WCDO Radio News

P.M. NEWS THURSDAY 7-16-26
State DEC & State Department of Health issued an updated Air Quality Health Advisory for fine particulate matter for Today, due to the statewide impact of smoke from wildfires in Canada. New Yorkers may see visible smoke and hazy skies across the state and spikes in smoke-related pollution. The updated advisory for the Eastern Lake Ontario, Central New York and Western New York regions are forecast to reach Very Unhealthy status, through midnight tonight. More information regarding the Canadian wildfire smoke can be found at airnow.gov.

The Final Report from the National Transportation Safety Board has been released regarding a 2024 plane crash in Delaware County. The report said that the accident was likely due to the pilot; 76 year old Roger Beggs who had spatial disorientation while flying in poor weather conditions, the single-engine, Piper Malibu crashed on June 30, 2024, near Trout Creek, 12 minutes after taking off from the Albert S. Nader Regional Airport in Oneonta, on its way to Yeager Airport in Charleston, West Virginia. State Police identified the victims of the crash as Roger Beggs, his daughter Laura VanEpps, and her husband, Ryan VanEpps, and their children James and Harrison VanEpps.

State Police conducted an Underage Drinking Detail in Chenango County, all businesses were in compliance; NONE of the locations checked sold alcohol to a person under the age of 21. 13 businesses were checked in Norwich & Sherburne, During these investigations, businesses are checked utilizing a Trooper in plain clothes and one or several underage operatives who cannot lie about their age or provide a false date of birth, if asked.

The Sidney Alumni Weekend will be held from Friday through Sunday with a variety of events, according to Alumni President Bryan Innes:

(Bryan Innes 7-16-26)

The full schedule of events can be found at sidneyalumni.org.

A.M. NEWS THURSDAY 7-16-26
Governor Hochul announced that the AIR QUALITY ADVISORY has been expanded to the entire State, as the Smoke From Canadian Wildfires and High Temperatures are Creating Unhealthy Air Conditions Across the State. New Yorkers Should Avoid Spending Time Outdoors if Possible; Sensitive Groups Should Take Particular Caution, More Than 100,000 N95-Style Masks are Available to Counties Statewide. New Yorkers Can Sign Up for Weather and Emergency Alerts by Texting 333111. New Yorkers should also continue to monitor the Air Quality Index at airnow.gov.

State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli has completed a study of the $277 billion Enacted Budget for the current State Fiscal Year, which has an increase of 7% from the previous State Budget. DiNapoli's report stated the largest increases in spending have been in Medicaid and School Aid, other potential issues are the the retrenchment of federal support; persistent inflation and increasing local government fiscal needs, also the state took action to preserve healthcare coverage for over a million New Yorkers, but that still resulted in 450,000 New Yorkers losing eligibility. The state has significantly increased its reserve levels at approximately $15 billion.

A.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 7-15-26
The State DEC and State Department of Health are issuing an Air Quality Health Advisory for fine particulate for today, for the region due to the impact of smoke from wildfires in Canada. In addition, there is the potential for visible smoke and hazy skies across the state and New Yorkers may see temporary spikes in smoke-related pollution. The advisory will be in effect until 11:59 pm. More information is available at airnow.gov

State Police arrested 3 people following a traffic stop in Broome County. Troopers were patrolling Johnson City & observed a vehicle commit Traffic Law violations. Troopers conducted a traffic stop on Prospect Street in the town of Dickinson. The operator was identified as 51 year old Gregory Jackson of Brooklyn. The passengers were 60 year old Sircurtis King of Binghamton & 38 year old Jhenna Wood of Binghamton. Troopers with the assistance of a State Police K9, located cocaine, fentanyl, a digital scale, packaging materials and a large amount of cash. Jackson, King and Wood were each charged with 4 counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, 2 counts of Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia and all 3 were processed and were transported to the Broome County Jail for Centralized Arraignment.

P.M. NEWS FRIDAY 6-26-26

State Police arrested 41 year old Donatello Lazarati of Baldwinsville for Bail Jumping and Criminal Contempt, following a violation of a court order issued following his arraignment on a previous Grand Larceny charge. Lazarati was prohibited from leaving the United States and was directed to surrender his passport. Lazarati failed to comply with those conditions, State Police were notified Thursday that Lazarati was attempting to leave the United States and purchased an airline ticket to Qatar at John F. Kennedy International Airport, he was arrested at the airport, brought back to Troop C, and was processed in and was remanded to the Chenango County Jail on $35,000 cash, $50,000 credit or $250,000 partially secured bond.

State DEC announced that a Free Fishing Weekend in New York State will take place this weekend, which is part of 6 designated Free Fishing Days that take place each year in New York State. During these days, the fishing license requirement is waived for freshwater fishing on New York’s waters.

Guinness World Record holder Bill Clark will attempt to break the record for the most decks of cards ripped in half in 60 seconds at Mirabito Stadium on Friday, July 3rd, after the Rumble Ponies’ game against the Chesapeake Baysox The current World Record for the most decks of cards ripped in half in 60 seconds is 26 decks.

The Norwich Business Improvement District announced today that Public art will be coming to Downtown Norwich. Development Chenango Corporation was awarded $600,000 for a Downtown small project grant fund, $350,000 was spent supporting property owners’ renovations. The remaining funds, along with donations from Friends of the Park and local foundations, have been allocated to public art for Downtown Norwich. Awarded artists will design and install five sculptures and one mural Downtown! The Norwich Public Art Initiative, a committee formed to steward the project, has launched a request for artist qualifications as the first phase of the project, final proposals will be selected by December 1, with anticipated installation of the art work in spring 2027.

State DEC announced several changes to deer hunting regulations to increase harvest of female deer and improve DEC’s ability to manage abundant deer populations. Under the new system, all hunters will receive a first Antlered Deer Tag which can be used during any season, except the September antlerless season. Hunters who harvest and report an antlerless deer, will be eligible to receive a second Antlered Deer Tag, More information is available at dec.ny.gov/things-to-do/hunting.

The Delaware County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s assistance in locating 40 year old Barbara Brooke Walley, who is wanted on a Bench Warrant issued by Delaware County Court. Walley is a 5'2" tall white female with brown hair and green eyes, Anyone with information pertaining to the whereabouts of this person, please contact the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office at (607)832-5555 or “Submit a Tip” via our Sheriff’s APP.

A.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 6-17-26

SFCU has recently presented a $20,000 donation to the United Way Mid Rural NY, supporting efforts to improve access to dental care for children across Chenango, Delaware, Otsego, and Madison counties. SFCU President & CEO JIm Reynolds comments;

(Jim Reynolds 6-17-26)

Reynolds said that access to dental care remains a significant challenge in many rural communities, where provider shortages and transportation barriers exist, More information about the SFCU 1 Million Reasons initiative is available at sfcuonline.org/1millionreasons.

New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets has put new rules in place for bringing domestic animals into the State to stop the spread of the New World Screwworm after cases were found in Texas and New Mexico. The State is restricting the movement of livestock and pets from areas affected or suspected to be affected by the parasite, so far there have been no cases detected in New York. The new order requires extra veterinary testing, proof of good health, and preventative treatment for animals coming from impacted areas.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has elevated a recall of Alfredo sauce distributed in 41 states to its most serious classification after they say a supplier flagged an ingredient for possible Salmonella contamination. The Coffee Connexion Company of Tennessee voluntarily recalled the product on May 6 because it contains a dry milk powder ingredient that was recalled by the supplier due to potential Salmonella contamination. On June 4, the FDA designated the recall as a Class I event, the agency's highest risk category. The product was distributed in multiple states, including New York, The FDA's enforcement report does not indicate whether any illnesses have been reported in connection with the product.

