Your Morning Edition for Thursday, May 2nd presented by Ricceli Northern!

Cayuga Co. fire chief arrested for sending sexual messages to 14-year-old. Plus, latest on serious crash in Fayette/Waterloo, landfill deemed safe in Cayuga Co., and early voting update in Seneca Co.

May 02, 2024

Aurora assistant fire chief had illegal, sexual contact with teen for months; held on $10,000 bail

In late-March, investigators with the Cayuga County Sheriff’s Office initiated an investigation after it was reported that 34-year-old Thomas Cooper of Aurora had engaged in inappropriate communication with an individual whom he believed to be a 14-year-old female. Following an investigation, Cooper was taken into custody. However, authorities have now confirmed that he’s served as the Aurora Assistant Fire Chief. [READ MORE]

What’s trending in the Finger Lakes?

A former dump site in Cayuga County has successfully met its cleanup goals and has been reclassified, signaling it no longer poses a significant threat to public health or the environment, according to the DEC. The site on Town Line Road in Springport, initially designated as a Class 2 site in 1993 due to hazardous waste concerns, has been upgraded to a Class 4 status. [READ MORE]
A major crash involving a pickup truck and two individuals occurred near the intersection of Route 96A and East Lake Road in Fayette on Wednesday afternoon, resulting in serious injuries. Mercy Flight dispatched two helicopters to transport the injured parties to nearby hospitals for urgent care. [READ MORE]

Things dry out today and stay that way for the rest of the week!

Extended Forecast

Seneca County officials are pushing to keep their only early voting location in Waterloo, the county seat, countering a New York state law that mandates such sites be located in the largest municipality, which in this case is Seneca Falls. Election officials tell the Finger Lakes Times they have prepared a legislative bill aimed at allowing early voting to remain at the County Office Building in Waterloo, which has historically hosted the polling. [READ MORE]
Former Addison Village Clerk and Treasurer Ursula Stone appeared in Steuben County Court on Wednesday, facing accusations of embezzling over $1 million from the village funds over a 19-year span. Stone, who was indicted in November 2023 on 192 felony counts, including grand larceny and money laundering, allegedly falsified documents to hide the thefts occurring between January 2004 and April 2023. [READ MORE]
The Lake Friendly Living Coalition of the Finger Lakes has marked the start of its 4th Annual Lake Friendly Living Awareness Month as the calendar turned to May. The month-long event, dedicated to sustaining the health of the Finger Lakes, featured a series of community activities aimed at educating and engaging local residents, governments, and businesses on water conservation practices. [READ MORE]

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EXPLAINED IN 90 SECONDS: How does new state budget address rural housing issues?

New York’s 2025 budget takes proactive steps to address rural housing. In the budget, $10 million was allocated for improvements to rural housing built by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Section 515 program. Rural housing organizations asked for $25 million but are grateful the state is taking action.