P.m. news Thursday 6-26-14
The Chenango county sheriffs department arrested Adam Simpkin of Afton on charges of 3rd degree Burglary & 5th degree Conspiracy. Simpkin was arrested following an investigation into an incident in Sherburne; he was arraigned in the Village of Sherburne Court and remanded to the Correctional Facility on $5,000 bail pending future court action.
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Graduation parties will be held all over the region this weekend, as are high school seniors attend their commencement exercises, and graduation parties. Justin Hamm of the Alcolhol & drug abuse council of Delaware county reminds parents of seniors that Social Host Laws of New York state prohibit serving alcohol to minors in their homes:

(Justin Hamm 6-26-14)

Hamm also said that scientific research in recent years shows that the human brain continues to grow to maturity until about the age of 25 and introducing alcohol to the adolescent brain could reduce cognitive skills and memory.
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Governor Cuomo announced $13.8 million in funding to help more than 200 farms across New York implement enhanced soil and water conservation practices. Grants were awarded to 32 county soil and water conservation districts, and provided by the State Soil and Water Conservation Committee and the State Department of Agriculture and Markets. Locally, Broome receives $173,555.00 for 5 farms, Chenango receives $515,050.00 for 4 farms, Delaware County gets $543,492.00 for 18 farms and Otsego County gets $161,678.98 for 3 farms. More information is available at nys-soilandwater.org.
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State Police at Oneonta arrested 34-year-old Derick Coveny of Morris for DWI following a motorcycle accident on Walters Road in New Lisbon. An investigation determined Coveny was driving his motorcycle while intoxicated and without a helmet. He was taken to a local hospital and treated for minor injuries. Coveny was issued tickets for New Lisbon Court July 15th
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Norwich police are reminding area residents to lock up their parked cars at all times, following a series of larcenies at night. Residents are also asked to report items that have turned up missing from parked cars, as police are trying to uncover a pattern of activity that will help lead to arrests.
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New York’s health exchange enrolled nearly 1 million people since October, and the largest percentage were aged 26-34. New York nearly met its enrollment goal for 2016 in its first year of the health exchange, signing up 960,762 state residents. 55 percent chose Medicaid, the federal program for the poor and disabled. About 370,000 chose a private insurer; and nearly 65,000 picked Child Health Plus, the state’s insurance program for poor children. The next enrollment period starts Nov. 15
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New York State will receive $6.18 million, from the U.S. Department of Labor, to train unemployed workers for jobs in high-demand industries. New York is one of 32 states, receiving grants totaling $154 million, under the National Emergency Grant Program. The funding will help create or expand employer partnerships that provide on-the-job training, apprenticeships and other occupational training, that result in an industry-recognized credential. The funding also will be used to provide career coaching and counseling, as well as job placement assistance. For more information go to dol.gov
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The 5 member Independent Democratic Conference announced it would seek to share power with Senate Democrats after the November elections, ending the coalition with Republicans that ran the Senate for the past 2 years. The move would have implications on policy decisions, such as whether to raise the minimum wage, implement public financing of political campaigns and strengthen abortion rights. Democrats would control all branches of state government when the legislative session resumes in January, if Governor Cuomo and Democrats win election this fall.