P.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 6-10-26

The Chenango County Health Department announced that the BOIL WATER ORDER has been Lifted for the Village of Bainbridge Water System & residents may resume normal use of the water. Emergency water quality monitoring has indicated that the water system again meets State Drinking Water Standards. Some residents may experience discolored water or a change in taste or odor of the water; if this occurs flush all water lines for 15-20 minutes or until the water runs clear. More information is available by calling the Bainbridge Village Office 607-967-7373 or the Chenango County Health Department at 607-337-1673.

Foothills Performing Arts & Civic Center announced today a grant award totaling $324,000 from the New York State Council on the Arts to support the organization’s goal of sound proofing their various event spaces, and to build an addition for more dressing rooms to the Production Center. This grant is part of a capital project funding announcement by NYSCA, which totals over $82 million to 132 arts and culture facilities across New York State, with the improvements, Foothills will be able to host more events simultaneously.

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that nearly $140 million in federal funding is available to support counter-terrorism and emergency preparedness efforts across the state. The funding is provided by FEMA to support local security preparedness efforts, Locally Otsego & Chenango Counties receive over $58,000, Delaware County over $53,000.

The State DEC Announces More Than $78 Million in Grant Funding for Water Quality Protection Projects Across the State Funding Supports Updating Water Infrastructure, Combating Harmful Algae, Protecting Drinking Water, Increasing Flood Resilience, and Treating Contamination from Landfills. Applications are due by July 31st.

A.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 6-10-26

An Otsego County Grand Jury indicted Sergeant Kristopher Solovitch on Tuesday, he is charged with 1 count of 2nd degree Forgery, and 4 counts of Falsifying Business Records, Solovitch’s arrest stems from the arrest of Otsego County Sheriff’s Deputy Thomas Fellrath in Herkimer County on May 29, for possessing Cocaine while on duty in a county vehicle outside of the County, Fellrath was being investigated for a complaint into fraudulent overtime, which led to Solovitch’s indictment, State Police arrested Solovitch, he was arraigned & released in his own recognizance.

State Police Troop C Traffic Incident Management Unit conducted an Operation Hard Hat enforcement detail on I-81 in near Homer Monday, where highway crews were making pavement and pothole repairs. During the enforcement, Troopers issued a total of 60 citations and made one arrest, 49 year old Rashi Brown of Illinois for Unlawfully Fleeing a Police Officer in a Motor Vehicle and 10 traffic violations. Police issued 25 speeding tickets, 10 for failing to use seat belts, 10 for using an electronic device while driving & 1 for failing to move over.

State Police at Troop C responded to the report of a Motorcycle and SUV accident at State 434 in Owego. Troopers & 1st responders attempted life-saving measures but were unsuccessful. The operator of the motorcycle was pronounced deceased, the driver of the SUV was transported to Wilson Medical Center in Johnson City for evaluation and treatment. The investigation remains on-going. The identity of the motorcyclist will be released once notifications are made to next of kin.

Attorney General Letitia James today announced another court victory against the National Rifle Association and former Executive Vice President & CEO Wayne LaPierre, and other top executives, The judgment will require LaPierre to pay $4.3 million back to the organization LaPierre had sought to overturn the 2024 judgment against him filed by James in 2020, the motion was rejected in State Supreme Court. LaPierre was also banned from serving as an officer or director of the NRA or any organization under the NRA's direct control for 10 years.

Governor Kathy Hochul announced a $63.5 million infrastructure project targeting roadways across the Southern Tier and western parts of the state. Locally In Otsego County, a $5.5 million safety initiative will be spent on installing a new sidewalk and drainage system upgrades along State Route 28 in Cooperstown. Transportation officials warn local commuters to prepare for ongoing lane adjustments, reduced speeds, and alternating ramp closures throughout the construction zones.

New York State DEC announced new and continued investments to address extreme heat, new funding opportunities to create public cooling spaces, and expanded assistance to provide affordable cooling for New Yorkers at home. With heat waves and other extreme heat events more common, DEC is coordinating the implementation of the plan with NYSERDA and other state agencies Information about what the public can do during hot weather and how to?locate cooling centers?can be found at health.ny.gov.

A.M. NEWS Wednesday 6-3-26

CHENANGO COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE arrested 30 year old Jordan Robinson of Smyrna for Harassment, Unlawful Imprisonment, Criminal Mischief and Endangering the Welfare of a Child. Deputies responded to a residence in Smyrna for a domestic dispute, where Robinson allegedly subjected the victim to unwanted physical contact, damaged property, and attempted to prevent the victim from calling 911 in the presence of a juvenile. Robinson was Arraigned & was released on an appearance ticket, and an order of protection was issued for the victim. Robinson is to appear in the Town of Smyrna Court at a later date.

Attorney General Letitia James announced the sentencing of former New York State Police Trooper Christopher Baldner of Catskill for causing the death of 11-year-old Monica Goods on December 22, 2020. Baldner was found guilty on the charge of Manslaughter & was sentenced to 2 1/2 to 7 1/2 years in prison. On December 22, 2020 Tristin Goods was driving on the New York State Thruway with his wife and two young daughters, Trooper Baldner was on patrol and stopped the Goods family car for speeding. During the stop, Baldner deployed pepper spray into the interior of the car and Mr. Goods sped away, Baldner rammed his police vehicle into the rear of the Goods family's car twice, it skidded into the guard rail, flipped over, and came to rest upside down. The impact ejected Monica Goods from the car, causing her death.

Butternut Valley Alliance announced the schedule for On the Trail of Art, to be held June 13-14 at General Jacob Morris State Forest. The exhibition will be open Saturday from 11 am. to 6 pm. and Sunday from 10 am. to 4 pm. An opening reception will be held Friday, June 12, from 6 to 8 pm. at Dunderberg Gallery in Gilbertsville. Attendance is free, but reservations for an admission time are encouraged and can be made at Eventbrite. On the Trail of Art features work by student artists from Edmeston, Gilbertsville-Mount Upton, Morris, and Laurens Central schools alongside local artists with deep ties to the Butternut Valley.

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced $82.2 million has been awarded through the New York State Council on the Arts’ Capital Projects Fund to support 132 projects in every region of the state. This investment in non-profit arts and cultural organizations across New York supports crucial building renovations, accessibility improvements and new spaces for creative and cultural work. Awards were given in all 10 regions of New York State, with 77 percent of the grants awarded to organizations with budgets under $3 million. A Mid-Sized Capital Improvement Grants was awarded to the Chenango County Historical Society to help replace the building’s roof with a new, historically accurate slate roof.

The State DEC announced the return of the First-Time Camper Program for the 2026 season, which makes trying camping easy by providing a turnkey camping experience for New Yorkers, State residents may enter the First-Time Camper lottery at surveymonkey.com until June 12th For more information on DEC-operated campgrounds, including a list of campgrounds and schedules, visit DEC's website at dec.ny.gov and go to the camping link under the Outdoor Recreation section,

A.M. NEWS TUESDAY 6-2-26

The Chenango County Historical Society and the Chenango County Historian’s Office are collaborating on this summer’s “Turtle Island” festival, on July 5th in Norwich, which is a celebration of America's 250th anniversary, Featuring “America’s Potluck”, Chenango County Historical Society Executive Director Jessica Moquin explains:

(Jessica Moquin 6-2-26)

Interested community members are invited to the next community dialogue from 6:00 to7:30 pm. at the Chenango County Fairgrounds, the festival is scheduled to take place from 4 to 8 pm. on July 5 at the Chenango County Fairgrounds. For More information, go to ChenangoHistorical.org or unicycleproductionsllc.com.

