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Governor Cuomo directed State Labor Commissioner Peter Rivera to convene a Wage Board to review and recommend any changes to the relevant regulations for food service workers and service employees in New York State. Tipped workers are paid a required base rate. Their tips added to that base pay must equal or exceed the minimum wage. The Wage Board will meet to review regulations for food service workers and service employees and recommend changes if needed. The minimum wage will increase to $8.75 on December 31st, and to $9.00 on December 31st, 2015. A schedule of public hearings will be announced soon.

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The Chenango Summer Jam will be held Saturday On the Park, in Downtown Norwich. Musical acts will perform starting at 5:00 PM; more information is available at chenangosummerjams.org

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The Annual Greene Arts & Crafts Festival will be held Saturday in Downtown Greene from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. More than 200 artisans will exhibit their arts & crafts on the streets of Greene. More information is available at 656-8225 or greenenys.com.

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Pre-trial hearings for Ganesh Ramsaran will be closed to both the public and the media, by Chenango County judge Frank Revoir.  Ramsaran is accused of killing his wife Jennifer Ramsaran in December of 2012, her body was found about 2 months later in a wooded area in Pharsalia. Ramsaran’s murder trial is scheduled to begin in September.

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The murder trial of 40-year-old Aaron Powell continues in Broome county court.  Powell is accused of murdering his estranged wife Christina Powell and 24-year-old Mario Masciarelli at the Powell’s Binghamton home in March of 2013.  Prosecutors allege that Powell killed Masciarelli with a baseball bat and strangled his wife with an electrical cord.  Powell remains held in the Broome County jail without bail during the trial.

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The Anti-Fracking movement claimed victory this week when a supreme court judge tossed out lawsuits from the Joint Landowners Coalition and Norse energy, the 2 entities were trying to push Governor Cuomo to make a decision on Hydrofracking after 6 years of a moratorium.  Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Rob Astorino vowed to move forward with allowing hydro-fracking is elected as governor in the November election.  Governor Cuomo inherited the gas-drilling moratorium from the previous administration of David Paterson; research is still being performed by the state health department following thousands of [public comments on the issue.

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The Village of Sidney & the Fagan Flyers will hold an “Airport Appreciation day this Saturday at the Sidney Municipal Airport. Spokesman Gary Klindt told WCDO News about some of the events planned:

(Gary Klindt 7-16-14)

The event will run this Saturday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, more information is available at village of Sidney.org.

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State attorney General Eric Schneidermann announced that almost 23 million records of New Yorkers have been exposed to 5,000 data breaches since 2006.  Schneiderman reported that 7.3 million records of New Yorkers were exposed in about 900 data breaches last year alone, including the highly publicized Target breach as well as Living Social. Schneiderman is urging businesses to identify and minimize data collection practices and create an information security plan that includes encryption. Consumers are advised to create strong passwords and update them frequently, and to closely monitor credit and bank statements each month.

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The Otsego county health department will hold a free rabies clinic today at the Morris fire department.  The clinic will run from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, for dogs 7 cats at least 3 months of age.

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The Sidney community band’s 12th annual Don Clayton memorial present their Trailside Music series every Wednesday evening in July & august, at the pavilion in Keith Clark Park.  The Walton community band will perform tonight from 6:30 to 8:00 PM.

(Cuomo 5-14-14)

Cuomo said that last year; over 54 million people visited the state, after the state spent an unprecedented 40 million dollars in advertising, a move that led to an addition to the state’s over all economy of about 55 Billion dollars. Billy Joel & Former Buffalo Bills Running Back Thurman Thomas are expected to participate in ads for New York state Tourism.

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Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Rob Astorino has chosen Chemung County Sheriff Christopher Moss, as the candidate for Lieutenant Governor for this year’s election. The state Republican Convention kicked off today in Westchester County, the Democratic Convention will be held in Suffolk County next week.

