WCDO Radio News

Governor Hochuls's Office announced that $237.7 Million Dollars was returned to New Yorkers in 2025. The Department of Financial Services Returned $134 million to Consumers and Health Care Providers, the Public Service Commission Helped Over 75,000 New Yorkers with Complaints in 2025, Collecting Nearly $66 Million for Consumers, the Department of Labor Recovered More Than $35 Million in Wage Theft and Collected $2.2 Million in Penalties. Also, the Division of Consumer Protection Helped Over 27,000 New Yorkers, collecting Nearly $2.7 Million for Consumers, New Yorkers Can File a Complaint at dfs.ny.gov/complaint.

The Delaware County Sheriff Craig DuMond reported to the Board of Supervisors meeting this week, that the road patrol division responded to 18,518 total calls for service in 2025, arrests were up 6.2% last year from 2024, traffic tickets increased by 5.4% and motor vehicle accidents saw an increase of 37.66%. The office's Criminal Investigations Division investigated 740 cases last year, including 69 where warrants were requested, making 64 arrests. The corrections division saw a 28% reduction in the number of inmates processed into the jail in 2025.

A.M. NEWS Thursday 4-23-26

State Police arrested 23 year old Bradley Scymanski of Newark Valley after a road rage incident that resulted in shots fired. Scymanski was charged with Attempted Assault, Criminal Possession of a Weapon, Criminal Use of a Firearm & Reckless Endangerment, An investigation determined that on Wednesday afternoon, a road rage incident between 2 vehicles occurred on East Main Street in the town of Union, when Scymanski allegedly discharged a firearm at the other vehicle, No injuries were reported. Scymanski was located and taken into custody without incident, he was processed & then turned over to the Broome County Jail for Centralized Arraignment, where he was remanded without bail.

State Police in Troop C conducted an “Operation Hard Hat” detail Wednesday along State Route 17 in the town of Windsor. The detail coincides with National Work Zone Awareness Week, 65 citations were issued; 34 for Speeding, 8 for Seat-belt compliance, 4 for Operating an electronic device, 9 for Failure to move over and 10 for other assorted violations.

Broome County officials announced today that they have received $854,370.00 in New York State funding through the STRIVE II program to cut down on domestic violence. This funding will support a coordinated countywide effort to improve outcomes for victims of domestic violence and strengthen public safety.

P.M. NEWS THURSDAY 1-8-26

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is demanding that the Trump administration unfreeze the grants that provide child care assistance to thousands of families in New York, she said that she will work with State Officials to keep the services going:

(Gillibrand 1-8-26)

The Trump administration froze $10 billion in funding for child care subsidies, social services, and cash support for low-income families in five Democrat-controlled states---including New York. The administration is claiming widespread fraud throughout these states, Gillibrand said that they did not provide any evidence of fraud in New York.

Otsego County Sheriff Richard Devlin announced his plans Wednesday to run for re-election on the November Ballot for a 6th Term as Sheriff. Devlin has 36 years in law enforcement, including 19 years as Sheriff. Also, 25-year veteran of the Otsego County Sheriff’s Office Michael Stalter is challenging Devlin, both are running as Republicans.

A.M. NEWS THURSDAY 1-8-26

The Number of Flu cases is trending down in New York State, according to the State Health Department. The last Week of 2025 had 49,000 new cases reported, down 32% from the week before, there have been just under 240,000 for the entire flu season, Locally, there were 350 new cases of the flu reported in the Tri-County Area.

State Police arrested 42 year old Francisco Ortiz of Deposit Monday for Felony Assault following a domestic dispute. Troopers were dispatched to a report of a domestic dispute in a vehicle traveling on Interstate 88 in the town of Colesville. Ortiz is accused of striking a victim in the face and crushing the victim’s arm in the middle console of his vehicle, as well as breaking a door at the victim’s residence in Afton. The victim was transported to Tri-Town Regional Hospital in Sidney for treatment to injuries, Ortiz was located in Deposit and arrested, He was transported to the Broome County Jail for Centralized Arraignment, and he was issued appearance tickets to the Afton Town Court on January 20 for the damage he caused to the victim’s door.

Governor Hochul delivers the official 2026 State of the State Address on January 13th, Among the topics Hochul will discuss includes centers on youth safety for online platforms, & AI, free school meals, rural revitalization, workforce training, expanding Teen Mental Health First Aid, middle-class tax relief, increased minimum wage, and investments in housing and education.

A Public Hearing will be held by the Village of Sidney Planning Board Today at 5:00 pm, at Civic Center, on Liberty Street. The hearing is in reference to a major realty subdivision of Clover Hill Lane requested by owner of Parcels located East of County Rt. 4 and West Main Street. A regular meeting of the Village of Sidney Planning Board will follow the hearing.

Governor Hochul has again vetoed legislation that would have changed the state’s wrongful death statute by letting families recover damages for emotional suffering from the death of a loved one. Hochul declined Friday to sign the Grieving Families Act for the second time this year, she said that the bill had the potential for significant unintended consequences, like increased insurance premiums for consumers and a risk to the financial well-being of public hospitals and other health care facilities.

The Colorscape Chenango Arts Festival Board of Directors has named Michele Ericksen as the new Executive Director, replacing Celeste Friend who had been the Executive Director since 2017. Ericksen will manage all day-to-day operations for Colorscape Chenango Arts Festival, which will be held on September 7th & 8th in East and West Parks in Norwich.

5 New Laws went into effect yesterday in New York State, 1 new law states that Lifeguards can be 15 years old if they are directly supervised, another is that Non-public schools in New York will have to provide free menstrual products for female students, The minimum wage in will increase to $15 per hour outside of New York City, Long Island & Westchester Counties, also, the minimum age to operate an ATV in New York will go from 10 to 14 & Colleges will be required to post campus crime statistics on their websites and to investigate hate crimes. The institutions will also be responsible for informing students about how they plan to prevent hate crimes.

P.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 5-3-23

The State Legislature has passed the final State Budget Agreement for the 23-24-fiscal year. In the budget, an Agreement was reached To Provide Greater Discretion for Judges To Set Bail for the Most Serious Crimes; There were no Income Tax Increases in the Budget, additional funds were approved for mental health care, abortion access, Capital project at SUNY & CUNY Schools, increases in the education portion of the budget & increases in the Minimum Wage to $15 in the upstate counties over a 2 year period to adjust with inflation,

Local government sales tax collections in New York state totaled $5.5 billion in the first quarter of 2023, an increase of 7.1%, compared to the same period last year, according to a report released today by State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli. DiNapoli’s report found that sales tax collections increased by 9.2% in January and 14.1% in February, but the growth slowed to 0.3% in March. Collections for the counties and cities outside New York City grew by 3.3%, in the first quarter, with 50 out of 57 counties experienced sales tax increases during the quarter.

The Delaware County Board of Elections confirmed that, following yesterday's public hearing, a republican party primary will be held in the race for District Attorney. Joe Ermeti of Sidney will face acting District Attorney Shawn Smith in the primary on June 27th.

Delaware County Sheriff Craig DuMond reported that recently that his Office has received several reports of residents having found unauthorized charges on their debit and credit cards, due to an illegal and fraudulent type of activity referred to as “skimming”. Sheriff DuMond Told WCDO news how to avoid being skimmed:

(Sheriff DuMond 5-3-23)

Sheriff DuMond said that people can avoid these common methods of skimming buy paying in cash inside the store, also, check every line of your monthly bank statement to see that you haven't been falsely charged & report it to your bank or credit union as soon as possible, so that they can re-issue your card with security updates & a new PIN number & sign up for fraud text alerts whenever possible to monitor your accounts.