Governor Hochul announced that $6 million in State support included in the recently passed budget, will allow for the Binghamton Rumble Ponies to commit to a five-year lease extension at Mirabito Stadium. The new deal will see the team remain in Binghamton through the 2035 season, state money will be used for stadium improvements, it will be complemented by $1.2 million in City and team investments, and $12 million in planned City and federal investments for the stadium district enhancements.

P.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 5-27-26

The Broome County Sheriff’s Office and the Broome County Health Department are taking action to treat and prevent the spread of a stomach bug-like illness that health experts believe to be norovirus at the Broome County Correctional Facility. On Monday, several incarcerated individuals reported symptoms of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and headaches to medical staff at Correctional Facility. Over the next 24 hours, over 140 incarcerated individuals in multiple housing units were seen by medical staff for similar symptoms. The Norovirus is a highly contagious stomach illness effecting 19 to 21 million people in the United States each year and the leading cause of acute gastroenteritis in the country, The Correctional Facility is also taking additional precautions to limit exposure for staff and other incarcerated individuals within the facility, while performing deep and steady cleaning on any exposed surfaces or areas within the facility.

The 218th Session of the New York State Police Basic School is scheduled to graduate tomorrow at 11am. Graduation is taking place at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center. There are a total of 175 Troopers graduating, 23 are training in Troop C, 8 are local from the Troop C area. The new Troopers will be starting May 30 and will be with a Field Training Officer for 10 weeks before getting their official permanent station.

State Attorney General Letitia James and DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton today awarded more than $1.34 million in grants to support farmers in Delaware and Sullivan Counties. The Agricultural Environmental Innovation Grant Program is funded by the Attorney General's & the DEC's 2023 settlement with FrieslandCampina, for repeated violations of environmental law at its Delhi facility. The grant program will reinvest the settlement funds by providing 25 farms with access to new technologies and practices.

New York State Office for the Aging announced their 100 awardees from across New York State for Older New Yorkers' Day. Local awardees include Brian Danforth of Unadilla, Lois Aylesworth of Columbus, Robert Cuffney of Sherburne, Alice Blackman of Hamden, Lauren Monroe of Bovina Center & Pat and Walter Hogan of Cooperstown.

New York State Lawmakers are working to get the state budget finalized by Thursday, or pass the 15th budget extender. The 268 Billion Dollar Budget plan is now about 7 weeks late.

P.M. NEWS TUESDAY 5-19-26

State Police arrested 44 year old Jason Marsh of Chenango Forks following a rape investigation. Marsh was charged with 1st degree rape, Criminal Obstruction of Breathing & Unlawful Imprisonment, the investigation determined that while at a residence in the town of Greene, Marsh forcibly sexually assaulted, struck and choked the victim, who did escape & contacted police and was evaluated at a local hospital. Marsh was arrested at his residence and later transported to the Chenango County Jail for Centralized Arraignment where he was remanded to the jail pending his next court date on June 4th.

The Inductees for this year's General Clinton Canoe Regatta have been announced, Committee chairman John Harmon told WCDO who will be inducted:

(John Harmon 5-19-26)

This Year's ceremony will be at Saturday morning at 10:30 am at the Finish Line Tent at General Clinton Park.

A.M. NEWS Tuesday 5-19-26

State Police arrested 37 year old Adam Rowe of Truxton after an investigation of the manufacturing and selling of ghost guns. State Police CSU and Violent Gang and Narcotics Enforcement Team arrested Rowe Sunday, after a search warrant was executed at his residence. Police seized an AR-style ghost gun with a loaded 10-round magazine, plus a host of other weapons, plus Three 3D printers, 3 raccoons & 1 opossum. Rowe was charged with numerous counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon, Unlawful Possession of Ammunition Feeding Device, and 2 counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, additional charges are pending through the DEC regarding the wildlife. Rowe possessed many firearms and utilized 3D printers to manufacture firearms & components, As a convicted felon on probation, he is prohibited from possessing firearms. 22 year old Angela Dennis of Truxton was charged with 2 counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child. Rowe was processed was being held for Arraignment, Dennis was issued appearance tickets and was released.

The New York State Public Service Commission set temporary rate increases for NYSEG that are less than what the company requested. The temporary rates have no bearing on the Commission’s final determinations, the Commission has 11 months to make a determination on a utility rate filing. The temporary rates set by the Commission start June 1st, the increase for NYSEG customers will be 3.7% percent for electric, 0.5% for gas.

School budgets will be voted on state wide today, as well as Board of Education in school bus purchases in some cases. Check with you local school district website or Facebook page for the times & locations for voting.

The State DOT invites members of the public to view and discuss project plans and construction for the South-side Oneonta Safety and Mobility Improvement Project for State routes 23 and State Route 28. The improvements include extended turning lanes, addition sidewalks, full repaving, and updated pavement markings. The open house will be today at the South-side Community Room at 5006 State Highway 23 in Oneonta, 2 sessions will be held, 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 4:00 to 6:00 PM, Construction is expected to start in June and continue through fall of 2027.

The Chenango County Sheriff's Office arrested 39 year old Luman Craver of Guilford last week in connection with the theft of an electrical transformer from a job site on State Highway 8. Craver was charged with grand larceny, criminal mischief and conspiracy, after the Sheriff’s Office received a complaint April 22nd that a transformer had been stolen from a job site where it had been delivered and was awaiting installation. Craver is accused of removing the transformer from the site, in an attempt to sell it as scrap metal. Craver was taken into custody without incident and arraigned & He was remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility and is scheduled to appear in Town of Guilford Court at a later date.

The Next Chenango County free Rabies clinic will be held today at the Columbus Highway Department on State Highway 80. The clinic for dogs cats & ferrets will be from 5:30 to 6:30 PM, pre-registration is requested at health,ny.gov/go2clinic.

The State Burn Ban is in effect for 1 more week. The law stipulates no open burning of brush or debris due to the higher possibility dry & windy conditions that could spread fire quickly, more information is available at the DEC website.

Flights will be returning to the Greater Binghamton Airport from Delta Airlines starting Thursday. Delta Air Lines will first have flights between Binghamton and Detroit, officials are working to return more flights to the airport, more information will be available at the Delta Airlines website.

A.M. NEWS TUESDAY 5-5-26

A Broome County jury found 29 year old Keanu Downey of Binghamton, guilty of 2 counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance and 1 count of Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia, following a jury trial. Downey was arrested & was found to have Cocaine with the intent to sell, Downey was taken into custody on an active warrant. Sentencing is scheduled for July 30th, he faces up to 12 years in State Prison.

Former Mid-State Corrections Officer Caleb Blair accepted a plea deal for 1st Degree Manslaughter in Oneida County Court Monday for 11 years in Jail, rather than go to trial on a host of charges in connection with the death of inmate Messiah Nantwi. Blair acknowledged in Court that it was his boot print on Nantwi's forehead.

P.M. NEWS THURSDAY 4-30-26

State Police announced that the missing person investigation involving 47 year old Lance Bogart of the Town of Tioga has concluded, as he was located deceased today in a creek near his residence. Bogart was reported missing 4 days ago, search efforts were conducted by State Police, including K9 units, drones and assistance from partner agencies, including DEC Forest Rangers. At this time, there is no indication of criminal activity. The investigation remains ongoing.

