P.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 5-3-23

The State Legislature has passed the final State Budget Agreement for the 23-24-fiscal year. In the budget, an Agreement was reached To Provide Greater Discretion for Judges To Set Bail for the Most Serious Crimes; There were no Income Tax Increases in the Budget, additional funds were approved for mental health care, abortion access, Capital project at SUNY & CUNY Schools, increases in the education portion of the budget & increases in the Minimum Wage to $15 in the upstate counties over a 2 year period to adjust with inflation,

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Local government sales tax collections in New York state totaled $5.5 billion in the first quarter of 2023, an increase of 7.1%, compared to the same period last year, according to a report released today by State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli. DiNapoli’s report found that sales tax collections increased by 9.2% in January and 14.1% in February, but the growth slowed to 0.3% in March. Collections for the counties and cities outside New York City grew by 3.3%, in the first quarter, with 50 out of 57 counties experienced sales tax increases during the quarter.

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The Delaware County Board of Elections confirmed that, following yesterday’s public hearing, a republican party primary will be held in the race for District Attorney. Joe Ermeti of Sidney will face acting District Attorney Shawn Smith in the primary on June 27th.

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The Broome County Sheriff’s Office is currently looking for Jaquir Smith on an outstanding warrant, for criminal possession of a weapon, Smith is described as a black male, with long black hair and brown eyes, he is 5’10” tall and about 150 pounds, Anyone with information of Smith is asked to contact the Broome County Sheriff’s Office at their website at gobroomecounty.com or by calling the Broome County Sheriff’s Office tip line at (607) 778-1196.

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Delaware County Sheriff Craig DuMond reported that recently that his Office has received several reports of residents having found unauthorized charges on their debit and credit cards, due to an illegal and fraudulent type of activity referred to as “skimming”. Sheriff DuMond Told WCDO news how to avoid being skimmed:

(Sheriff DuMond 5-3-23)

Sheriff DuMond said that people can avoid these common methods of skimming buy paying in cash inside the store, also, check every line of your monthly bank statement to see that you haven’t been falsely charged & report it to your bank or credit union as soon as possible, so that they can re-issue your card with security updates & a new PIN number & sign up for fraud text alerts whenever possible to monitor your accounts.

A.M. NEWS Wednesday 5-3-23

CDO Workforce of Otsego County will be hosting a job fair at the Southside Mall in Oneonta Today from 4:00 to 6:00 PM, spokesperson Kassidy Wright explains:

(Kassidy Wright 4-24-23)

The Job fair will features representatives from manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, education, municipalities, retail & human services.

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Price Chopper/Market 32 has issued a voluntary recall on a variety of PICS Grated Cheese purchased since December 2022, because they do not meet its quality standards. There are currently no known harmful side effects, customers can return them to their local Price Chopper for a full refund, more information is available at 800-666-7667. Also, General Mills is recalling certain Gold Medal Flour products due to potential Salmonella issues. The recall affects Gold Medal Unbleached All Purpose 2, 5 & 10 Pound Flour, with an expiration date of March 27 & 28 2024, consumers can return the flour to the store of purchase for a refund, more information is available at 1-800-230-8103.

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The Broome County District Attorney’s Office announced that 48 year old Howard Knapp of Endicott will spend 50 years in prison after he was found guilty in January. Knapp was sentenced to 2 consecutive 25 to life sentences on 2 counts of Predatory Sexual Assault Against a Child, the victims were under the age of 13 at the time the incidents occurred, in 2014 and 2015.

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The next meeting of the Sidney Chamber of Commerce will be held this morning at the Sidney Golf Course. The meeting will begin at 8:00 AM.

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