10 men were arrested Wednesday on federal charges of conspiring to distribute anabolic steroids and engage in international money laundering in Broome County. The defendants were arrested Wednesday morning in New York, New Jersey, Florida, Georgia and Delaware. The case is being prosecuted by the US Attorney’s office, 4 of the 10 arrested were picked up in Broome County Wednesday, they have been identified as 37 year old Richard Progovitz of Port Crane, 32 year old Derek Strassle of Endicott, 31 year old Paul Boylan of Endicott, & 33 year old Jeremiah O’Brien, of Binghamton.
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State Police arrested 47 year old Thomas Jones of Binghamton, for driving while intoxicated, aggravated unlicensed operation, & leaving the scene of a property damage accident, among other charges. The arrest occurred after troopers responded to a report of a property damage accident involving a red Ford F150 in the Town of Union, Prior to arriving, Jones had driven away in his pickup truck & struck another vehicle on Hooper Road in Endwell, and left the scene of that accident, he was located by the Johnson City Police & was eventuially arrested when the City of Binghamton Police followed him to his residence. Jones was arraigned & was remanded to the Broome County Jail on $2,000 cash bail or $4,000 property bond.
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The Siena Research Institute poll released Today, shows that 59% of voters back Cuomo’s plan to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour, while 38% said they oppose the proposal. 47% of upstate voters favor the plan. Cuomo pushed to raise the statewide minimum wage to $15 an hour after a fast food wage board recommended the same increase for workers at McDonald’s, Burger King and other national establishments. The state Labor Department accepted the wage board’s recommendations and the minimum wage hike for fast food workers will be phased in over the next three years for New York City employees and six years for the rest of the state.
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The Oneonta department of public service announced that they will be flushing water mains on the low service in the west end of the city next week. The affected areas will be along Chestnut streets and all other streets west of Clinton Street, included the city operated system into the Town of Oneonta. Water color & pressure may be affected during the flushing period, which will run for 2 weeks starting on Tuesday September 29th.
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Students from several area school districts went to SUNY Oneonta to hear Ishmael Beah (BAY-a) and his story of growing up during a civil war. Ishmael Beah is from Sierra Leon At the age of 13, he was forced to become a child soldier for almost 3 years before being rescued by UNICEF, he rose to fame with his acclaimed memoir, A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier.
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Governor Cuomo today announced the release of a Request for Information to help finalize guidelines for the New NY Broadband Program, which has undertaken the ambitious goal of substantially expanding high-speed broadband service in New York State by the end of 2018. Earlier this year, Governor Cuomo made the Nation’s largest and most aggressive state investment in broadband with the commitment of $500 million in capital for the Program. The New NY Broadband Program is designed to correct this problem by ensuring that every New Yorker has access to high-speed Internet by 2018.

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Governor Cuomo today launched a statewide effort to recruit Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces to volunteer and assist immigrants who want to become American citizens. Veterans would teach newcomers English and help them prepare for the U.S. civics portion of the naturalization exam. The Division of Veterans Affairs will use the more than 80 Veterans Affairs offices throughout the State to serve as Veteran Volunteer Recruitment Centers to help veterans who are looking for opportunities to continue serving the public.
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The Government Office of Storm Recovery Meeting will be held on Tonight from 6:30 to 8:30 PM at the Sidney High School Auditorium. Sidney Village Mayor Andy Matviak comments:

(Andy Matviak 9-24-15)

Matviak said that people who received the letter from Delaware County are encouraged to attend as well as any interested residents of the Village of Sidney.
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The State DOT announced that traffic will be stopped today around the Prospect Mountain Construction project, as 2 bridges over the Chenango River will be brought down with controlled blasts. Officials stated that Beginning at about 10:15 AM, State Police will have the traffic in the area slowed down or stopped for about 15 minutes on I-81 south at exit 6. I-81 North at exit 2, State Route 17 East at exit 71 & I-88 west at exit 2. The on-ramp to I-81S at exit 5 for Front Street & SUNY Broome & State Route 7 on-ramp to I-81 North, & Route 17 West will be closed.
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