Governor Cuomo opened up the New York State Fair in Syracuse this morning, with a ribbon cutting ceremony.  Cuomo is currently running for a 2nd term as governor, his republican challenger Rob Astorino also made the rounds at the State Fair today, he is trailing Cuomo in the most recent polls by a 2 to 1 margin.  Green Party Candidate Howe Hawkins held a press conference at the main entrance to the fair at 12:00 Noon.

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The 3rd murder trial of Owego Businessman Calvin Harris has been rescheduled to begin in October, instead of the original September 15th date, in Schoharie county court.  The move was made following arguments by Harris’s defense team during pre-trial proceedings.  Harris was first convicted in 2007 for the September 11th 2001 murder his estranged wife Michelle, that conviction was set aside when an eyewitness came forward claiming to have seen Michelle Harris after the original murder date.  Harris was convicted at his 2nd trial in 2009, which was also overturned, Michelle Harris’s body, and the murder weapon have never been found.

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Governor Cuomo is calling on the state to outlaw discrimination against transgender people, claiming that gender identity should be included in the state’s civil rights law alongside race, religion, and disability.   Cuomo said that if he is re-elected, he would push to outlaw discrimination based on a person’s gender identity when it comes to housing, employment or public accommodations.

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Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced a $16.65 billion settlement with Bank of America. The settlement includes $800 million that will be allocated to New York State; Bank of America acknowledged it made serious Misrepresentations to the public from the packaging, marketing, sale and issuance of residential mortgage-backed securities

The State Police CNET team, along with Endicott and Vestal Police arrested 32-year-old Greg Potter of Endicott, for Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, Unlawful Manufacture of Methamphetamine, and 2 counts of Criminally Using of Drug Paraphernalia.  Potter was arrested after police executed a search warrant.  Items seized included liquid and powder methamphetamines; liquid anabolic steroids, packaging materials and scales, as well as components used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.  Potter was arraigned in Village of Endicott Court and sent to the Broome County Jail without bail.

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The State Police CNET Gun Investigation Unit, arrested 50 year old John Hamilton of Binghamton on 4 counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon, 3 counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon, Unlawful Possession of a Large Capacity Ammunition Feeding Device, Unlawfully Possessing or Selling Noxious Material and Unlawfully Growing Cannabis.  Hamilton was charged after police executed a search warrant at his residence. Police seized illegally possessed weapons, explosives and marihuana. Hamilton was arraigned in Binghamton City Court and sent to the Broome County Jail without bail.

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The Upper Susquehanna Watershed Project held annual conference at Sidney High School this afternoon, to present the projects of 7 students who collected data for a variety of projects all tied to the water quality of the Susquehanna River Basin.  Sidney Science Teacher Rich Townsend said that this summer, soil gauges were added:

(Rich Townsend (8-21-14)

Townsend said the data from the new soil gauges should give sufficient data on how the water saturation affects area-flooding issues over the next 1 to 5 years.

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