WCDO Radio News
31 newscasts match "Federal Trade Commission" (2013 – 2026) · clear search
WCDO News — Friday 4-4-14
Community members will honor those who died in the American Civic Association shooting five years ago with a special ceremony Saturday at 1:00 PM. Those in attendance will remember the 13 victims of the ACA shooting, at the downtown memorial on the corner of Clinton and Front streets in Binghamton. The ACA Memorial includes a central granite column with a glass shaft rising from the center that is illuminated at night. Symbolizing the tragedy's rippling effect in the community are 13 sculptures of illuminated birds in flight.
The Chenango County Sheriff’s department arrested 36-year-old David Tennant of Rome for grand larceny and conspiracy. Tennant was taken into custody by Chenango county deputies at the Oneida County Jail, to bring him into custody for an active arrest warrant out of the Town of Norwich Court, stemming from an incident in the town of Norwich at an area business. Tennant was arraigned in the Town of Norwich Court, and remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility on $2,000 cash bail.
Thousands of New York parents refused to have their children take the statewide English assessments that were given this week. Parents are protesting the state education policy that puts a lot of emphasis on testing & interferes with time in the classroom for actual learning. Results of the 3-day assessments don’t count toward student averages, but they do factor into teacher and school evaluations. It is estimated that more than 25,000 of the more than 1 million third- through eighth-graders in the testing pool, skipped this week’s tests.
U.S. Senator Charles Schumer wants the Federal Trade Commission to investigate whether utilities or power producers artificially inflated upstate New York electric rates in recent months. Rates spiked the most this winter for National Grid customers by an average of 60 to 75%, and average rates rose10 to 15% for NYSEG. Utilities blamed raises in the wholesale cost of electricity and said they have no control over those prices. NYSEG suggested customers struggling with rising rates sign up for their budget-billing plan.
The state Education Department, and the inBloom student-data project, are undergoing an involuntary uncoupling. The Education Department is acknowledging that it will end controversial plans, to store identifiable student data in a Web-based cloud, created by inBloom, a nonprofit funded by the Gates Foundation. State lawmakers passed legislation that prohibits the department from giving student information to entities that collect and store data for use in a data dashboard or portal. The state is also required to make sure that student data already uploaded is deleted.
Delaware County Sheriff Tom Mills announced that his department will be giving away bicycle helmets for their summer 2014 safety program:
(Sheriff Tom Mills 4-4-14)
Sheriff Mills said that his office has about 360 helmets to give away; he said that it is also recommended to replace old banged up helmets in order to insure the riders continued safety.
The Binghamton Senators announced that the annual Face Off Against Cancer presented by Lourdes Hospital would take place tomorrow at the Broome County Arena at 7:05p.m. Fans attending the game are encouraged to visit the various cancer awareness displays and meet the 2014 American Cancer Society Relay for Life teams that will be present throughout the arena concourse. During the 1st intermission, cancer survivors will participate in a Survivor’s Lap around the ice. Tickets are available through the Arena Box Office and www.ticketmaster.com or at 1-800-745-3000.
THE BAINBRIDGE TOWN HALL THEATRE WILL PRESENT THE OUT OF THE WOODWORK PLAYERS PRODUCTION OF 'THE SOUND OF MUSIC' TONIGHT AND TOMORROW AT 8:00 PM AND SUNDAY AT 2:00 PM. ADMISSION FOR ADULTS IS $8 AND CHILDREN $6. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL 563-2582.
The Chenango County Sheriff’s department arrested 36-year-old David Tennant of Rome for grand larceny and conspiracy. Tennant was taken into custody by Chenango county deputies at the Oneida County Jail, to bring him into custody for an active arrest warrant out of the Town of Norwich Court, stemming from an incident in the town of Norwich at an area business. Tennant was arraigned in the Town of Norwich Court, and remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility on $2,000 cash bail.
