5 people were arrested Friday on drug charges, after Norwich police, with help from the Chenango & Delaware County Sheriff’s department, executed a “no knock’ search warrant at a suspected “One Pot Meth” operation on Eaton Avenue in Norwich. Arrested were 23 year old Bradley Bishop, of Norwich, 37 year old Nathan Diamond of Norwich, and 42 year old Michael Hackett of Norwich in connection of the alleged manufacturing of Methamphetamines at that location, Police also charged 45-year-old Heather Angelino & 40-year-old Neil Graef of Norwich, for loitering. Bishop, Diamond and Hackett were arraigned in Norwich City Court & all were remanded to the Chenango County Jail, Angelino and Graef were both released on appearance tickets.
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New York state will have new rules in effect March 1st, that will require financial institutions to create & maintain cyber-security programs in order to prevent illegal access to sensitive personal records of their customers from hackers. Most banks already have programs in effect, but the new rule makes in mandatory instead of optional.
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The Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation announced that they are selling a plastic card version of their “Empire Pass” for state parks & recreation areas. The cards will cost $80; it streamlines the process by allowing a family to enter using one card only, instead of having decals permanently affixed on multiple vehicles within the same family, at a cost of $65 per decal.
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Governor Cuomo announced that 12 Million dollars would be added to the Energy Affordability Policy, to provide 1.7 million low-income residents with help on energy costs. The change limits energy costs for low income New Yorkers to no more than 6% of the household income on energy, about half of the state’s average household average.
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State Budget hearings wrapped up Friday in Albany, as lawmakers look towards a final plan to submit to the Governor in about 6 weeks, assemblyman Pete Lopez comments:

(Lopez 2-20-17)

Lawmakers are on a break until February 28th, they will then be working on the 152.3 Billion dollar Budget proposal submitted by Governor Cuomo in January, they hope to pass the budget on time by the state of the next fiscal year, on April 1st.
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New York State spent about 8.1 Million dollars on “I Love New York” signs on highways all over the state, but the signs do not comply with federal regulations & may have to come down. Cuomo administration officials said that the signs were put up to promote New York Agriculture & tourism related industries, Federal officials said that the signs are too ” busy” & too large.
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State Police arrested 2 men on drug charges Friday after an attempted traffic stop, & an 8-mile chase from Kirkwood to Reynolds Road in Johnson City. During the pursuit, the operator was observed throwing a plastic bag containing 150 grams of cocaine. Police arrested 37-year-old Anthony Thompson of Johnson City, for Criminal Possession of Controlled Substance, Tampering with Physical Evidence, Unlawful Fleeing a Police Officer, Aggravated Unlicensed Operation and numerous Vehicle and Traffic Law. Also police arrested 29-year-old Tyrell Tomlinson of Tarboro, North Carolina for Criminal Possession of Controlled Substance. Both were arraigned and remanded to the Broome County Jail without bail.
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31-year-old Bradley Miles of Binghamton was sentenced Friday to 30 years in state prison for his role in an August 2015 robbery that resulted in the death of Michael Thomas. Miles pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter and second-degree attempted robbery, In August 2015, Miles and 38-year old Ariana Edwards robbed and stabbed Michael Thomas to death at their apartment at 11 Mather Street, & left his body there for 2 weeks, after luring him there for a drug deal.
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