WCDO Radio News

The state DEC will begin taking public comments today on their revised gas-drilling rules, even though the rules were not released by the November 29th deadline.  Public comments will be taken on the DEC website for 30 days, ending on January 11th. There are no plans for a public hearing.  The state has had a moratorium on shale gas development since 2008.

State Troopers in Oneonta arrested 17-year-old Charlmesha Graham of Albany, 18-year-old Mandisha Kelderhouse of Kingston, 18-year-old Cathie Labonte of Central Islip and 23-year-old Lavanessa Louis of Brooklyn for 2nd degree Harassment.  The arrests were the results of an altercation at Oneonta Job Core All were arraigned in the Town of Oneonta Court and remanded to the Otsego County Jail on $150 cash bail.

There will be no moratorium on hydro-fracking in the village of Oxford, as the Village Board tabled the proposal during a special session this week.  The village board faced a potential lawsuit from the Central New York Landowner's Coalition, which is a local group of landowners seeking to sign gas leases with energy companies when the state DEC lifts the moratorium on gas drilling.

State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman today announced new regulations requiring nonprofit groups registered with the state, to report the percentage of their expenditures that go to federal, state and local electioneering. Those groups that spend at least $10,000 to influence state and local elections will be required to file itemized schedules of expenses and contributions & those disclosures will be released to the public.  Copies of today’s proposed regulations are available online at: www.ag.ny.gov/charity-disclosure-regulations (http://www.ag.ny.gov/charity-disclosure-regulations).

State Troopers arrested 21-year-old Kami Luce of Kirkwood and 18-year-old Travis Mills of Port Crane for Unlawful Possession of Marihuana.  The arrest was the result of a traffic stop on Tow Path Road in Fenton, Luce and Mills were both issued Appearance Tickets returnable to the Town of Fenton Court to appear on January 3rd.

The Home Performance with Energy Star Program of New York is holding an open house for area residents and business owners next week in Afton. Spokesperson Solvei Blue explains:

(Solvei Blue)

Blue said that property owners should bring their several months of electric bills and should know the square footage of their house or business, the open house will be next Wednesday, from 6:00 pm until 7:30 pm, refreshments will be provided. More information is available at 723-0110 or upgradeupstate.org/SouthernTier.

The Bainbridge Great American store re-opened under new ownership, after a being closed for a few weeks for renovations. Lisa Page is one of the 3 new owners of the store:

(Lisa Page)

Page, Tim Harmon and Ed Gorton purchased the store; they re-opened on this past Monday.

The Otsego County Board of Representatives passed their 2013 budget plan Wednesday in Cooperstown. County residents will see a 1.97% tax increase, just under the state 2% Cap. 8 county positions will be eliminated from the health department, highway department & office for the aging. The Otsego county budget goes into effect January 1st.

Residents of Norwich and the American Red Cross will join together for a “Communities That Care” blood drive on Friday, December 7TH from 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Howard Johnson at 75 North Broad Street. The Red Cross is encouraging all eligible donors to make an appointment to donate blood by calling 1-800-RED CROSS or by visiting redcrossblood.org.

State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced a settlement with insurer Excellus Bluecross Blueshield, which will require that they pay out refunds to patients and health care providers who overpaid due to improper accounting of deductibles. Excellus has so far made repayments totaling $3.1 million dollars, they had reported accounting errors affecting 12,000 customers processed after Sept. 1st. 2011, software glitches have been repaired.

Delaware County Solid Waste Management announced that their center in Walton would be closed Christmas day and New Year’s Day in the coming weeks. After the Christmas holiday, the center will accept trees, boxes & wrapping paper for recycling, at the solid waste center on state route 10 in Walton. More information is available at 865-5805.

The Sidney American legion will host a children’s Christmas party later this month.  Spokesman Larry Halbert explains:

(Larry Halbert)

The Sidney American legion is located at 22 Union Street the event runs from 1:00 to 2:30 PM on the 15th.

Attorney General Eric  Schneiderman today announced the arrests of 39 individuals and the seizure of more than one million dollars in cocaine as part of a takedown of three large-scale drug distribution networks. The networks transported cocaine from the New York City and Buffalo,  to be sold in Cortland, Syracuse and Watertown. The Attorney General’s office conducted a series  of raids early this morning and confiscated in excess of ten kilograms of cocaine and arrested the defendants. The Investigation is continuing.

