Opening statements began in Schoharie County Court today, with Tioga County District attorney Kirk Martin telling the jurors that Cal Harris murdered Michelle Harris in 2001, and Harris attorney Bruce Barket seeking an immediate mistrial based on those opening remarks. Schoharie County Judge George Bartlett is expected to rule on he mistrial request this afternoon. Harris has been convicted twice before for the murder of Michelle Harris, in Tioga County Court.

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Lawmakers are expected to revamp the system that evaluates teacher performance this year, after last years formula showed that 98% were highly successful, yet only 35 to 40% of students were succeeding. State Senator John Bonacic comments:

(Bonacic 2-5-15)

Lawmakers are also getting ready to deal with budget hearings; the education portion of the state budget is one of the biggest items in the Annual spending plan.

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Fire departments from Harpursville, Five Mile Point, West Colesville and Windsor responded to a fire at 927 Trim Street in Windsor at around 7:30 this morning.   Fire investigators believe that the fire started in the rear of the home & was possibly caused by a defective wood stove.   One occupant escaped without injury, no injuries among firefighters were reported.

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Voters in the Gilbertsville-Mount Upton School District approved of 2 propositions Tuesday.   Voters approved the proposal to purchase buses by a 60-to-12 vote; they also approved a measure to establish a capital reserve fund for vehicle and equipment purchases 65-to-7.

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State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli released a profile of the Empire State Development Corporation, that found there is minimal financial information for many of its 168 subsidiaries and limited public reporting on results of the economic development initiatives around the state. For fiscal year 2013, the ESDC reported that its programs helped create 2,424 jobs, or 1.8% of net private-sector job creation in the state that year, but the authority makes little public assessment of whether its programs work effectively together or create well-paying jobs. The report also stated that the ESDC outstanding debt totaled more than $10.7 billion for the fiscal year ending on March 31, 2014, an increase of 20% from the previous year.

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Lady Antebellum will Headline this year’s concert at the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open this August at the En-Joie Golf Course, with Sam Hunt as the opening act. The Golf Tournament will run from August 24th through the 30th this year, the concert will be held on Friday, August 28th.   Tickets go on sale Friday February 13 at 9:00 AM, more information is available at the bands official website.

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The Catskill Regional Teacher Center and the Oneonta Area for Public Education are hosting a legislative forum this afternoon at the Bugbee School auditorium on the SUNY Oneonta campus.   The annual event gives local educators a chance to express concerns to lawmakers regarding state & federal education policies.

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