State Senator Tom Libous & his attorney appeared in federal court this morning in White Plains to discuss various motions that the defense will file, including a motion to change the venue to a federal court room in the Northern district of the state. Motions from Libous’s defense attorney are due by November 3rd; the prosecution has until l November 24th to respond. Senator Libous is schedule back in court on January 9th where the judge will consider the motions. Libous & his son Matthew were named in a federal indictment in July following allegations that Libous used his political influence to get his son a job with a Westchester county law firm. No trial date has been set.
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State Police investigated a fatal agricultural accident Monday at 989 State Route 12 in the Town of Greene. The Deceased is identified as 62-year-old Gary Williams, who was discovered deceased behind his residence after being ejected from his farm tractor. An autopsy will be conducted at Lourdes Hospital in Binghamton today.
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Delaware County Deputies investigated a 2-car personal injury auto accident on State Highway 28 in the Town of Meredith Sunday. Deputies reported that Kathleen Hibbard of Delhi crossed the double yellow line and entered the on-coming lane striking Thomas Nau of Roanoke Virginia. Nau was transported to O’Connor hospital with minor injuries. Hibbard was issued a traffic ticket for failure to keep right, she faces action in Town of Meredith Town Court on September 17th.
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Employer contribution rates for the New York State and Local Retirement System will decline in Fiscal Year 2015-16 according to State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli. The average contribution rate for the Employees Retirement System will decrease by about 9% from 20.1% to 18.2% of payroll. DiNapoli also announced that the funded ratio increased from 88.7% to 92.2%
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During the National “Drunk Driving, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign, from August 15th to Labor Day. State Police issued 46,584 tickets. State Police said that 18,350 were for speeding, 1,937 for distracted driving, 2,667 child restraint and seatbelt violations, and 850 move over tickets. Troopers conducted sobriety checkpoints that more than 19,000 vehicles passed though, 72 were arrested for DWI. Troopers arrested a total of 663 people for DWI during this crackdown enforcement.
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Governor Cuomo signed legislation prohibiting the launch of watercraft in New York State without taking precautions to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. The legislation requires boaters launching watercraft to clean, drain and dry the boat, trailer, and any other exposed equipment of visible plant and animal matter, or have taken other reasonable measures to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species that can destroy ecosystems of the states waterway.
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The O’ Connor Hospital and Tri-Town Regional Hospital Boards of Trustees have appointed Carlton Rule as Chief Executive Officer of both institutions effective September 29th. Dr. Rule will succeed Dan Ayres, who announced in July that he is returning to West Virginia to become CEO of Summersville Regional Medical Center. Dr. Rule will continue as medical director of Bassett Healthcare Network health centers in the Delaware County communities of Delhi, Andes, Stamford and Walton.
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Wind damage & downed trees were reported in Chenango County after a tornado warning last night, according to the National Weather Service. Damage was reported in the Afton and Bainbridge areas, NYSEG reported scattered power outages from last night’s storms across the Southern Tier, investigators from the National Weather Service are expected to check for a possible tornado touchdown last night in Chemung County.
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