P.M. NEWS THURSDAY 8-25-22
The New York State Fair official opening day attendance Wednesday was 49,112, about 11,700 more people than last year’s extended fair’s Day 1. The Opening Day attendance was still far less than the record-setting 74,000 attendees on opening day in 2019, the year before the pandemic. On average, the fair attracts over 57,000 people on opening days.
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The Latest COVID 19 statistics show a slow steady decline, with 7% Positivity rate reported on Tuesday, the 7 day rolling average was down to 6.29%. Patients hospitalizations have declined to 2,394, that a decrease of about 175 since last week, also there were 252 ICU patients with 102 on Ventilators, which is an increase of 13 since last week, & with the overall decline in COVID 19 cases, Students in New York state will not have to wear masks or be quarantined if they came in contact with someone with COVID.
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State Officials announced that the 9/11 Tribute Museum in New York City closed down last week. The number of visitors drastically declined with the pandemic & never recovered. Annual admissions dropped to only 26,000 last year, compared to 150,000 in 2019.
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The Chenango County Board of Supervisors and the Civil Service Employees Association reached an agreement on a contract for County Employees through the end of 2024. The contract allows for wage increases up to $2.00 an hour, the contract extension kicks in on October 1.
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Visitors will be allowed at the Broome County Correctional Facility starting September 5th, visitation had been suspended in March 2020 at the beginning of the COVID 19 pandemic, a Lawsuit was filed to allow visitors back into the Jail and a decision in the State Supreme Court allowed for the Jail to be re-opened for visitation, as the COVID situation had changed considerable since 2020.
A.M. NEWS THURSDAY 8-25-22
Broome County District Attorney Mike Korchak announced that 29 year old Joel Valdes-Pica of Binghamton pleaded guilty to Attempted Robbery, for assaulting a Family Dollar employee who was making a deposit at the M&T Bank on Exchange Street, taking over $1,000. Valdes-Pica is also a repeat Violent Felony Offender and will serve 5 years in New York State Prison starting in November.
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The State DMV is reminding New York Motorists to check to see if they have peeling license plates on their vehicles, as police have increasingly ticketed motorists for having the defective plates. People can replace their peeling plates free of charge at an area DMV office.
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The State DOT is advising motorists that the off-ramp at Exit 19 on Interstate 88 westbound in the Town of Worcester, will close for approximately 60 days starting on Monday, August 29. The closure is necessary to facilitate a project to resurface the road and rehabilitate bridges. A variable message sign will alert motorists of the closure and direct them to Exit 20 and a signed detour utilizing State Route 7.
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Governor Kathy Hochul announced that police agencies have removed 6,007 illegal guns from communities across New York State during the first 7 months of the year, a 20% increase over 2021. State Police seized 1,468 guns from August 2021 to July 2022: a 140% increase when compared to August 2020 to July 2021, The State’s budget contains $227 million to fund programs implemented by law enforcement agencies and community-based organizations.
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