Governor Cuomo and State leaders have not agreed on the amount of available revenue for the next state budget plan.   The lack of a consensus will require that State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli must come up with an estimate by Tomorrow, which will be used as the reference point for future negotiations on the budget plan; the budget needs to be passed by the beginning of the fiscal year on April 1st.  Last month, the governor and DiNapoli announced tax revenues for the current budget were down $2.3 billion. The Democrats blame much of the shortfall on federal tax changes that started last year.

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Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 31 year-old Christina Townsend of Port Crane for 3^rd degree Grand Larceny & Scheming to Defraud,  following an investigation by Sheriff’s Deputies and Broome Developmental Center staff into on-going thefts from residents by an employee.  Townsend is accused of engaging in an ongoing scheme while employed at a Franklin residential facility that resulted in the theft of more than $12,000 from developmentally disabled residents.  Townsend was arraigned at the Town of Franklin Court and was released upon her own recognizance pending future court proceedings

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State Police Traffic Incident Management Unit responded to a fatal car crash on Interstate 81 in the town of Cortlandville this morning at 6:43 AM,   Troopers responded after a TLC Ambulance was traveling southbound responding to a call, & they were slowing to make a U-turn with all of their emergency lights activated.  A 68-year-old unidentified male from Baldwinsville was driving an SUV in the left lane & struck the ambulance on its driver’s side before losing control & striking a guiderail.  The ambulance crew responded & found the driver unresponsive, he was taken to an area hospital & was pronounced deceased.   The investigation is still pending; the name of the victim will be released at a later time. No tickets have been issued at this time.

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The State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services today announced the award of more than $5.1 million in funding to establish 14 new recovery community centers across New York State, and expand services at two existing recovery centers. Funding is administered by the Office of Alcoholism & Substance Abuse and its fiscal partner, the Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene.  In the Southern Tier, The Friends of Recovery of Delaware and Otsego Counties, will receive $350,000.

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The 25th annual Colorscape Chenango, the premier arts festival in Central New York, will be held September 7^th & 8^th in downtown Norwich. The application deadline for exhibiting artists is this Friday, March 8th. Colorscape invites Chenango County high school students to participate in the Billboard Art Challenge called “Art Can Change the World.” Submissions are due April 26th, more information is available at 336-3378 or visit colorscape.org.

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Delaware County Public Health Services and Friends of Recovery of Delaware Otsego will be sponsoring a Recovery Coach Academy & Ethical Considerations training during the week of March 25th-March 30th in Delhi and Margaretville.   The 30 hour training covers the Connecticut Center for Addiction Recovery model for peer specialist roles and responsibilities.  This Recovery Coach Academy includes all course materials. Scholarships are available, more information or registration is available at 267-4435 or by email at sarah@friendsofrecoverydo.org

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State Police arrested 32 year old Michael Ide of Schenevus for felony Aggravated Unlicensed Operation and Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs.  A trooper monitoring traffic on State Highway 7 in the town of Worcester observed a vehicle with an equipment violation.  A traffic stop was initiated and the trooper observed that Ide was impaired & his license was suspended.  Ide was released on appearance tickets & was then turned over to a sober third party.

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State Police arrested 52 year old Frank Price of Sherburne for Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated with a BAC of .19%.  Troopers were dispatched to a suspicious vehicle in the town of Sherburne, they spotted the vehicle stopped in the middle of the roadway, running, with its brake and headlights on and Price asleep behind the wheel.   Price was processed and released on appearance tickets returnable to the town of Sherburne Court on March 11th. 

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A Delaware County jury acquitted Jeffrey Hitchcock of Sidney Center Friday, for charges of sexual abuse & endangering the welfare of a minor.  Hitchcock had been accused of inappropriately touching an 11 year old female; the jury took a little over 4 hours to find Hitchcock not guilty of the charges.

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Chenango Links will host a discussion with Chenango County Board of elections Commissioners Mary Lou Monahan & Carol Franklin this evening in Norwich.  The event will be held at Bohemian Moon at 103 E. Main Street in Norwich, starting at 5:30 PM.

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