Thousands of New York parents refused to have their children take the statewide English assessments that were given this week. Parents are protesting the state education policy that puts a lot of emphasis on testing & interferes with time in the classroom for actual learning. Results of the 3-day assessments don’t count toward student averages, but they do factor into teacher and school evaluations. It is estimated that more than 25,000 of the more than 1 million third- through eighth-graders in the testing pool, skipped this week’s tests.
U.S. Senator Charles Schumer wants the Federal Trade Commission to investigate whether utilities or power producers artificially inflated upstate New York electric rates in recent months. Rates spiked the most this winter for National Grid customers by an average of 60 to 75%, and average rates rose10 to 15% for NYSEG. Utilities blamed raises in the wholesale cost of electricity and said they have no control over those prices. NYSEG suggested customers struggling with rising rates sign up for their budget-billing plan.
The state Education Department, and the inBloom student-data project, are undergoing an involuntary uncoupling. The Education Department is acknowledging that it will end controversial plans, to store identifiable student data in a Web-based cloud, created by inBloom, a nonprofit funded by the Gates Foundation. State lawmakers passed legislation that prohibits the department from giving student information to entities that collect and store data for use in a data dashboard or portal. The state is also required to make sure that student data already uploaded is deleted.
Delaware County Sheriff Tom Mills announced that his department will be giving away bicycle helmets for their summer 2014 safety program:
(Sheriff Tom Mills 4-4-14)
Sheriff Mills said that his office has about 360 helmets to give away; he said that it is also recommended to replace old banged up helmets in order to insure the riders continued safety.
The Binghamton Senators announced that the annual Face Off Against Cancer presented by Lourdes Hospital would take place tomorrow at the Broome County Arena at 7:05p.m. Fans attending the game are encouraged to visit the various cancer awareness displays and meet the 2014 American Cancer Society Relay for Life teams that will be present throughout the arena concourse. During the 1st intermission, cancer survivors will participate in a Survivor’s Lap around the ice. Tickets are available through the Arena Box Office and www.ticketmaster.com or at 1-800-745-3000.
THE BAINBRIDGE TOWN HALL THEATRE WILL PRESENT THE OUT OF THE WOODWORK PLAYERS PRODUCTION OF 'THE SOUND OF MUSIC' TONIGHT AND TOMORROW AT 8:00 PM AND SUNDAY AT 2:00 PM. ADMISSION FOR ADULTS IS $8 AND CHILDREN $6. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL 563-2582.
WCDO News — Tuesday 4-1-14
The state budget contains 10 million dollars to get the Binghamton University School of Pharmacy project started. State Senator Tom Libous supports the plan:
(Libous 4-1-14)
Libous said that the school, slated to open in the fall of 2017.
State lawmakers wrapped up votes on the new state budget yesterday, assemblyman Cliff Crouch told WCDO News of some of the items of local concern:
(Crouch Budget 4-1-14)
State Senator John Bonacic told WCDO News that he really liked the way this budget turned out:
(Bonacic 4-1-14)
The budget totaled 140 billion dollars, holding the spending increase to 1.6% as stipulated by the property tax cap law passed last year.
The state budget includes a measure that will no longer hold consumers financially responsible for surprise, uninsured medical costs. Those costs can arise when a consumer goes to a hospital for a procedure, by a doctor who is covered by their healthcare provider, but end up being treated by a doctor or specialist who is not covered. The new legislation will protect consumers from the surprise costs and sets up arbitration process that removes the consumer from billing disputes between out-of-network doctors and health insurers.
The Sidney Police arrested 31-year-old Herbert Bidwell Jr. of Sidney for Criminal Possession of Stolen Property, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, Grand Larceny, Forgery and Petty Larceny. Bidwell is accused of purchasing items with a stolen Debit card he was remanded to the Delaware County jail & faces court action shortly.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is holding public meetings this week, to gather feedback on the draft Environmental Impact Statement, for the proposed Constitution Pipeline. The pipeline would carry natural gas, from northern Pennsylvania across New York’s Southern Tier, to connect with other pipelines in Schoharie County serving Northeast markets. Meetings are scheduled tonight at 7:00 at the Oneonta High School, tomorrow night at 7:00 PM at the Afton High School, and Thursday evening at Blue Ridge High School in New Milford, Pennsylvania. If approved, pipeline construction could start in January.
