WCDO Radio News

Governor Cuomo today announced that $26.8 million in State Funding is being awarded to 38 rail and aviation safety, security and Economic development projects across the State. $17.8 million in funding will go for rail upgrades, locally, the Syracuse, Binghamton and New York Railroad Corporation of Cooperstown received $262,600, New York, Susquehanna and Western Railroad of Cooperstown received $2.3 million for improving rails, ties and surfacing & the Central New York Railroad of Cooperstown received $3.1 million to rehabilitate railroad track in Delaware and Broome Counties.

A proposal to create a single-payer, government-financed health care system for all New Yorkers was the subject of a public hearing at Upstate Medical University in Syracuse. Richard Gottfried, chair of the Assembly Health Committee, has been pushing the proposal for more than 20 years. Under his "New York Health Act" bill, the state would get rid of private health insurance and replace it with a publicly funded system. The proposal is opposed by the insurance industry and business groups. Proponents of the single-payer approach said it would lower cost and improve access to care.

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and New York State Police Superintendent Joseph D’Amico announced the indictment of 41 people charged with operating 2 drug trafficking pipelines that transported heroin between New York City; Providence, Rhode Island; Worcester, Massachusetts & Syracuse, and cocaine from Puerto Rico to Syracuse. 9 members of the same Syracuse family helped run one of the rings, and 1 was involved in the second ring. The defendants were arrested in a series of early morning raids in Syracuse, the Bronx, Manhattan, Ossining & Paterson, New Jersey.

The New York State Fair in Syracuse ended its 2014 run with attendance that topped last year by 113,990 visitors. The fair broke a record Saturday for the most people to ever go through the turnstile in one day, then, broke it again yesterday with a new high of 122,870. Overall attendance for the fair this year was just over 965,000 people.

State police arrested 32 year old Christopher Byrne and we year old Casey Jones of Coventry, for reckless endangerment, endangering the welfare of a child, criminal possession of controlled substance, unlawful possession of marijuana, unlawfully growing cannabis, and possession of controlled substance outside its container. The arrests followed an investigation in the drug overdose of a 20-month-old child in Coventry; the child was initially treated at Wilson Memorial hospital in Johnson City & was transferred to Upstate Medical center in Syracuse. Byrne & Jones were arraigned in Coventry town court and were remanded to the Chenango county jail pending future court action; the child has been treated & released.

Attendance continued to soar at the New York State Fair in Syracuse. Officials said 83,438 people passed through the turnstiles yesterday, 381 more than last year. Sunday's attendance marked highest first-Sunday attendance in the last five years. So far this year, 4,920 more people have attended the first four days of the fair than during the same time period last year.

Governor Cuomo opened up the New York State Fair in Syracuse this morning, with a ribbon cutting ceremony.  Cuomo is currently running for a 2nd term as governor, his republican challenger Rob Astorino also made the rounds at the State Fair today, he is trailing Cuomo in the most recent polls by a 2 to 1 margin.  Green Party Candidate Howe Hawkins held a press conference at the main entrance to the fair at 12:00 Noon.

Opponents of Hydraulic Fracturing for natural gas are planning to rally at the first day of the New York State Fair today, the day when the Governor of the state traditionally opens up the fair. The protestors will be at the Main State Fair entrance from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm in Syracuse.

Delaware County Sheriff's Investigators arrested 19-year-old Ismael Pizarro of Syracuse, on an Arrest Warrant issued by the Town of Delhi Court, for 1 count of 2nd degree Assault. Pizarro was charged in connection with an incident in the Delaware County Jail on Saturday where he allegedly assaulted another inmate, causing a physical injury. Pizarro remains incarcerated on the previous charge, & will be arraigned on this charge at a later time.

Severe Weather Outlook for Tuesday 7/1/14

The probability of strong to severe storms in the WCDO listening area is very likely for Tuesday, 7/1/14.

Dangerously high temperatures are expected late afternoon/early evening for the Finger Lakes
region and the greater Syracuse area Tuesday.  These conditions will be a primary driving force and contribute to the severity of storms as they begin reach our area in the mid to late afternoon.  Damaging winds and potential flooding are the primary threats.  However, large hail, and even an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out.   Be aware of rapidly changing weather conditions and stay tuned to FM 100.9 / AM 1490 WCDO for the latest updates.   In the event of heavy localized rainfall, you can keep an eye on the water levels of our local rivers by visiting the river gages, located HERE (http://www.wcdoradio.com/river.htm) at WCDORadio.com

Here's a look at the likely timing of the arrival of severe weather potential:

Be aware of rapidly changing weather conditions and stay tuned to WCDO for the latest updates.

Area assemblyman Cliff Crouch announced his intentions to seek the office for another 2-year term in the 122nd district:

(Crouch 5-22-14)

Crouch cited education, economic development, and mandate relief for taxpayers, businesses, schools and local governments as his main goals. Crouch was first elected to the Assembly in 1995 and serves as chairman of the Assembly Republican Conference. So far, no democrats have announced any intention to seek Crouch’s Assembly seat.

Howie Hawkins of Syracuse won the Green Party nomination for governor of New York again. Hawkins won the nomination on Saturday in Troy. In 2010, Hawkins received 59,906 votes, more than any other 3rd party candidate who ran against Democrat Andrew Cuomo.  The centerpiece of the Green Party is a proposal to build a 100 percent clean energy by 2030, which they claim could create 4.5 million new jobs over the next 15 years.

State Assemblywoman Claudia Tenney of New Hartford announced today that she would mount a Republican primary challenge against incumbent Republican congressman Richard Hanna in the 22nd Congressional District.  Tenney joins Michael Kicinski, of Earlville, and Michael Vasquez, of Binghamton, Hanna has already won the endorsement (http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2014/03/madison_county_gop_endorses_rep_richard_hanna_for_third_term.html) of all 7 county Republican committees in the 22nd district.

Public meetings begin this week on proposals for high-speed passenger rail service in New York. The 1st of 6 hearings is tomorrow in Albany. Meetings are also planned in Syracuse, Buffalo, Rochester, Utica and Poughkeepsie. The state Department of Transportation said 5 options are proposed in an environmental review required for federal funding. Under the options, trains would have top operating speeds of 79, 90, 110 and 125 mph. The costs of the plans range from $1.7 billion to $6.2 billion.

New York transportation officials are setting up public hearings to discuss options for high-speed passenger rail service between New York City and Niagara Falls has been the long time goal of industry leaders, elected officials and transit advocates.  The public meetings will be held between March 4th and 14th in Albany, Syracuse, Buffalo, Rochester, Utica & Poughkeepsie.

1 person was killed and another injured, in a fire at 71 Baker Street in Johnson City Sunday morning.  26-year-old Sarah Wenzinger died from smoke inhalation, an unidentified 38-year-old man was taken to Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse for treatment of his injuries. Investigators are looking for the cause of that fire.

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

The National Weather Service has a Winter Storm Watch in effect for Tuesday Night to Wednesday Night.  Sidney High School science Teacher & Meteorologist Rich Townsend comments:

(Rich Townsend 2-3-14)

The Storm will start out down south, & move up through the Mississippi Valley & head into the Southern Tier around Midnight Tuesday night.

U.S. Senator Charles Schumer today provided details about the state’s role as one of six sites in the nation, selected by the FAA, to test unmanned aircraft. Schumer was at Griffiss Airport in Rome and at Manley Field House in Syracuse to announce the first client to begin drone testing. An alliance of more than 40 public, private and academic organizations in New York and Massachusetts will operate the Rome site.