WCDO Radio News

About 1000 New York state troopers and officers from other law enforcement agencies attended the funeral of Trooper Brian Falb in Plattsburgh this morning.   Trooper Falb served in the state police for 18 years starting in 1998 died March 13th from complications from illnesses contracted while responding to the September 11th 2001 Terrorist attacks in New York City.

Tomorrow is National Agriculture Day; with proclamations form all levels of Government noting the importance of the farming industry. Chenango Farm Bureau President Bradd Vickers comments:

(Bradd Vickers 3-20-17)

Vickers noted that Agriculture is still the Number one industry locally, and for New York State.

The State Department of Taxation and Finance announced that it would extend the hours of its call center today, to assist small business taxpayers filing their sales tax returns before the midnight deadline tonight. Call center representatives will be available for an additional three hours, until 7:30 PM. The Tax Department expects 80,000 sales tax returns to be filed today & several thousand will likely be submitted within only a few hours of the midnight deadline. Taxpayers with questions can call 518-485-2889 for help in filing their returns. Officials said that many of the questions could be answered at tax.ny.gov.

State Police arrested 43-year-old Donald Hart of Bainbridge, for criminal Contempt & Harassment.   Troopers were advised of a physical dispute in the Village of Greene, where Hart grabbed the victim by the arm, which violated a valid order of protection. Hart was arraigned in the Village of Greene Court and remanded to the Chenango County Jail in lieu of $ 2,500 cash bail or $5,000 property bond.

Governor Cuomo today announced that registration is now open for the sixth annual “I Love My Park” Day on May 6th at state parks, historic sites and public lands across the state. The event is an effort to enhance New York’s parks and historic sites and raise awareness and visibility to the entire parks system and its needs. This year’s event includes partnerships with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the National Park Service, with volunteer events planned at several locations in the Adirondack and Catskill regions and at 5 national parks in New York State.

The State Attorney General Eric Schneidermann said that his office receives complaints from consumers about tax-related schemes, by scammers who are impersonating IRS officials and attempting to collect bogus tax debts, by phone calls or emails. The IRS and legitimate government agencies will never demand immediate payment or payment information over the phone. New Yorkers can report potential scams to the Attorney General's office at 1-800-771-7755. Scams or the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at 800-366-4484.