Secretary to the Governor Melissa DeRosa is under fire, for saying to some state lawmakers in a ZOOM meeting that the administration “Froze Up” after being asked last summer for information by the US Department of Justice, regarding the death toll in the state’s nursing homes from COVID 19. Local State Assemblyman Joe Angelino is the Ranking Republican on the Assembly Oversight, Analysis and Investigation Committee, he told WCDO news of his reaction:

(Angelino 2-12-21)

The State Health Department has released updated statistics in the last week that greatly increased the number of deaths of Nursing home residents to over 12,700, by including those who died from COVID while in a hospital.  This Afternoon, DeRosa clarified her statements by stating that Governor’s Office had asked State Lawmakers to wait for the administration’s response on Nursing Home deaths, so the administration could first resolve the Federal inquiry, she said that they were fully transparent with the Federal & then state inquiries in that order.  Some Lawmakers are calling for limiting the Governor’s emergency powers & for the resignations of DeRosa; many have also been calling for the resignation of State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker.

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2010 Unatego graduate Aaron “Frosty” Foster, who grew up in Wells Bridge, passed away unexpectedly Thursday in Tennessee.  Foster was a bluegrass musician, who currently had the #6 song on the Bluegrass charts, with Troy Boone, entitled “Country Fool”. Foster was inducted in 2020 into the Unatego Central School District Hall Of Distinction, he was 28.

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Major League Baseball announced today that all 120 Minor League Clubs offered an invitation to become Professional Development League (“PDL”) license holders, have officially agreed to accept. The Binghamton Rumble Ponies, selected as partners by the New York Mets, will provide both facilities and communities that are essential to the development of the next generation of big-league stars.  The Rumble Ponies will compete in a brand new League for the 2021 season and beyond. They will take part in the New Double-A Northeast League, and will be seeded in the Northeast division.

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State Police arrested 33 year old Carlos Smith of Utica, for torturing, injuring & failing to feed 6 dogs left at his former residence in the town of Davenport in December.  Smith was officially charged with 6 counts of failing to provide proper sustenance to animals; a warrant was issued for his arrest, which occurred late Thursday afternoon.

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State Police located 15 year old Trevor Mallory in the City in Binghamton in good health; he was turned over to the custody of a family member.  Mallory was reported missing on February 2nd, where he was last seen leaving the town of Colesville in a vehicle.  State Police stated that tips from the public & and the sharing of Mallory’s picture on social media led to his reappearance.

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Republican Claudia Tenney was sworn in to serve in the New York 22nd Congressional District yesterday, she previously served in Congress from 2016 to 2018 when she lost her re-election bid to Democrat Anthony Brindisi, who she just defeated by 109 votes, the vote count wasn’t certified until earlier this week after a prolonged vote count & issues with ballots in Oneida & Chenango Counties. 

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A.O. Fox Tri-Town Campus in Sidney will hold a Blood Drive Monday from 1:30 PM to 6:30 PM, Spokesperson Rebecca Brooks-White said that there is a shortage of many blood types:

(Rebecca Brooks White 2-12-21)

Appointments may be made at redcrossblood.org or by calling 1-800-Red Cross.

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Chenango County Public Health reported another COVID related death today, bringing their total to 49. The report 102 active cases, 280 quarantined & 20 hospitalized, their total number of cases is up to 2285.

A.M. NEWS FRIDAY 2-12-21

State Police updated their information regarding Thursday’s crash of a garbage truck on State Route 17 in the town of Windsor.  The unidentified 64 year old driver from the Bronx was traveling at an unsafe speed, and made an unsafe lane change, he went through the guiderail and into the median, struck an earth embankment, the truck continued & the tractor became detached & overturned and came to rest in the median between the over passes for State Line Road.  The driver was taken to Wilson Hospital in Johnson City, the truck is registered to Lae Transport Corp in Newark, New Jersey, the investigation is continuing.

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Stadiums and arenas can reopen with limited spectators on February 23rd, following the success of the Buffalo Bills testing program, Governor Cuomo explained during a recent COVID 19 briefing:

(Cuomo 2-12-21)

Under the new reopening guidelines, the Barclays Center will open when the Brooklyn Nets host the Sacramento Kings.

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This weekend will be the first Free Fishing Weekend of the year, when anglers are permitted to fish for free without a license.  Tips on Ice fishing are available on the state DEC website, Participants are reminded to be socially distanced from others, wear masks & avoid sharing gear when possible.

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Delaware County Public Health reported 17 news COVID cases Thursday out of 352 tests, they have 116 active cases, 22 are hospitalized & 309 are quarantined.