A.M. NEWS Wednesday 5-3-23

CDO Workforce of Otsego County will be hosting a job fair at the Southside Mall in Oneonta Today from 4:00 to 6:00 PM, spokesperson Kassidy Wright explains:

(Kassidy Wright 4-24-23)

The Job fair will features representatives from manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, education, municipalities, retail & human services.

P.M. NEWS Wednesday 2-22-23

The State Department of Labor announced the adoption of the final farm labor overtime regulations, the phased-in, gradual reduction in the overtime pay threshold will begin on January 1, 2024, with the threshold set at 56 hours. The process will continue with the overtime threshold limit reducing by 4 hours every other year until reaching 40 hours in 2032. More information is available at dol.ny.gov/farm-laborers-wage-board.

The Delaware County Board of Supervisors announced that a joint mission of the U.S. military and the County of Delaware with an Innovative Readiness Training mission, which will be bringing medical professionals to Walton July 11th through the 19th, providing several free medical, dental & Veterinary services. Director of Delaware County Planning & Watershed Affairs, Shelly Johnson-Bennett told WCDO News about the effort:

(Shelly Johnson-Bennett 2-22-23)

Volunteers will be needed to help with the event anyone interested can call Delaware Opportunities at (607) 746-1600.

Governor Kathy Hochul appeared in Johnson City this morning, she outlined some of the executive Budget Proposal Items that are aimed at helping the Southern Tier:

(Governor Hochul 2-22-23)

Governor Hochul discussed $1.4 billion in School Aid for the Southern Tier, Over $151 million in DOT capital projects, $50 million for Binghamton University to continue establishing a hub for battery technology innovation, Over $23 million for local paving and pothole repairs, $963,000 for Broome Community College, $16 million for addiction services funding, the 227 Billion Dollar Budget proposal is being negotiated & is due on April 1st.

A.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 2-22-23

The New York State Department of Health today issued the results of its latest annual chronic disease public opinion survey. According to the survey, 88% think heroin use is a serious public health problem, 90% site the use or misuse of prescription opioids, 92% said childhood obesity, 85% think tobacco use continues to be a major problem, 80% reported issues with health care access, 77% said alcohol consumption & 46% think marijuana are other serious health problems.

The Downsville Fire Department is hosting a Red Cross blood drive today at their location on State Route 30 from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Appointments can be made at 1-800 RED CROSS, redcrossblood.org or with the Red Cross Blood Donor App.

P.M. NEWS Wednesday 10-19-22

Over 300 members of the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers local 1529 voted to approve a new 3 year Contract from Amphenol of Sidney this afternoon. Union Representative Kevin Weidman told WCDO News the issues of sick leave, & wage increases were included and the 2 tier system has been altered & will be phased out. 3rd shift workers will return to work at the Sidney facilities at 11:00 PM tonight.

Governor Kathy Hochul joined Acting Superintendent Steven Nigrelli in honoring 218 new New York State Troopers as they graduated today from the 211th session of the Basic School of the New York State Police Academy. The ceremony was held at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany. Today's graduation increases the State Police ranks to 4,742 sworn members. 29 of the new Troopers will report to Troop C in Sidney.

The Board of Directors of Commerce Chenango announced the selection of Sal Testani as the organization’s new president and chief executive officer. Testani is a Norwich native , he has more than 16 years of experience as a senior leader with both MeadWestvaco and ACCO Brands in Sidney, & he will assume his new role on November 1. Testani will appear at today's Commerce Chenango Open House at their South Broad Street Norwich office.

The Delaware County Board of Elections reminds county residents that the GENERAL ELECTION is Tuesday November 8, from 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM. Those who need an absentee ballot must have the application in to the County Board Office by October 24th, and they may also apply on the state portal at absenteeballot.elections.ny.gov; by oct6ober 24th. More information about absentee voting or early voting is available at the County Board's Delhi Office or by calling 607-832-5321.

A.M. NEWS Wednesday 10-19-22

State Attorney General Letitia James released a report on the role of online platforms like 4chan & Twitch in the Buffalo mass shooting at a Tops grocery store where 10 Black individuals were killed and 3 others were injured. James' Office reviewed thousands of pages of documents and social media content to examine how the alleged shooter Payton Gendron of Conklin used online platforms to plan, prepare, and publicize his attack. The report also said that the platforms lacked of oversight, transparency, and accountability in allowing hateful and extremist views to proliferate, leading to radicalization and violence. Gendron faces numerous state & federal charges in connection with the shooting, and could face the death penalty if convicted on the federal charges.

An American Red Cross Blood Drive will be held in Oneonta today from 1:30 to 6:30 PM at the Quality Inn, on State Highway 23. Another Blood Drive is being held in Walton from 12:30 to 5:30 PM at the Walton First Baptist Church on Townsend Street. Appointments can be made with the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS.

$13 million has been awarded to protect clean water across New York State and help New York's farmers continue their work to mitigate the impacts of climate change. In the Southern Tier over $1.5 million dollars will be sent to 5 entities to oversee the projects, the details can be found at agriculture.ny.gov.

The State Department of Labor announced the next steps in the state’s $15 minimum hourly wage phase-in. The minimum wage rate in local counties will rise by $1 per hour, from $13.20 to $14.20,on December 31st. The Division's analysis found evidence of pressure for wages to rise in the midst of a continued pandemic-driven labor shortage.

Tomorrow On Tuesday, State Senator Fred Akshar, Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo, Johnson City Police Chief Brent Dodge and representatives of the State Department of Transportation will join local officials, family and community members to dedicate a portion of New York Route 17C the Patrolman David 'DW' Smith Memorial Highway in the Village of Johnson City. The dedication will begin at 11:00am at the Johnson City Police Department, Officer Smith served with the Johnson City Police Department for 18 1/2 years, in 2014, he was fatally shot after responding to a disturbance at a local business.

The Chenango County Sheriff's Office has received numerous complaints involving a scam that is occurring nationwide. The callers are identifying themselves as Chenango County Sheriff's Office personnel and informing people by phone that they have an active arrest warrant and requesting gift cards be sent to rectify the outstanding warrant. Chenango County Sheriff's Office personnel will never call to request money or gift cards for any criminal matters.

A.M. NEWS Monday 10-3-22

State Police are searching for 16 year old Connor McLean of Peru New York, who was last seen on September 27th, at 8:00 pm near his residence. McLean is approximately 5’10 feet tall, and weighs approximately 190 pounds, he was wearing blue hoodie, shorts, brown slippers with socks, & was carrying a black backpack. Anyone with any information is asked to please contact State Police at 518-563-3761

State Police are looking to identify 2 people in connection with a September 4th report of a wallet that was stolen from the Mount Upton Dollar General.. The wallet that was stolen from a cart, A woman is seen in surveillance video taking the wallet, a male is with her while at the store. The empty wallet was later found at a gas pump at Speedway at State Routes 7 and 8, & was turned in to the store by a patron, Anyone with information is asked to call State Police at (607)-561-7400, Pictures of the people in question can be viewed at the WCDO Facebook page.

State Police responded to a report that an 85-year-old woman with dementia left her residence on foot several hours prior and could not be located. An organized search was formed in the town of Andes. Troopers and New York State Police K9 were assisted by State Forest Rangers and Delhi Village Police. The woman was located deceased about a mile from her residence, There is no indication of any foul play.

State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon issued an order accepting the recommendation of the Farm Laborers Wage Board to lower the current 60-hour threshold for overtime pay to 40 hours per week by January 1, 2032, allowing 10 years to phase in the new threshold, following a 2-year process and 14 public meetings and hearings. Farm work in excess of 40 hours per week would be required to be compensated at overtime rates, as it is in other occupations.