P.M. NEWS MONDAY 4-27-26

State Police arrested 46 year old James Lewis of Binghamton after a dispute that resulted in another man sustaining serious injuries. Lewis has been charged with 1st Degree Robbery & Assault, On Friday afternoon, Troopers were dispatched to Endicott for a report of a male who had been struck multiple times by a baseball bat following a dispute. The 48 year old unidentified victim was taken to Wilson Medical Center, where he underwent surgery & was listed in stable condition. An investigation determined that Lewis and the victim had previously traded e-bikes, with the victim expected to pay Lewis, when he failed to provide payment, Lewis struck him multiple times with a baseball bat then left the area with the e-bike. Troopers located Lewis Saturday, was taken into custody without incident, and the e-bike was recovered. Lewis was processed & was turned over to the Broome County Jail for Arraignment.

Broome County Sheriff’s Office and numerous local fire departments responded last Wednesday to a house fire at 803 Hill Avenue in the Town of Union. Firefighters found a fully involved fire, after extinguishing the fire, a victim was located inside the residence, deceased. The deceased victim was identified as 86 year old Joyce Bassos, There were no other occupants in the residence. The cause of the fire is under investigation, The preliminary investigation does not indicate any criminal action.

The Deposit Village Board has decided to discontinue their contract with the Broome County Sheriff's Office to have a dedicate law enforcement presence in Deposit. The move comes about 6 years after the dissolution of the Deposit Police Department. Broome County Sheriff Fred Akshar released a statement saying the\at the decision will make emergency response times in the Village unpredictable, they will respond to emergencies along with the New York State Police going forward.

A.M. NEWS Monday 4-27-26

Broome County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle parked at a residence in the Town of Sanford Tuesday. Deputies located the suspicious vehicle and performed a traffic stop. The driver, 29 year old Philip Briggs of Deposit told deputies that he had picked up the passenger, 37 year old Emily Cecere of Binghamton, who claimed to have been staying at the residence, The owner confirmed that no one was authorized to stay there. Briggs was found to have a burglary tool in his possession and Cecere was found to be in possession of a credit card belonging to a deceased individual who lived at the residence. Briggs was charged with Burglary, Possession of Burglar Tools and Conspiracy, Cecere was charged with Burglary and Conspiracy, they will face court action shortly.

During Earth Week, The State DEC announced a total of 23 municipalities certified under New York State’s Climate Smart Communities Certification program. The certifications recognize that these communities have taken actions to reduce flood risk, address extreme heat, invest in clean energy, improve infrastructure, reduce air pollution, and increase resilience across the state. Bronze certified and re certified communities include: Village of Cooperstown, the Town of Middlefield & Otsego County.

American Red Cross Blood Drives are being held today in Gilbertsville from 2 pm. - 6 pm., at the GMU Central School, State Highway 51, another will be in Cooperstown from 10:30 am. - 3:30 pm., at the Cooperstown High School, make appointments by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App.

P.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 4-8-26

The State Legislature approved of another 7 day extension for the new State budget, it was passed today and will keep the State government running until April 14. The State budget was originally due April 1st, 2 extension have been put in place, the budget has been late for the last 5 years. Sticking points included school aid, car insurance reforms, adjustments to the state's climate laws and changes to Tier 6 pension rules.

27 year old Delos Thurston of Clinton, pleaded guilty on Tuesday in US District Court to money order fraud. Thurston admitted that between April 2025 and January 2026, while he was employed as the Postmaster of the Morrisville Post Office, he fraudulently issued 179 money orders for his own benefit without paying for them, in the amount of $118,088.19 from the United States. Thurston is scheduled for sentencing on August 6, he faces a maximum term of 5 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years.

Delaware County Sheriff's Office arrested 33 year old Joseph Worzel of Deposit for DWI, Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs, Moving from a Lane Unsafely, Speed not Reasonable or Prudent, & Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, among various Traffic Violations, following a motor vehicle accident in the Town of Masonville. Last Saturday afternoon, Deputies responded to an accident with injuries on State Highway 8, where a vehicle left the road & hit a tree, Worzel was processed & was released on appearance tickets and traffic summonses and was directed to appear in the Town of Masonville Court at a later date.

Otsego County Sheriff's Office reminds area residents of an increase in fraudulent activity, where Scammers may attempt to contact people by phone, email, or text pretending to be from a trusted organization, and they ask for personal information, passwords, or payments. The Sheriff's Office reminds people to never share sensitive information, like a Social Security number, banking details or passwords with unknown contacts, do not click on suspicious links or download unexpected attachments. People are reminded to contact the organization in question to verify the claims of the cold callers, if you believe you’ve been targeted or affected, report it immediately to your local authorities or the appropriate organization.

A.M. NEWS Wednesday 4-8-26

On December 10th, Colchester Police were assisting a disabled motor vehicle on State Highway 206 when a vehicle operated by 21-year-old Shmuel Neuhaus of Fallsburg, failed to reduce speed & was unable to avoid a collision, striking a vehicle that had slowed down in front of him, then struck the Colchester Police vehicle. Following the investigation, Deputies submitted documentation for an arrest warrant for Neuhaus, On April 3rd, Fallsburg Police Department took Neuhaus into custody, he was taken into custody by Delaware County Sheriff’s Office & was charged with Driving While Ability Impaired by Alcohol, Aggravated Unlicensed Operation, as well as several other charges, he was being held pending arraignment.

On April 2nd, Delaware County Sheriff's Deputies observed a vehicle on Division Street in Sidney, pulling out onto Main Street and cutting another vehicle off that was traveling on Main Street. Upon conducting a traffic stop, 66 year-old JeanMichel Letennier of Sidney, was found to have his driving privileges suspended, with a total of 28 suspensions, 26 in the State of New York. Letennier was charged with Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle, as well as a host of violations of the State Vehicle and Traffic Law. Letennier was processed and transported to the Delaware County Correctional Facility to await Arraignment.

The State DEC & The National Weather Service are reminding residents that th estate burn ban remains in effect through May 14th. The Weather service reported today that the combination of dry grounds, wind gusts of 20 to 30 miles & hours & low relative humidity levels can contribute to an elevated risk of fast spreading wildfires currently in New York State.

P.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 4-1-26

The State DOT posted an update this afternoon, stating that I-88 is closed for a 9.5-mile stretch between Exits 10 and 12 in both directions, with a detour along State Route 7 currently in place. State Police noticed atypical erosion along the highway embankment that could potentially compromise the safety of the road. Out of an abundance of caution, the highway was closed Tuesday, Engineers are exploring the cause of this erosion, and a contractor is mobilizing in anticipation of emergency repairs along the road. The highway will continue to be closed until our engineers deem it safe to reopen.

Governor Kathy Hochul announced that more than $25 million is being awarded to 133 farms in 23 counties across the state through the Climate Resilient Farming Grant Program, for projects to help New York’s farmers reduce greenhouse gas emissions, protect water quality, protect and enhance soil health, in the Southern Tier, more than $3.7 Million Dollars has been awarded to 33 farms.

The Masonville Town Board announced that tonight's meeting has been re-scheduled, their next meeting will be held on Wednesday April 8th at 7:30 PM.

A.M. NEWS Wednesday 4-1-26

The Unadilla Fire Department announced an update on the I-88 Closure between Exit 10 and Exit 12. I-88 is currently closed westbound at Exit 12, to Exit 10, also the Route 357 bridge over the Susquehanna River is closed at this time, due to tractor trailers being unable to safely navigate the detour turn on to State Route 7. Motorists are urged to allow for extra travel time, and exercise caution while traveling along the detour on State Route 7.