The Otsego County Sheriff’s Department arrested 50 year old John Chapman of Otego on charges of promoting gambling, possessing gambling records and money laundering, following an 8 month investigation that included assistance from the state Department of Financial Services Criminal Investigation Unit. If convicted, Chapman faces up to 12 years in state prison.
Governor Cuomo announced a new multi-agency Cigarette Strike Force to help crack down on counterfeit and untaxed tobacco trade and sales. The state Tax Department is partnering with 12 state, local and federal agencies to expand and share their database of crime-related information to end illegal cigarette trafficking organizations. A pack of cigarettes in the state is taxed $4.35 and in New York City there is a $5.85 tax—both the highest in the country. The penalty for possession of illegal cigarettes is a $600 fine per carton. Attorney General Eric Schneiderman's office filed a $70 million lawsuit against Federal Express for unlawfully shipping nearly 80 million illegal cigarettes to consumers in New York. The lawsuit joins and expands upon a complaint filed in December by New York City.
(Libous 4-1-14)
Libous said that the school, slated to open in the fall of 2017.
State lawmakers wrapped up votes on the new state budget yesterday, assemblyman Cliff Crouch told WCDO News of some of the items of local concern:
(Crouch Budget 4-1-14)
State Senator John Bonacic told WCDO News that he really liked the way this budget turned out:
(Bonacic 4-1-14)
The budget totaled 140 billion dollars, holding the spending increase to 1.6% as stipulated by the property tax cap law passed last year.
The state budget includes a measure that will no longer hold consumers financially responsible for surprise, uninsured medical costs. Those costs can arise when a consumer goes to a hospital for a procedure, by a doctor who is covered by their healthcare provider, but end up being treated by a doctor or specialist who is not covered. The new legislation will protect consumers from the surprise costs and sets up arbitration process that removes the consumer from billing disputes between out-of-network doctors and health insurers.
The Sidney Police arrested 31-year-old Herbert Bidwell Jr. of Sidney for Criminal Possession of Stolen Property, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, Grand Larceny, Forgery and Petty Larceny. Bidwell is accused of purchasing items with a stolen Debit card he was remanded to the Delaware County jail & faces court action shortly.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is holding public meetings this week, to gather feedback on the draft Environmental Impact Statement, for the proposed Constitution Pipeline. The pipeline would carry natural gas, from northern Pennsylvania across New York’s Southern Tier, to connect with other pipelines in Schoharie County serving Northeast markets. Meetings are scheduled tonight at 7:00 at the Oneonta High School, tomorrow night at 7:00 PM at the Afton High School, and Thursday evening at Blue Ridge High School in New Milford, Pennsylvania. If approved, pipeline construction could start in January.
The Otsego County Sheriff’s Department arrested 50 year old John Chapman of Otego on charges of promoting gambling, possessing gambling records and money laundering, following an 8 month investigation that included assistance from the state Department of Financial Services Criminal Investigation Unit. If convicted, Chapman faces up to 12 years in state prison.
Governor Cuomo announced a new multi-agency Cigarette Strike Force to help crack down on counterfeit and untaxed tobacco trade and sales. The state Tax Department is partnering with 12 state, local and federal agencies to expand and share their database of crime-related information to end illegal cigarette trafficking organizations. A pack of cigarettes in the state is taxed $4.35 and in New York City there is a $5.85 tax—both the highest in the country. The penalty for possession of illegal cigarettes is a $600 fine per carton. Attorney General Eric Schneiderman's office filed a $70 million lawsuit against Federal Express for unlawfully shipping nearly 80 million illegal cigarettes to consumers in New York. The lawsuit joins and expands upon a complaint filed in December by New York City.
