790 WTNY Headlines

Kraft Foods, one of the largest employers in Lewis County, is merging with ketchup kingpin Heinz Company. Heinz is owned in part by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway and 3G Capital. The merger would create the third-largest food and beverage company in North America. The deal is worth an estimated 40-billion dollars. News of the deal had craft shares up as much as 27-percent at 78-dollars in pre-market trading. Buffett says the merger is his type of deal because it unites two world-class brands and brings value to shareholders. Kraft has a plant in Lowville which is known for producing the "Philadelphia" cream cheese brand.

11:36 AM

A former local church pastor has pleaded guilty a sexual abuse charge involving a young girl. Sixty three year old Thomas Wilson of Watertown entered the plea Tuesday in Jefferson County Court to a count of first degree sexual abuse after being accused of having sexual contact with a then nine year old girl in Sackets Harbor back in 2008. Wilson, a former senior pastor at Smithville Baptist Church, was arrested in the case back in January. He's expected to be sentenced May 27 to 10 years probation and ordered to register with the state as a sex offender.

10:07 AM

Another drug bust here in the City of Watertown. The Metro-Jeff Drug Task Force says officers conducted a raid Monday at 119 State Place just after 12:30 pm. Authorities say the raid on the lower apartment yielded over 30 grams of powdered cocaine, over 26 grams of crack, two sets of digital scales, and packaging materials. The total cost of the drugs estimated to be worth nearly $6,000. Arrested on drug related charges were 57 year old Calvin Williams who lived in the apartment and 25 year old Willard Hodges III of Philadelphia, PA. Hodges was ordered held on $30,000 bail while Williams was ordered held on $10,000 bail.

10:06 AM

Ogdensburg Police have arrested a man there on drug related charges. Thirty three year old Joseph Perterkin Jr. of Mechanic St. was charged by police with counts of third degree criminal sale and third degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. Perterkin is accused of selling crack cocaine. The man who goes by the street name "Drama" was arraigned on the charges and ordered held without bail for allegedly violating probation on previous drug related charges.

10:05 AM

The 10th Mountain Division at Ft. Drum will get a new commander later today. The change comes during a time of uncertainty at the local post and throughout the military with the shadow of sequestration looming and the effects possible cuts will have on the division. Maj. Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander of the 10th since late 2012, will hand those duties over to Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Bannister. The change in command ceremony will take place later this morning at Ft. Drum

10:05 AM

President Obama is slowing the U.S. troop drawdown in Afghanistan. President Obama says the U.S. will keep nearly 10-thousand U.S. troops in Afghanistan through the end of this year. In a White House news briefing with new Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, Obama said he remains committed to ending more than a decade of war in Afghanistan. Ghani asked Obama to slow the pace of the drawdown. Obama insisted that Afghanistan remains a dangerous place. U.S. troop levels will continue to be reduced next year, though Obama said specifics have not been worked out. He insisted that he still aims to have most American forces out of Afghanistan by the end of 2016. Obama said the U.S. combat role is over but stressed that the U.S. commitment to the Afghan people will go on. Remaining U.S. forces are primarily helping Afghan security forces. Obama said the goal is to help the Afghan security forces succeed so the U.S. doesn't have to come back.

10:04 AM

New York soon could join the rest of the U.S. when it comes to legalizing Mixed Martial Arts. Famed MMA fighter Ronda Rousey Monday visited with Governor Andrew Cuomo and other state lawmakers. She told reporters she's always dreamed of fighting at Madison Square Garden. The UFC women's bantamweight champ says MMA is at the front of a "cultural revolution," especially for female athletes.

10:02 AM

A well-known frozen food vendor is sending out word of a large recall amid possible listeria fears. California-based Amy's Kitchen is recalling more than 70-thousand frozen meals nationwide, some of which were sold locally. The bad products mostly contain spinach. Tops, Wegmans, Price Chopper and Walgreens all carry the products and will issue refunds.

10:01 AM

A Pulaski woman is recovering from a head injury after a two car crash during rush hour in Syracuse. Sargent Gary Bulinski says crews were called to the scene on 81 North near Hiawatha Boulevard just after five-last-night. The other driver and a passenger were not injured. No one was cited on the crash.

10:00 AM

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