WCDO Radio News

Governor Cuomo is nominating Justice Paul Feinman to serve as an Associate Judge on the State Court of Appeals. Justice Feinman is currently an Associate Justice on the Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court and has served as a judge in New York for more than 20 years. Justice Feinman has been nominated to fill the vacancy created earlier this year by the tragic death of the Honorable Sheila Abdus-Salaam. If confirmed, Justice Feinman would be the first openly gay person to serve on the Court of Appeals.

The New York Lottery celebrated its 50th Anniversary this afternoon with a series of activities on Albany’s Empire State Plaza, hosted by Lottery spokeswoman Yolanda Vega. The New York Lottery continues to be North America’s largest and most profitable Lottery, contributing $3.27 billion in fiscal year 2016-2017 to help support education in New York State. The Lottery’s contribution represents approximately 14% of total state aid to local school districts.

New York spends more money per student than any other state, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. In fiscal year 2015, New York spent $21,206 per pupil, almost double the national average of $11,392. In New York, $8,758 goes toward instruction, or teacher salaries. That's the highest number in the nation. Only California spends more money on Education than New York.

Survivors of child molestation are urging lawmakers in New York to loosen the statute of limitations on lawsuits for past abuse. The proposal would eliminate the criminal and civil statute of limitations for several child sexual abuse crimes and create a one-year window for past victims to file civil suits. Victims now have until they turn 23 to sue.

The Delaware County Chamber of Commerce and other area groups have revived the Meredith Dairy Fest this Saturday & Sunday. Delaware County Chamber President Ray Pucci comments:

(Ray Pucci 6-16-17)

Pucci said that the Meredith Dairy Fest is right near the previous location off of Catskill Turnpike Road & Honest Brook Road in the town of Meredith, more information is available at meredithdairyfest.com.

The deadlines for signing up teams for the upcoming Gus Macker Basketball tournament is approaching quickly, organizer Tom Revoir explains:

(Tom Revoir 6-16-17)

The Gus Macker Tournament will be held the weekend of July 8th & 9th in Norwich.

Senator Fred Akshar, Binghamton Mayor Rich David and the Southern Tier AIDS Program will host a "Shed the Meds" prescription turn-in event at the Binghamton Fire Department Training Center at 1 Belden Street in Binghamton tomorrow from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM. Residents can dispose of their old prescription pills to prevent those meds from falling into the wrong hands. Those attending are asked to avoid to bringing bottles of liquids for disposal. A free Narcan training session will also be held at 1:00 PM, pre-registration is required at Akshar.NYSenate.Gov.

The Friends of Rogers announced a Family Fishing day for tomorrow from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Rogers Environmental Education Center on State Route 80 in Sherburne. More information is available at 607 674-4733.

The 2017 Greater Binghamton Job & Career fair will be held today at the SUNY Broome Ice Center. The event will run from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, the event is being held by the Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce.

People all over the world are weighing in on naming the baby boy Giraffe, born at Animal Adventure in the town of Colesville recently, where millions watched the birth live on their web-stream. Jordan Patch of Animal Adventure told WCDO News that the first round of voting ended last night where the names were paired down to a "Top 10":

(Jordan Patch 4-26-17)

People can vote on the Top ten names at nameaprilscalf.com, the name choices are Alyssa’s Choice, Apollo, Geoffrey, Gio, Harpur, Noah, Ollie, Patch, Patches, & Unity. WCDO will air the complete interview with Jordan Patch about Animal Adventure & April the Giraffe in the 8:00 hour on Friday morning.

The "Regatta Row 3rd Annual Street Art Festival will open Saturday from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, in Downtown Bainbridge, where Adirondack style Chairs & Game tables, made in part with Canoe Paddles are being displayed. Bainbridge Chamber of Commerce President John Payne comments:

(John Payne 4-27-17)

Nancy Kitchen is a member of the Jericho Arts Council, which is the lead organization for this project, she told WCDO that the idea for this project began about 5 years ago when a local artist participated in a juried Art Show in the Capital Region, and they wanted to bring something like that to Bainbridge:

(Nancy Kitchen 4-26-17)

The Chairs & Game tables will be auctioned off during the General Clinton Canoe Regatta on Saturday May 27th at 2:00 PM prior to the annual Regatta Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony; the money raised will be used for future Jericho Arts Council events.

Delaware County Sheriff Deputies responded Tuesday to a report of a 2-car accident in the parking lot of the Dutch Deli in Meridale. Deputies and State Troopers were advised that the operator of 1 of the involved vehicles was intoxicated and had fled the scene in his vehicle. Deputies observed the vehicle that fled the scene, had driven past their location, they stopped 49 year old Andrew Bright of Meridale, he was charged with DWI, Aggravated DWI with a Blood Alcohol Content Greater Than .18%, leaving the scene of a property damage accident and backing unsafely. Bright was arraigned in the Town of Delhi Court and was remanded to the Delaware County Jail on $500 cash bail pending future court action. The occupant of the struck vehicle was 19-year-old Kyle Oborn of Malta, who was not injured, and was not ticketed.

Walton Police arrested 3 Walton residents Saturday on various drug charges, following a 6-month investigation. Arrested were 44-year-old Sueann Maler, 34-year-old James Laughman & 32-year-old Jessica Bolster, for criminal sale of a controlled substance. The investigation was wrapped up with sealed indictments being handed down by a Delaware County Grand Jury last week, all 3 were sent to Delaware County jail pending future court action.

