Area assemblyman Cliff Crouch announced his intentions to seek the office for another 2-year term in the 122nd district:

(Crouch 5-22-14)

Crouch cited education, economic development, and mandate relief for taxpayers, businesses, schools and local governments as his main goals. Crouch was first elected to the Assembly in 1995 and serves as chairman of the Assembly Republican Conference. So far, no democrats have announced any intention to seek Crouch’s Assembly seat.

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Engineers have determined the Ellis Brothers Furniture Building on Water Street in Binghamton is in danger of imminent collapse and must be demolished. An April 30^th fire damaged the building & the Demolition is expected within the next few days. A portion of Water Street will be closed to traffic for at least a week as the building is torn down and debris is removed.

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Otego resident Mike Packard will join the 2100-mile club after finishing his 30th 70-mile general Clinton canoe regatta race on Monday. Packard told WCDO News about the milestone and how he got started in canoe racing:

(Mike Packard 5-22-14)

28 time Regatta Champion Serge Corbin will not be racing this year, after 29 finishes at the General Clinton Canoe Regatta.   The 57-year-old Corbin told WCDO that he is not racing currently:

(Corbin 5-22-14)

Corbin continues to operate his Boat making business, and is enjoying his retirement from canoe racing.

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The state Senate passed a bill to make the aggravated murder of a child punishable with a life sentence in prison without parole. The bill expands on the existing law of aggravated abuse of a child, which makes it a crime when someone causes physical injury to a child under the age of 14. Dubbed the “Protect Our Children Act,” the proposed bill also seeks to create a new felony for concealing the death of a child, and for failing to notify police when the whereabouts of a child are unknown for more than 24 hours. The bill was sent to the assembly

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U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer announced the first phase of a statewide database, to help track a rising epidemic of heroin use in New York. Schumer said the President’s Office of National Drug Control Policy, agreed to meet with state and local government officials within the next three months, to determine how to track heroin and other drug-related crimes. The database would help counties set up a database to track heroin and other drug-related overdoses, deaths, hospital admissions and crimes statewide, as well as help police identify patterns and crack down on distribution rings.

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Governor Cuomo launched a new online platform called Business Mentor NY, the State’s first, mentoring program designed to help small business. The website located at businessmentor.ny.gov where participants may register online, review the profiles of potential mentors and communicate directly with them on an as-needed basis and at no charge.

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The band Barenaked Ladies will play opening night at the New York State Fair on Aug. 21st. The band will perform at 8 p.m.   at Chevy Court. Other acts announced for Chevy Court include Kellie Pickler, Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone , John Kay and Steppenwolf, Bowzer’s Rock & Roll Party, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts and The Doobie Brothers