WCDO News — Monday 3-3-14
State lawmakers should receive the annual state revenue estimates, and get ready to get down to work on the state budget plan. Local assemblyman Cliff crouch explains:
(Cliff Crouch 3-3-14)
The deadline to get the state budget passed in April 1st.
The new 5-year federal farm bill has provisions to tackle Lyme Disease, with important research already being accomplished in New York. Congressman Chris Gibson explains:
(Gibson 3-3-14)
Farmers who need assistance with learning all of the changes in the new farm bill can contact Cornell Cooperative Extension.
Governor Cuomo announced that the State DMV is making additional information available to prosecutors about a driver’s ticket history so that the prosecutors can make more informed judgments when considering a plea for a current driving charge. The information will be available for tickets issued during the past 10 years when the original charge was a point bearing violation, a drug or alcohol related offense, or was for aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. Currently, only data on convictions is available to prosecutors. Access to this information is restricted to District Attorneys, paralegals and investigators working under the supervision and control of the DA’s and other prosecutors authorized by a DA’s office.
US Senator Charles Schumer is calling on federal regulators to set guidelines to protect consumers as car companies collect personal information through "smart car" technology and sell it to third parties. Schumer announced Sunday that he's asking the Federal Trade Commission and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to establish guidelines requiring carmakers to notify drivers when they are being tracked and allow drivers to opt out completely from sharing information.
Governor Cuomo will hit the airwaves to promote his property-tax freeze. The governor will appear in a TV ad to push lawmakers to support his proposal to freeze property taxes for two years, if local governments and schools stay under the tax cap and move to streamline services. Cuomo said New York couldn’t thrive by having among the highest property taxes in the nation. He started a website to promote the tax freeze at cutpropertytaxes.ny.gov.
Maple producers in New York are planning open houses the last two weekends in March, but so far the season is off to a slow start because of frigid weather. The best weather for sap is daytime temperatures in the low 40s and nighttime lows in the 20s. This winter has been so cold that many producers haven’t been able to get any sap yet and they are several weeks behind.
Public meetings begin this week on proposals for high-speed passenger rail service in New York. The 1st of 6 hearings is tomorrow in Albany. Meetings are also planned in Syracuse, Buffalo, Rochester, Utica and Poughkeepsie. The state Department of Transportation said 5 options are proposed in an environmental review required for federal funding. Under the options, trains would have top operating speeds of 79, 90, 110 and 125 mph. The costs of the plans range from $1.7 billion to $6.2 billion.
Governor Cuomo announced regulations that will better protect New York consumers who hire a tax preparer. The rules will reduce errors and omissions on tax returns, reduce fraud and increase the level of competence and ethics among preparers. The governor said that unethical preparers will advertise low fees & then increase them after the fact, they also seek to have refunds placed into their own accounts and then redistribute the money later, while stealing a portion of the refunds, more information is available at 518-530-HELP.
(Cliff Crouch 3-3-14)
The deadline to get the state budget passed in April 1st.
The new 5-year federal farm bill has provisions to tackle Lyme Disease, with important research already being accomplished in New York. Congressman Chris Gibson explains:
(Gibson 3-3-14)
Farmers who need assistance with learning all of the changes in the new farm bill can contact Cornell Cooperative Extension.
Governor Cuomo announced that the State DMV is making additional information available to prosecutors about a driver’s ticket history so that the prosecutors can make more informed judgments when considering a plea for a current driving charge. The information will be available for tickets issued during the past 10 years when the original charge was a point bearing violation, a drug or alcohol related offense, or was for aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. Currently, only data on convictions is available to prosecutors. Access to this information is restricted to District Attorneys, paralegals and investigators working under the supervision and control of the DA’s and other prosecutors authorized by a DA’s office.
US Senator Charles Schumer is calling on federal regulators to set guidelines to protect consumers as car companies collect personal information through "smart car" technology and sell it to third parties. Schumer announced Sunday that he's asking the Federal Trade Commission and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to establish guidelines requiring carmakers to notify drivers when they are being tracked and allow drivers to opt out completely from sharing information.
