State Police responded to a 2 vehicle fatal collision on I-88 Wednesday night in the Town of Colesville. 23 year old David Murrer of Harpursville struck another motor vehicle, driven by 64 year old Synthia Baciuska & occupied by her husband 67 year old Lynn Baciuska both of Afton. The Baciuska vehicle left the roadway and overturned, Mr. Baciuska was ejected & was declared dead at the scene, Mrs. Baciuska was transported to Wilson Hospital for non-life threatening injuries. Murrer suffered minor injuries and refused treatment at the scene, he was charged with Vehicular Manslaughter and DWI & was arraigned in Town of Colesville Court & he was remanded to the Broome County Correctional Facility on $2,500 cash or $5,000 bond. Anyone who may have information regarding this accident or witnessed this incident is requested to contact State Police at 775-1241. The investigation is continuing.
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State Police in Binghamton are looking for information that may lead to the whereabouts of a Binghamton man who fled from troopers in a reported stolen vehicle. On Tuesday, December 27th, state troopers pulled over 28 year old Ryan Markoff of Binghamton, in the town of Kirkwood, after he was observed driving a vehicle that was reported stolen. Markoff drove off as troopers were interviewing him and headed north into the city of Binghamton. State Police pursued Markoff through the city, and terminated the pursuit shortly after he entered Pennsylvania. Markoff was last seen driving a blue 2011 Kia Sorento, New York registration FPX 4416. He may have possibly traveled to Montrose, Pennsylvania and is known to frequent the Windsor and Hancock areas. Anyone with information is asked to contact the New York State Police in Binghamton at (607) 775-1241.
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Governor Cuomo announced that new health insurance reforms aimed at combatting New York State’s heroin and opioid crisis will go into effect January 1st. These reforms were part of the legislative package that the Governor signed this year, health insurance plans will be required to cover treatment services provided to New Yorkers suffering from opioid addiction, increase access to treatment, expand community prevention strategies, and limit the over-prescription of opioids in New York.
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Broome County District Attorney Steve Cornwell announced on Thursday that there have been 76 confirmed overdose deaths in Broome County this year. Of the 76 deaths, The average age was 37, 63% were male; 37% were female, 90% of the deaths were attributed to heroin or opioids; 10% to other drugs.
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Governor Cuomo today announced the launch of a new public awareness campaign reminding New Yorkers that the first increase to the minimum wage will go into effect on December 31st. Governor Cuomo signed legislation this year making New York the first state in the nation to enact a $15 minimum wage to be phased in over several years. Minimum wage workers who do not receive their raise should call 1-888-4-NYSDOL to report their employers. Locally, the minumum wage will be increased to $9.70 an hour. More information is available at www.ny.gov/minimumwage.
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32-year-old Jacob Fowlston of Norwich was arrested by Norwich Police Wednesday afternoon and charged with a hate crime, following an alleged assault on December 24th on Fair Street in Norwich. Fowlston is accused of making racial slurs at the victim before striking him. Fowlston was arraigned & faces a felony hearing on Tuesday in Norwich City Court.
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State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker today declared influenza prevalent in New York State. With this declaration, health care workers who are not vaccinated against influenza must now wear surgical or procedure masks in areas where patients are typically present. Flu activity in the State is now considered to be widespread, with laboratory-confirmed cases in 39 counties and all boroughs of New York City. So far, 658 flu-related hospitalizations have been reported, and there have been no reports of pediatric deaths from flu.
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State Lawmakers will once again have to deal with an education budget next year that could make things difficult on the smallest upstate district, according to Assemblyman Pete Lopez:

(Lopez)

Lopez said that state mandates on small school district sometimes drive the cost of education up to $30,000 per student per year.
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A Red Cross blood drive will be held in Oneonta today. The drive will run from 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., River Street Baptist Church, 133 River Street. Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information.