P.M. NEWS MONDAY 8-29-22

State Police Child Abuse Unit arrested 59 year old John Olson of Warwick for allegedly sexually abusing multiple juvenile victims, at a daycare/foster care home in the town of Warwick in Orange County and town of Andes in Delaware County. On May 21st, OLSON was arrested in the town of Andes, he was indicted by a Grand Jury in Delaware County for 1st & 2nd degree Rape, Criminal Sexual Act, Course of Sexual Conduct Against a Child, Criminal Sexual Act & Endangering the Welfare of a Child, he was also indicted by a Grand Jury in Orange County on similar charges and was remanded to the Delaware County Jail. Police also arrested 80 year old Joan Parks for Failure to Report Child Abuse, Endangering the Welfare of a Child, & she was issued an appearance ticket to the Town of Warwick Court. Anyone with Information should call State Police at 845-291-2836 or 845-291-2810.

The Commerce Chenango Board of Directors announced that Kerri Green is no longer part of the organization, after serving as the President & CEO since 2019, the Board announced that a search for a new President & CEO is underway. Commerce Chenango Members can contact Katie Olson, Director of Membership & Programs, at (607) 334-1402 or by email at kolson@chenangony.org.

The State Legislature passed 2 bills this year to ease aggressive medical debt collection practices. The first bill bans medical liens and wage garnishment; the second regulates the billing of so-called "facility fees," and requires that patients be informed about those fees up front. 112 nonprofit hospitals sued more than 53-thousand patients across the state between 2015 and 2020, some provision will still exist to allow hospitals to sue patients in certain circumstances. 13 other states already have these laws in place.

The New Yorkers Using SNAP or EBT cards reported issues buying food Late Sunday into earlier today, with outages reported at several locations across the country, including New York State. About 5,000 outages were reported, but reported outages had declined by this afternoon, no information has been released about the cause of the outage issues, more information about the programs in New York are available at otda.ny.gov/programs/snap.

A.M. NEWS MONDAY 8-29-22

Broome County District Attorney’s Office announced that 20-year-old Carson Vanco of Endicott pleaded guilty to 1st degree attempted assault in court Friday. On July 26th, Vanco shot a man in the chest with a bow & arrow, he will be sentenced to 8 years in prison and 5 years post-release supervision when he is sentenced on November 29th.

Governor Hochul signed a bill by State Senator Fred Akshar and Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo, to rename a portion of State Route 17C after Officer David “DW” Smith. Officer Smith was shot and killed responding to a disturbance in 2014, he served in the Johnson City Police Department for 18 years.

New York State’s new minimum requirements for concealed carry will take effect on September 1st, following a recent US Supreme Court ruling that struck down a century State Law, that required New Yorkers who applied for a concealed carry permit to show to a judge “proper cause,”. The State Division of Criminal Justice Services and State Police released new guidelines for residents looking to obtain a concealed carry permit, more information is available at criminaljustice.ny.gov.

P.M. NEWS THURSDAY 8-25-22

The New York State Fair official opening day attendance Wednesday was 49,112, about 11,700 more people than last year’s extended fair’s Day 1. The Opening Day attendance was still far less than the record-setting 74,000 attendees on opening day in 2019, the year before the pandemic. On average, the fair attracts over 57,000 people on opening days.

The Latest COVID 19 statistics show a slow steady decline, with 7% Positivity rate reported on Tuesday, the 7 day rolling average was down to 6.29%. Patients hospitalizations have declined to 2,394, that a decrease of about 175 since last week, also there were 252 ICU patients with 102 on Ventilators, which is an increase of 13 since last week, & with the overall decline in COVID 19 cases, Students in New York state will not have to wear masks or be quarantined if they came in contact with someone with COVID.

State Officials announced that the 9/11 Tribute Museum in New York City closed down last week. The number of visitors drastically declined with the pandemic & never recovered. Annual admissions dropped to only 26,000 last year, compared to 150,000 in 2019.

The Chenango County Board of Supervisors and the Civil Service Employees Association reached an agreement on a contract for County Employees through the end of 2024. The contract allows for wage increases up to $2.00 an hour, the contract extension kicks in on October 1.

Visitors will be allowed at the Broome County Correctional Facility starting September 5th, visitation had been suspended in March 2020 at the beginning of the COVID 19 pandemic, a Lawsuit was filed to allow visitors back into the Jail and a decision in the State Supreme Court allowed for the Jail to be re-opened for visitation, as the COVID situation had changed considerable since 2020.

A.M. NEWS THURSDAY 8-25-22

Broome County District Attorney Mike Korchak announced that 29 year old Joel Valdes-Pica of Binghamton pleaded guilty to Attempted Robbery, for assaulting a Family Dollar employee who was making a deposit at the M&T Bank on Exchange Street, taking over $1,000. Valdes-Pica is also a repeat Violent Felony Offender and will serve 5 years in New York State Prison starting in November.

The State DMV is reminding New York Motorists to check to see if they have peeling license plates on their vehicles, as police have increasingly ticketed motorists for having the defective plates. People can replace their peeling plates free of charge at an area DMV office.

The State DOT is advising motorists that the off-ramp at Exit 19 on Interstate 88 westbound in the Town of Worcester, will close for approximately 60 days starting on Monday, August 29. The closure is necessary to facilitate a project to resurface the road and rehabilitate bridges. A variable message sign will alert motorists of the closure and direct them to Exit 20 and a signed detour utilizing State Route 7.

Governor Kathy Hochul announced that police agencies have removed 6,007 illegal guns from communities across New York State during the first 7 months of the year, a 20% increase over 2021. State Police seized 1,468 guns from August 2021 to July 2022: a 140% increase when compared to August 2020 to July 2021, The State's budget contains $227 million to fund programs implemented by law enforcement agencies and community-based organizations.

The U.S. Department of Labor has ordered Valley Veterinary Associates on State Route 7 in Unadilla to pay over $90,000, in back wages, following an investigation into accusations that the company paid the regular hourly wage to employees for their overtime hours. The investigation also revealed that employee records that were inaccurate. 39 employees were ordered to be paid their proper back-wages.

Otsego County Sheriff's Office arrested Michael Morton of Exeter on June 26th on multiple drug charges, after deputies responded to a complaint of a suspicious person in the Town of Plainfield. Morton is accused of criminal possession of a controlled substance and two counts of a controlled substance not in original container, he faces court action at a later date.

A.M. NEWS TUESDAY 7-5-22

Governor Kathy Hochul announced the passage of a resolution to write equal rights into the State Constitution, to solidify the right to abortion access in New York. When enacted, the amendment will add ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, and sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive healthcare to existing protections, This follows the recent Supreme Court decision which removed federal protections for abortion.

Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation to strengthen New York's gun laws and bolster restrictions on concealed carry weapons, to align with the US Supreme Court's recent decision. The legislation expands eligibility requirements in the concealed carry permitting process, Allows the state to regulate and standardize training for license applicants, restricts the carrying of concealed weapons in sensitive locations and Establishes state oversight over background checks for firearms and regular checks on license holders for criminal convictions. The law will take effect on September 1st, an appeals board will be created for those applicants whose license or renewal is denied or revoked, which will take effect on April 1st 2023.

The New York State Department of Labor today announced the state’s $15 minimum wage phase-in will continue, with the next stage taking effect December 31, 2021. The minimum wage will rise to $15 per hour on Long Island and in Westchester, matching the New York City minimum; the minimum wage should rise to $13.20 per hour in the rest of the state.