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Jury selection will now begin July 10^th for the trial of Aaron Powell of Binghamton, who is accused of murdering his estranged wife and one of her friends in the family home. Jury selection was scheduled to start this Friday, but Powell’s attorney asked for an adjournment at Monday’s pre-trial hearing. Broome County Judge Cawley made the decision to allow the adjournment. Prosecutors accuse Powell of killing 35-year-old Christina Powell and 24-year-old Mario Masciarelli in March 2013, he is charged with 1^st degree murder and 2 counts of 2^nd degree murder.

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Shipping hydraulic fracturing waste product into the state, for treatment or disposal, would be banned under legislation introduced by Democrats in the state Senate. The 4 bills would also ban the waste from being used to melt ice off roads and bar treatment facilities and landfills from accepting the byproduct. A moratorium on Fracking is still in effect pending a review by the State Health Department, the fracking byproduct is still being disposed of in landfills. The DEC would also establish regulations for disposal of waste product and prohibit the sale or use of the liquid waste.

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A Chenango county Corrections officer has been charged with a felony for unauthorized use of a computer program. 25-year-old Ashley Stewart of Guilford was arrested after an investigation determined that she gained access to the sheriff’s office computer & a program that she was not authorized to use, while employed as a corrections officer. Stewart was charged with computer trespass, she was ticketed & released pending future court action.

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New York’s Industrial Development Agencies supported more than 4,500 projects and provided $554 million in tax exemptions in 2012, but the job  gains fell by 2,417 compared to 2011. Comptroller Tom DiNapoli said the 112 IDAs increased the value of tax exemptions to projects by 9.4% in 2012, but the number of jobs  gained from the projects fell 1.1%. IDAs have drawn criticism for offering lucrative tax breaks with little public scrutiny and questionable returns. The IDAs doled out $1.3 billion in total tax exemptions in 2012.

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The State Senate voted 44 to 16 to make New York state the final state to permit Mixed Martial Arts, the latest vote in a 6-year bid to make it legal.   The bill’s prospects are uncertain in the state assembly, which has declined to vote in favor to authorize the state Athletic commissioner to regulate the sport like it does for boxing.   The assembly has until June 19^th to pass the bill before the end of the session.

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The Sidney central school district announced that the Annual Public Hearing for the School Budget would be today, at 7:00pm in the High School Library. The District Budget Vote and Election is Tuesday, May 20, 2014 at the High School Auditorium Lobby.

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State University of New York Empire State College will hold public information session today about its associate and bachelor’s degree programs. The session will be held at the Binghamton location at the State Office Building, Room 505, 44 Hawley Street, at 4:30 PM.   More information is available at 721-8651.

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US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand & Congressman Richard Hanna announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture finalized a Commercial Item Description for Greek yogurt that will allow for the purchases of Greek Yogurt for federally funded school breakfast and lunch programs.  New York is the top Greek yogurt producing state in the nation, passing California by more than 15% in 2012, more than 8000 New Yorkers are now employed by companies like Chobani in Chenango county, 90% of the milk used by Chobani comes from New York Dairy farms.
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(Cuomo 4-1-13)

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Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies were called to the scene of a brush fire on East Terry Clove road in the Town of Hamden Saturday. 54-year-old Joseph Kilanowski had been burning wood debris on his property when the fire grew beyond his control and spread into a nearby wooded area. The Delhi Fire Department responded to the scene,  Kilanowski was charged with “Negligently Causing a Forest Fire”, he was released on an appearance ticket and is scheduled to appear April 15^th, in the Town of Hamden Court.  Officials remind area residents that the annual New York State burn ban is in effect through May.

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Delaware County Sheriff Deputy’s investigated a 1-car motor vehicle fire Friday on Catskill Turnpike road near ELK Creek road in the town of Meredith. The car belonging to 32 year old David Alleyne of Delhi started smoking while he was operating the vehicle. Alleyne then attempted to extinguish the fire with water but was unable to do so and exited the vehicle before it became fully engulfed in flames. No injuries were reported.

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State Police conducted a search of a residence following a traffic stop, leading to the discovery of a “1 Pot” meth-lab and the arrest of the homeowner.   State Police stopped 50 year old ERIK MULLER of Whitney Point, following an investigation by CNET, MULLER had a suspended License, his vehicle was towed back to his residence at his request, where police noticed items in plain view used to manufacture meth.  MULLER was charged with Unlawful Manufacture of Methamphetamine, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, and 2 counts of Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia, he was arraigned and remanded to the Broome County Jail without bail. The investigation is continuing.

