WCDO Radio News

The Child Victims Act is expected to pass today in the
legislature, and a 3-way agreement was reached on this legislation last week.
Governor Cuomo has been a vocal advocate for the Child Victims Act for years,
and he even quoted Pope Francis in his State of the State address recently to
call for the passage of these bills by the legislature:

(Cuomo 1-28-19)

The Child Victim's act will be signed into law by Governor Cuomo
shortly after its expected passage in Albany.

Local sales tax collections continued to climb in 2018,
According to a report released today by State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli.
Collections across the state of $17.5 billion grew by $872 million, or 5.3%,
every region in the state has experienced an increased annual growth rate in
sales tax collections in each of the last 3 years, with the exception of the
Finger Lakes.  The Southern Tier saw the
highest year-over-year increase at 6.8%, the strongest for the region since
2011.

A new report shows that the use of E-Cigarettes by New York
State youth has sky-rocketed in the last few years by 160% over 4 years.  Linda Wegner of Advancing Tobacco Free
Communities of Delaware Otsego & Schoharie Counties said that there is a
lot of work to be done to correct this issue:

(Linda Wegner 1-28-19)

Wegner said that the problem has been compounded by big
tobacco companies such as Marlboro, buying up E-cigarette companies & using
flavorings & marketing to entice youth into nicotine based products, state
& federal officials are just starting to consider legislative action to
stop these trends.

State Senator Fred Akshar released his latest in a series of
online surveys.  Akshar is asking his
constituents to weigh in on the Governor's proposal to legalize recreational
marijuana. Key provisions of the proposal include Establishing separate licensing
programs for marijuana growers, distributors and retailers, with a ban on
growers also opening retail shops;
Imposing a 20 percent state tax and 2 percent local tax on the sale of
the drug from wholesalers to retailers, plus a per-gram tax on growers;
Allowing counties and large cities to ban marijuana sales within their
boundaries & Banning marijuana sales to anyone under the age of 21. The
survey can be found at Akshar.NYSenate.Gov.

Hundreds of county delegates
from across the state will gather Today through Wednesday for the New York
State Association of Counties Legislative Conference at the Desmond Hotel in
Albany.  Attendees will participate in
bipartisan standing committee meetings, training workshops, policy discussions,
keynote addresses, and business meetings.
More information is available at nysac.org.

The Broome County Special Investigations Unit Task Force
Police arrested 26 year old Bethany Kasson & 38 year old Anthony
Thompson  of Binghamton following a drug
bust at 116 Park Avenue Friday. Police seized 25 grams of Fentanyl plus
Cocaine, $7,800 cash from suspected drug sales, Marijuana, & Drug Packaging
Materials, Kasson & Thompson face 6 counts of Criminal Possession of a
Controlled Substance, 1 count of Criminal Possession of Marijuana, and 4 counts
of Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia, they were being held  pending court action.

Bainbridge United, previously known as Reunite Bainbridge,
will meet at 7:00 PM tonight at the back of Bob's Diner.  They will continue preparing a mission
statement, other topics are welcomed, the public is invited to attend &
participate.

The Delaware County Fair Board annual dinner was held
Saturday at the Walton Fire house.  The
Fair Board announced that 10 $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to current
high school seniors or students already in college, through State Association
of Agricultural Fairs & the New York’s State Showpeople's Association, more
information is available by emailing delcofair@gmail.com, applications are
available at nysfairs.org & must be returned by April 12th.

Officials at the Franklin central school district said that voters approved a capital project on Tuesday, by a vote of 89 in favor & 19 against, The project will cover Roofing, windows, bathrooms, locker rooms, upgraded information technology and networking, upgraded electrical systems, new bus lift, flooring, & masonry repairs.

Governor Cuomo announced a $15 million proposal to accelerate the use of renewable heating and cooling technologies in New York to stimulate the clean energy economy. The new policy framework released by the NYSERDA includes a proposed 2-year, $15-million program to provide rebates for the installation of ground-source heat pumps. This plan will support the state's goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in New York 40 percent by 2030 from 1990 levels. NYSERDA will accept written comments on the policy framework through close of business on March 10, 2017.