The State DEC Announced that today is the Start of Trout Fishing Season. The DEC trout stocking is in full swing with more than 1.7 million catchable-size brook, brown, and rainbow trout stocked in waters across the state through early June. More information is available at the State DEC website.

P.M. NEWS TUESDAY 3-31-26

The State DOT & State Police closed I-88 between Exits 10 and 12 in both directions until further notice, A large amount of soil has eroded underneath the roadway, this is not due to a culvert collapse, but to an as yet unknown water issue. Crews from the New York State Department of Transportation are on the scene assessing the issue. Motorists are advised to follow the established detour routes on to State Route 7, Detour signage is in place to guide motorists. Updates will be provided as additional information becomes available from the DOT. Motorists are urged to allow for extra travel time, and exercise caution while traveling along detour on State Route 7.

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced nearly $100 million in new grant funding to support projects designed to reduce flood risk and enhance community resilience to extreme weather. The Resilient Watersheds Grant Program has $60 million available to advance projects to build community resilience, reduce flood and ice jam risk & strengthen infrastructure, More information can be found at dec.ny.gov, the Community Resilience and Flood Risk Reduction Grant Program has $40 million available for projects that will strengthen climate resiliency for Coastal Areas and $20 million for Inland Flooding, more information is available at dos.ny.gov.

P.M. NEWS FRIDAY 3-27-27

Otsego County Sheriff's Office arrested 52 year old Shawn Fallon of Winfield for Sex Offender Failure to Notify Change of Address & Sex Offender Failure to Submit Annual Verification. The Investigation revealed that Fallon did not report a change of address to the State Sex Offender Registry within 10 days, they were also notified by the Sex Offender Registry that Fallon had failed to submit his annual verification. Fallon was located in the Town of Winfield and taken into custody without incident, he was processed and was issued an Appearance Ticket returnable to the Town of Middlefield Court at a later date.

This weekend will be the final New York State Maple Weekend & the Rogers Environmental Education Center will have their Maple Magic Weekend Celebration in Sherburne on Saturday and Sunday, from 12PM-3PM both days. The evaporator will be boiling in the Sugarshack, which will be open for syrup samples and educational demonstrations, The event will also feature live acoustic music with traditional maple folk songs. Rogers Center is one of the state's 4 environmental education centers, at 2721 state highway 80, Sherburne.

Masonville Connects will hold an Easter Egg Hunt this Sunday at 1:00 PM, at the former Masonville Elementary School Building on State Route 8, more information about this & other events can be found at the Masonville Connects Facebook page.

A.M. NEWS FRIDAY 3-27-26

Otsego County Sheriff’s Office received cyber tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, they arrested 20-year-old Jose Hernandez Martinez of Oneonta on 7 counts of possessing an obscene sexual performance by a child and 32 counts of promoting a sexual performance by a child, he was also found to be in the country illegally and is originally from El Salvador. Officers found him in the Town of Oneonta and arrested him without incident. He will be held at the Otsego County Correctional Facility until he is arraigned.

The State DEC announced that all upstate drought regions have returned to “Normal” status. In cooperation with the State's Drought Management Task Force, DEC updated the drought status from “Drought Watch” to “Normal” after assessing recent precipitation and elevated levels of ground and surface water.

P.M. NEWS Wednesday 3-25-26

Governor Hochul has been making stops around the state to gain support for her Affordability agenda, as prices are skyrocketing at the pump, in the ability to building more housing and Cutting the cost of Auto insurance due to fraud:

(Hochul 3-25-25)

Governor Hochul is also backing off on some on some of her lofty goals regarding electric vehicles, there is 1 week to go to get the state budget passed on time for the beginning of the next fiscal year.

22 year old Shawn Lynch of Binghamton, pleaded guilty today to 1st Degree Assault & and will serve 9 years in a State Prison, followed by 5 years of post-release supervision. This conviction stems from a shooting on April 13, 2025, in Binghamton. Binghamton Police responded to a report of shots fired and learned that the victim had been transported to Wilson Hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery and survived. Police determined that the victim had been following his ex-girlfriend in a vehicle when the 2 became involved in an argument, Lynch was in a nearby driveway & fired multiple shots at the victim, striking him in the arm and chest. Sentencing for Lynch is scheduled for June 24th in Broome County Court.

Tops Friendly Markets announced today a Class 1 recall on Christopher Ranch peeled Garlic, sold at Tops stores in New York, Pennsylvania & Vermont. The recall states that 6 oz. packages of Christopher Ranch peeled garlic needs to be 32 to 37 degrees, and the open-air coolers that they have cannot get to this temperature." a Class 1 recall means that the item in question could lead to serious health issues or even death, Tops you give consumers a full refund with proof of purchase if you return the garlic to one of their stores.

The State DEC announced another year of safe hunting, nearly 600,000 New Yorkers participate annually, The 2025 hunting season was the safest in New York’s recorded history. The total number of hunting-related shooting incidents was 7, 5 of which were self-inflicted and 2 involved more than one person. 1 incident involved an unlicensed individual who was hunting illegally, DEC also documented 9 falls from tree stands or elevated platforms, including one fatality.

Hartwick College will conduct an emergency response training exercise today, beginning in the late morning and continuing through early afternoon. Emergency vehicles and first responders from local agencies, including the Oneonta Police Department, Oneonta Fire Department, New York State Electric and Gas, Hartwick College campus safety personnel and SUNY Oneonta's volunteer EMS squad, will participate in the coordinated training effort. The exercise will begin off-campus and then move to the Clark Nursing Simulation Laboratory in Smith Hall, The event will provide Hartwick College nursing students with hands-on emergency response experience.

PAK Construction and other area businesses are teaming up for the 5th Annual Guilford Roads Clean up Day on April 11th. Paul Knowles of PAK Construction of Guilford explains:

(Paul Knowles 3-24-26)

Residents of Guilford, Rockdale, Mount Upton, & Rockwells Mills are encouraged to clean up trash they find on the roadside, bring in 2 bags to PAK on County Road 36 on Saturday April 11th, more information is available at the Town of Guilford Facebook page.

A.M. NEWS TUESDAY 3-24-26

The State DEC reported that Hunters harvested an estimated 1,759 black bears across New York during the 2025-26 hunting seasons, which was one of the highest totals in State History. DEC Officials said that the 2025 bear harvest was second only to the 2003 season. The Southern Zone accounted for an estimated 1,202 bears, The Northern Zone saw 557 bears harvested, which was slightly lower than 2024 but still above the 10-year average.

Governor Kathy Hochul recently announced an expansion of child care services at 11 SUNY community colleges in New York State. The services will include evenings and weekends, designed to align with the schedules of student-parents who are enrolled in high-demand programs. SUNY Broome is one of the Colleges participating in the program.

A.M. NEWS MONDAY 3-16-26

The federal trial of Peyton Gendron of Conklin will be held in Buffalo, Judge Lawrence Vilardo made the ruling last week. Gendron's attorneys were seeking to move the trial, out of Buffalo, citing concerns over the ability to get a fair trial. Gendron shot 10 Black people shopping at a Buffalo Tops Supermarket on May 14, 2022, he has already been convicted on state charges, he faces the death penalty on Federal charges, the next trial should start this summer.