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The city of Oneonta will begin a drainage improvement project on Morgan Avenue and Butler Street today.  City officials said that the work includes the installation of a new underground storm drainage system, followed by the milling & paving & the installation of new curbs on Morgan, from Chestnut to Butler Street, and on Butler from Morgan to West End Avenue.  The work is expected to be completed by mid-June.

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Sidney Village police arrested 41-year-old Stacy Martin of Sidney on a charge of 3^rd degree robbery.  Martin is accused of forcibly stealing a wallet & faces court action at a later date.

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State Police at Sidney arrested 21 year old Patrick Chandler of Afton for Driving While Intoxicated with a BAC of .13%. The arrest resulted from a traffic stop on State Route 7 in the Village of Afton; Chandler will appear in the Town of Afton Court at a later date.

The Broome County Sheriff’s Department announced that the Susquehanna County Sheriff’s Office has 39-year-old Aaron Powell in custody. Powell is the ‘person of interest’ in the double homicide in Powell’s house in the Town of Binghamton.  An autopsy ruled that the deaths of 35 year old Christina Powell, and 24 year old Mario Masciarelli were homicides, their bodies were found Friday at 4185 Lisi Lane Binghamton.  Powell was taken into custody at a store in the Montrose Pennsylvania.

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State Senator Jim Seward announced senate passage of legislation he co-sponsored that would increase the penalty for killing or injuring a police animal.

(Seward 3-26-13)

The senate bill followed the shooting of FBI K-9 “Ape” in Herkimer at the conclusion of a standoff with 64 year old Kurt Meyers of Mohawk, who shot six people, four fatally earlier this month.  The bill has been sent to the assembly.

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The Joint Landowners Coalition announced that they are seeking contributions to fund the “Takings” lawsuit against New York State.  Chemung Canal Trust Company in Binghamton will administer the fundraising account. Donations for the lawsuit can be made payable to “Landowner Defense Fund” and mailed to JLCNY, PO Box 2839, Binghamton, 13902, Donations can also be made by credit card at the Coalition website and clicking on the Landowner Defense Fund PayPal Link at jlcny.org.

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The state Department of Transportation plans a paving project on Oneonta’s Southside and on a portion of Main Street this year, DOT Region 9 Spokesman Dave Hamburg explains:

(Dave Hamburg 3-26-13)

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The New York Lottery presented a $3,000,000 scratch-off prize to Chadd Bill of Liverpool, who won a top prize on the 50X the Money scratch-off game.  Bill, bought his tickets a Sunoco station in Liverpool, he claimed his winning ticket at the Lottery’s Customer Service Center in Syracuse on February 28^th.

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Sidney Village police arrested 42-year-old Laurie Youngs of Norwich, on charges of petty larceny & endangering the welfare of a child.  Youngs is accused of stealing $180.00 in merchandise for the Sidney K-Mart, she faces court action at a later date.

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The Broome county sheriff’s department is searching for 39-year-old Aaron Powell of Binghamton, following the discovery of the bodies of 35-year-old Christina Powell and 24-year-old Mario Masciarelli at 4185 Lisi lane in Binghamton Friday.  Powell may be driving a black 2007 GMC Denali SUV with license number GDU 3346.  Anyone with information on Powell’s whereabouts to call 778-1911 or 778-1196.

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The Chenango county sheriffs department arrested 23-year-old John Quinn of Sherburne for 3^rd degree Assault.  Quinn allegedly smashed a drinking glass over a male victims face, the victim was transported to a local hospital, and Quinn was arraigned in the Town of Columbus Court and remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility on $2,000 cash bail.

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Delaware County Sheriffs Deputies arrested 26-year-old Melissa Howard of Walton for Unlawfully Growing Cannabis & Unlawful Possession of Marijuana. 32 plants were seized from the residence; Howard was released on appearance tickets for the charges and is scheduled to appear in the Village of Walton Court on April 4^th,