WCDO Radio News

The state Gaming Facility Location Commission announced today, that the Southern Tier Casino License was awarded today to Lago in Tyre New York, in Seneca County. Plans call for a casino & hotel complex which has the backing of Wilmorite of Rochester, which has experience in casino operations. The casino site will be located off of exit 41 on the New York State thruway

The chairman of the state Thruway Authority resigned, saying he will return to focus on his business interests. Howard Milstein, the billionaire New York City developer, is leaving the board. The 570-mile highway faces financial problems and is building a $3.9 billion new Tappan Zee Bridge between Westchester and Rockland counties. Milstein's departure won't impact the agency's operations, and they are in the process of finding a replacement to fill the unpaid post. An analysis by a consultant to the Thruway Authority estimates the highway system's revenue will be $67 million short of its needs in 2015 under the current toll rates.

Insurance company AIG has agreed to pay New York state $35 million to settle claims that two former subsidiaries did business without licenses and misled regulators about their operations in the state. The deal was announced by the state Department of Financial Services. It comes after a $60 million settlement in March with MetLife, which purchased the subsidiaries from AIG. Authorities had alleged subsidiaries American Life Insurance Co. and Delaware American Life Insurance Co. sought customers in New York without licenses and without telling regulators. Under the settlement, AIG will drop a legal challenge to the state's probe and the state will not proceed with charges or a lawsuit

Governor Cuomo said $10 million in grants were awarded to localities across the State to support emergency response operations. Administered by the State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, the grants support municipalities that operate 9-1-1 response and emergency service dispatch operations. Chenango County will receive just under $175,000, Delaware $117,000 and Otsego $161,000

Following last December's Metro-North derailment in the Bronx that killed four passengers, US senator Charles Schumer introduced legislation to put into law, the recommendations of a panel that focused on the railroad's culture of safety, mandating inward and outward facing cameras, increased track inspections and fines for safety violations. The law would apply to Metro-North, Long Island Rail Road, New Jersey Transit, Amtrak and other passenger lines across the country. The bill would boost the Federal Railroad Administration's oversight of the nation's rail systems by authorizing an increase in funding for FRA's safety and operations work.

During the Labor Day weekend, State Police issued more than 9,000 tickets across the state.  Troopers served 3094 for speeding, 497 for seat belt violation, 153 for violating the Move Over Law, 310 for Distracted Driving, and 168 for DWI.  State Police investigated a total of 590 accidents between August 29th through September 1st, compared to last year’s 317. This years accidents led to 171 people injured, and 3 people were killed.

State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli announced his office completed audits the Sidney & Walton School Districts.  The audit of the Sidney School District said that District officials have taken steps to increase educational productivity & reduce the costs associated with instructional materials and program delivery. District officials decreased special education costs by using aid to finance additional teaching and learning technology, while at the same time reducing the district’s real property tax levy.  The Audit of the Walton School district states that after incurring several years of operational surpluses, the board adopted budgets that included plans to use nearly $2.5 million of fund balance to finance operations from 2010 to 2013.  The district’s unassigned fund balance declined by 94%, DiNapoli’s office suggests that Walton school board carefully consider the amount of fund balance they appropriate in future school budgets.

ACCO brands in Sidney announced that they would be adding 25 full time hourly manufacturing positions at their Sidney facility immediately. Job growth was attributed to the recent relocation of ACCO brands day-Timer operations form Allentown Pennsylvania to the Sidney facility. More information is available at accobrands.com.

U.S. Senator Charles Schumer has called on the FAA, and the Commerce Department, to develop and release privacy rules and guidelines for the use of small-unmanned aircraft systems by the end of the year. The unmanned aircrafts, or drones, are being used by the U.S. to aid military operations, and Schumer said they have become more common in commercial uses as well. Schumer is concerned the increasing use, by private investigators to spy on unaware parties, such as people in their residences, as well as drug dealers to deliver illegal drugs, poses serious public safety concerns for New Yorkers.

