WCDO Radio News

P.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 8-10-22

Over 1,300 of cases of Monkeypox have been reported in New York State so far, about 25% of the nationwide total, the Majority of State cases are downstate. There are 2 vaccines which were developed for smallpox that have been proven to help with Monkey pox, which requires 2 doses, 4 weeks apart, to prevent the disease within a certain timeframe. The State has recevied well over 100,000 vaccines, appointments should be scheduled through your County health department.

Governor Kathy Hochul announced that $10 million will be made available to assist in creating and operating threat assessment management teams, to combat domestic terrorism, that will be made up from law enforcement agencies, mental health professionals, & school officials from around the state. The Executive order was issued in response to the Mass Shooting at a Buffalo Supermarket, where Payton Gendron of Conklin is accused of targeting the neighborhood because of a high percentage of black residents.

2 people have been reported deceased following a head on crash on the Vestal Parkway Monday night near Binghamton University. 1 person was pronounced dead at the scene and the 2nd passed away Tuesday at an area hospital, the investigation is ongoing, the names of the deceased have not been released.

The State officials are warning New Yorkers to kill the invasive spotted lanternfly, which were located on Staten Island 2 summers ago, they have migrated throughout New York City, Long Island and into the Hudson Valley. The Spotted Lanternfly feeds on 70 species of plants, including several important New York crops that are important to the state's agricultural economy. Anyone who sees a spotted lanternfly is asked to fill out a survey so the Department of Agriculture at survey123.arcgis.com.

The American Red Cross continues schedule blood drives as blood supplies remain critically low in the summer months. Currently, about 62% of the U.S. population are eligible to give blood, but only about 3% donates, Spokesperson Meg Rossman comments:

(Meg Rossman 8-10-22)

Several blood drives are scheduled locally in this month, all who donate in August will be automatically entered for a chance to win gas for a year, everyone will also receive a $10 e-gift card to a merchant of choice. Donors can schedule an appointment with the Red Cross Blood Donor App, by visiting RedCrossBlood.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS.

A.M. NEWS Wednesday 8-10-22

State Police arrested 46 year old Justin Valk of Davenport, for 2nd degree Manslaughter and Criminally Negligent Homicide. Troopers responded August 1st to a residence on Pine Cliff Circle in the town of Davenport for a medical event involving 47 year old Stephanie Valk of Davenport, she was transported to a local hospital, and died on August 3rd. Police accused Justin Valk of being awarde that Stephanie Valk was suffering from a medical event, inflicted additional physical harm, and failed to call for medical assistance, he was arrested and arraigned & was remanded to the Delaware County Jail on $30,000 cash bail or $75,000 bond. Anyone with information in this case, is asked to call State Police at 607-561-7400.

Chobani will host the World Refugee Forum Today online. Chobani founder and CEO Hamdi Ulukaya stated that they have successfully brought many refugees to work in their plants, Speakers will include Ulukaya, Congressmen Michael McCaul of Texas & Jason Crow of Colorado; among others, The virtual event will be held at 1:00 PM, it is free and open to the public. To register go to chobanirefugeeforum.com.

P.M. NEWS Wednesday 7-13-22

The Delhi Police Department responded to the report of a potential Active shooter incident at the Delaware County Courthouse, at about 10:30 this morning, which led to a lock-down & evacuations of downtown businesses and the Delaware Academy, according to Delhi Police Chief Mike Mills:

(Delhi Police Chief Mike Mills 7-13-22)

Chief Mills said that his department received assistance from State Police, Delaware County Sheriff's Office & SUNY Delhi University Police, he also said that there was no panicking among those who had to clear out the area downtown, The village was re-opened as normal by early this afternoon.

Governor Kathy Hochul announced the successful implementation of 988 in New York State as the new three-digit number to call or text to be connected to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. All 62 counties in New York State will be covered for the launch of the new 988 Lifeline, which will ensure that anyone with a New York area code contacting 988 will be connected to one of New York's 988 crisis centers. In 2020, NYS received 142,827 calls, a 13 percent increase in just one year.

The Tops supermarket store in Buffalo, which was the site of a mass shooting that killed 10 people on May 14th, will reopen to the public this Friday. The store has been closed & underwent extensive renovations since the shooting, 18 year old Payton Gendron of Conklin is being held on 10 counts of 1st-degree murder, 2nd-degree murder as a hate crime and 3 counts of attempted murder as a hate crime, he is being held without bail pending future court action.

