WCDO Radio News

The Delaware County Chamber will Host their annual Legislative Forum, on Monday, April 22, starting at 9:30 am, in the Okun Theatre at SUNY Delhi. Confirmed panel speakers include State Senator Peter Oberacker, Assembly representatives Joe Angelino, Brian Maher, and Chris Tague. The event is free and advance registration is encouraged, at DelawareCounty.org.

The State Police are working alongside other state agencies in preparation for the solar eclipse at approximately 3:00 PM today, with a narrow path of totality across Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Watertown, Lake Placid and Plattsburgh. Motorists who must travel in the areas impacted by the eclipse are asked to allow for extra travel time due to expected large volumes of traffic.

Governor Hochul announced that due to the shortage of qualified nurses, the state announced the "Nurses For Our Future Scholarship" program to help 1,000 people train to become RN's by covering their tuition costs at SUNY schools. Up to 500 scholarships will be awarded for out-of-state licensed nurses who relocate and practice in New York State to earn a BSN. Up to 250 scholarships will be awarded for New York State licensed nurses to earn a BSN. Up to 250 scholarships will be awarded to New York State residents newly seeking an ADN. More information is available at governor.ny.gov.

The Broome County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a fatal Motorcycle crash on Interstate 88 near the Port Crane exit in the Town of Fenton Sunday afternoon around 3:45 PM. 2 overturned motorcycles and 2 injured people were located by EMT"S & Deputies, 32-year-old Joshua Callahan of Halfmoon was found unresponsive and laying in the roadway and 40-year-old Radames Gonzalez of Plattsburgh, suffered non-life threatening injuries. Attempts were made to revive Callahan, but he was declared was eventually declared dead at the scene, Gonzalez was transported to Wilson Hospital.

The State Department of Health has been notified of a laboratory confirmed case of mumps at SUNY Oswego and another at SUNY Plattsburgh. The case at SUNY Oswego is likely associated with a mumps outbreak in Long Island, where 45 cases of mumps have been confirmed. The source of the SUNY Plattsburgh case is under investigation. Students, who are susceptible to mumps because they have not been vaccinated because they have religious or medical exemptions, have been told they will be excluded from campus for 26 days after the last possible exposure if they do not get vaccinated. Mumps is a highly contagious viral disease characterized by fever, headache and swelling of the salivary glands. Mumps cannot be treated, however two doses of the MMR vaccine provide the best protection against the disease. More information about the mumps is available at health.ny.gov.

Former Broome County resident & escaped prisoner David Sweat appeared in court this morning for arraignment on 2counts of 1st degree escape and 1 count of promoting prison contraband. Sweat did not enter a plea in Clinton County Court in Plattsburgh, so the judge entered a not guilty plea on his behalf. Sweat and Richard Matt escaped from the Clinton Correctional Facility, they were on the run for 22 days, Sweat was found June 28th where he was shot and wounded by a state trooper. Matt was shot and killed June 26th. Sweat has been transferred to another state facility, he is serving a life sentence for the murder of Broome County Sheriff's deputy Kevin Tarsia in 2002, and he faces court action again, on September 29th.

Governor Cuomo announced that global technology leader AG plans to generate more than 1,000 new jobs and initially invest over $2 billion to support a cutting edge, 360,000 square foot wafer fabrication facility to be constructed at the Nano-Utica site in Marcy. Cuomo also announced that GE Global Research will expand its New York global operations to the Mohawk Valley, serving as the anchor tenant of the Computer Chip Commercialization Center on the campus of SUNY Polytechnic Institute’s Colleges of Nanoscale Science and Engineering in Utica. Nearly 850 jobs are expected to be created over the next 10 years.