Governor Cuomo state that there are more than 100,000 available jobs listed on the Jobs Express website. The site sorts thousands of jobs by region and occupation, and also allows users to search jobs based on zip code and travel distance. The occupational categories with the most jobs listed include: Sales, Clerical, Management, Computer/Mathematical and Business/Financial Operations. The website is located at jobs.ny.gov.

NYSEG Customers were without power earlier today, after heavy storms moved through Central New York yesterday afternoon. Falling trees, downed power lines and flooded roads were reported in Norwich and other area communities, 1 Norwich home was heavily damaged when a tree fell through it, according toe the Chenango county emergency operations center. About 3700 NYSEG Customers were without power during the height of the storm yesterday. The latest NYSEG Updates are available at outagemap.NYSEG.com.

Delaware county department of public works announced that oil & stone operations would begin on various county roads starting Monday July 7th. The work will begin on county road 18, followed by 33, 16, & 14. The 2nd round of oil & stone operations will then be performed on county roads 22, 23, 21, 17, 28 & 26, the operations should be concluded in 3 weeks, weather permitting. More information is available at 746-2128.

State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli announced his office completed an audit of Otsego County. DiNapoli’s report stated that the Otsego County treasurer could not determine the source or purpose of moneys held in several trust and agency funds totaling more than $75,000 as of last October. The county’s failure to identify and disburse these funds in a timely manner has resulted in its inability to use these moneys, which could otherwise help fund current or future operations.

Chobani is laying off production workers while adding positions at its headquarters in New York City as part of a company-wide restructuring. Chobani is eliminating fewer than 100 jobs,  mostly production workers, at its South Edmeston plant. Meanwhile, more than 100 new jobs are being added at the company headquarters in Norwich, and at its sales and marketing hub in New York City. Chobani officials declined to disclose the exact number of people who are losing their jobs or its total number of remaining employees. Chobani also established a business service center at its Norwich headquarters, to provide better support and service to its operations

The Chenango County Health Department is advocating for the blockage of legislation that would add a layer of red tape to day camp operations in the county. The bill, which has yet to pass the state Senate or Assembly, would subject single purpose day camps, such as dance camp, basketball camp, or even fire camp, to the same regulations associated with summer camps that have multiple recreations like hiking, swimming, and other potentially dangerous recreations. The health department said the legislation could be detrimental to camps in upstate communities.

State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli’s office completed an audit of the Village of Oxford Justice Court operations and found financial irregularities. The audit found that Oxford justices didn’t insure that collected moneys were accounted for properly. Village Mayor Terry Stark said discrepancies may have occurred, because justices perform all aspects of their duties without oversight by the village board, and the justice involved with the case couldn’t participate in the audit, due to his ill health and subsequent death last November. The village agreed with the recommendations, but pointed out a corrective action plan would be problematic due to the justice’s death.

Governor Cuomo announced the start of business operations for the New York Green Bank, which will work to stimulate private sector financing and accelerate the transition to a cost-effective clean energy system. The New York Green Bank is seeking proposals from private sector lenders, investors and industry participants to facilitate the financing of clean-energy projects in the State.

Governor Cuomo today announced nearly $21 million would be available for New York’s dairy farmers by helping them to produce renewable energy and improve their business operations. The funding will help dairy farmers convert farm waste to energy and develop individualized business and environmental plans to reduce operating costs and increase profitability. The funding for these efforts stem from recommendations made at the Yogurt Summit in 2012.  Funding for the Dairy Acceleration Program will be increased by $850,000, in addition to the $1 million announced by the Governor this past August. More information is available at  ansci.cornell.edu.

Governor Cuomo will activate the State Emergency Operations Center this morning at 10:00 AM to monitor the winter storm, which could produce moderate to heavy snowfall across a large portion of the state.  There is a wind-chill watch with values from -30 to -40 degrees.