New York Attorney General Letitia James and the U.S. Department of Labor announced landmark agreements with United Healthcare to resolve allegations that United unlawfully denied health care coverage for mental health and substance use disorder treatment for thousands of Americans. United will pay approximately $14.3 million in restitution to consumers affected by the policies, including $9 million to more than 20,000 New Yorkers with behavioral health conditions who received denials or reductions in reimbursement.

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Catholic Charities Sidney office is taking pre-registration through tomorrow for their School Supplies & Backpack Program for the 2021-2022 school year. Households who have children enrolled in the Sidney Central School district and meet our income requirements may qualify for FREE school supplies and backpack, call 604-4071 for more information.

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Downtown Norwich continues with the Thursday evening NBT Bank’s free Summer Concert Series. The weekly musical performances are presented by the Chenango Blues Association, to East Park, tonight, Johnson & Johnson 1-shot COVID vaccines are available from UHS Chenango Memorial Hospital. “We will have several doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine on-hand on a first come, first serve basis with no appointment necessary, set up opposite the stage near the gazebo; from 6:30 pm. to 8:30 pm., for those 18 & older.

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State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli today announced the audit of the Town of Butternuts. The audit found that the board did not provide adequate oversight of the disbursement process and exceeded its authority under New York State Town Law by authorizing insurance claims and annual contracts to be paid before audit and approval. The board also exceeded its authority by allowing a third-party vendor direct access to the town’s bank account that, at times, had more than $500,000 on deposit. In addition, the board allowed debit cards to be used, which resulted in a circumvention of the town’s disbursement controls. Auditors found that the142 disbursements totaling $142,200 they reviewed were for proper purposes and adequately supported. However, the board, did not audit and approve 53 of these claims totaling $15,600 before payment as required.

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Delaware County Sheriff’s Office announced that State Route 206, between the Village of Walton and Lower Third Brook Road, was closed to traffic for several hours Tuesday morning as a result of a tractor trailer accident. At approximately 9:30 am., Tuesday morning, Deputies, members of the Walton Volunteer Fire Department and Emergency Squad and State DOT workers responded, the driver, 59 year-old Rogelio Rodriguez, of Decatur, Indiana, was driving an empty milk tanker when he momentarily took his eyes off the road causing the truck to strike the guide cables and a tree. Rodriquez was not injured in the collision.

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Delaware County Sheriff’s Office announced that a Downsville man is facing a charge of criminal contempt following a report of a domestic dispute in the Town of Colchester. On Tuesday evening, Deputies responded in the Town of Colchester, 53 year-old Michael Colao, of Downsville violated the terms of an order of protection issued by Delaware County Family Court. Colao was charged with criminal contempt, he was released & will appear in the Colchester Town Court on a later date.

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Delaware County Sheriff’s Office arrested 21 year-old Shawn Zimmerman, of Gloversville, for endangering the welfare of a child and forcible touching, Zimmerman is accused of inappropriately touching a juvenile female in the Village of Stamford. Zimmerman was arraigned in the Town of Harpersfield Court where he was issued a temporary order of protection prohibiting him from having contact with the victim, he was released in his own recognizance pending a future appearance in that court.

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Due to an increased spread of COVID-19, Chenango County is requiring mandatory face masks in all County Buildings and Offices at the start of business on Monday, August 16, 2021. All employees and members of the public (vaccinated and unvaccinated) fall under this requirement. It is also at this time recommended that Chenango County businesses, organizations and schools immediately implement a face mask requirement for their vaccinated and unvaccinated employees, patrons and students.

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Otsego County is currently at a SUBSTANTIAL level of community transmission, and is on the verge of becoming HIGH level of community transmission. CDC & Otsego County Department of Health recommends everyone to wear a mask indoors in public if you are in an area of substantial or high transmission, to maximize protection from the Delta variant and prevent possibly spreading it to others. This week there have been several cases of individuals having a repeat COVID-19 infection. This occurs when someone is infected with COVID-19 and 90 or more days later tests positive again for COVID-19. These repeat infections are mostly occurring in unvaccinated individuals. This reinforces that immunity from natural infection diminishes after 90 days. It is important if you have had COVID-19 and are not vaccinated please consider getting vaccinated to prevent a reinfection. In Otsego County. there are 82 active cases, 19 new cases reported today, with 5 hospitalized, there have been 2614 total cases in 2021.

A.M. NEWS Thursday 8-12-21

Broome County Sheriff’s Office responded to a fatal motorcycle crash Tuesday night in West Corners at Glendale Drive & Campville Road at 11:44 pm. 42-year-old Jason Krissel of the Town of Union was ejected off of his motorcycle & was pronounced dead, Krissel applied the brakes aggressively at the intersection, after traveling at a high rate of speed. The investigation is continuing.

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The State Education Department today released a health and safety guide to help schools and school districts as they plan for the 2021-22 school year. The guide provides strategies, based on information from the Centers for Disease Control and the American Academy of Pediatrics, to position schools and districts to manage the risks for students and staff from COVID-19. The health and safety guide, as well as other back to school resources, are available on the Department’s Back to School website.

