Governor Cuomo announced a crackdown on drivers and their passengers caught without a buckled seat belt or transporting unrestrained children as part of the national Click It or Ticket – Border-to-Border enforcement mobilization. The initiative will run from today through Sunday, May 31st. Currently, 91% of New York motorists buckle up, which is 4% higher than the national average. 32% of the front seat occupants killed in crashes in New York State between 2011-2013 were unrestrained.
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FBI officials arrested former Congressional candidate & Minister Robert Doggart of Tennessee in connection with a plot to kill Muslim community residents in the town of Hancock. FBI officials arrested Doggart, back on April 10th. The complaint filed in federal court Doggart planned to commit mass murder using an M4 rifle, explosives, machete and snipers. Doggart was released after posting bail, and faces federal court action shortly.
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Voters in New York State will decide on their area school district budgets, school board seats, building & bus propositions on Tuesday. School board races will be decided in Sidney, Delhi, Bainbridge-Guilford, & Norwich. Building projects will be voted on in Sidney, Walton, & Unadilla Valley.
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Friday’s declared mistrial in Schoharie County Court ion the Cal Harris murder trial, likely means a 4th trial, which may bring the case back in court in August. The most recent trial was the longest of the Harris Trials at 11 weeks; it featured 11 days of deliberation with a hung jury, and 14 requests for a mistrial By Harris’ defense attorney since the 3rd trial began in February. Harris was convicted twice in Tioga County Court, both were overturned on appeal, the 3rd trial and the next trial are in Schoharie county court after a change of venue was granted.
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State Police arrested 22-year-old Jonathon Helmer of Hartwick Seminary for Aggravated DWI with a B.A.C. result of .20%. This arrest occurred after Troopers responded to a Delaware County 911 report of a single motor vehicle accident on State Route 23 in the Town of Harpersfield. An investigation determined that he was driving while intoxicated when he crashed into the guiderail and then a ditch. Helmer was issued tickets returnable to the Town of Harpersfield Court on May 25th.
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The Bainbridge chamber of commerce announced that the Pam Lafever Canoe parade would be held this Saturday on the Susquehanna River between Sidney & Bainbridge. Regatta chairman John Harmon explains:

(John Harmon 5-18-15)

Those who would like to participate need to be ready to line up at about 12:00 Noon Saturday in the old Whitaker’s parking lot on main street in Sidney.
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Delaware County Sheriff Tom Mills announced that they are seeking funding to help acquire & give away Bicycle helmets to children whose family may not be able to afford one. Since 1999 the Sheriff’s safety program has acquired & given out 4000 free bike helmets, more information is available by calling the sheriff’s department at 746-2336.
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U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is announcing legislation to remove legal barriers to adoption by lesbian, gay and transgender parents. Gillibrand will introduce legislation this week that would prohibit the discrimination, The “Every Child Deserves a Family Act” would prohibit any entity that receives federal funds from discriminating against adoptive or foster parents based on sexual orientation, gender identity or marital status. New York is 1 of 7 states that explicitly bans adoption discrimination based on sexual orientation. Louisiana, Mississippi, and Michigan prohibit same-sex couples from jointly adopting, 4 other states restrict same-sex couples from using the second-parent adoption process.
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New York’s IDA’s provided $660 million in net tax exemptions in 2013, up $105 million from 2012 but estimated job gains were nearly 23,000 lower than the previous year, according to State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli. The report found that, despite this weakening growth in jobs, the state’s 109 active IDA’s provided $1.38 billion in total tax exemptions in 2013. The exemptions were partially offset by $723 million in payments-in-lieu of taxes, leaving the total net exemptions for the year at $660 million – an increase of $105 million, or 19% from 2012. DiNapoli has also renewed his call for improvements to IDA oversight and accountability. A copy of the report is available at osc.state.ny.us.