Tioga Downs Casino Resort President and CEO Jeff Gural has been nominated by President Joe Biden to join his administration, as the chair of the Public Buildings Reform Board. The Board is an independent agency used to identify opportunities for the Federal government to significantly reduce its inventory of civilian real property, which would cut costs. Gural is expected to accept the nomination.

39 year-old Isaac Anzaroot of Brooklyn was arrested today by the Binghamton Police Warrant Division. Anzaroot is the owner of numerous properties in the city, he was wanted on 12 bench warrants and 2 arrest warrants related to housing code violations & for failing to appear in court to answer those violations. The Binghamton Code Department condemned the First National Bank building at 95 Court due to fire alarm system issues, which forced many of Anzaroot's tenants to locate elsewhere.

A.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 7-13-22

The State DOT will be installing a new water main on State Route 7; Main Street in Otego, starting today, to facilitate a pavement, sidewalk and drainage project. Work will result in a short interruption of water service to village residents beginning at 10:00 AM, for about 3 hours.

State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli's office issued a follow up report on a 2019 audit of the Hancock Fire Department. The audit included recommendations for rental payments, disbursements made by the Treasurer and collections from the clothing organization, ambulance corporation and fundraising activities. Auditors revisited the department this year, the department has had 1 of 10 recommendations implemented, 3 were partially implemented and 6 were not implemented.

Commerce Chenango & the Bainbridge Chamber of Commerce are sponsoring a 5:05 Business After Hours event at Forged Brewery in at 1732 state Route 41 in Coventry today. Registration is available at the Commerce Chenango website events page.

P.M. NEWS MONDAY 6-20-22

State Police arrested 25 year old Mason Kneedler of Cortlandville was arrested for 5 counts of Possessing a Sexual Performance by a Child. Kneedler is accused of possessing images consistent with child sexual exploitation. An investigation was initiated after a cyber tip was received by the New York State Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Kneedler was issued appearance tickets to the Cortlandville Town Court on July 11th . .

Willow Run Foods and Chobani will be co-hosting a Recruitment Event this Thursday in Norwich. The event will run from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm at the Norwich CDO Workforce office at 1 O'Hara Drive in Norwich.

The New York Mets announced that star Pitcher Max Scherzer will make a rehab appearance with the Binghamton Rumble Ponies Tuesday night. Scherzer will be reunited with his Mets catcher James McCann, who is also currently rehabbing with Binghamton, they are scheduled to play Reading at 6:35, tickets are available at the Mirabito Stadium Box Office or online at milb.com/binghamton/tickets.

New York celebrated Juneteenth today, when the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act was signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul. The law will make it easier to sue over discriminatory voting policies and require areas with a history of civil right violations to get approval before changing election rules.

The Associated Press reported today that New York’s new law barring sales of bullet-resistant vests to most civilians doesn’t cover the type of armor worn by Payton Gendron of Conklin, when he killed 10 people at a Buffalo supermarket, May 14th. Gendron wore a steel-plated vest, which stopped a bullet fired at him by a security guard in the supermarket. New York’s law restricts sales of soft bullet-resistant vests to people who work in law enforcement and the military, plus people in certain other professions that require protective gear, that list has not been finalized.

A.M. NEWS MONDAY 6-20-22

Oneonta Police arrested 31-year-old Terry DeCutler of Sidney and 34-year-old Nicholas DeCutler of Unadilla,, for 2nd degree murder, for the May 30th murder of Kaleb O'Neill in the alley near 6 Dietz Street. They were arraigned in City of Oneonta Court and were remanded to the custody of the Otsego County Sheriff pending court action on Wednesday. The investigation is continuing, Anyone with additional information is asked to contact the Oneonta Police Department Detectives Division at (607) 432-1111.

State Troopers were dispatched Friday to a report of a drowning at Highland Park in the town of Union. When troopers arrived, a 12-year-old boy had already been pulled out of the pool by lifeguards and CPR was being performed. The 12-year-old was not breathing and had no pulse. Troopers, EMT & members if the Endwell Fire Department eventually had the 12-year-old breathing and did have a pulse when he was transported to Wilson Hospital, & he was later airlifted to Upstate University Hospital where he is still listed in critical condition.

Governor Hochul announced that $567 million is now available to help low-income electric and gas utility customers pay off past utility bills. This one-time, low-income utility bill credit will be applied to affected customers' bills by the utilities, & requires no action by customers enrolled in the EAP program, The credit is expected to be applied to customers' accounts by Aug. 1st. .