Governor Cuomo & State health officials held a press conference this morning, blasting Congressman Chris Collins of Buffalo and area congressman John Faso for supporting the House Republican health care bill and the push to have the state assume county Medicaid costs.
(Cuomo 3-21-17)
The Governor stated that over 4 years New York State would lose $4.6 billion and lose at least $2.4 billion a year by fiscal year 2020. The Collins-Faso amendment would stop the counties from paying a share of Medicaid, which would cost upstate counties is 2.3 Billion Dollars.
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Conference committee activity will continue among lawmakers in Albany through the end of the month, local assemblyman Cliff Crouch has been assigned to serve on some committees, he said that the Agriculture portion of the budget should be favorable this year:
(Crouch 3-21-17)
The Governor’s Budget proposal increased spending by 1.9% over last year, with over 152 billion dollars in spending, the deadline to pass the budget is April 1st.
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The Tri-Town Coalition on Substance Abuse Prevention will hold their annual dinner & Prevention education night Wednesday night at the Sidney High School. Coalition President Lorraine Keckeisen told WCDO about the guest speakers & other items of interest:
(Lorraine Keckesien 3-21-17)
More information is available at 561-7707.
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The Oneonta City Commission of Community Relations & Human Rights announced that they have selected Carla Balnis & Luisa Montanti as the “Over 25” recipients of the “Women’s Trailblazer” award, and Judy Morales as the Under 25 recipient. The women will be honored with a ceremony at 6:30 PM tonight in the lobby of City hall, prior to tonight’s Oneonta Common Council meeting at 7:00 PM.
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The State DOT will hold a public open house meeting on Thursday, March 23 to discuss plans to replace a bridge on State Route 7 in the village of Afton. The meeting will be held at the Afton Town Hall, from 5:30-7:00 pm. The bridge in question was built in 1922 and carries State Route 7 over Kelsey Brook. The bridge is safe for continued travel and is regularly inspected.
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Chenango County Sheriff Ernest Cutting encourages residents to support the State Sheriff’s Institute, during their membership drive currently underway. The Sheriffs Institute has numerous programs, including the Sheriff’s Summer Camps, the Criminal Justice Scholarship Program & the Victim Notification program. More information is available at sheriffsinstitute.org.
State Police located wanted subject Troy Maloney of Hampton, New Hampshire operating a motor vehicle on Interstate 88 in the Town of Colesville. Maloney was wanted by the State of Massachusetts for Arson to a Dwelling, Troopers stopped the vehicle Maloney was traveling in and arrested him without incident. Maloney was arraigned as a Fugitive From Justice in Town of Colesville Court and remanded to the Broome County Jail in lieu of bail pending an extradition hearing.
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State Senator Jim Seward has been named co-chairman of the general government/local assistance budget conference committee and will also serve as a member of the education budget conference committee. The conference committees are made up of five senators and five assemblymen tasked with negotiating budget differences between the houses, in concert with the governor, to develop a final spending plan. The conference committees conduct open, public meetings, which can be viewed on-line at www.nysenate.gov.
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The Arc Otsego, in partnership with the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities is holding a free Front Door Information Session from 4:00 to 6:00 PM today for individuals and families regarding access to services through OPWDD. The session will be held at The Arc Otsego, located at 35 Academy Street in Oneonta.
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The Unadilla Chamber of Commerce will have its next regular meeting today at Green’s Long River Inn, State Route 357, in Unadilla beginning at 8:15 am. Nominations for Business of the Years and Good Neighbor/Commitment to Community are to be turned in at this meeting for selection with honorees to be honored at the Annual Dinner meeting on Sunday, April 23 at the Unadilla Methodist Church, Main Street, Unadilla. All members and directors are urged to attend.
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Many area villages will hold elections for local positions today. many of the races have candidates running unoopposed, In Sidney Andrew Skrobanski is running unopposed for Village court justice, in Milford Taylor Brose, Michael Strong & William Tallman are running for 2 seats on the village board.
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The Next Commerce Chenango Business After Hours will be today, co-hosted by the Binghamton Rumble Ponies at The Stadium in Oxford. The staff of the Rumble Ponies will discuss various promotions & the changes at NYSEG Stadium. More information is available at 334-1400.