Congress has a plan to fight retail crime. Advocacy groups call it a ‘Trojan horse’ to expand federal surveillance, deportation initiatives
Retail industry leaders and bipartisan federal lawmakers say a new fusion center in the Department of Homeland Security will fight sophisticated crime rings. Civil liberties advocates see a thinly-veiled expansion of ICE’s stated mission.
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LATEST REPORTING
Crouse Health wins naming rights to Onondaga County’s new aquarium
The hospital paid $1.5 million to officially name the Crouse Health Harborview Aquarium.
New Onondaga County advisory board proposes local development corporation to combat housing crisis
Members of the Housing and Transportation Citizen’s Advisory Board are soft-launching its proposals to solve Onondaga’s housing supply issues.
Podcast: Surveillance in Syracuse
Patrick McCarthy takes listeners inside the growing public debate over Flock cameras, the ways this technology is being used locally and what we know so far about its impact on crime and safety.
I-81 AND PUBLIC HOUSING COVERAGE
Upstate’s vision to expand ER involves closing a key street in the city, putting Crouse and Upstate at odds
Upstate University Hospital officials in the last few weeks have started pitching the Common Council on closing one block of East Adams Street to connect the current ER to a new building.
How much did taxpayers pay for former Syracuse Housing Authority Executive Director Bill Simmons to retire?
As part of his separation agreement, Simmons received more than $90,000 for what appeared to be nearly six months of accrued vacation time.
Sean Kirst: What seemed impossible then is about to happen. It’s 25 years since Van Robinson made a public call to pull down I-81
In 2001, Robinson saw forces coming together that would allow his longtime dream to become a 2026 reality.
CULTURE
Ryan Shostack gravitated toward birding at a young age. Now he wants to build an inclusive birding community
Ryan Shostack recently created the Facebook group Birders for Inclusiveness in hopes of breaking down barriers to birding.
Zelikha Zohra Shoja’s ‘In Search of Bluer Tongues’ weaves Syracuse into the global strands of diaspora
Shoja, a U.S.-based Afghan artist living in Syracuse, will have her experimental film screened at Light Work on Friday.
Sean Kirst: After 67 years at Pioneer Homes, Jean Singletary hopes her last great move equates to staying there
Nearing 94, Singletary is an extraordinary witness to many decades of daily life in the state’s oldest public housing complex — which could be gone within two years.
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EDITOR’S PICKS
Federal immigration agents accessed Syracuse drivers’ data through secret Flock Safety deal
Privacy and civil rights watchdogs have called on Syracuse to terminate its Flock contract. SPD says it’s comfortable contracting with the company, which is facing Congressional investigation.
‘From Snob Hill to Slob Hill’: Tenants say conditions at once luxurious apartments forced them to sue owner
Ten tenants have sued the owners of Nob Hill to push for repairs of the apartment complex, which has 48 open code violations.
A herd, a hide and a 50-year friendship: How the Onondaga Nation brought the buffalo back
A gift 50 years ago has allowed the Onondaga Nation to raise a herd of about 70 buffalo in southern Onondaga County.
SEAN KIRST’S UPSTATE JOURNAL
Sean Kirst: Orphaned at 11, a Manlius woman’s World War II journey in ‘footsteps’ of Buffalo parents she dearly missed
Mary Ward’s mom and dad worked side-by-side in an American combat field hospital. Until last week, Mary still had her mom’s wedding dress, made of silk from a German parachute.
Sean Kirst: A Kirk Park gathering Saturday to unveil memorial for Al Turner, ‘who got the soul of it’ in community he loved
Whether it was On Point for College or the Inner-City Rotary, a guy who did the quiet civic work that matters most.
Sean Kirst: A goodbye to one-of-a-kind bond shaped by mismatched feet, though friendship goes on as legend
One man wore shoe size 13 left, size 9 right, the other the opposite. A seemingly difficult physical barrier became the bedrock of an extraordinary alliance.
