Governor Cuomo today announced the $152 million second phase of the 1-81/Route 17 Prospect Mountain reconstruction project in Binghamton has begun. The project will replace bridges and reconfigure ramps to significantly improve traffic patterns in one of the Southern Tier’s busiest sections. The improvements also enable the State DOT to request federal designation of the four-mile stretch of Route 17 to become I-86. Work involves reconstructing nearly 9 center lane miles of highway. Interchange 4 will be reconstructed at its juncture with Route 7, by replacing the viaduct bridge over the Norfolk-Southern Railroad tracks and Broad Avenue. 2 new bridges will also be constructed over the Chenango River in the city of Binghamton. This phase is expected to be complete by December 2020.
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The Sidney Center Improvement Group will hold their annual spring Street Clean Up this Saturday, from 10:00 am to 12:00 Noon. Group Spokesman Mike Sellitti explains:
(Mike Sellitti 5-19-16)
Sellitti said that all cleaning materials are provided for volunteers and also get a free t-shirt and ice cream afterwards at the Maywood Depot.
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At about 4:30 Wednesday afternoon, Bainbridge Firefighters responded to 105 Paddock Park for a Trailer fire just off of State Route 8. Guilford, Sidney, Unadilla, & Mount Upton fire companies responded, the cause of the fire is under investigation.
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New York State’s private sector job count increased by 13,300, or 0.2%, to 7,905,500, a new record high in April, according to preliminary figures released today by the New York State Department of Labor. The statewide unemployment rate increased from 4.8% to 4.9% in April 2016, the national unemployment rate was an even 5%.
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Governor Cuomo, Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie today announced that the temporary Business Regulation Council is accepting comments and recommendations online through May 26. The Governor said that the state is committed to lowering the cost of doing business in New York State and today’s action will build upon the state’s progress. Recommendations can be submitted to brcnys@exec.ny.gov.
Oneonta Fire fighters responded to a fire at 8 Forest Avenue in the city’s East End Wednesday. Doria Watson was injured and 1 of her dogs was killed in the fire that was reported at about 1:15 PM Wednesday afternoon. Watson was taken to Fox Hospital for injuries to her ribs. West Oneonta & Worcester fire department also responded, the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
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Governor Cuomo announced that he is advancing legislation to modernize New York’s 80-year-old Alcoholic Beverage Control Law to consolidate licensing and ease regulatory requirements for wineries, breweries, distilleries and cideries.
(Cuomo 5-19-16)
Cuomo announced the changes at a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Rochester wednesday, he said that in the last few years, the industry has grown to over 1000 new bsuinesses, generating over 12 billion dollars in revenue.
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Governor Cuomo today announced more than $453,000 in state grants to enable 39 police departments and sheriffs’ offices to purchase new electronic fingerprinting equipment. With this investment, the state has provided nearly $1.2 million to local law enforcement since last fall, enabling a total of 90 agencies across the state to replace existing devices that are old or obsolete.
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