The Driver’s License Access and Privacy Act, also known as the ‘Green Light law’, is now in effect , It allows all New Yorkers age 16 and older to apply for a standard, not for federal purpose, non-commercial driver license or learner’s permit regardless of their citizenship or lawful status in the United States.  Driver’s license applicants who have never been issued a Social Security Number are eligible to apply, provided that they show a combination of documents that prove their name, date of birth, New York state residency & any number of allowed foreign documents.

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A Ford SUV has crashed into TriValley Family Practice Medical Offices in Canastota earlier today.  Part of the Medical Center has collapsed, 4 people were injured and were taken to area hospitals for undisclosed injuries, and the investigation is ongoing.

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The New York Siting Board has approved of Calpine’s wind turbine project in Broome County.  4 turbines will be built in the Town of Windsor & 23 in the town of Sanford, in spite of the Sanford Town Board passing a resolution last week, which was labelled as overly burdensome to Calpine and was rejected by the Siting Board.  Calpine will be able to begin construction of the 27-tower project shortly.  Calpine also has plans to build turbines in the town of Guilford; the state has not made any decisions on that project yet.

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The Sidney American Legion announced that they will host their Annual Kids Christmas Party this Saturday December 21st.  The event will run from 12:00 Noon until 2:00 PM at the Sidney American Legion at 22 Union Street.   The annual children’s Christmas party will feature Free hot dogs, beverage, dessert, goodie bags & kids can visit with Santa of course will be the main event.

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The New York State Office for the Aging announced the launch of its new website, aging.ny.gov featuring improved design, navigation, search functions, and accessibility from virtually any device.  73% of adults over the age of 65 use the Internet and 88% of people between the ages of 50 and 64 use the Internet, about 1/2 of the population over 65 use smartphones

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A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for this region starting tonight, area Meteorologist Rich Townsend comments:

(Rich Townsend 12-16-19)

The Winter Weather Advisory in effect tonight from 9:00 PM until Tuesday afternoon at 4:00 PM.

State Police were dispatched Saturday to a report of a child that fell out of a minibus on I-81 near Kirkwood.  A preliminary investigation revealed that 2 minibuses with several members from an Amish community from Lancaster Pennsylvania were traveling south on Interstate 81.  A 3-year-old child was in the rear area of the first bus with other children when he leaned on an emergency window, which opened and the child fell out onto the Interstate.   The buses immediately turned around traveling northbound then back southbound and located the child running along the shoulder of the Interstate.  The child was treated at Wilson Hospital in Johnson City for lacerations, bumps and bruises, the investigation continues.   

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Governor Cuomo today announced the 1st proposal of his 2020 State of the State agenda: Preventing individuals from receiving New York State gun licenses if they commit a crime in another state that is similar to a crime that would disqualify them from owning a gun in New York State. The Governor also announced that the 2020 State of the State Address will be held in the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany on January 8 at 1:30 PM.

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State Police arrested 44 year old Joshua Cutting of Sidney Center for felony DWI after a trooper observed Cutting stop in the passing lane of I-88, the trooper also observed an equipment violation on the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop on State Highway 8 in the town of Sidney.  Cutting was issued appearance tickets to the town of Sidney court & was turned over to a sober third party.

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