Governor Cuomo will hit the airwaves to promote his property-tax freeze. The governor will appear in a TV ad to push lawmakers to support his proposal to freeze property taxes for two years, if local governments and schools stay under the tax cap and move to streamline services. Cuomo said New York couldn’t thrive by having among the highest property taxes in the nation. He started a website to promote the tax freeze at cutpropertytaxes.ny.gov.
Maple producers in New York are planning open houses the last two weekends in March, but so far the season is off to a slow start because of frigid weather. The best weather for sap is daytime temperatures in the low 40s and nighttime lows in the 20s. This winter has been so cold that many producers haven’t been able to get any sap yet and they are several weeks behind.
Public meetings begin this week on proposals for high-speed passenger rail service in New York. The 1st of 6 hearings is tomorrow in Albany. Meetings are also planned in Syracuse, Buffalo, Rochester, Utica and Poughkeepsie. The state Department of Transportation said 5 options are proposed in an environmental review required for federal funding. Under the options, trains would have top operating speeds of 79, 90, 110 and 125 mph. The costs of the plans range from $1.7 billion to $6.2 billion.
Governor Cuomo announced regulations that will better protect New York consumers who hire a tax preparer. The rules will reduce errors and omissions on tax returns, reduce fraud and increase the level of competence and ethics among preparers. The governor said that unethical preparers will advertise low fees & then increase them after the fact, they also seek to have refunds placed into their own accounts and then redistribute the money later, while stealing a portion of the refunds, more information is available at 518-530-HELP.
WCDO News — Tuesday 2-4-14
The state Parole Board has denied David Dart's application to be released from prison, he has served over 24 years in jail for the 1989 stabbing death of Gillian Gibbons in her car in the Oneonta municipal garage. Dart was convicted in Otsego county court and has been serving out that sentence in a downstate prison. This was Dart’s first attempt at parole.
Sidney village police arrested 19-year-old Austin Demuth of Afton on 3 counts of grand larceny, 17 counts of petty larceny and 5 counts attempted petty larceny. The arrests followed an investigation of larcenies from unlocked vehicles in the Bird Avenue and Circle Drive area on December 4th. More arrests are expected, as similar crimes have been committed in Sidney center, Bainbridge, Greene & Cooperstown. Demuth was arraigned & was remanded to the Delaware County Jail on $5,000 bail pending court action on February 13th. Police urge residents to lock up their homes & vehicles to prevent such crimes.
The Bainbridge Chamber of Commerce will host a meeting tonight at the Highway 7 Bar & Grill at 7:00 pm, to discuss the future of the Canoe Regatta. Bainbridge Chamber President John Payne told WCDO News that they will need a new chairman after this year’s regatta, and they are battling the misconception in the region that this is a Bainbridge only event:
(John Payne 2-4-14)
Payne said that they need a lot of volunteers for this year’s regatta and & a new chairperson to take over for John Harmon, who will not continue in that capacity beyond this May. More information will be available at tonight’s meeting, which is open to the public; information is also available at the chamber office at 967-8700.
State Budget hearings are being conducted in Albany currently, this week; area Assemblyman Cliff Crouch questioned Department of Health Commissioner Nirav Shah on the staffing shortage at the Oxford Veterans home:
(Crouch Shah 2-4-14)
Dr. Shah also stated that there is no timetable for his department to finish up their study of possible health effects from Hydraulic Fracturing for Natural Gas, the state has had a moratorium in place since 2008 on gas drilling.
The state’s new I-STOP program has cut “doctor shopping” by 75% according to state health department officials. The I-STOP program started in August, where Doctors, physician assistants and nurse practitioners are now required file prescriptions to pharmacies by the Internet, and to check the database before prescribing painkillers. Pharmacists are responsible for recording related prescriptions; the law is designed to help practitioners review patient drug histories through the health department’s online registry.
