State lawmakers began passing budget bills Sunday in Albany, as they work around religious holidays to get the budget passed by the April 1st deadline. The state Senate approved three budget bills in a rare Sunday session, the state Assembly, will return to Thursday Albany to vote on the $143 billion spending plan.
————————–
The Chenango county sheriffs department arrested 28-year-old Amey Suwarrow of South New Berlin and 64-year-old Gertrude Bullock of Mount Upton for 3rd degree Welfare Fraud and offering a false instrument for filing. Both were arrested for allegedly submitting day care time sheets to the county social services department containing false information, w resulting in an over-payment of more than $12,000 between November 2010 –and April 2012. Both face court action at a later date.
——————————————-
The Broome County Sheriffs department arrested 23-year-old Joshua Kramer and 21-year-old Harlee Skinner of Binghamton are facing drug & burglary charges for allegedly being found with stolen jewelry and drugs. Deputies & the County Special Investigations Unit Task Force arrested the pair at their apartment as part of an on going burglary investigation, police confiscated stolen jewelry & 7 envelopes of heroin and the equipment and ingredients to manufacture methamphetamines. Both were remanded to the Broome County Jail & face court action shortly.
————————————
5 fire companies responded to a Saturday fire in Port Crane. The fire was located at 262 Vincent Hill Road & was reported at 11:30 Saturday morning. 1 occupant escaped without injury, when fire fighter suffered a minor injury when an object fell on him. Damage was reportedly contained to the first floor & the attic; the fire may have started from a wood stove.
—————————————
The Oneonta zoning board of appeals meeting for tonight has been cancelled. City officials reported that a lack of quorum was the reason for the cancellation, the next zoning board meeting is scheduled of April 22nd.
————————————————
Catskill area hospice has lined up another big-name act to be part of their fundraising celebrity party this summer. Bob Escher of Catskill area hospice gave WCDO News the details:
(Bob Escher 3-25-13)
Escher said that this year’s show would be held at the Wright Soccer campus in Oneonta, on July 1st, the tickets go on sale April 12th at 9:00 AM.
————————————
More than 1 million middle class families across New York State will benefit from a child tax credit that will be enacted as part of the 2013-2014 Budget, according to the state Division of Budget. Families with incomes between $40,000 and $300,000 will be eligible to receive a new child tax credit of $350 per-year for 3 years, starting in 2014. Locally about 20,000 families can benefit in Chenango, Delaware Otsego & Broome counties.
——————————————
The Bainbridge-Guilford Central School will hold a special Board of Education Meeting today in the District Conference Room. The meeting will begin at 6:00 PM. Also, the Bainbridge-Guilford District is holding a public forum in the High School Auditorium at 7:00PM to discuss the 2013-2014-school budget. School administrators and Board of Education members will be present to address questions and concerns.
———————————————-
The state senate today acted on a non-budget bill and passed “Alix’s Law”, which closes a loophole and holds intoxicated drivers accountable for leaving the scene of an accident. The legislation follows a drunk driving accident in Amherst where 18-year-old Alix Rice was killed by a drunk driver in 2011 as she road home on her long board. current law only requires drivers to report an accident when they know or have reason to know the accident resulted in an injury or property damage. Which allowed drunk drivers to flee the scene of an accident they caused and later claim they did not know any injury or damage occurred. The bill was sent to the Assembly.
————————————–