Otsego County Sheriff's Office arrested 35 year old Warren McKee of Milford for Dissemination of Indecent Material to Minors, following an investigation in to a report of a suspect engaging in sexual online communications with a subject he believed to be a juvenile. Investigation revealed that McKee utilized text messaging and instant messaging from a social media platform to solicit sex from the juvenile. McKee was located at his residence and taken in to custody without incident, he was processed and issued an Appearance Ticket returnable to the Town of Milford Court at a later date.

Thousands of unlawful vape and marijuana products were seized from a Conklin gas station as part of a compliance check by the Broome County Health Department. On March 9, members of the Sheriff’s Office and the Broome County Special Investigations Unit Task Force assisted the Broome County Health Department with a flavored nicotine vape compliance check at the “One Dream” Sunoco gas station located at 976 Conklin Rd in the Town of Conklin, they seized approximately 4,000 unlawful flavored nicotine vapes along with THC products, The business does not possess a valid license to dispense THC products. The unlawful flavored vapes are not taxed. In 2019, New York raised the legal age to purchase tobacco and vape products to 21, and in 2020 the state banned the sale of flavored vaping products, other than tobacco flavor. The compliance check was generated via a tip from the Susquehanna Valley Central School District.

The State DEC & Area Fire Departments announced that the annual Burn Ban is in effect now to May 14th this year. Open Burning of brush or debris is prohibited during that time-frame, to prevent wildfires & grass fires during the traditional driest time of the year.

P.M. NEWS TUESDAY 3-10-26

The Chenango County Sheriff’s Office arrested 45 year old Gerald Schmitt of Norwich following an investigation into a stolen trailer and snowmobiles from the Town of Norwich. Schmitt was charged with Criminal possession of stolen property, tampering with physical evidence & Conspiracy, after 2 stolen snowmobiles were found on Schmitt’s property. Schmitt was released on appearance tickets in accordance with New York State Bail Reform and is scheduled to appear in the Town of Norwich Court at a later date.

State lawmakers have 3 weeks to get a state budget passed for the next fiscal year, local assemblyman Joe Angelino told WCDO News that he will likely vote no on the budget:

(Angelino 3-10-26)

The Governor's Budget proposal totaled 260 Billion Dollars, that number will likely increase once both houses of the legislature come up with their final proposals.

The State Attorney General’s Office is investigating the death of an unidentified Binghamton man this past weekend. On March 7, Binghamton Police responded to the report of a man in the road blocking a Broome County Transit bus, he eventually climbed onto the front of the bus, resisted arrest, was taken to Binghamton General Hospital for a health evaluation, & was discharged the following day& was taken to Binghamton Police Headquarters, he experienced a medical emergency, officers administered 1st aid until EMT's took him to Wilson Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Attorney General or the Binghamton Police at 607-772-7080.

The State DEC & local fire departments remind area residents that the annual burn ban will will take effect March 16th, and will run through May 14th this year. During the Burn Ban, people will not be allowed to have large open fires and the burning of leaves, brush, cardboard are prohibited. The use of fire pits with fireguards, small cooking fires, charcoal and propane gas grills are allowed. The Burn Ban exists due to the high risk of wildfires & grass fires that can occur during the early spring and spread rapidly due to the drier than normal conditions.

A.M. NEWS Tuesday 3-10-26

State Police arrested Steven Vitalo of Cold Brook for grand larceny, insurance fraud and other similar offenses. Vitalo owns a company called Central Plumbing & Drains in Herkimer County, The Otsego County District Attorney's Office accuses Vitalo of defrauding multiple clients throughout the county, Anyone who believes they were a victim of fraud can call the State Department of Financial Services hotline at 1-888-930-6565.

Governor Hochul directed intelligence communities & cyber experts here in the State to coordinate with local law enforcement as well as federal law enforcement to Keep New Yorkers safe following military interaction with Iran in recent days:

(Hochul 3-2-26)

Governor Kathy Hochul has directed local and federal law enforcement to prioritize the safety of New Yorkers, especially at their places of worship for the near future as long as the military actions are continuing in the Middle East.

The State DMV is urging New York Vehicle Owners to check their vehicles for safety recalls as part of Vehicle Safety Recalls Week this week through March 8th. State Department of Motor Vehicles officials stated that 1 out of every 5 cars on the road had an open recall, which amounts to about 2 million vehicles in New York, go to dmv.ny.gov to see if your vehicle has a recall.

The State DEC & Area Fire Departments announced that the annual Burn Ban will be from March 16th to May 14th this year. Open Burning of brush or debris is prohibited during that time-frame, to prevent wildfires & grass fires during the traditional driest time of the year.

A.M. NEWS MONDAY 3-2-26

Following U.S. military operations in Iran, State Police are taking precautionary steps to protect communities across the state. Troopers are increasing their presence at religious, diplomatic, and cultural sites in coordination with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners. So far, there were no specific, credible threats to New York, residents are asked to remain alert and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement.

The Grand Union grocery store on East Main Street in Norwich is closing On March 7th, leaving many city without its only local grocery option within walking distance of Downtown. City officials are working with state & federal representatives to try to bring a centrally located grocery store to downtown Norwich. The Grand Union in Hartwick Seminary is also schedule to close permanently this week.

The Governor's Office reminds New Yorkers that March is Maple Month. Residents & visitors are encouraged To Participate in Upcoming Maple Weekends on March 21-22 and 28-29, and Special Promotions at New York’s Welcome Centers. New York State Ranks Second in the Nation in Maple Production behind Vermont, New York Maple Producers had 829,000 Gallons of Maple Syrup in 2025.

P.M. NEWS FRIDAY 2-13-26

Payton Gendron of Conklin appeared in court today seeking to have his federal trial moved from Buffalo to New York City. Gendron murdered 10 people in a Buffalo area TOPS supermarket in 2022, Gendron is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole from his State trial, he still faces a federal trial in which prosecutors are pursuing the death penalty. Also, Gendron's parents have reached settlements with the attorneys representing the victims families & the survivors, The gun shop, Vintage Firearms formerly of Endicott, settled lawsuits for selling the AR-15 to Gendron that was used in the murders, Means LLC settled a lawsuit for falsely advertised about magazine locks used by Gendron, claiming that they complied with New York State Gun laws.

The State Department of Motor Vehicles will launch a new technology system, All DMV offices will close at 2:00 PM today, with online and phone services also unavailable during the transition. DMV operations are expected to fully resume on Wednesday.

State DEC announced the 2026 dates for Free Fishing Days in New York, where the requirement for a freshwater fishing license is waived. The next Free Fishing days will be this weekend February 14–15, as well as on June 27–28, September 26 for National Hunting and Fishing Day, and November 11 for Veterans Day. More information is available at the dec.ny.gov/regulatory/permits-licenses/sporting-and-use/sporting/decals.

A 2026 Candidates Forum will be held in Franklin Saturday at 3:00 PM, by Franklin Forward at 574 Main Street Franklin. Candidates scheduled to attend include 51st state senate candidate Michele Frazier and Assembly candidates Janet Tweed, Mary Finneran & Thomas Boomhower.

P.M. NEWS TUESDAY 2-3-26

The State DEC announced that on January 28th, in the Town of New Lisbon, Forest Rangers responded for a search for a missing 70-year-old after her husband called to report her missing. Otsego County Sheriff’s Deputies followed her tracks to Butternut Creek, A Forest Ranger Laymon went to County Route 12, where the road crosses the creek, and spotted the missing subject standing in a cornfield. Otsego County Emergency Medical Services transported the patient to Bassett Hospital.

