Delaware County Sheriff’s department arrested 31-year-old Gerard Johnson of Walton, who was indicted by a Delaware County Grand Jury for 1 count of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance, for the alleged sale of heroin last month in Walton.   41-year-old Cindy Manon of Arkville was also indicted by a Delaware County Grand Jury for 3 counts of Criminal Sale of a controlled Substance for 3 alleged sales of SUBOXONE in Arkville.   Johnson & Manon were remanded to the Delaware County Jail without bail pending future court appearances.

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According to a preliminary report released on June 30th; 67 federal, state, and local law enforcement officers have died in the line of duty nationwide in 2014, a 31% increase over the 51 officers killed in the same period last year.   California led all states with 8 officer fatalities; followed by 4 each in New York, Texas, Florida & Virginia.   Firearm related fatalities were the leading cause of officer death, with 25 officer fatalities in the first half of 2014, a 56% increase. Traffic related fatalities were the 2nd leading cause of death among officers in the first half of 2014, increasing 37% with 26 fatalities this year.

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New York State’s private sector job count grew by 25,000, or 0.3% in June, according to the State Labor Department. New York State’s private sector job count increased to 7,589,600, an all-time high, while the unemployment rate fell from 6.7% to 6.6% in June. The state economy has experienced employment growth in 37 of the past 42 months, included 19 straight.

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New York has spent $161 million on ads promoting tourism & business climate since Governor Cuomo took office in 2011. The largest block of money was devoted to ads related to the Start UP NY program, which exempts new or expanding businesses from property, payroll and state income taxes, if they locate in designated areas on or near university campuses. Comptroller Tom DiNapoli will audit the ad spending for effectiveness.

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The Chenango County Democratic Committee unanimously endorsed former Vestal Town Supervisor Andrea Starzak for New York’s 52nd State Senate District. Starzak will appear on the Democratic and Working Families lines for New York’s 52nd State Senate District, against incumbent republican senator Tom Libous of Binghamton. Starzak submitted more than double the required signatures to appear on the November ballot. She was previously endorsed by the Broome County Democratic Committee.

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State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman will propose legislation to help to shield women from the effect of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Hobby Lobby decision. The limited scope of the contraceptive mandate under the Affordable Care Act, could result in some women losing insurance coverage for prescription contraception. The Reproductive Rights Disclosure Act would require employers to give current employees 90 days’ notice before changing contraceptive coverage, and to notify prospective employees of any contraceptive coverage they offer their employees. The Affordable Care Act requires most employer-provided insurance plans to cover preventive care and screenings for women without any cost sharing.

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Governor Cuomo is creating a new ballot line focused on women’s issues. The new Women’s Equality Party was announced yesterday. Cuomo already has the Democratic, Independence Party and Working Families lines. The governor last year introduced a 10-point women’s equity agenda. Senate Republicans passed nine of the points but refused to support the 10th plank that would strengthen the state’s abortion rights law. Rob Astorino, who is on the Republican and Conservative lines, is trying to create another ballot line for those opposing the Common Core education standards

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