Governor Cuomo and legislative leaders today announced an agreement has been reached on a series of bills to help address the growing heroin and opioid epidemic, as well as prescription drug abuse, in New York State. Cuomo outlined the urgency of the need to address the problem in this legislation:

(Cuomo 6-19-14)

State Senator Jim Seward served on the Senate Task force that held a series of hearings around the state, he talked about the legislation that was agreed to by the legislature & the governor:

(Seward 6-19-14)

Seward said that after negotiations with the Governor, an agreement was been reached on 10 bills, which will be passed before the end of legislative session today.
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Former 1986 world Champion Outfielder Mookie Wilson made an appearance for a book signing at the National Baseball Hall of Fame today, in conjunction with the publishing of his book: “Mookie Deluxe: Life, Baseball, and the ’86 Mets:

(Mookie Wilson 6-19-14)

Wilson still works as a roving minor league instructor for the New York Mets, he was scheduled to tutor the Binghamton Mets today at NYSEG stadium prior to tonight’s game with Richmond.
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture today selected Chobani Greek yogurt as the supplier for a school lunch pilot program that will expand to 12 states this fall. The USDA awarded Chobani the first 1-month contract to supply Greek yogurt to New York, Arizona, Idaho, California, Iowa, Illinois and Mississippi.
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The state Senate approved legislation, to postpone for two years, Cuomo administration plans to close state institutions for the disabled and mentally ill. The bill would postpone closures and consolidations of four facilities operated by the Office of Mental Health and the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities until April 1, 2017. Sponsors say more time is needed to put appropriate safety nets in place. The bill sponsors represent Binghamton, where the Broome Development Center is scheduled to close in 2016. The bill moves to the assembly for consideration as the state Legislature is scheduled to wrap up their session this week
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Chenango County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 38-year-old Richard Small of Cortland on charges of Grand Larceny and Conspiracy. Small & 3 other individuals are accused of stealing over $1000 of merchandise from the Norwich Wal-Mart. Small was arraigned in the Town of Norwich court and is being held on $1000 cash bail pending action in the Town of Norwich Court at a later date.
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Oneonta Police Department arrested 27-year-old Erika Speller of Oneonta, for criminal sale of a controlled substance & criminal possession of a controlled substance. Speller was charged after Police confiscated cocaine and cash, she was arraigned in Oneonta City Court and sent to the Otsego County Jail on $25,000 cash bail or $50,000 bond.
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US Senator Charles Schumer said the federal government must step up funding to chip away at a backlog of repairs to aging local bridges in upstate New York. There are 2,200 bridges across the state that are owned by cities, towns, villages and counties and are considered either structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. The state receives $71 million a year in federal money to help localities fix and maintain bridges. That amount has been flat for the past five years. Schumer said Congress is still talking about how to fund the transportation bill
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The State legislature has made it legal for pet owners to be buried with their deceased animals. Beginning in August, pet cemeteries will be allowed to accept the cremated remains of people. The regulation, which was proposed last fall and recently adopted, does not allow pet cemeteries to charge a fee for a human burial and cannot advertise human burial services
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