The State Health Department announced that they now have over 345,000 positive Coronavirus cases, with another 2762 positive tests Thursday.  Hospitalizations were down to about 6500, there were 132 deaths, bringing the state death toll to 22,304 since March.

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Today is day one of the Phase 1 of re-opening of many types of businesses following the shutdown during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic in March.  Kerri Green of Commerce Chenango said that many businesses will have to change the way they operate on many levels from this point on:

(Kerri Green 5-15-20)

Glen Nealis of Delaware County Economic Development said that one of the reasons this part of the state is part of the Phase 1 Re-Opening is that people & businesses took the warnings seriously:

(Glen Nealis 5-15-20)

Nealis said that the hardest part of the reopening of the state is the 4th phase, which would be the opening of businesses that rely on a large gathering of people, where social distancing is difficult.  Business can find out where they fit in, and how the 1st phase is going by logging onto forward.ny.gov.

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State officials are hoping that the New York Congressional Delegation convinces the US Senate & President Trump to finally send state aid to the struggling states that have lost revenue from the shutdown after the arrival of the Coronavirus Pandemic, State budget Director Robert Mujica comments:

(Mujica 5-15-20)

This year’s State Budget started out with a 7 Billion Dollar deficit, which has more than doubled in the current fiscal year from the shutdown and the payment of state taxes out to July 15th.

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Governor Cuomo, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, and Delaware Governor John Carney today announced a multi-state agreement to reopen public and private beaches with certain restrictions soon; Governor Cuomo discussed those restrictions earlier today:

(Cuomo Beaches)

The Beaches will open Friday, May 22 in time for the Memorial Day Weekend, statistics gathered will determine the further opening of beaches later this summer.

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Strong storms are predicted today & tonight in the region, Local Meteorologist Rich Townsend explains:

(Townsend 5-15-20)

The National Weather service forecast warns of possible hail, damaging winds & heavy rain associated with this system, we’ll have the complete forecast after this news cast.

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Chenango County Public Health announced today that they had no new cases of the Coronavirus Thursday, they have 112 total cases so far, with 4 deaths, 81 recoveries, 4 people are hospitalized, 41 are quarantined, and they have performed over 1700 tests.

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Broome County Health Department announced today that they are up to 395 positive Coronavirus tests; they have 282 recoveries, 28 deaths, & 282 patients being monitored by the Health Department.

The State Health Department reported over 2300 new Coronavirus cases state wide Thursday, bringing the state total to 343,051.  Another 157 people died Wednesday from the virus; about 7000 people are still hospitalized.

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The State Health department continues to monitor 105 cases in children ranging from 1 year old to 21 years old, who test positive for the Coronavirus, but presented with a different set of symptoms from adults, featuring inflamed blood vessels & inflammation of the heart, but without lung issues.  3 children have died, the state Health department is sharing their findings, 6 countries & 16 other states are no looking into similar issues among children & the virus.

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Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a domestic dispute in the Town of Delhi. While conducting interviews of the individuals involved, Deputies noted an odor of marijuana in the residence, they discovered & seized marihuana plants and about an ounce of processed marihuana, they arrested 45-year old Colby Loveless of Delhi for unlawfully cultivating marijuana and unlawful possession of marijuana, Loveless was later released on appearance tickets for Delhi Town Court at a later date.

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State Police arrested 26 year old Eugene Buzie of Oneonta for Menacing, after Troopers were dispatched to a domestic dispute at a residence on County Highway 48 in the town of Otego. Buzie allegedly threatened a victim with a knife during an argument; he was located near Lantern Hill Trailer Park and arrested.  He was arraigned virtually and released on his own recognizance.  An order of protection was issued by the judge to the victim.  Buzie is scheduled to appear in the town of Otego court on June 18, 2020.

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Delaware County Public Health received no positive lab reports for COVID-19 Thursday, they still have 63 Positive Results,  51 have recovered, 5 are Isolating at Home, 3 are Hospitalized, 4 have Died from the virus, 12 are in Mandatory Quarantine.

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State Police arrested 62 year old Ronald Bronson of West Winfield for the Overdriving, Torturing and Injuring Animals and Failure to Provide Proper Sustenance.   Bronson told troopers that his cows were running from the dog in the pasture, he fired a shot, missing the dog, it ran off, he located the dog and allegedly shot it a 2nd time, killing it.  Bronson was issued appearance tickets to the town of Plainfield court on September 2nd. 

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