http://www.newschannel34.com/news/local/ News Channel 34: Local News en-us Copyright 2012 Newport Television LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Fri, 03 Feb 2012 01:00:01 -0500 Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:33:08 -0500 Local News http://www.newschannel34.com/site/wbgh/nc34sm.jpg http://www.newschannel34.com/news/local/ 100 35 15 http://www.newschannel34.com:80/news/local/story/Hinchey-on-Fracking/1xCzEmADwEyxGcfJbBV4ag.cspx?rss=120 http://www.newschannel34.com/s/1xCzEmADwEyxGcfJbBV4ag.cspx Congressman Maurice Hinchey is asking President Obama to support his FRAC Act.

The proposed bill called Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals would require gas and oil companies to disclose the chemicals they use when hydrofracking. Up to this point, the bill has not gotten wide-spread support. Hinchey says the President talked about the need for gas drilling in his State of the Union speech recently. While Obama endorsed the disclosure of chemicals used on public lands, he did not say anything about private lands. That's something Hinchey would like to see him support. Hinchey is also asking the President to expand the EPA's study of hydrofracking to include potential air pollution risks. ]]> Local News Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:35:24 -0500 Hinchey on Fracking http://www.newschannel34.com:80/news/local/story/JC-Fire-Grant/ZzLjwAX-UkSvqTwkiexn-g.cspx?rss=120 http://www.newschannel34.com/s/ZzLjwAX-UkSvqTwkiexn-g.cspx The Johnson City Fire Department is receiving a $75,000 grant.

US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand says the money will be used to buy protective equipment for firefighters and to install devices to remove exhaust fumes from the department's fire stations. The grant is is through FEMA. ]]> Local News Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:33:45 -0500 JC Fire Grant http://www.newschannel34.com:80/news/local/story/Rauschmeier-Reinstated/e4zeszDU3kOuF_Vvagj0xQ.cspx?rss=120 http://www.newschannel34.com/s/e4zeszDU3kOuF_Vvagj0xQ.cspx The Johnson City Firefighter accused of public lewdness at his home in 2010 is to be reinstated to the department with full back pay.

Originally, Robert Rauschmeier was charged with doing self gratifying behavior at an open window. However, Rauschmeier's attorney says an impartial hearing officer ruled that he was not guilty of the alleged misconduct. That officer ordered that Rauschmeier be reinstated. However, Mayor Dennis Hannon fired him instead. That led to the State Appellate division getting involved, which has ruled that he be reinstated with full back pay. According to Rauschmeier's attorney, the village apparently plans to ask the Court of Appeals for permission to appeal the case. Until that is resolved, the appellate division's order is stayed. ]]> Local News Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:31:51 -0500 http://www.newschannel34.com:80/news/local/story/YMCA-Thefts-Investigated/Emlx8r4dHkifYukPjCdQ9A.cspx?rss=120 http://www.newschannel34.com/s/Emlx8r4dHkifYukPjCdQ9A.cspx Police are looking for a man in connection with metal thefts that occurred at the YMCA branch in Westover.

The Broome County Sheriff's Investigators released surveillance photos of a man they'd like to question regarding the burglary. The YMCA on Main Street near Home Depot went through reconstruction twice last year, first from the flood and then from a fire. If you have any information about the man seen in these photos, please call the Sheriff's Tip Line at 778-1196. ]]> Local News Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:30:01 -0500 http://www.newschannel34.com:80/news/local/story/Derby-Knitting-Update/H2cwK7n_PUyYhsXt965n9w.cspx?rss=120 http://www.newschannel34.com/s/H2cwK7n_PUyYhsXt965n9w.cspx The rubble at the former Derby Knitting Factory site in Binghamton is expected to be cleared away soon.

Fire ripped through the old factory on Water Street last June. The property owner had paid cash for the building and didn't have insurance. The City legally couldn't do much if the owner wanted to walk away, besides taking her to city court.  That means the City was going to be responsible for the cost, which was pegged at about $200,000.

Mayor Matt Ryan says the owner of the property is willing to give the land to a company if it will clear the site for free. "If we had cleaned it up immediately, the taxpayers would have had to pay for it. We're sorry for the eyesore, but we believe we saved close to 200-thousand dollars by going through with it this way and working with the county, the county was part of this. It had to do with some back taxes."

A date for the cleanup has not been scheduled yet. ]]> Local News Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:27:27 -0500 Derby Knitting Update http://www.newschannel34.com:80/news/local/story/City-Comptroller-Leaving/Io0LHK_cxkmehAN4lNisLQ.cspx?rss=120 http://www.newschannel34.com/s/Io0LHK_cxkmehAN4lNisLQ.cspx Binghamton Comptroller John Cox is leaving the city to go work for the City of Rochester.