A new Sienna research Institute poll shows that 37% of those polled feel that the new state budget is fair, 23% viewed the budget poorly & 25% viewed it positively. Specific items in the budget polled more favorably, including free college tuition for families with an income up to $125,000, increased aid to school districts, ride sharing & a 2.5 billion dollar clean water infrastructure fund. 51% of those polled said that they would vote for Governor Cuomo for a 3rd term, up slightly from last month.

Binghamton Police charged 36-year-old Jennifer Grenchus of Vestal with Vehicular Manslaughter, for allegedly driving while impaired by drugs when she hit and killed 47-year-old Ronald Richardson of Binghamton with her car Monday afternoon. Binghamton Police responded to the parking lot of Tom’s Cards and Gifts on Main Street where they found Grenchus and her vehicle, with Richardson pinned underneath. Police, Firefighters & civilians flipped the Grenchus vehicle off of Richardson, who died at the scene before EMT's could respond. Grenchus struck Richardson along Main Street; dragging his body underneath her vehicle before turning into Tom’s parking lot. Grenchus was arraigned in City Court where she was remanded to the custody of the Broome County Jail. The investigation into incident is continuing, anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Binghamton Police at 772-7080.

The Sidney Chamber of Commerce will host the Four Chamber mixer meeting today with a social beginning at 6:30 pm at East Main Lanes and Lounge, Sidney.

United Way of Delaware and Otsego Counties will host its 8th Annual Golf Tournament on Friday, May 19 at Ouleout Creek Golf Course in Franklin. Teams can register by contacting Susan Kurkowski at 432-8006 or Tim McGraw at 432-2022. All monies raised will go towards United Way of Delaware and Otsego Counties.

The Otsego County Conservation Association will be holding their annual ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’ Garage Sale on April 29 and 30 at the Farmers’ Market Building in Cooperstown. The event will run from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM on both days. Donations of items will be accepted at the Cooperstown Farmers’ Market building in Pioneer Alley, today through Friday, Proceeds from the sale help support OCCA’s environmental programs, For further information, call 547-4488, or occainfo.org.

Governor Cuomo spoke at Binghamton University today, he called for County Executives to convene meetings among all county governments to consolidate services, share office space & equipment, & put it before voters, in order to lower the States Staggering Property taxes:

(Cuomo Property Tax)

Governor Cuomo also reiterated his plans for free SUNY Tuitions for students in families earning less than $125,000 a year:

(Cuomo SUNY)

Cuomo has both plans up for consideration by the State Legislature this year, in his $152.9 Billion dollar budget proposal.

State Police arrested 48-year-old Henry Grant of Oxford, for Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, False Inspection Sticker and several other traffic violations. A State Trooper saw an improper inspection sticker on a vehicle in the Town of Candor, it was determined that Grant had placed a fake inspection sticker on the windshield a Toyota SUV, he was driving with a suspended license, had switched plates on the vehicle and was driving without insurance. An inventory of his vehicle found that he unlawfully possessed about three grams of methamphetamine. Grant was arraigned Candor Town Court and was released to reappear on March 6th.

Sales tax collections in Delaware County grew by about 7% in 2016, according to a report recently released by the Office of the New York State Comptroller. Delaware County Chamber of Commerce president Ray Pucci, claims that tourism is reason:

(Ray Pucci 2-7-17)

While statewide collections grew by 2.3%, Delaware County was among only six counties that saw increases of more than 4%, Regionally, the Southern Tier counties grew by less than 1%.

A free business partnership workshop open to the public will be held tonight at the Oxford Academy primary school multi purpose room. Representatives from the Voss Group & Southern Tier Startup Alliance will speak to those who are thinking about becoming entrepreneurs in the Greater Chenango Area, the workshop runs form 6:30to 8:00 PM tonight & is one of a series of workshops as part of the 2 year "Innovation Series" of monthly forums. More information is available at 843-2025 extension 3301.

State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie announced that the Assembly Majority plans on implementing legislation to protect & enhance the lives of New York's Immigrant population:

(Carl Heastie 2-7-17)

Heastie also said that they would once again act on the "Dream Act" to allow illegal immigrants to pursue higher education that legislation has failed to pass in the Republican led State Senate in the past.

State Police arrested 37 year old Brenten Bryan of Stamford, for the felony of Aggravated DWI, with a child passenger less than 16 years old, with a B.A.C. result of .24%, plus other traffic violations. Bryan was observed speeding and then pulling into the South Kortright Central School parking lot, where he had let a child off at the school. Bryan was issued tickets returnable in the Town of Kortright Court on Feb 21st.

The State Senate passed a bill to bring ride sharing to Upstate communities. The bill provides the framework for ride-sharing companies to expand operations outside of New York City and enable new jobs to be created. While the Executive Budget includes a tax of 5.5 percent on rides that begin outside of New York City, the Senate's measure cuts that tax to 2 percent and does not subject rides to the 4 percent state sales tax.

The next meeting of the Oneonta Downtown revitalization Initiative Planning Committee will be held today, at the Foothills Performing Arts center on the 2nd floor. The meeting will run from 1:00 to 3:00 PM & is open to the public and there will be a period for public comments. Also, the Oneonta Common Council will hold their next meeting tonight, at 7:00 PM at City Hall.

The National Women's Hall of Fame will announce their 2017 inductees today in Seneca Falls, the site of the first women's rights convention. 10 women who will be inducted to the hall during a ceremony in September, so far 266 women who have influenced arts, athletics, business, education, government, and the sciences, have been inducted.