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The next Delaware County Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative committee virtual meeting is Today at 1:00 pm. This meeting will be live-streamed on the Delaware County YouTube channel; the link will be shared 15 minutes prior to the start of the meeting on the Delaware County Facebook page.  The live-stream video will remain available on the Delaware County YouTube channel after the meeting has ended, and a recording will be available on Facebook.

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The Greater Oneonta Historical Society has a new exhibition coming to its History Center at 183 Main Street. “Up from the Ashes, Oneonta Shaped by Fire” opens Today, the exhibition covers the history of Oneonta’s early fire companies, the Oneonta Fire Department, & notable Oneonta fires,  it  will remain on display until May 1st, more information is available at 432-0960 or info@OneontaHistory.org.

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Governor Cuomo announced today that the State Positivity rate was at 8.3% of all tested for COVID 19 Monday.  Over 152,000 New Yorkers were tested statewide Monday, with 12,666 testing positive, hospitalization went up to almost 8600, there were 149 deaths.

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A Chenango County Sheriff’s Office Deputy was assaulted on County Road 10 in the Town of Pharsalia Monday night. 44 year old Seymour Shaver was wanted on an active arrest warrant from a previous incident, the Deputy approached Shaver and attempted to take him into custody,  Shaver struck the Deputy several times & fled the scene.  The Deputy was taken to Chenango Memorial Hospital and was transported to Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse with serious, non-life threatening injuries.  This Afternoon, Sheriff Cutting announced that Shaver was taken into custody in Pharsalia without incident in connection with the assault of the Deputy.

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Chenango County Public Health added 12 new Active Cases bringing their total to 188, with 10 hospitalizations, & 497 Active Quarantines.  Chenango County Public Health also reported that There is a limited amount of vaccines in Chenango County and the vaccine has been designated by NYS for only the priority groups listed in Phase 1a, Chenango County health department has not received any vaccine, but they anticipate the 1st delivery in a week or so.

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State Police announced today that they continue to investigate the 1980 murder of 30-year-old Barry Marquart of Binghamton.  On November 9, 1980, State Police in Oneonta were contacted Marquart’s father, who stated his son Barry had been missing from his Binghamton apartment by his roommate.   Marquart’s car was found parked at the Exit 5 rest area on Interstate 81, Troopers found Marquart’s body in the Chenango River, an autopsy determined the victim had blows to his head and face.  The case remains open 40 years later, anyone with information is asked to call State Police in Sidney at 561-7400.

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U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced that her first bill in the new Congress will be her Health Force, Resilience Force, and Jobs to Fight COVID-19 Act in order to aid the country’s lagging vaccine distribution campaign.

(Gillibrand 1-5-21)

Senator Gillibrand said that in New York State, only 236,941 of 774,075 doses available have been given. Federal aid is urgently needed to assist state and local health departments and providers who are already overburdened by mass testing and contact tracing efforts and a deadly holiday surge in COVID-19 cases.

A.M. NEWS Tuesday 1-5-21

Some new laws went into effect January 1st, among them: The state will be increasing the minimum wage from $11.80 an hour to $12.50 an hour. Workers in the fast-food industry will see an increase from $13.75 an hour to $14.50 an hour.  Also Workers who are eligible will now have access to up to 12 weeks of job-protected paid time off, mainly this is for those with a newborn, or those recovering from or assisting a loved one who is ill with COVID or other serious illnesses, or to assist a loved one who’s family member is deployed overseas. 

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The state is also amending some election laws this year.   A recount in elections statewide will be automatically done when the margin of victory for a candidate 0.2% of all votes cast. Recounts for all other elections will be done if the margin of victory is 0.5% of all votes cast. The recounts would be done manually.

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New York State has launched a new ‘Am I Eligible ” app to help New Yorkers determine their COVID Vaccine eligibility, connect them with administration centers, and schedule appointments. To access the app, go to: covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov.

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Governor Cuomo announced that the first confirmed case of the UK strain of COVID-19 virus has been detected in Saratoga Springs, it was detected by the Department of Health’s Wadsworth laboratory & the strain was traced back to an individual affiliated with a Saratoga Springs jewelry store and all individuals who visited the store from December 18 through December 24 are encouraged to contact the Department of Health and receive a COVID-19 test immediately.

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Delaware County Public Health reported 12 more new cases of COVID Monday; they have 119 active cases, 4 hospitalized & 209 quarantined.

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The Binghamton Devils will play the 2020-21 season in Newark, New Jersey at the Prudential Center, which is home to the New Jersey Devils.  The AHL announced that 4 teams have been granted provisional relocations for the 2020-21 season due to COVID concerns, including the Binghamton Devils.

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