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Bassett Healthcare Network’s FoxCare Center in Oneonta remains closed today due to a water outage. Officials say all patients with scheduled appointments will continue to be contacted by their provider’s offices. Pharmacy patients are encouraged to call the Cooperstown clinic at 607-547-5127 for medication assistance.

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(Cuomo Tracers)

Governor Cuomo said that the state has added enough tracers through the help of foundations from former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg; most of the state has now been able to re-open as they have enough tracers to follow up on contacts of those who have been tested positive for the Coronavirus.

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The Otsego County Department of Health has learned of a potential exposure to coronavirus at a public venue & they are now seeking to identify and notify individuals who attended a livestock auction at Unadilla Livestock 38 Maple Avenue in Unadilla on Saturday May 16th.   Otsego County Assistant Public Health Director Kim Schlosser told WCDO News that the auction was agricultural and was allowed to be open in Phase 1 of the Reopening:

(Kim Schlosser 5-22-20)

Schlosser said that an individual who lives in another county attended the auction from 1:30-9:30pm has since been confirmed to have COVID 19 & that individual was not wearing a mask.  Anyone who attended the auction, who develops symptoms, should contact their primary care provider, or the COVID Hotline at 547-5555 or the Otsego County Health Department at 547-4316 to get tested, also, if attendees know someone who attended the auction in the Amish community, to inform them of positive test & self-monitor for symptoms of the illness.

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The State Health Department announced Friday that they are reporting over 358,000 coronavirus cases, with another 1696 positives discovered Thursday.  109 people died from the virus Thursday , bringing the state death toll to 23,195 since early March.

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The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation will open 16 beaches across the state for swimming today with lifeguards staffed at normal levels to ensure public safety. Beach-goers are reminded to practice social distancing, State Parks will limit parking and other means of entry to keep capacity at 50% or less,   Locally Glimmerglass State Park & Chenango Valley state park will be open from 11:00 Am to 7:00 PM over the Memorial Day Weekend, More information is available at parks.ny.gov/covid19.

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The Sidney, Afton, Bainbridge & Unadilla Chambers of Commerce, 4 towns forward & My Home Gym are co-sponsoring the fundraising Wipe Out Covid-19 Virtual 5K Walk/Run, Starting tomorrow through May 31st. So far, about 400 people have signed up & Anna Banks of My Home Gym told WCDO how much money has been raised, and where it goes:

(Anna Banks 5-22-20)

Mike Banks of My Home Gym reminded participants to be careful & maintain Social Distancing during this event:

(Mike Banks 5-22-20)

The virtual 5K can be run or walked from any location; People can donate or get more information at runsignup.com/MyHomeGym2020 or call 320-4024.

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Chenango County Public Health announced their Coronavirus statistics, they announced a 5th death, there is 1 person in a Hospital, 33 are quarantined, there are 118 total cases & 86 recoveries, they have performed 2236 tests.

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The Broome County Health Department announced that they were up to 468 positive Coronavirus cases Friday, with 32 deaths, 331 recoveries & 237 are being monitored by the Health Department.  They have conducted just under 9000 tests so far.

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Volunteers & donations are requested for the Bainbridge Community Center at 3 Prospect Street.  Officials are looking for monetary donations as well as skilled volunteers for concrete, carpentry, electrical, plumbers, painters, landscapers and laborers, they can email to mgermonddc@yahoo.com.  Monetary donations can be sent by check payable to Bainbridge Chamber of Commerce, note Community Center Donation in the memo section, and mail it to P.O. Box 2, Bainbridge, NY 13733.

According to the preliminary results from the U.S. Department of Labor’s business and household surveys for April 2020, the number of private sector jobs in New York State decreased over the month by 1,764,600, or 21.4 percent, to 6,467,600. This was the state’s largest monthly employment drop on record. Just under one-third of the monthly jobs decline occurred in leisure and hospitality, mostly in accommodation and food services.  In April 2020, New York State’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased from 4.1% to 14.5%, the largest recorded monthly increase since current record keeping began in 1976.

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State Police will increase patrols to combat drunk, impaired and reckless driving throughout this Memorial Day weekend. The STOP-DWI enforcement period starts on Friday, May 22, and runs through Tuesday, May 26. State Police and our local law enforcement partners will be out in force to remove impaired and reckless drivers from our highways.  On Memorial Day weekend in 2019, Troopers arrested 225 people for drinking and driving, issued 13,693 total tickets, and investigated 134 personal injury crashes, which resulted in four fatalities. ?In addition to the New York State Police, numerous counties and agencies throughout the state also participate in the annual Memorial Day Crackdown.

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Delaware County Public Health received 3 positive lab reports for COVID-19 Thursday, the total is now up to 68 positive cases, 54 have recovered, 7 are isolating at home, 3 are hospitalized, 4 are deceased & 17 are quarantined.

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Congressman Antonio Delgado announced the award of nearly $100,000 in federal funding through U.S. Department of Transportation & the Federal Aviation Administration. Delgado announced $69,000 for Columbia County Airport in Hudson and $30,000 for Sidney Municipal Airport in Delaware County.

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There will be a Memorial  Day Parade in Bainbridge on Monday with a twist, organizer Mary Drachler explains:

(Mary Drachler 5-22-20)

More information is available at 967-8546.

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