Governor Kathy Hochul announced the implementation of booster doses into the State's COVID-19 vaccination program Monday.  In accordance with CDC's recommendations,  individuals must have received the Pfizer vaccine for their initial vaccine series at least six months ago will be eligible, along with those who have underlying health issues. Individuals who received the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccine are not currently eligible for a booster dose, but may be in the near future.

The New York State Board on Electric Generation Siting and the Environment will meet on Today at 10:30 A.M., in Albany,   on the agenda for that meeting is the application of Bluestone Wind, LLC for a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need for the Construction of their proposed Wind Farm Project in the Towns of Windsor and Sanford.  The meeting is available online at dps.ny.gov/Webcasts.

Delaware County Sheriff's Deputies patrolling State Highway 10 in the Town of Delhi last Friday night, observed and stopped a vehicle that was being operated erratically, crossing the solid yellow center lines.   41-year-old Melissa Pycroft of Hobart was charged with driving while intoxicated, driving with a blood alcohol content of .08% or more, failure to keep right and moving from lane unsafely.    Pycroft was released on appearance tickets directing her to appear in the Town of Delhi Court on a later date to answer the charges.

P.M. NEWS THURSDAY 12-17-20

A winter storm has dumped between 24 to 40 inches of snow on the Southern tier, closing down schools, government offices & businesses throughout the region. State DOT Officials are asking people to stay off the roads so that Plow trucks can get the roads cleared quickly.  Chenango & Broome Counties have called for a State of Emergency because of the storm.

Governor Cuomo announced that over 202,000 COVID tests were administered Wednesday across the state.  there were 10,914 positive tests, or 5.38% of all tested.  The number of People in ICU Beds was up to 6147, and there were 120 deaths from the virus Wednesday.

State Police announced that I-81 Northbound in the town of Barker in Broome County was closed off & traffic had been backed up for several miles today, due to the storm & a disabled tractor trailer truck.  The road was closed northbound between exit 7 & 8, troopers in an all-terrain vehicle checked on drivers waiting for the disabled vehicle to be removed.

The State Department of Labor today announced the state's minimum wage phase-in will continue, with the next stage taking effect on December 31st.  The minimum wage will go to $12.50 an hour in the local counties.

The Franklin Central School District Board of Education will hold a special meeting on Monday with executive session at 5:30 p.m. and open session at 6:30 p.m.  COVID-19 restrictions remain in effect and they will limit the number of people to 17 in the cafeteria for the meeting at one time.   Franklin officials announced that district residents can email the District Clerk, Donna Dean, at ddean@franklincsd.org (mailto:ddean@franklincsd.org) no later than 3:00 PM Tomorrow, to share information with the Board at Monday's meeting.

Local government sales tax collections declined by 7.1% in November compared to the same month last year, according to State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli.  The decline is steeper than October's 5.2% decline, but not as significant as the double-digit declines in April, May & June at the beginning of the pandemic. Total local government collections in 2020 are down 10.1% compared to the same period in 2019.

State Police arrested 38 year old Herbert Bidwell Jr., of Mount Vision for Burglary and Criminal Trespass, after Troopers responded to a report of a burglary in progress at a residence on State Highway 28 in the town of Oneonta.  The residents heard glass breaking and called 9-1-1,  troopers found Bidwell inside the residence, he had also entered another home nearby illegally,  He was also found in possession of suspected heroin. Bidwell was processed then transported to Otsego County Central Arraignment and Processing.

Delaware County Sheriff's Department Investigators arrested 35 year old Philip Albergo of Meridale and charged him with Criminal Possession of a Weapon, Unlawfully Dealing With Fireworks and Dangerous Fireworks. Albergo was out on Probation on an unrelated charge, Probation Officers discovered a high capacity ammunition feeding device, which is banned in New York State, they also seized numerous unlawful fireworks. Albergo is being held at the Delaware County Correctional Facility as a Probation Violator, to be arraigned in the Town of Meredith Court on these charges at a later time.

The Town of Sidney Zoning Board of Appeals meeting, regarding the Muddy River Hops, that was originally scheduled for this evening at 7:00 PM has been cancelled. The meeting was due to be held in the Town of Sidney Office building at 44 Grand Street.

The Town of Hartwick will receive $1 million in grant money from the state for upgrades to the town’s water system. The money will be used to replace water mains, the auxiliary well and the primary well-house building, and to help pay for new mixers for the water storage tank and an emergency backup generator, as well as replacing or repairing water meters.

New York state’s health care jobs exceeded 1.2 million in 2017, according to a report released today by State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli. Health care employment rose by more than 18 percent over the past decade, more than double the pace of overall employment growth. DiNapoli’s report found the health care industry in New York provided nearly $71 billion in wages, with an average annual wage of $57,200 in 2017. New York ranked 3rd in the nation for its share of health care jobs.

State Attorney General Barbara Underwood announced a clergy abuse hotline and online complaint form where victims and anyone with information can provide that information, as part of the ongoing investigation into sexual abuse of children within the New York dioceses of the Catholic Church. The hotline is 1-800-771-7755, online complaints are located at ag.ny.gov/ClergyAbuse.

Governor Cuomo today announced the ratification of a 6-year labor agreement between the state and United University Professions, the nation's largest higher education union, representing more than 35,000 SUNY employees. The agreement won the approval of nearly 98 percent of union members, the agreement includes a 2% wage increases each year through 2021-2022 fiscal year, it's the first labor union agreement with the state that includes Paid Family Leave benefits since the policy took effect on January 1st.

Governor Cuomo today announced the distribution of $25.2 million dollars in federal funding through the Opioid State Targeted Response Grant, which will expand critical initiatives to combat the opioid crisis. In the second year New York State has been awarded this grant, nineteen additional counties have been selected to receive funding. Funding will be distributed to programs that offer prevention, treatment, and recovery services in high-need areas across the state to increase access to treatment, and reduce unmet need and overdose-related deaths. in the Southern Tier, the Addiction Center of Broome County will get $1,145,674

Governor Cuomo announced New York will utilize the $127.7 million received from the 2016 Volkswagen settlement to increase the number of electric vehicles and other clean vehicles in the state. Covered vehicles include new buses, trucks, locomotives, ferries, tug boats, and cargo handling equipment, as well as the availability of electric vehicle charging equipment statewide. The state DEC, DOT, NYSERDA and others developed Clean Transportation NY, which is a plan to invest settlement resources to build on clean energy and fighting climate change.

State Police arrested 34 year old Zachary Hearn of Mooresville, North Carolina for Aggravated DWI with a Child 15 or Under As Passenger. Hearn was arrested after he was stopped at a sobriety checkpoint on State Highway 12 in Norwich. A 23-month old child was also in the vehicle. Hearn's B.A.C was .19%, he was arraigned in the town of Norwich Court and released on his own recognizance. He was ordered to reappear on September 20th..

The Bainbridge-Guilford Central School will hold a Board of Education Meeting Today in the Guilford Elementary Cafeteria at 6:30 PM. The business portion of the meeting will start at 7:00 PM.

State Police announced a statewide crackdown on distracted driving, as part of April's designation as National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. From Thursday April 12th to Monday April 16th, Troopers will ticket drivers using handheld devices, like smartphones, during “Operation Hang Up”. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that 3,450 people were killed in distraction-related crashes in 2016. During Last year’s event, State Police issued more than 2,000 tickets for distracted driving.

State Police arrested Dylan Rodriguez for Operating a Motor Vehicle While Impaired by Drugs, after troopers stopped him for speeding on East Main Street in Oneonta. Troopers also located marijuana in the vehicle and charged Rodriguez with Unlawful Possession of Marihuana. Rodriguez was arraigned in the town of Oneonta Court and released on $500 cash bail. He is scheduled to reappear in court on April 12th.

