P.M. NEWS MONDAY 1-5-26
The State Comptroller’s Office audited the Delaware County Industrial Development Agency, which found that officials did not properly monitor projects and maintain a transparent website, auditors recommended that Agency officials improve their monitoring efforts over job performance, sales and tax exemptions, mortgage recording tax exemptions and capital investments. Agency officials did not verify whether project owners met agreed-upon job creation and retention goals, they did not obtain affidavits or other documentation to substantiate the claims by project owners, instead, the board relied on the good faith of the project owners to report benefits and comply with project agreements.
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The Otsego County Sheriff’s Office announced that starting Feb. 1, all visitors must arrive at least 10 minutes before the scheduled visitation hour to register and be processed by staff. A 5-minute grace period will be provided to accommodate unforeseen circumstances. Visitors arriving 5 minutes or less from the top of the hour will need to wait until the next scheduled period. The Sheriff’s Office stated these changes are intended to strengthen facility operations while ensuring safety and security for staff, inmates, and visitors.
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Former Broome County Family Court Judge Rick Miller has lost an appeal of a lawsuit that found he had sexually harassed his secretary. Miller had appealed a jury verdict in July that found that he had created a hostile work environment through sexually explicit comments, demands and threats. The jury awarded his former secretary Rachel Gallagher $200,000 dollars in compensatory damages. Federal Judge Glenn Suddaby denied Miller’s motion for a new trial, he granted Gallagher’s request to have Miller pay her attorney fees.
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Governor Kathy Hochul announced that the new year will bring new affordable health care laws. Effective on January 1, 2026, Health insurers will be required to cover medically necessary EpiPens and cap out-of-pocket costs at $100 per year, breast cancer screening and imaging, and the cost of scalp cooling systems to reduce hair loss during chemotherapy.
A.M. NEWS MONDAY 1-5-25
Broome County Sheriff’s Office responded to a fatal motor vehicle accident involving a tractor trailer late Friday night on I-88 near Exit 3 in the Town of Fenton. The tractor trailer operated by 54 year old Vicky Chadwick of Pennsylvania went across the median, into opposing lanes and went over the embankment on its side in a drainage ditch. Deputies broke the windshield of the tractor trailer cab, extracted Chadwick, began CPR until EMS arrived on the scene to continue lifesaving actions, Chadwick was declared deceased at the scene.
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31 year old Zachary Mattice of Bloomville was arrested by Delhi police in connection with a reported sexual assault. Delhi Police Department reported that Mattice was charged with 1st-degree rape, 1st sexual abuse, Forcible touching and unlawful imprisonment, he faces court action shortly.
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36 year old Ariel Devers of Margaretville was charged with making a terroristic threat agains the Delaware County Department of Social Services, threatening to shoot up the County Office Building in Delhi. Devers was taken into custody by Delhi Police and was held at the Delaware County Jail pending arraignment.
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Otsego County Sheriff’s Office arrested 44 year old Jimmy Tatum of Rockingham, North Carolina for 2nd degree Assault, Criminal Obstruction of Breathing or Blood Circulation & Harassment, after Deputies responded to a residence in Cooperstown for a physical domestic incident with serious burns and other injuries. Tatum also accused of operating a vehicle while intoxicated after the Domestic Dispute, and was additionally charged with Driving While Intoxicated, Operating a Motor Vehicle with a BAC of .08 or higher, Aggravated Unlicensed Operator and other vehicular charges, Tatum was turned over to Corrections staff to await arraignment on the warrant.
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Otsego County Sheriff’s Department arrested 44 year old Elizabeth Nash of Sidney for Felony Bail Jumping, she is accused of failing to appear in court on 5 occasions, she was located and arrested & was turned over to Otsego County Corrections pending Arraignment.
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