WCDO Radio News

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.

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.

The results are in from yesterday’s elections. In statewide races, Governor Andrew Cuomo, State Attorney General's Eric Schneiderman & State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli win re-election by healthy margins, and all 3 state propositions pass. In the 19th Congressional District Incumbent Chris Gibson is re-elected, in the 52nd State Senate district, Incumbent Tom Libous is the winner, in 121st Assembly District, incumbent Bill Magee wins again, & Broome County Sheriff David Harder is re-elected.

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In local races, for the Sidney Town Board, Republican Jody Proffitt defeats Loddie Marsh by a small margin, in Oneonta, Patricia Kent wins re-election to the town board by a large margin, in Franklin, Republicans Donald Smith and Lisa Huyck win 2seats on the town council

The State DEC amended its Chronic Wasting Disease regulation, to prohibit people from importing into New York certain parts of white-tailed deer, elk or moose taken in the state of Ohio. In late October, the Ohio Department of Agriculture confirmed a case of Chronic Wasting Disease in a white-tailed deer, 1 has also been confirmed in Pennsylvania.   Hunters who plan to hunt white-tailed deer, elk or moose in Ohio or Pennsylvania must remove the brain, eyes, spinal cord, tonsils, intestinal tract, spleen and lymph nodes before returning to New York with a deer, more information is available at dec.ny.gov.

State Police responded to the report of a car & motorcycle accident in Apalachin Sunday at 1:40 PM at State Route 434 and Pennsylvania Avenue. State Police Investigators report that a Buick operated by 71 year old DONALD ULMER Sr. of Little Meadows, Pennsylvania turned left in front of an oncoming motorcycle operated by 43 year old AUBURN LYONS of South Gibson, Pennsylvania. Lyons was pronounced dead at the scene, an autopsy is scheduled to be performed at Lourdes Hospital in Binghamton today, the Investigation is continuing.

Delaware County Deputies arrested 20-year-old Casey McKlveen of Latrobe Pennsylvania Saturday for 2nd degree Rape & Endangering the Welfare of a Child. McKlveen is accused of engaging in sexual contact with a female less than 15 years of age. He was arraigned in the Town of Delhi court, and was remanded to the Delaware County Correctional Facility on $25,000 cash bail.

Governor Cuomo noted the importance of the state’s dairy industry, with June being celebrated as “Dairy Month”. Dairy accounts for ½ of the state's total agricultural income, New York is the 3rd leading producer of milk in the country and also the is now the largest producer of yogurt, cream cheese, sour cream and cottage cheese.   New York is a net supplier of milk to the Northeast region, with 2.8 billion pounds of milk shipped from farms to out of state plants in New England, Pennsylvania and New Jersey; the state has also experienced a 16.4% increase in dairy-related employment from 2010 to 2013.

Congressman Chris Gibson is calling on federal regulators to make changes to the Delaware River Basin Flexible Flow Management Plan to better protect Upstate New Yorkers from flooding. Last week the Delaware River Basin Decree Parties extended the current Flexible Flow Management Plan for another year, delaying the implementation of measures to mitigate flooding in surrounding communities. Gibson said that releases from the Cannonsville, Neversink, and Pepacton reservoirs are regulated by a 1954 United States Supreme Court decision, where New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New York City must agree on changes to the management of the Delaware River Basin.

Congressman Chris Gibson announced that the House of Representatives passed the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act.  Congressman Gibson stated that the bill permanently removes the home sale/new policy rate increase trigger for primary residences, Reinstates grandfathered rates by decoupling rate increases from FEMA remapping & Ensures greater solvency of the program by authorizing a $25 annual fee on residential policies and $250 on business/ non-primary residence policies, with the revenue placed in a reserve fund.

Firefighters from New York & Pennsylvania battled a blaze at 247 Grange Hall Road in the Town of Windsor early this morning.  Fire fighters from Windsor, Kirkwood, as well as Hallstead and Susquehanna Pennsylvania battled the blaze, the cabin was a total loss and the cause of the fire in under investigation by Broome County fire investigators, no injuries were reported.