New York farmers dropped off truckloads of locally grown food to the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York today. The event is in conjunction with the New York Farm Bureau's Annual Meeting in Albany. Today's donations bring the total of food donated by farmers across the state this year to more than 5.3 million pounds.

Oneonta city manager Michael Long has received credentialed manager designation from the international city-county management association.  Long is one of 20 in new York state now accredited, he recently was appointed as the city of Oneonta’s first ever city manager.

The State DOT today announced that pavement work will be performed on State Route 17 eastbound that will require the closure of the on-ramp to Interstate 81 northbound in the City of Binghamton, beginning at 6:00 tonight.  A signed detour will guide motorists to exit 4 Hillcrest-Binghamton,  to resume travel northbound on Interstate 81. crews will also be performing overhead sign work on State Route 17 eastbound between exit 71 Airport Road  and exit 72 Front Street, starting at 6::00 pm tonight, both projects are expected to be completed by midnight tonight.

Governor Cuomo said yesterday that the state will have to file for an extension for Thursday’s deadline on hydrofracking rules, which could mean the DEC would have to issue an updated set of proposals. Joint Landowners Coalition of New York president Dan Fitzsimmons said that the delays might be costing the state millions of dollars in tax revenue:

(Dan Fitzsimmons)

The coalition issued a statement claiming that they are cautiously optimistic that an end is in sight to the over four and a half year long regulatory process & they are encouraged that the Governor and DEC have a plan to avoid expiration of
the regulatory review process.

State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced a court victory in defense of the State’s gun safety laws. In a unanimous decision, a 3-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals rejected a constitutional challenge to New York's handgun licensing statute, ruling that the law requiring individuals to demonstrate “proper cause” to obtain a license to carry concealed handguns in public does not violate the Constitution’s Second Amendment.

Newly re-elected congressman Chris Gibson, stated that he has joined a growing number of Republicans in congress to abandon the "Taxpayer Protection Pledge" forwarded by party leader Grover Norquist last year. Gibson represents Otsego & Delaware Counties in his new district, he had signed the pledge last year, but he said that he recognizes the need for more flexibility in his position. Richard Hanna represents Chenango & Broome Counties in Congress and recently won re-election as well, he did not sign Norquist’s pledge last year, and will not sign it this year.

State Police conducted graduation exercises Tuesday for its 2012 Basic Canine Handler School, at the State Police Academy in Albany. The 12 graduates include members from the New York State Police, Albany County Sheriff’s Department, Otsego County Sheriff’s Department and the Schenectady Police Department. The graduation is the culmination of 20 weeks of training at the Division Canine Training Facility located in Cooperstown, the state now has 74 Canine Units counting these weeks’ graduates. Among those graduating teams, Otsego county sheriffs department Deputy Keith Sheldon and his canine partner “Ricky”

In an effort to prevent highway tragedies during the upcoming Thanksgiving Holiday Weekend, State Police will beef up patrols beginning tomorrow. Troop “C” commanding officer Major Kevin Molinari explains:

(Major Molinari)

The State Police will set up sobriety checkpoints and DWI roving patrols, as well as an “Operation Hang-up” initiative, to apprehend drivers talking on the phone or texting. Last year, During the Thanksgiving Holiday period, troopers issued 4,353 speeding tickets and arrested 277 drivers for DWI.

Governor Andrew Cuomo stated today that a health study of shale gas drilling would make it impossible to meet this month’s deadline for new regulations on Hydraulic fracturing. The governor said that the decision on the issue would likely be pushed back into 2013. The DEC has been charged with an environmental impact study and has been drafting new regulations for 4 years, stopping drilling since 2008. The deadline for finalizing regulations was scheduled to be November 29th.

Following the release of the first official report on the implementation of the National Mortgage Settlement today, state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman indicated that he was encouraged by progress on behalf of homeowners. The report showed that over $625 million in consumer relief has been delivered to New York homeowners since March of this year. To date, 7,223 New York homeowners have received assistance as a result of the settlement, with each borrower receiving an average of $86,600 in the form of principal write-downs and other financial relief.

18 southern tier nonprofit organizations received grants totaling $117,200 from the Community Foundation for South Central New York in their Fall Community Fund and Women’s Fund competitive grant cycles. The grants were awarded to local organizations such as the New York State Historical Association, Opportunities for Otsego, the Roberson Museum & Science Center, Planned Parenthood of South Central New York, & Mom’s House of Johnson City, among others. The competitive proposals were reviewed and recommended by panels of community volunteers. More information about the Foundation can be found on its website at donorswhocare.org.