Local government sales tax collections in New York state totaled $24.4 billion in calendar year 2025, an increase of 4.5%, or $1 billion, from 2024, according to a report released today by State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli. Aggregate county collections outside of New York City grew 4%, or $443 million, in 2025 compared to the previous year. 52 of 57 Counties experienced an increase in collections, Chenango County had the highest growth at 11.8%, followed by Yates, Hamilton and Delaware at 10.7%.

The latest Sienna Institute Polling has Governor Kathy Hochul holding a commanding lead over Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, 54-28%. Among registered Democrats, Hochul has an overwhelming 64-11% lead over Lt. Governor Antonio Delgado. 6 of the Governors proposals received 58-68% support, including eliminating state income tax on the first $25,000 earned in tips, ensuring immigration enforcement targeting those in the country illegally, cannot occur in sensitive locations such as schools, hospitals, & places of worship, increasing childcare funding & providing $30 million in payments to farmers to offset what Hochul calls rising costs due to tariffs (59-17%).

Delaware County District Attorney Shawn Smith announced that 62 year old Amber Sines of Sidney pleaded guilty in the Village of Sidney Court to Driving While Intoxicated, Sines was sentenced yesterday to 60 days in jail to be followed by 3 years of probation supervision, her license was revoked, and she will be required to install an ignition interlock device in any vehicle she owns or operates if she re-obtains the privilege to drive. Sines was arrested last March by State Police after observing a vehicle sitting stationery at the intersection of State Highway 8 and Delaware Avenue in the Village of Sidney, the vehicle had an expired registration and inspection and she failed Standardized Field Sobriety Tests at the scene and was placed into custody.

On January 31st, State Police conducted an Underage Drinking Detail in Otsego County, all 14 business were in compliance, NONE of the locations checked sold alcohol to a person under that age of 21. The detailed focused on Otsego County Businesses in Oneonta, Schenevus & Worcester, During these investigations, businesses are checked utilizing a Trooper in plain clothes and one or several underage operatives who cannot lie about their age or provide a false date of birth (if asked).

Clark Farms of Delhi announced today that they have decided to close the doors to the Creamery, and have ceased production starting today. The Farm store will remain open until all existing products have been sold, more information is available on the Clark Farms Facebook page.

The State DEC today filed a notice with the Federal Energy Regulatory Committee to oppose Constitution Pipeline Company, LLC’s petition to reissue a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity and override DEC’s oversight authority under the Clean Water Act for the proposed pipeline project. The DEC officials said that the company is attempting to bypass critical environmental reviews and undercut New York State’s regulatory authority. DEC did not waive its Clean Water Act Section 401 authority and will explore all available options to defend the state rights.

A.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 1-28-26

The Broome County Sheriff's Office arrested 46 year old Dana DioGuardi of the Town of Chenango after allegedly stealing multiple vehicles, one containing two children in the Town of Chenango. Early Monday, Deputies responded to a report of a stolen vehicle, the owner had left the SUV running in the parking lot of the Dollar General on Route 12 as he was plowing snow using another vehicle, he saw a woman drive off with 2 children inside the vehicle, he followed in the 2nd vehicle, DioGuardi stopped, he pulled her out, she then tried to take the other vehicle but the owner removed her from that vehicle, she fled on foot & was uncooperative, fighting with deputies & kicking a State Trooper in the face. DioGuardi was charged with Grand Larceny, Attempted Grand Larceny, 2 Counts of Child Endangerment, 2 Counts of Kidnapping, Resisting Arrest, Obstruction of Governmental Administration, she was remanded to the Broome County Correctional Facility.

State tax receipts totaled $85.8 billion through three quarters of the State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2025-26, $2.3 billion higher than estimates released in the Division of Budget’s Mid-Year Update, according to the State Comptroller's Office. Collections were $5.9 billion higher than those through December 2024, Personal income tax receipts totaled $44.9 billion and were $1.5 billion above projections and $4.2 billion higher than the same period in SFY 2024-25, due to the impact of wage and financial market growth over the course of the year. The Full report can be found at osc.ny.gov.

The Delaware County Sheriff's Office is assisting with a Missing Persons Report from Weehawken New Jersey. 20 year old Emilio Acosta left home on December 18th, he had 2 knapsacks and his ski helmet, he is familiar with the Roxbury area and his family reportedly used to go skiing at Belleayre Mountain. Acosta is 6'1", about 190 pounds with black hair & he was wearing a New York Yankees cream colored sweatshirt, Gray Sweatpants and black Timberland boots. Delaware County residents who may spot Acosta are asked to call the Weehawken Police Department at (201)863-7800.

New York State recently announced more than $25.5 million in grants to support 29 water quality and climate resiliency projects in the State DEC’s Region 7. In Broome County, the Town of Chenango will receive $560,000 construct a salt storage facility, The Friends of the Upper Delaware River, receives $458,537 to conduct an in-stream stabilization and floodplain reconnection project to improve flood resiliency, aquatic habitat, and water quality in the Upper Delaware River Watershed, and Broome County will receive $400,000 to purchase a new vacuum truck to reduce sediment flow from catch basins discharging into the Minor Tributaries to Lower North Susquehanna River and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

P.M. NEWS TUESDAY 12-30-25

Governor Hochul announced that improvements are scheduled to be made to more Than 4,120 Highway Lane Miles and over 3600 bridges will be Replaced, Rehabilitated or Improved Across the State. In the Southern Tier, 644 miles of highway, & 374 bridges will be upgraded.

State DEC announced another record-breaking year for the CleanSweepNY program. More than 645,500 pounds of chemicals, including pesticides, paint, oil, flammable and nonflammable liquids, and other hazardous materials, were collected during 2025—the highest amount in the program’s 23-year history and an overall increase of 9.3% from the previous record collection year. For more information about CleanSweepNY or to request a registration form for a future collection, visit dec.ny.gov.

State Forest Rangers & the Otsego County Sheriff's Office conducted a Wilderness Search On December 25 at 6:18 pm., the Sheriff’s Office called for assistance in the search for a patient who jumped out of an ambulance. The ambulance was transporting the 47-year-old unidentified Unadilla resident from Fox Hospital to Bassett Medical Center, Ambulance personnel pursued the patient but lost sight near Walnut and Linden Streets, they searched a wooded area, about 5 hours later, a civilian notified Rangers that someone was pounding on the front door of a house on Linden Street, a Deputy found the patient sitting at the bus stop shelter and drove the patient to the hospital.

A.M. NEWS TUESDAY 12-30-25

1 of the new laws going into effect on Thursday January 1st, is an effort to crack down on money laundering and "shell company" secrecy, the New York LLC Transparency Act stipulated that liability companies (LLC's) formed in or authorized to do business in New York must now disclose their "beneficial owners", or the actual people who own or control the company, to the Department of State. Existing companies have until the end of the year to file, while any new LLC's formed on or after January 1, 2026, January 1 have to submit the information within 30 days of formation.

38 year old Duprey Range of Binghamton pleaded guilty in Broome County Court to Criminal Possession of a Weapon and will be sentenced to 7½ years in State Prison, followed by 5 years of post-release supervision. Range also pleaded guilty to Attempted Aggravated Harassment of an Employee by an Inmate, in exchange for a sentence of ½ to 3 years in State Prison, to be served concurrently with the sentence on the weapons conviction. Sentencing is scheduled for March 25, 2026, in Broome County Court.