He will be the Deputy Director of Finance for Accounting. This is his last day wit the City. Cox started working at City Hall in 2006 as Deputy Comptroller. A year later he was promoted. He'll make about $88,000 in Rochester, a $25,000 raise. The City has already opened its search for a new Comptroller. Current Deputy Comptroller Charles Pearsall will serve as Acting Comptroller for now. ]]> Local News Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:23:46 -0500 http://www.newschannel34.com:80/news/local/story/Chinese-New-Year-at-Discovery/10usG3q-EkGh8lOzMRc3KA.cspx?rss=120 http://www.newschannel34.com/s/10usG3q-EkGh8lOzMRc3KA.cspx The Discovery Center is preparing to celebrate the New Year, the Lunar New Year that is.

More commonly referred to as the Chinese New Year, the holiday is actually celebrated in several Asian cultures. The date of holiday is based on the lunar cycle and spans the 15 days it takes for a new moon to become full. The Discovery Center is marking the culmination with a special event Saturday. People can learn to write their names in a foreign language, make rice paper lanterns and dragon puppets, and listen to some Korean drummers. 2012 is the Year of the Dragon.

Nicki Barnard says, "The year of the dragon, just like the dragon creature, is really larger than life. It's expected to bring great things during the year. A lot of good luck, a lot of wealth and a lot of good happenings. We hope you'll come join our great happening."

The celebration is Saturday from 11 am to 3 pm and is free with regular admission to the Discovery Center. The program is being put on with the help of the Asian and Korean Studies Departments at BU. ]]> Local News Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:10:49 -0500 Chinese New Year at Discovery http://www.newschannel34.com:80/news/local/story/AmArA-and-Opera/F5cXR5kuS0yFE12dsLan9Q.cspx?rss=120 http://www.newschannel34.com/s/F5cXR5kuS0yFE12dsLan9Q.cspx A famous opera set in Japan is the inspiration for a new art exhibit that goes on display Saturday.

"Butterflies" is an exhibition of 6 paintings by local artist AmArA, inspired by Tri Cities Opera's production of "Madam Butterfly" in October. The works are hung in the lobby of TCO's Clinton Street headquarters which is hosting an operalogue Saturday night. AmArA once worked for the opera's set design team as a teenager. She was given access to all of the rehearsals for Madam Butterfly last Fall.

AmArA says, "So, I sat there with my sketch book through the whole process and waited for a moment to pop out at me. I would furiously start sketching so I could capture it. And then, when I would get home, I would look through all of the day's sketches and I'd say, 'OK, what's the painting?'"

AmArA also wrote a haiku to accompany each painting. The operalogue for TCO's latest production, Lucia di Lammermoor, starts at 8 Saturday at 315 Clinton Street. Doors open at 7 pm. An operalogue is a preview in which the conductor explains the plot and plays some musical selections. Tickets are $16 with discounts for seniors, students and season subscribers. ]]> Local News Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:09:07 -0500 AmArA and Opera http://www.newschannel34.com:80/news/local/story/Gymnastics-Meet/pkUyb1vAz0yk2aNYMwpjjg.cspx?rss=120 http://www.newschannel34.com/s/pkUyb1vAz0yk2aNYMwpjjg.cspx The I Love New York Cup is underway at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena.

It features 1,400 gymnasts from across the northeast. They range in ages from five to 18. They perform at various levels, including pre-olympic. Some of the girls have competed in national competitions. Action at the arena will go from about eight a-m until eight or nine at night Saturday and Sunday.

Dan Digennaro says, "This brings a lot of business to the area, absolutely. It's great for kids. It's a great event to watch. It's a whole lot of fun."

Tickets for adults are $10 for a day pass. Children are $8. ]]> Local News Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:06:53 -0500 Gymnastics Meet http://www.newschannel34.com:80/news/local/story/Missing-Man-Found-Dead/Ig0abPMAikmuOVqwMofVyQ.cspx?rss=120 http://www.newschannel34.com/s/Ig0abPMAikmuOVqwMofVyQ.cspx A missing Town of Binghamton man has been found dead.

52 year-old Alan Smith was last been seen early Wednesday morning after leaving his home for work. The Broome County Sheriff's Office says it located Smith in Kirkwood. Police say there are no suspicious circumstances and an autopsy is scheduled for Friday. Several tips were developed throughout the investigation, which ultimately lead to his discovery. ]]> Local News Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:44:20 -0500