Governor Cuomo announced that $35,370,000 was returned to 36,446 victims of wage theft in 2017. In addition, $1 million in continued funding was secured in the new state budget to support the expansion of the Department of Labor's staff of investigators. In the Southern Tier, $666,000 was returned to 581 workers who were denied their due wages.

Hunters in New York State harvested an estimated 203,427 deer during the 2017-18 hunting seasons, according to the state DEC. The 2017 deer take was about 5% less than the previous year. Past harvest summaries are available at dec.ny.gov.

State Senator Jim Seward announced that the recently adopted 2018-19 New York State budget includes $200,000 for the City of Oneonta to help offset public safety costs generated due to being a SUNY host community. Seward's legislation includes a formula to distribute state aid to municipalities hosting 4-year SUNY schools; it has received the backing of the New York Conference of Mayors. The bill been referred to the Senate Finance Committee, Companion legislation has been introduced in the state assembly.

State Police arrested Nathanial Ford of Norwich, for Aggravated DWI with a reported B.A.C of .25%. Troopers initiated a traffic stop after they observed traffic violations on Ford’s vehicle. After an investigation, Ford was arrested & was arraigned in the village of Oxford Court and released to a third party.

A Public Scoping Session regarding the Draft Scoping Document for the preparation of a generic environmental impact statement for the Oneonta Rail Yards Project will be conducted this evening at 6:30 pm at Riverside Elementary School, and on Thursday at 6:30 PM at Greater Plains Elementary School. The city has received money to prep the former railyards for future development.

36 year old James Brower of Norwich appeared in court this morning in Norwich, he is charged with 1st degree murder, for the murder of 11 year Jacelyn O’Connor of Morris Sunday in Norwich. Chenango County District Attorney Joseph McBride stated that the autopsy revealed that the cause of death was Asphyxiation by smothering, after Brower allegedly raped the girl in his residence. Brower was returned to the Chenango County jail without bail, pending a further court action next Tuesday.

State Senator Jim Seward and Assemblyman Cliff Crouch renewed their objection to the recent closure of the New York s State Division of Veterans' Affairs office in Sidney, Assemblyman Crouch told WCDO news that, with the assistance of the Town of Sidney, they have reached agreement with the Tri-Town Regional Hospital to provide office space at no cost:

(Crouch 8-3-17)

The previous Veterans Affairs satellite office in the Sidney Civic Center had been open 2 days per week; the office was closed earlier this year following the sale of the Civic Center to a private developer. A final decision regarding the Hospital offer should be made shortly.

Governor Cuomo announced that 850 solar projects have been installed or are in development in communities across New York State through the second round of locally organized "Solarize" campaigns. The Solarize program is part of the State's Clean Energy Standard, which requires that 50% of the electricity should come from renewable sources by 2030. In the Southern Tier there are 30 solar projects either completed or are being planned.

State Police arrested 39-year-old Kareem Buckley of Hempstead Long Island, after troopers observed a BMW speeding on State Route 17, in the town of Hancock Tuesday. Buckley and his passenger 39 year old Vernon McDaniel of queens did not have valid driving licenses, a vehicle search resulted in the discovery & seizure of 14 pounds of marihuana. Buckley was arrested for Criminal Possession of Marihuana & traffic violations; he was arraigned and was remanded to the Delaware County jail on $50,000 cash bail or $100,000 bond. McDaniel was arrested for Unlawful possession of Marihuana and was issued a ticket to the town of Hancock court on a later date.

Governor Cuomo announced that over $5.2 million dollars in wages and interest were returned to 2,285 workers state wide through June as a result of prevailing wage enforcement efforts by the State Department of Labor. In addition, more than $307,560 in civil penalties has been assessed against employers who violated prevailing wage law and 34 individuals or business entities have been barred with doing business with New York State since the beginning of the year. In the Southern Tier, over $390,000 was recovered for 188 workers who were not paid in full.

State Police are conducting a week-long enforcement initiative to crack down on speeding and aggressive drivers across the state. The “Speed Week” campaign runs through next Tuesday, Speeding is listed as a contributing factor in nearly 1/3rd of all fatal crashes in the State. During Speed Week, Troopers will be using both marked State Police vehicles and concealed identity traffic enforcement vehicles as part of the operation.

The Bainbridge-Guilford Central School will hold a Board of Education Meeting today in the District Conference Room at 6:30 PM. The business portion of the meeting will start at 7:00 PM.

The New York State Assembly Minority Task Force on Protecting the Rights of People with Developmental Disabilities conducted 11 informational forums and issued a series of recommendations in a report published today. Local Assemblyman Cliff Crouch participated:

(Crouch 2-9-17)

Among the recommendations, Enacting a Bill of Rights for individuals with developmental disabilities, Requiring the Department of Labor and the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities to conduct a wage study for direct care workers; Establishing a service learning or internship program for students interested in working with individuals with developmental disabilities; Amending tuition rates for Special Act School Districts; and Directing the Commissioner of Transportation to conduct a statewide study and review of the transportation of individuals with developmental disabilities. More information on the task force is available through the Assembly Minority Office of Public Affairs at 518-455-5073.

State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman unveiled a package of measures aimed at overhauling and simplifying voting in New York State. Schneiderman's proposal would create a system of early voting, automatic and same-day registration; it would consolidate state and federal primaries and shorten the deadline for registering in a political party. Schneiderman’s legislation comes after his office conducted a review of voting in New York, identifying issues with registration and participating in party primaries.

The state capital is hosting Black History Month with a free exhibit honoring prominent African Americans with ties to New York State. Among those being honored, Harriet Tubman, Recently deceased broadcaster Gwen Ifill, as well as various artists, writers, activists & soldiers. The items displayed at the state capital this month will then be moved the National Museum of African American History in Washington DC.

New York State is setting aside nearly $20 million dollars to assist local health care providers looking to expand or upgrade their facilities. The New Community Health Care Revolving Fund is intended to help health organizations that might not be able to expand otherwise. The money will be awarded in the form of low cost loans for mental health clinics or community clinics on projects to construct, expand or renovate facilities. Governor Cuomo said that the funding would help ensure that every New Yorkers has access to quality health care.

The Tourism Advisory Board of Delaware County is planning to hold a series of public information meetings for public input and comments on the use of funds raised through the Delaware County Hotel Occupancy Tax. The Tourism Advisory Board has drafted a proposal for how occupancy tax funds will be made available to support tourism promotion activities in 2017, and will hold a series of public meetings to present the proposal and solicit public input. The meetings will begin at 5:30pm starting with one on February 20th at the Delaware County Public Safety Building, Delhi, February 23rd – Hancock Town Hall, March 2nd – Stamford Town Hall, & March 6th – Middletown Town Hall. More information is available at 832-5123.

The results are in for key races from yesterday’s elections: in the 52nd State Senate race, Republican Fred Akshar defeats Democrat Barbara Fiala. For Delaware County Family Court Judge, Gary Rosa defeats Porter Kirkwood. In the Chenango County District Attorney’s race, Joseph McBride wins reelection over Zachary Wentworth. For Town of Franklin Supervisor Jeffery Taggart is re-elected, in the Town of Harpersfield Supervisor, Jim Eisel is re-elected, in the Town of Guilford the Supervisor will be George Seneck, in the Town of Oxford, Supervisor Lawrence Wilcox is re-elected, & for the Sidney Town Board, the 2 seats will go to Republicans Eric Wilson & Jeannette Hinckley over Loddie Marsh & incumbent Bill Heath.

