Helping those deal with Heroin & Opioid abuse continues to be at the forefront for area lawmakers. State Senator Fred Akshar said that his ideas about how to deal with this crisis has changed since his law enforcement days:
(Akshar 8-30-16)
Akshar said that another “Shed the Meds event, to collect old outdated prescription medications will be Wednesday at the Endicott Police Department from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, followed by a Narcan Training event there from 7:00 to 8:00 PM. Also the newly formed TRI-TOWNS COALITION ON SUBSTANCE ABUSE Meeting will be held Wednesday night at 6:00 PM at the Sidney High School Library.
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Governor Cuomo today announced that non-essential lane closures for road and bridge construction projects on New York State highways will be suspended from 6 a.m. on Friday, September 2, to 6 a.m. on Tuesday, September 6, in order to accommodate travelers during the busy Labor Day holiday weekend. The construction suspension is in keeping with Governor Cuomo’s Drivers First initiative, which prioritizes the convenience of motorists to minimize traffic congestion and travel delays due to road and bridge work. Some work may continue behind permanent concrete barriers or for emergency repairs.
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The American Red Cross, Broome County Executive Debra Preston and City of Binghamton Mayor Richard David are supporting 9/11 Day by offering the community an opportunity to honor those who lost their lives and the heroes who responded following the tragic events of Sept.11. A special Red Cross blood drive sponsored by Preston and David will be held on Thursday, September 8 from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Binghamton, 2-8 Hawley Street. This year marks the 15th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Each year tens of millions of Americans and people around the world observe the anniversary of 9/11 by performing good deeds that help people and communities in need.
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The New York State Department of Health today announced that, based on a statewide needs assessment; it will implement numerous recommendations through new regulations and guidelines to enhance its Medical Marijuana Program. The recommendations, which will improve access for patients suffering from severe, debilitating and life threatening conditions, include authorizing nurse practitioners to certify patients for the program, allowing for home delivery service of medicine, expanding the financial hardship waiver for patients and caregivers who apply for registration, and modifying the state’s data management system to make it more user friendly for certified patients and caregivers. For more information on the two-year report for the Medical Use of Marijuana Under the Compassionate Care Act, visit: https://www.health.ny.gov/regulations/medical_marijuana/.
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Governor Cuomo today announced $74.6 million in state and federal funding for New York’s 59 county-based area agencies on aging to support programs that improve older individuals’ access to nutritional and disease prevention services. This year’s commitment will generate an additional $98.3 million in funding from municipalities, plus an additional $11.5 million in direct voluntary contributions from program participants. Southern Tier programs will receive more than $3.2 Million dollars.
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State Police at Oneonta arrested 28 year old Nicolas Martinez of Oneonta for the 3rd degree Assault & criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation, after troopers investigated a domestic dispute report from a home on Deer Haven Road in the Town of Oneonta. Martinez allegedly struck and choked the victim, causing injury; he was arraigned in the Town of Oneonta court and was remanded to the Otsego County jail on $200 cash bail or $400 property bond.
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Frontier communications announced that long distance service throughout New York State has been interrupted due to a problem in the Albany area. Crews are working to fix the problems; it should be restored by the end of the day.
The Tioga County District Attorney’s office confirmed that Cal Harris has been found guilty of 2nd degree Harassment. Harris was convicted for harassing a Suny Broome student on March 5th 2015 at a satellite class. Harris’s sentencing will take place September 7th.
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