Governor Cuomo signed legislation to end child marriage in New York. The legislation raises the age of consent to marry from 14-years-old to 18-years-old and amends the process to require parental and judicial consent for marriage of those between 17-years-old and 18-years-old. Previously, children as young as 14-years-old could get married with parental permission and written consent provided by a judge.
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A bipartisan proposal to add post-traumatic stress disorder as a qualifying condition for New York’s medical marijuana program has received final approval from state lawmakers and is headed to the desk of Governor Cuomo. 26 of the 29 states with medical marijuana programs allow patients with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder to qualify.
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With Graduation parties coming up, the parents of students are reminded that it is illegal to provide alcohol to minors under the age of 21 in New York State. Justin Hamm of the Alcohol & Drug Abuse Council of Delaware County told WCDO News that “Social Host Laws” can make parents libel of alcohol related problems:
(Justin Hamm 6-21-17)
More information about social host laws as well as alcohols & drug abuse can be found at adaconline.org.
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Governor Cuomo today announced that his administration has reached a 5-year contract agreement with the Civil Service Employees Association, which represents over 60,000 state government employees. The contract must now be approved and ratified by CSEA membership and authorizing legislation is expected to be passed before the end of the legislative session.
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The New York State Department of Labor today released preliminary local area unemployment rates for May. The State’s unemployment rate increased from 4.3% to 4.4% in May 2017, locally, Chenango County had 4.6% unemployment, Delaware County had a 4.8% rate & Otsego County registered 4.2% unemployment
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Health officials in New York have detected the first of the season’s mosquitoes with West Nile virus downstate in Staten Island. Officials at Cornell University advise New Yorkers to take steps now to protect themselves from the risks of mosquito-borne illnesses. Those who participate in outdoor activities should wear mosquito repellents, dump out any standing water in gutters, plant pots, tarps, buckets, birdbaths & children’s pools.
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State Police issued 21,864 tickets during the June “Speed Week” campaign this year. The special traffic enforcement period to crack down on speeding and aggressive drivers was held June 7 through June 13, 2017. State Troopers ticketed 9,456 drivers for speeding, arrested 268 people for DWI and investigated 315 personal injury accidents, which resulted in 412 people injured Troop C troopers wrote over 1500 tickets during the Speed Week Enforcement.
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The U.S. Justice Department reached an agreement with New York state to settle a lawsuit over voter registration opportunities through the State’s DMV offices. Federal investigators found applications for New York driver’s licenses, permits and ID cards didn’t always serve as applications for voter registration, Under the agreement, New York will insure a voter registration opportunity will be included with all applications. Change of address information will also be used to update voter address information.
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State Senate Leader John Flanagan said that his house will not vote on the bill to change requirements that would have made it easier for the vicitms of sexual molestation to sue their attackers. The proposal that passed the Assembly, and had the support of the Governor, would have given victims more time to file civil lawsuits, and would have allowed for a 1 year window for past victims to file lawsuits. The proposal had opposition from the Catholic Church and other religious organizations.
Chenango County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Division responded to 305 Race Road in the Town of Greene for a narcotics investigation, they discovered 2 men manufacturing methamphetamine. Officers seized methamphetamine, scales, and packaging material & arrested 22-year-old Taylor Micha of Norwich and 36-year-old Paul Decker of Greene, for Unlawful Manufacturing of Methamphetamine, Criminal Possession of Methamphetamine Manufacturing Material, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance and Criminal Use of Drug Paraphernalia. Both were arraigned and remanded to the Chenango County Jail on $25,000 cash bail, pending action in Town of Greene Court at a later date. The investigation is ongoing and additional arrests are expected.
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A Job Fair will be held today at the State Veterans’ Home at Oxford from 12:00 Noon to 6:00 PM. Professionals from the nursing department will be on hand to provide information, give tours and conduct interviews for RN, LPN and CNA positions.
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A plan to permit movie theaters to serve alcohol is not expected to make it to the governor’s desk. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said that he opposes the bill on the grounds of public safety; he decides which bills are voted on in the assembly. Governor Cuomo pitched the idea late last year, as a tie in to the state’s growing craft beer industry. Under current law, a theater can serve alcohol if they also operate a full kitchen, or obtain a tavern license & only serve alcohol in the lobby. The proposal states that theaters could apply for a special license & local officials also support the issuance of that license.
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Town of Unadilla Officials announced that they are paving Idumea Road today, it will be closed to through traffic during the project, starting at 7:30 AM.
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The next Sidney Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours program will be held today. The event will be held at The Delaware National Bank of Delhi on Route 7 from 5:00 to 7:00pm.