Governor Cuomo announced the beginning of a new, statewide cooperative effort to crack down on illegal credit/debit card skimmers at gas pumps across New York, seeking to end criminals’ ability to empty the bank accounts of their victims. With card data theft incidents on the rise across the country, the State Department of Agriculture and Markets’ Weights and Measures Bureau is conducting New York’s first-ever training and sweep of gas station dispensers across the state to proactively protect consumers and gas station owners. Agriculture and Markets staffers will train county weights and measures officials to spot skimming devices in their communities.

The Next Commerce Chenango Business After Hours is today, with M&T Bank at their 118 State Hwy 320, Norwich branch, from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. More information is available at 334-1402.

Governor Cuomo announced that during the first 10 months of 2015, New York State recouped and returned $25.1 million to approximately 22,600 workers who originally were not paid the proper minimum wage, overtime pay or fringe benefits. This amount puts the state on pace to exceed the record $30.2 million disbursed to 27,000 workers in 2014. The State Department of Labor announced that more than 80% of all investigations are now completed within 6 months, in the Southern Tier region, $209,000 was returned to 293 workers.

Assemblyman Cliff Crouch stated today that the Kraft manufacturing plant in Walton under review for closure needs to stay open. Crouch said that there are 150 local jobs as well as a methane digester project being pursued by the Village of Walton at stake. The methane digester project is being pursued through the Regional economic Development Council as a cost-saving measure for Kraft & as well as the Walton school district, to save on heating costs paid by area taxpayers. Crouch joins Governor Cuomo & U.S. Senator Schumer in trying to get Kraft Heinz from closing the Walton plant, and 2 others in the state, following a merger of the 2 food industry giants.

State Police arrested 26-year-old Scott Losee of Sherburne for 3rd degree assault, criminal mischief and unlawful imprisonment, after troopers responded to a domestic dispute that occurred on November 2 in Sherburne. Losee allegedly assaulted his girlfriend causing an injury to her face. He also smashed her cell phone and kept her from leaving the home. Losee was arraigned in the Town of Sherburne court and was released without bail required. His next court date in the Town of Sherburne is on November 18, 2015. The court issued an order of protection against Losee.

New York Farm Bureau has come out with its annual “Circle of Friends,” naming 158 State Legislators to their annual list. The award is an indication of the individual lawmaker’s support of New York agriculture and the Farm Bureau, based upon each legislator’s voting record on issues of agricultural importance. The “Circle of Friends” local recipients for 2015 are State Senators John Bonacic & Jim Seward & Assembly members Cliff Crouch, Gary Finch, Pete Lopez, Donna Lupardo & Bill Magee.

State Senator Jim Seward will be in Worcester Thursday at the I-88 rest stop. Officials from the State DOT will join Seward and other local leaders to officially reopen the fully rehabilitated I-88 rest stop closed in 2010 due to budget constraints. Officials will also provide an update on work to reopen the I-88 rest stop in Wells Bridge.

The New York State Office of General Services today announced that the surplus vehicle, highway equipment, and miscellaneous property auctions scheduled for Friday, November 12 in Unadilla was cancelled and will not be rescheduled. A listing of other New York State auctions to be held throughout the state can be found at nysstore.com. Specific items and terms of sale are available at ogs.ny.gov.

State Police arrested 47 year old Thomas Jones of Binghamton, for driving while intoxicated, aggravated unlicensed operation, & leaving the scene of a property damage accident, among other charges. The arrest occurred after troopers responded to a report of a property damage accident involving a red Ford F150 in the Town of Union, Prior to arriving, Jones had driven away in his pickup truck & struck another vehicle on Hooper Road in Endwell, and left the scene of that accident, he was located by the Johnson City Police & was eventuially arrested when the City of Binghamton Police followed him to his residence. Jones was arraigned & was remanded to the Broome County Jail on $2,000 cash bail or $4,000 property bond.

The Siena Research Institute poll released Today, shows that 59% of voters back Cuomo's plan to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour, while 38% said they oppose the proposal. 47% of upstate voters favor the plan. Cuomo pushed to raise the statewide minimum wage to $15 an hour after a fast food wage board recommended the same increase for workers at McDonald's, Burger King and other national establishments. The state Labor Department accepted the wage board's recommendations and the minimum wage hike for fast food workers will be phased in over the next three years for New York City employees and six years for the rest of the state.

Governor Cuomo today announced the release of a Request for Information to help finalize guidelines for the New NY Broadband Program, which has undertaken the ambitious goal of substantially expanding high-speed broadband service in New York State by the end of 2018. Earlier this year, Governor Cuomo made the Nation's largest and most aggressive state investment in broadband with the commitment of $500 million in capital for the Program. The New NY Broadband Program is designed to correct this problem by ensuring that every New Yorker has access to high-speed Internet by 2018.

Governor Cuomo today launched a statewide effort to recruit Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces to volunteer and assist immigrants who want to become American citizens. Veterans would teach newcomers English and help them prepare for the U.S. civics portion of the naturalization exam. The Division of Veterans Affairs will use the more than 80 Veterans Affairs offices throughout the State to serve as Veteran Volunteer Recruitment Centers to help veterans who are looking for opportunities to continue serving the public.

The State DOT announced that traffic will be stopped today around the Prospect Mountain Construction project, as 2 bridges over the Chenango River will be brought down with controlled blasts. Officials stated that Beginning at about 10:15 AM, State Police will have the traffic in the area slowed down or stopped for about 15 minutes on I-81 south at exit 6. I-81 North at exit 2, State Route 17 East at exit 71 & I-88 west at exit 2. The on-ramp to I-81S at exit 5 for Front Street & SUNY Broome & State Route 7 on-ramp to I-81 North, & Route 17 West will be closed.

State Senator Tom Libous of Binghamton was found guilty by jury of lying to the FBI, for using his political influence to get a son Matthew a job with a Westchester County Law firm. The verdict means that Libous is automatically expelled from the state Senate. Matthew Libous was convicted earlier this year of tax evasion, a special election to replace Libous in the 52nd Senate district will be scheduled shortly.

The New York State Wage Board Voted in favor Wednesday of incrementally raising the minimum wage for Fast Food Workers in New York State over the next 6 years. The board voted in favor of raising the wage to $15 an hour, to be phased in by 2021. Fast Food workers in the Tri-County area would see the minimum wage increased to $9.75 on December 31, 2015, $10.75 on December 31, 2016, $11.75 on December 31, 2017, and eventually up to $15.00 on July 1, 2021. The board also stipulated that these wages would be in effect for fast food chains with 30 or more locations nationwide.

State Police arrested 27 year old Megan Madore of Stamford, for felony DWI following a traffic stop for driving with a loud exhaust while on State route 28 in the Town of Oneonta. The arrest was a felony because she has a prior conviction for DWI within the last 10 years. Madore was issued tickets returnable to the Town of Oneonta Court on August 4th.

Emergency Crews in Norwich responded to a 2-car crash yesterday afternoon, on state route 12 near B&D Pool & Spa. Chenango County Fire officials reported that 3 passengers from both vehicles were taken to area hospitals, and that the Water Department responded as a Fire Hydrant was damaged in the accident. NYSEG was also dispatched to the scene. The names of the injured have not yet been released.

The State Office of General Services will hold a surplus vehicle, highway equipment, and miscellaneous property auction today at 9:30 AM, at the State Police Troop C headquarters on Route 7 in Sidney, information on specific items and terms of sale are available at ogs.ny.gov.

Governor Cuomo today instructed Acting State Labor Commissioner Mario Musolino to empanel a Wage Board to investigate and make recommendations on an increase in the minimum wage in the fast food industry.

