on the Federal Trade Commission to investigate "spying billboards". Schumer’s office reports that the billboards are being used to collect data from any mobile device that passes by them. Schumer said that companies want to use this technology to track peoples travel patterns and behaviors through location services on their cell phones, Schumer is pushing to allow consumers to be able to opt-out of the tracking program and to be notified if this new technology is tracking them.

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman joined the Federal Trade Commission, the other 49 states, and the District of Columbia in announcing the successful conclusion of the largest multistate charity fraud action to date. 2 nationwide sham cancer charities are being dissolved and their president is banned from profiting from any charity fundraising in the future. Cancer Fund of America and Cancer Support Services and their leader, James Reynolds, claimed to help cancer patients, but instead, the majority of donations benefited the operators, their families and friends, and employee fundraisers. The complaint was filed in May 2015, targeting 4 sham charities run by Reynolds, which bilked more than $187 million from donors, including nearly $3 million in New York State.

A federal jury on Tuesday convicted 25-year-old Antonio Ballard of Binghamton, for engaging in a sex trafficking and prostitution business involving minors. Ballard faces sentencing on July 27th.