Republicans in the state senate filed a bill to move New York's primary day to late August, arguing the current September date for state offices is too late, to comply with a federal law, that requires ballots for military and overseas voters to be sent out at least 45 days before the general election. Assembly Democrats passed a bill last month to move state primaries to the 4th Tuesday in June, coinciding with New York's federal primary date. If lawmakers fail to agree on a primary date, municipalities will hold a primary for federal offices in June and a separate primary for state offices in September
Membership in the National Rifle Association has increased in New York since the state's New York SAFE Act went into effect 1 year ago. . The number of people who enrolled nearly doubled last year, New York previously ranked 3rd in NRA membership behind Texas and California, New York now has the most NRA members.
NYSEG officials announced today that they are aware of fraudulent activities where customers are contacted by email, phone or in person and asked to pay current or past due charges, the payment ends up with scammers, and not NYSEG. Officials said that NYSEG will not call customers for payment if an account is in good standing; customers are urged to contact the company and sign up for their “AutoPay” service. At NYSEG.com. Customers, who believe they have been scammed, should immediately contact the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov and their local police.
Sidney village police arrested 19-year-old Austin Demuth of Afton on 3 counts of grand larceny, 17 counts of petty larceny and 5 counts attempted petty larceny. The arrests followed an investigation of larcenies from unlocked vehicles in the Bird Avenue and Circle Drive area on December 4th. More arrests are expected, as similar crimes have been committed in Sidney center, Bainbridge, Greene & Cooperstown. Demuth was arraigned & was remanded to the Delaware County Jail on $5,000 bail pending court action on February 13th. Police urge residents to lock up their homes & vehicles to prevent such crimes.
The Bainbridge Chamber of Commerce will host a meeting tonight at the Highway 7 Bar & Grill at 7:00 pm, to discuss the future of the Canoe Regatta. Bainbridge Chamber President John Payne told WCDO News that they will need a new chairman after this year’s regatta, and they are battling the misconception in the region that this is a Bainbridge only event:
(John Payne 2-4-14)
Payne said that they need a lot of volunteers for this year’s regatta and & a new chairperson to take over for John Harmon, who will not continue in that capacity beyond this May. More information will be available at tonight’s meeting, which is open to the public; information is also available at the chamber office at 967-8700.
State Budget hearings are being conducted in Albany currently, this week; area Assemblyman Cliff Crouch questioned Department of Health Commissioner Nirav Shah on the staffing shortage at the Oxford Veterans home:
(Crouch Shah 2-4-14)
Dr. Shah also stated that there is no timetable for his department to finish up their study of possible health effects from Hydraulic Fracturing for Natural Gas, the state has had a moratorium in place since 2008 on gas drilling.
The state’s new I-STOP program has cut “doctor shopping” by 75% according to state health department officials. The I-STOP program started in August, where Doctors, physician assistants and nurse practitioners are now required file prescriptions to pharmacies by the Internet, and to check the database before prescribing painkillers. Pharmacists are responsible for recording related prescriptions; the law is designed to help practitioners review patient drug histories through the health department’s online registry.
Republicans in the state senate filed a bill to move New York's primary day to late August, arguing the current September date for state offices is too late, to comply with a federal law, that requires ballots for military and overseas voters to be sent out at least 45 days before the general election. Assembly Democrats passed a bill last month to move state primaries to the 4th Tuesday in June, coinciding with New York's federal primary date. If lawmakers fail to agree on a primary date, municipalities will hold a primary for federal offices in June and a separate primary for state offices in September
Membership in the National Rifle Association has increased in New York since the state's New York SAFE Act went into effect 1 year ago. . The number of people who enrolled nearly doubled last year, New York previously ranked 3rd in NRA membership behind Texas and California, New York now has the most NRA members.
NYSEG officials announced today that they are aware of fraudulent activities where customers are contacted by email, phone or in person and asked to pay current or past due charges, the payment ends up with scammers, and not NYSEG. Officials said that NYSEG will not call customers for payment if an account is in good standing; customers are urged to contact the company and sign up for their “AutoPay” service. At NYSEG.com. Customers, who believe they have been scammed, should immediately contact the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov and their local police.