(Cuomo 5-8-15)

The Wage Board will take approximately 3 months to examine the issue and make recommendations regarding a possible increase, those recommendations do not require legislative approval in order to become enacted. State law allows for a Wage Board to suggest changes to the minimum wage in a specific industry or job classification if it finds that wages are insufficient to provide for the life and health its workers.

The Tax Foundation of Washington DC tabulates a "Tax Freedom Day” for each state each year, which marks the day when residents and businesses have earned enough money to foot their tax bills for the upcoming year. Today is Tax Freedom Day in New York, New York has the third latest Tax Freedom Day, only residents in Connecticut and New Jersey will work more days this year to afford their obligations to the state and federal government.

Emergency preparedness personnel at NYSEG are watching a storm that is bringing heavy snow and damaging wind to the state. Customers are encouraged to be prepared for the storm and the possibility of power interruptions. NYSEG urges customers to stay away from downed power lines. NYSEG customers should call 1.800.572.1131 to report downed power lines, hazardous situations and power outages

The Delaware County Department of Economic Development announced the receipt of funding under the State’s Community Renewal Funding program. The approved funding of $200,000 will enable the creation of an Agricultural Microenterprise Program, which will seek to aid in the expansion of existing small agricultural businesses, and encourage the development of new, agricultural micro enterprise businesses within the County. Information on the process and deadline for applying for grant funds, as well as the proposed training programs, will be available early in 2015, more information is available at DCecodev.com or 746-8595.

Consumers in New York are feeling better about their economic position than at any point since early 2007, as the state’s consumer index was 84 in November, up 5.2 points since June, according to a Siena College survey. The score is a statistical tabulation based on various questions about their shopping plans and feelings on the economy. The national index was higher at 88.8%.

Restaurant and hotel workers plan to weigh in as a state board considers whether to mandate they pay tipped workers the standard minimum wage in New York. The Wage Board is reviewing whether to eliminate the so-called tip wage of $5 an hour for food servers and $5.65 for hotel housekeepers. New York law lets employers to pay them less than the state's $8 minimum wage, set to rise to $8.75 in January, provided tips make up the difference. After a hearing today, the board will meet tomorrow and begin considering recommendations to Labor Commissioner Peter Rivera.

Governor Cuomo announced that the maximum & minimum rates for weekly Unemployment Insurance benefits would increase on October 6th. The minimum rate will increase from $64 to $100 and the maximum rate will increase from $405 to $420.   Under state reforms, the maximum benefit rate for claimants will increase annually until it reaches 50 percent of the average weekly wage in New York State. The minimum will remain at $100.

State Police arrested 22-year-old Patrick Parker of Laurens for Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated with a reportable BAC result of .18%, more than twice the legal limit.   The arrest resulted from a routine traffic stop County Route 11 in Laurens; troopers accuse Parker of driving while intoxicated. Parker was issued tickets returnable in the Town of Laurens Court on October 2nd.

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman backed a federal proposal designed to ensure that the nation's lakes, rivers, streams, and wetlands receive proper protection under the federal Clean Water Act. A coalition of 8 states submitted comments to the EPA & the Army Corps of Engineers on their joint Waters of the United States Proposed Rule, which seeks to clarify what types of waters are covered by the Clean water Act, following 2 recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions that led to uncertainty among businesses, citizens, and municipalities as to their obligations.

The State University of New York said $710,000 has been awarded for materials and advanced manufacturing research. This is the first round of funding, from the SUNY Materials and Advanced Manufacturing Network of Excellence. The award was granted to nine collaborative projects on seven SUNY campuses, including SUNY Binghamton. The money will be used to support the state's manufacturing sector, by bringing faulty and student researchers together with industry experts, to encourage the development and commercialization of their work.

A state judge has ruled a New York referendum, on the creation of a new redistricting commission, must be reworded to delete language describing the proposed panel as "independent" because it would be misleading to voters. Supreme Court Justice Patrick McGrath said top legislators would appoint most members of the commission and lawmakers could reject the commission's proposals and substitute its own. His ruling orders the Board of Elections to remove the word "independent" to prevent voters from thinking the commission would be free from political influence. The referendum will be on the November ballot

Governor Cuomo and Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey announced that they have directed their state's respective Homeland Security Advisors and State Police Superintendents to immediately lead a bi-state review of current safety and security procedures.

(CUOMO 9-16-15)

The governors will convene a meeting to review initial recommendations in 10 days. In 30 days, the group will again report directly back to both governors with any and all further findings and recommendations.

Broome County Executive Debbie Preston presented a $365 million budget to the County Board Monday. Preston said the budget contains a 2.5% tax levy increase, due to unfunded state mandates & the rising costs of doing business. Taxpayers would see an annual tax increase of $5 per $80,000 in home value if the budget is passed by county lawmakers.

New York tax collections have continued to rise despite a growing income gap between its richest residents and everyone else, even as a national study shows overall growth in state tax receipts slowing as the income gap widens across the U.S. State officials say New York's progressive income tax rate, which rises from 4 percent to nearly 9 percent for earnings above one milliond dollars, buoys its largest revenue stream for public services and helps insulate it from the problem faced by states dependent on more regressive taxes like sales taxes. New York's annual average tax revenue growth is 3.28 percent so far in this decade.

State Labor Commissioner Peter Rivera has convened a Wage Board as directed by Governor Cuomo. The Board will investigate what, if any, modifications should be made to the required cash wage rates, and the allowable credits for tips, meals and lodging for food service workers and service employees in the hospitality industry. The Wage Board, made up of members representing labor, businesses and the public, will make a recommendation to the Commissioner by February 2015

New York ranks near the bottom for nursing home quality in an annual report that analyzes nursing home care in each state. The report by Families for Better Care, a Florida-based nursing home advocacy group, gives New York an overall grade of F and a rank of 45. New York received the same score and ranking in last year's report. The report evaluates states on eight quality measures ranging from the average amount of nursing home staffing to the percentage of facilities with deficiencies. New York got failing or below average grades in five of eight categories. Read more at nursinghomereportcards.com

Governor Cuomo directed State Labor Commissioner Peter Rivera to convene a Wage Board to review and recommend any changes to the relevant regulations for food service workers and service employees in New York State. Tipped workers are paid a required base rate. Their tips added to that base pay must equal or exceed the minimum wage. The Wage Board will meet to review regulations for food service workers and service employees and recommend changes if needed. The minimum wage will increase to $8.75 on December 31st, and to $9.00 on December 31st, 2015. A schedule of public hearings will be announced soon.

The state DEC has proposed new black bear management measures, as bear incidents are becoming more frequent. The bear population has increased in certain regions to a point where bears are becoming a neighborhood issue. The black bear population has risen by 40 percent in the Southern Tier and Catskill areas between 2003 and 2009. The DEC’s Black Bear Management Plan proposes several changes to the current plan to maintain or reduce population levels in certain areas and reduce bear-human conflicts. Options include a longer bear hunting season, and consideration of the use of new bear trapping and baiting techniques

A group of restaurant servers, bartenders and delivery drivers is asking New York State to raise the $5 minimum wage for tipped workers to the full minimum wage of $8. The coalition is calling on Gov. Cuomo, and a state board that oversees wages, to increase the amount the business owners pay their tipped workers. Restaurant workers and other tip workers aren't subject to the minimum wage because their income includes gratuities. The state's minimum wage will rise to $9 by the end of 2015

The Bainbridge-Guilford Central School will hold the annual Re-organizational Board of Education Meeting today in the Guilford School Cafeteria.  The meeting will begin at 6:30 PM.

