WCDO Radio News

Democratic incumbents in state races all have leads of at least 20 points over their Republican opponents heading into the closing days of the 2014 campaign, according to a new Siena College Poll. Governor Cuomo leads Rob Astorino 54-33% with Green Party candidate Howie Hawkins up to 9%. Democratic Attorney General Eric Schneiderman increased his lead over John Cahill 55-35% & State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli has a 58-31% over Bob Antonacci.

Governor Cuomo signed a law to increase state oversight of special education programs for preschoolers with disabilities. The law authorizes the state comptroller to audit all of the independently run programs at least once in the next 5 years. It establishes new reporting requirements for committees that place children in programs and for providers. Comptroller Tom DiNapoli says fraud in the $1.3 billion program has cost taxpayers millions of dollars while depriving children of needed help.

Governor Cuomo announced more than $900,000 in federal funding, provided by the USDA, to support research projects ranging from improving the resiliency of New York's crops, to expanding the reach of the state's agriculture sector.  The funding includes $154,000 to support the state's wine and grape industry.  The funding will provide state assistance for specialty crop programs including research, promotion, food safety, and nutrition. Several of the grants were awarded to Cornell University in Ithaca.  For more information go to govenor.ny.gov

Assembly members are calling on Governor Cuomo to waive registration fees and up to $1,000 worth of state sales tax on vehicles purchased by those whose previous vehicle was destroyed by Hurricane Sandy. Assemblyman Pete Lopez was one of the members of the bipartisan coalition calling for the measure:

(Lopez 1-30-13)
The group is also pushing for rebates on sales tax already paid on such purchases.

Governor Cuomo announced that the Department of Health would issue proposed regulations to ensure that the unique needs of pediatric patients are respected by requiring that hospitals communicate critical test results in plain language to parents before a child is discharged from the hospital. The regulations also require hospitals to post a "Parents' Bill of Rights" letting parents and patients know of the important protections provided by these regulations.

Governor Cuomo today announced that more than 280 groups across the state have signed on to support the Women's Equality Agenda. New Yorkers can go to NY4Women.com to sign up to support the 10-point plan, calling for Pay Equity, Stopping Sexual Harassment in All Workplaces, Allow for the Recovery of Attorneys' Fees in Employment and Credit and Lending Cases, Strengthen Human Trafficking Laws, End Family Status Discrimination, Stop Source-of-Income Discrimination, Stop Housing Discrimination for Victims of Domestic Violence, Stop Pregnancy Discrimination, Strengthening Order-of-Protection Laws & Protecting a Woman's Freedom of Choice.