790 WTNY Headlines

The death of an infant in the Village of Carthage has led to an arrest. New York State Police on Wednesday arrested 25 year old Amber Simpson on a charge of second degree manslaughter. The circumstances surrounding the death of the six month old female remain unknown. The death occurred at a home on North School St. on Tuesday. The investigation following the death was conducted by state police, with the assistance of the Carthage Police Department, the Jefferson County Child Advocacy Center, and the Jefferson County DA along with child protective services. Simpson was arraigned and ordered held in the county jail on $30,000 cash bail.

10:17 AM

A former Ft. Drum soldier has been sentenced to twelve years in federal prison on child sex charges. Twenty eight year old Jonathan McGeoch pleaded guilty earlier this year to trying to meet up with a 15 year old Jefferson County boy he met online for the purpose of sexual relations. He was arrested in September of last year in the Town of LeRay. Prior to his arrest, McGeoch had served as a Chaplain Assistant at Drum. His prison time will be followed by 20 years of supervised release.

10:16 AM

New York State has announced a series of drug raids across the state with ties to the local area. According to State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, a total of 39 people were arrested and more than one million dollars in cocaine were seized in the operation. The rings apparently included the transportation of coke from New York City and Buffalo to be sold in Watertown, Cortland, and Syracuse. Two local people were listed among those charged. They are Lyle Camige of Felts Mills and Rush Walts of Evans Mills.

10:15 AM

Getting to and from Ft. Drum should get easier for those looking to avoid Rt. 11 beginning today. After years of discussion and work, the much hyped Ft. Drum Connector Road will open to traffic beginning this morning. The road provides direct access from the base to Interstate 81 and should provide some traffic relief for those who commute on Rt. 11 near the base on a daily basis. The project cost $58 million to get off the ground. DOT officials say the road should be fully operational by the end of the day. Motorists are reminded to exercise caution in the area as the new route means new travel patterns.

10:15 AM

The winner of this year's Shapiro Award has been announced. The citizenship award goes to Bernard Brown Jr. of Bernier Carr Associates. The award is handed out every year by the Greater Watertown North Country Chamber of Commerce based on community service offered by an individual. On top of being CEO of the firm, Brown also is involved in the American Heart Association, the Jefferson County Leadership Institute, and a host of other local organizations. Brown will be presented the award at a chamber event in February.

10:14 AM

New York's top environmental regulator hopes there's a decision regarding hydrofracking in the state soon. Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Joseph Martens says he believes New York leaders will be able to make a determination on the controversial drilling practice by the end of February. High-volume hydrofracking was first put on hold by the DEC in July of 2008, when its environmental review began. The debate over hydrofracking has reached a fever pitch in recent months.

10:14 AM

Governor Andrew Cuomo is withholding judgment on a report that seems to indicate New York State will get a lot less than it wanted in Hurricane Sandy relief funds. A report indicates the White House plans to ask Congress for about 50 billion dollars in hurricane relief for all states, much lower than the 82-billion dollars New York, New Jersey and Connecticut have combined to ask for. Cuomo says the White House has said the report is premature, but he's waiting to see what the final verdict is.

10:13 AM

Governor Andrew Cuomo continues to take a wait-and-see approach when it comes to the new power sharing agreement in the state Senate. Cuomo says the only thing that is important to him is a Seante that operates smoothly, and that passes his legislative agenda. The governor says it will be interesting to watch the chamber during the first few days of legislative action next month.

10:13 AM

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