State lawmakers continue to work on the Executive Budget proposal. State Assemblyman Pete Lopez said that while school aid is a huge part of the budget, the formula needs to be addressed:

(Lopez 2-8-17)

Lawmakers have until April 1st to get the budget passed for the start of the next fiscal year.

A public meeting to accept comments on the draft Northern Chenango Unit Management Plan will be held on Thursday, March 2, at 7:00 PM. The Friends of Rogers Environmental Education Center in Sherburne will host the meeting; Public comments are being accepted until May 2nd. The state land covers approximately 15,800 acres in Chenango and Madison counties. The draft UMP has been developed to address management activities on these state properties. DEC staff will briefly present highlights of the draft plan at the public meeting, and the public will have an opportunity to comment on the plan

State Police arrested 44-year-old Kevin Roof of Binghamton, for 2nd degree Burglary. After consultation with Chenango County District Attorney Joseph McBride, State Police arrested Roof after his release from the hospital where he had been treated for a non-life threatening gunshot wound to his upper leg, which he received during the course of his criminal conduct in the town of Afton on Algerine street on January 30th. Roof was arraigned and was remanded to the Chenango County Jail on $50,000 cash bail, $500,000 property bond pending future court action in Afton Town Court. 34-year-old James Fletcher was also charged with 2nd degree burglary in connection with this case, the investigation is continuing. Anyone with information is requested to contact State Police at 561-7400.

Reclaim New York will hold a Kick-Off reception at the Binghamton Doubletree at 5:30 pm today; a presentation on the Affordability Crisis in the Southern Tier is scheduled. Reclaim New York is a non-profit organization concerned with affordability, transparency, and education in the State.

The Delaware County Fair announced that ten $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to current New York State high school seniors and students enrolled in college. Qualifying students must be active in the Delaware County Fair or with the state Showpeople’s Association. All applicants from Delaware County must submit their applications through the Delaware County Fair or the NYSSA no later than Friday April 8th. Information is available by contacting Delaware County Fair at 437-4093 or by email at delcofair@gmail.com or nyfairs.org

The Tri Town Youth Club will host an open house today at their new location in the Sidney United Methodist Church. The event will run from 5:30 to 7:00 PM at the church as 12 Liberty Street in Sidney.

The battle lines have been drawn this year between Governor Cuomo, the Legislature & the New York state teacher's union, over edcuation reforms. Governor Cuomo said last month that the teachers evaluation enacted last year, was a joke;

(Cuomo 2-16-15)

State Senator John Bonacic said that public schools & charter schools need to be graded on a pass/fail basis:

(Bonacic 2-16-15)

Governor Cuomo last year told school districts to enact a teacher evaluation or face losing additional state aid, this year, Cuomo said he will kick in a lot more money for education if strongest reforms are enacted.

The Delaware County Fair announced that 7 $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to current New York State High School seniors and also students enrolled in college. The New York State Association of Agricultural Fairs and the New York State Showpeople’s Association sponsor the scholarships. The qualifying students must be active at The Delaware County Fair or with The New York State Showpeople’s Association. All applicants from Delaware County must submit their applications through The Delaware County Fair P.O. Box 344 Walton NY 13856, no later then Friday April 10th. More Information is available at www.nyfairs.org using the scholarships link.

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced that in the next two weeks he will resubmit the Abandoned Property Neighborhood Relief Act, to reduce the number of vacant and abandoned properties falling into disrepair across the state by informing homeowners of their right to stay in their home until a court orders the homeowner to leave, requiring mortgage lenders and servicers to identify, secure and maintain vacant and abandoned properties much earlier in the foreclosure process, and creating a registry of such properties to assist municipalities with enforcement of laws regarding property maintenance. Homeowners who need assistance are encouraged to call the Attorney General’s statewide foreclosure hotline at 855-HOME-456 and visit AGHomeHelp.com to connect with HOPP organizations and agencies in their area that can provide foreclosure prevention services.

State Police arrested 54 year old Robert Emery of Newfield, for 1 count Robbery in the 3rd Degree, as well as 1 count Unlawful Imprisonment, 2 counts Criminal Mischief, & 2 counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, connection with an investigation into a report of a physical altercation at a residence in Newfield Sunday, Emery was arraigned in the Town of Newfield Court and Released on his Own Recognizance. He is scheduled to reappear in the Town of Newfield Court Tuesday.