WCDO Radio News

The prosecution & the defense rested in Chenango county court in the murder trial of Ganesh Ramasaran yesterday. Ramsaran is accused of killing his wife Jennifer in 2012, her body was found several months later in the town of Pharsalia. The biggest twist in the trial was Ramsaran’s decision to testify last Thursday, his testimony wrapped up yesterday in Norwich, the jury will get the case shortly. Closing Arguments will begin at 9:00 this morning.

Governor Cuomo launched the “Combat Heroin,” campaign, to inform and educate New Yorkers about the risks of heroin and prescription opioid use, the signs of addiction, and the resources available to help. In 2013, there were 89,269 admissions for heroin and prescription opioid abuse treatment in New York State alone, with New Yorkers ages 18 to 24 with the largest increase in such admissions. A website can be found at combatheroin.ny.gov, it includes information about warning signs of heroin and opioid abuse and misuse, access to Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services treatment providers, and guidance to help parents talk to their children and healthcare professionals talk with their patients.

Governor Cuomo signed into law the Community Risk and Resiliency Act to strengthen New York State’s preparedness for the effects of climate change and help protect communities against severe weather and sea level rise. The Act advances recommendations of the NYS 2100 Commission, which the Governor convened after Superstorm Sandy, to develop more resilient infrastructure systems across the state. The Act requires State agencies to consider future physical climate risks caused by storm surges, sea level rise or flooding in certain permitting, funding and regulatory decisions. The standards would apply to smart growth assessments, siting of wastewater treatment plants and hazardous waste transportation, storage and disposal facilities, design and construction regulations for petroleum and chemical bulk storage facilities and oil and gas drilling permits, and properties listed in the state’s Open Space Plan, as well as other projects.

The next Citizen Voices General Membership meeting will be held today at 4:00pm at at the Carriage House at 790 Southside Drive, Oneonta. The topic will be Solar Energy, Net-Zero construction and how to apply current technology to existing structures. the event is open to the public, reservations are requested at CitizenVoices@hotmail.com.

The State Division of Criminal Justice Services, the state health department ant the office of alcoholism & substance abuse services joined forces to train police officers from the Southern Tier and Capital Region in the use of Naloxone which reverses the effect of overdoses caused by heroin or other opioids, such as hydrocodone and oxycodone. The state also is providing agencies that send their officers to the trainings with supplies of naloxone at no cost. Today’s session was held at SUNY Delhi, with more than 40 officers from 9 agencies getting the training.

State Police arrested 56-year-old Perry Webb & 52-year-old Charles Holmes of New Lisbon, for Petty Larceny and Criminal Trespass. The arrests resulted from a complaint of a missing silo loader from a farm in Morris, the investigation determined that both suspects allegedly took the silo loader from the property without permission, & scrapped it an a salvage yard in New Berlin, for $46. Webb and Holmes were issued tickets returnable to the Town of Morris Court on August 11th.

State agencies have begun adding gender identity to their data collection, as part of an effort Governor Cuomo said will help the state better meet the needs of lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender New Yorkers. A new report identifies 8 agencies, including the Department of Health, collecting or updating their data systems to gather those demographics.

Legislation has passed the State Assembly and Senate to update current Internet privacy laws to protect victims of “revenge porn” whose explicit photos are posted online without their consent. Current privacy laws protect people only if recorded images or video show intimate parts of their bodies, Hence the images might not meet criteria for prosecution, even if they are posted for the purpose of humiliation and are sexually explicit in nature. Under the new legislation, existing surveillance law would be updated to make non-consensual broadcast of individuals engaged in sexual contact a felony.

The Coventry Emergency Squad was awarded $143,000 in grant money, to purchase an updated ambulance to allow the squad to provide better, safer emergency care. The funding was allocated through the Department of Homeland Security's assistance to firefighters grant program

Governor Cuomo signed legislation that will increase the maximum fine from $200 to $1,000 for those who attempt to steal, harm, or transport a dog, cat or other pet that is not their own. The new maximum penalty will be applied against those that remove a collar or identification, entice, seize or harass a pet while it is being held, led or while properly muzzled, or transporting an animal for the purpose of killing or selling it. The American Kennel Club reports that there were more than 590 thefts of pets in 2013.

Officials with the General Clinton Canoe Regatta & The Bainbridge Chamber of Commerce announced that the historic LaFever Canoe, which had been stolen from the Regatta Museum at General Clinton Park, was located by a passerby, under the route 206 bridge in Bainbridge yesterday. Officials posted the loss of the canoe yesterday on social media, they said that the canoe will placed back on display at the Museum more securely. State Police are investigating.

The 4th annual "It's A Boobie & Butt Thing" cancer awareness golf invitational will be held on September 27th at the Afton Golf Club. Invitational Co-Director Lori Kemmerer said that they are looking for sponsors and donations currently:

(Lori Kemmerer 7-23-14)

Those who would like to sponsor or donate a raffle basket can call 624-4397; Money raised will help local cancer patients with travel expenses or insurance co-payments.