Governor Cuomo will push for an increase in the state’s minimum wage to $10.10 an hour. Cuomo also will advocate a plan that would allow local governments to set a minimum wage up to 30 percent higher than the statewide rate. Currently, the minimum wage is $8 an hour & is set to increase to $9 an hour by the end of 2015.

State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman today announced a settlement with Coachmaster of Broome County to resolve an investigation of the limo service failing to pay tips to drivers. The limo service retained the tips illegally for   "administrative purposes".  The settlement requires the company to pay $20,000 in restitution to workers and a $20,000 civil penalty, and also to comply with state laws.

State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli reports that New York State may not see the economic boom from 4 new upstate casinos, as the new facilities could simply shift gamblers and jobs away from existing facilities. The state Legislature & voters approved a proposition to allow up to 7 privately owned casinos, starting with 4 initial ones in economically struggling areas of the state. There have been 20 bidders to the state’s Gaming Commission for the 4 casino licenses to be placed in the Southern Tier, Albany area and the Catskills. The winning bids are expected to be decided in the fall.

U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer is pushing to prevent child predators from landing jobs centered near kids. A recent child porn bust in New York City sparked the move, where a boy scouts leader and a little league coach were among those arrested. Schumer is pushing for stronger background checks for potential employees of summer camps, day care centers, and similar clubs and organizations, to make it possible for employers to access FBI databases. Under current law, most children's organizations only have access to the state database.

Environmental activists delivered more than 50,000 comments to the Cuomo administration, urging officials to recast the state's energy plan, with strategies for burning less fossil fuel & lowering greenhouse gas emissions. The comments to the draft plan issued in January, urges officials to reject additional natural gas drilling, calling instead for a stronger push for renewable and cleaner solar and wind power. The 2014 draft, from the state Energy Planning Board, said it's meant to put New York on track to reduce emissions and their impact on climate change. The plan calls for an 80 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from by 2050.

New York’s 529 college savings program has translated thousands of accounts with millions of dollars for college related savings. State comptroller Tom DiNapoli said that the program is a great way to save up for a relatives college fund, in the first 5 months of this year; there were 100,000 direct savings accounts with 2.9 billion dollars in assets.   More i9nformation is available at nysaves.org.

The South New Berlin Fire Department responded to a house fire on State Highway 23, at around 4:00 this morning. Fire fighters from Morris, New Berlin, Norwich & Mount Upton assisted South New Berlin firefighters at the scene.   Firefighters remained on the scene into the late morning hours, more details are expected to be released after investigators work to determine the cause of the fire.

Governor Cuomo kicked off his re-election bid yesterday, touting his record on taxes, the economy and social issues. Cuomo offered a list of accomplishments during his first term, citing an improving upstate economy, ending the gridlock at the state Capitol and pushing progressive ideas that he said makes New York a leader in the nation. Cuomo got a higher minimum wage and the lowest middle-class income taxes since 1953. He said will push for better rights for immigrants and public financing of campaigns, as well as expanding infrastructure projects if re-elected. Cuomo faces Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino in November.

State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said he wants lawmakers to accelerate increases to the minimum wage and pass the Dream Act before adjourning their session next month. Silver said he doesn't want to wait until next year to pass the Dream Act, which would extend state financial aid to students in the country illegally. Silver also supports raising the $8-per-hour minimum age to $9 at the end of this year, with automatic increases tied to inflation. Currently, the wage is set to go to $9 at the end of 2015. Silver said he also supports implementing a broad public financing law for statewide campaigns

The State DEC has adopted a 10-year black bear management plan, which includes several proposed hunting rule changes, following thousands of public comments. DEC Commissioner Joe Martens said that the strategies outlined in the Plan seek to achieve and maintain bear population levels that are acceptable to the public while providing sustainable opportunity for New York’s big game hunters, and to also minimize human-bear conflicts. The final Black Bear Management Plan is available atwww.dec.ny.gov/animals/7215.html.

The Pathfinder Village Board of Directors announces plans to build a new $1.2 million community healthcare center in Edmeston.   Last month, the Pathfinder board approved building a 3,800 sq. ft. facility, named as the “DR. WILLIAM F. STRECK COMMUNITY HEALTH CLINIC” it will be located on State Route 80; it was named to recognize Dr. Streck's contributions   during his tenure with Bassett Healthcare and Pathfinder Village. Construction is expected to begin in May 2015. More information is available at pathfindervillage.org.

Assembly speaker Sheldon Silver is calling on the state senate to pass the “Dream Act” to bolster state aid for higher education to the children of immigrants:

(Silver 2-26-14)

Silver said that New York is 1 of 17 states that offers tuition assistance to the children of immigrants, the Dream Act would increase the options for those students to receive tuition assistance. The bill is expected to pass in the Democratic Controlled Assembly & the move on to the Senate.

State Police arrested 29-year-old Amber Joy of Morris for Criminal Possession of Marihuana, Unlawful Possession of Marihuana, and Appearance in Public Under the Influence of Narcotics or Drugs.  The arrest was made subsequent to a 911 call of a woman screaming outside of a Morris residence, Troopers arrived & determined that Joy appeared to be under the influence of a drug or narcotic, they also observed a plastic bag on the kitchen table that contained 2.3 grams of marihuana.   Joy was arraigned at the Town of Morris Court and remanded to the Otsego County Jail in lieu of $1,500 cash bail.

The state Legislature returned to Albany this week, to continue work on the state budget.  The state Assembly came back yesterday after a week-long winter break. The state Senate began its session today. The Legislature is scheduled to work through March as they work on passing the budget due April 1. Governor Cuomo has proposed a $137.2 billion budget.

A new Siena College poll shows that 50% of state residents support a 2-year moratorium on the new “Common Core” education standards, 38% said the standards should be implemented as quickly as possible.  63% of Upstate residents backed the moratorium, 36% believe the standards are too demanding, 23% thought the standards are about right, 24% said they weren’t demanding enough.

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.

A new poll shows a majority of New Yorkers support giving municipalities authority to raise the minimum wage locally. The Siena College poll showed 85% support among Democrats, 48% among Republicans and 74% among independents for local authority to raise the wage. Last year, the governor and state Legislature raised the statewide minimum to $8 starting this year, it will increase at the end this year to $8.75 an hour and to $9.00 an hour at the end of 2015.

The autopsy on 39-year-old Richard McKee of Windsor was performed at Wilson Hospital, the cause of death was listed as a heart attack caused by cold-water immersion.  State Police reported that McKee was walking his property when he entered onto a section of ice over open running water, the ice broke and he entered the water up to his chest.  McKee was able to exit the water, but became unresponsive while walking back to his vehicle; he later died at Wilson Hospital.

Governor Cuomo announced that more than 6,700 wage theft cases were resolved in New York in 2013, more than in any other year. This resulted in the disbursement of nearly $23 million to more than 12,700 workers who were not paid their proper minimum wage, overtime pay or fringe benefits. This represents an increase of more than 12 percent in the number of closed wage theft cases compared to 2012.

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.

The state Board of Regents voted to delay Common Core graduation requirements for five years, but a change to the state’s teacher-evaluation system was tabled until April.  The board adopted 18 changes to the state’s management of the Common Core. Now, the class of 2022—this year’s fourth-graders—will be the first to face the Common Core requirements for graduation, rather than the class of 2017—this year’s ninth-graders.

Smithville, Triangle, Greene, Oxford, and McDonough fire crews responded this morning to a house fire, that injured two occupants at 127 State Highway 220 in Smithville. A 71-year-old man and his 37-year-old grandson were living in the two-story home. The 71-year-old was airlifted to Upstate Medical in Syracuse for burns. The other victim was taken to Wilson Hospital for his injuries and then transferred to Upstate Medical. The severity of their injuries is unknown