The State Department of Motor Vehicles reported that New York State saw a drop in the number of fatal crashes in 2025 compared to 2024. From January 2025 to October 2025, there were 681 recorded motor vehicle fatalities, a decrease from the 766 deaths reported during the same time frame in 2024. In the upstate counties, the number of fatalities fell from 490 in 2024 to 420. Fatal motorcycle crashes also dropped in 2025, from 157 to 134.

P.M. NEWS TUESDAY 12-16-25

The State DEC announced that the 2025–2026 whitetail deer season is about to take a brief pause here in New York State, hunters will see a gap between the regular deer season and what is known as the Holiday Hunt in New York. The State introduced the Holiday Hunt in recent years, it gives hunters another opportunity just after Christmas and into the New Year, to harvest a deer or fill an unused tag. More information is available at dec.ny.gov.

A new Sienna College Poll show Governor Kathy Hochul with a 49% to 30% lead over Congresswoman Elise Stefanik’s in the 2026 gubernatorial race, with 20% remaining undecided. Stefanik has a 3-to-1 lead over her Republican primary rival, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who has the support of President Trump. Hochul leads her own primary opponent, Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado, 56%-13% among Democratic respondents.

The State Department of Health continues to monitor the outbreak of the flu statewide, which is now deemed prevalent in the State. There were 23 respiratory outbreaks in hospitals and 51 respiratory outbreaks in nursing homes in the 1st week of December, a total of 302 viral respiratory pathogen outbreaks have been reported from hospitals and nursing homes. Influenza A is the predominant virus with 93% falling into that category, There were no pediatric flu deaths reported this season, there were no COVID-19-or RSV pediatric deaths reported this season.

A.M. NEWS TUESDAY 12-16-25

Chenango County Sheriff’s Office arrested 64 year old Wayne Howe of North Norwich for criminal mischief, after deputies responded to a domestic dispute in North Norwich. Howe was additionally charged with Criminal Obstruction of Breathing, Unlawful Imprisonment & Harassment, he was processed at the Chenango County Sheriff's Office and was arraigned & remanded to the Chenango County Jail on $1,000 cash bail. Howe is to appear in the Town of North Norwich Court at a later date.

31 year old Mathew Hall of Columbia, South Carolina, was found guilty of 1st degree Rape in Broome County Court, The conviction stems from a sexual assault in the City of Binghamton in October of 2024 where Hall engaged in sexual contact with another person who was incapable of consent due to being physically helpless. Hall is scheduled to be sentenced on March 19, 2026, in Broome County Court where he will be required to register as a Sex Offender and faces up to 25 years in State Prison.

The State DEC is now accepting applications for $851,255 in Volunteer Fire Capacity grants to help rural fire departments protect public safety and natural resources. The application deadline is December 22, 2025. Interested fire departments can obtain applications and additional information about the grant program, at (518) 402-8839, or at the DEC website at dec.ny.gov.

Broome County District Attorney's office announced today that Nicholas Neer of Binghamton, was sentenced in Broome County Court to 7 to 14 years of incarceration following his pleas of guilty to 3rd degree Burglary and Criminal Possession of Stolen Property. Neer’s convictions stem from an investigation earlier this year by the State Police and the Broome County Sheriff’s Office into a series of burglaries and thefts in the towns of Windsor, Union, and Kirkwood, they identified Neer as a key participant responsible for breaking into multiple properties and possessing stolen items tied to those incidents.

A.M. NEWS TUESDAY 12-2-25

New Yorkers can now apply for HEAP, eligible households could receive up to $996, depending on their heating method. The program's opening was delayed due to the 43-day federal government shutdown, Assistance is available on a first-come, first-served basis, and households can apply online, by mail or in person at local social services departments. Click dps.ny.gov/energy-affordability-program for more information.

The State Department of Health is alerting the public to an increase in measles cases in parts of the state. To date, there 35 total cases , with 16 in Upstate Counties, New Yorkers are urged to be up to date on their measles, mumps and rubella vaccines. Measles is a highly contagious, serious respiratory disease that causes rash and fever. More information can be found at health.ny.gov.

39 year old Michael Davis pleaded guilty in Broome County Court to 1st Degree Assault stemming from a violent attack, on October 22, where Davis acted with the intent to cause serious physical injury to another individual by means of am unidentified instrument, Davis will serve 7 years in state prison, followed by 5 years of post-release supervision, Davis is scheduled to be sentenced in Broome County Court on March 3, 2026.

The Chenango Arts Council will host the "Night Before Christmas" free movie & Popcorn event tonight at 7:00 PM, the Tinsel-Town Free movie will be held on the 9th with "It's a Wonderful Life, and the 16th with "Scrooge" all moviees will be at the Martin W. Kappel Theater in downtown Norwich.

State DEC announced more than $1.72 million in grants to 6 land trusts for 9 projects that help conserve local forests. The land trusts will purchase new conservation easements that will protect air and water quality, preserve wildlife habitat and biodiversity, support sustainable forest management, and increase outdoor recreation opportunities for the public. Locally, the Otsego Land Trust, will get $54,250 to purchase a conservation easement on the 41-acre Burr Forest property in the town of Westford, adjacent to Betty and Wilbur Davis State Park. The easement property is 90 percent forested, and includes wetlands and hemlock stands, along with large concentrations of native plants.

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that $97.4 million in new funding is available for active transportation-related projects and programs that support the advancement of healthy lifestyles across New York State. Local Governments, Transit Agencies, Public Land Agencies, Tribal Governments are eligible, the State Department of Transportation will be accepting applications for this funding opportunity through March 12th 2026. The application is available at dot.ny.gov.

P.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 11-12-25

State Attorney General Letitia James announced that a coalition of 24 Attorney's General, won a court order that will temporarily protect SNAP benefits. The ruling allowed for a temporary restraining order, which will stop the Trump administration from going after states that approved the release of SNAP benefits for the month of November, The President sent a message to Governors to immediately undo the Snap benefits, Several states, including New York, had already begun issuing the benefits in accordance with the USDA’s Friday memo stating that the agency would soon release full funding.

The Governor's Office announced an emergency investment of nearly $550,000 in assistance for SUNY community college food pantries and related efforts to help campuses address the ongoing food insecurity crisis as a result of the longest federal government shutdown in United States history. The emergency assistance will help the food pantries located at each of SUNY’s 30 community colleges restock supplies and support students in need, more information is available at suny.edu.

The State DEC announced that the State's most popular big game hunting season begins on Saturday, November 15 and continues through December 7th. The DEC is encouraging all hunters to take steps to remain safe, Most hunting-related injuries occur when hunters are climbing in and out of a tree stand. Hunters must wear fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink clothing (either a hat, vest, or jacket which are visible in all directions) when pursuing deer or bear with a firearm, and should always follow the basic rules of firearm safety:

The Salvation Army in Sidney is looking for Bell Ringers to participate in their annual Red Kettle Fund drive, through December 24th. Bell Ringers will be located at the Sidney Price Chopper, to volunteer call 607-435-5882.

A.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 11-12-25

Oneonta Firefighters, with assistance from other area fire departments responded to a blaze at Bordingers Welding and Fabricating on Winney Hill Road Tuesday afternoon. 1 person was taken to Fox hospital for smoke inhalation and was released. The fire caused extensive damage to the business, the cause of the fire is under investigation.

The State Department of Health is updating its alert to parents and caregivers regarding the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recall of ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula products, following a multi-state outbreak of infant botulism. The Department reminds health care providers that powdered infant formula, while generally safe, can occasionally contain contamination. Consumers can visit the FDA recall webpage at fda.gov for updated information, product photos and instructions for disposal or replacement.