Democrat Gregg Eriksen is running to represent the legislature’s 6th District. He faces Chad Clark in the race for the seat.
Laura Robertson
Laura Robertson is a staff reporter covering Onondaga County. Prior to joining Central Current, she lived on the edge of the Bering Strait in Nome, Alaska, where she worked as a reporter for a year. She graduated from Princeton in 2024, and speaks English, Farsi, and some Thai. She grew up just west of Binghamton in Tioga County and is excited to return to upstate New York.
Laura won the 2025 Nellie Bly Cub Reporter Award from the New York Press Club for her story on an infirmary profit model that led to dozens of deaths in New York State jails. A 2024 recipient of an Overseas Press Club scholar award, she’s interviewed Alaskan gold miners, Russian draft dodgers, and former Syrian freedom fighters, and reported from Tajikistan. She’s particularly interested in money flows, the intersections of business and politics, and how those things affect people on the ground.
You can reach her at lrobertson@centralcurrent.org with tips about things going on around the county, or with recommendations of ways to get to know Syracuse better!
Posted inOnondaga County
Onondaga County to hire engineering firm doing work for Genesee County as it pursues STAMP data center
The county will pay $431,595 to CPL Team to study “best practices” for building a data center. The Planning Department said the study is “agnostic” on building one.
Posted inEconomic Development
Waymo has made inroads in Central New York. Is it the next piece of CNY’s high-tech future?
Advocates for Waymo at CenterState CEO say the components of Waymos are built in Syracuse. Some local politicians are looking to bring that tech home.
Posted inNews
County Sheriff candidates Shelley and Lenhart claim they each have more relevant “experience” to run the department. How do they plan to do it?
Candidates for Onondaga County Sheriff discussed moving the county jail operations to a joint campus in Jamesville, progressive discipline, opioids, and immigration in interviews with Central Current
Posted inElections
Trump’s pitch to Central New York: Despite war, rising prices, a ‘golden age’ in America
The president spoke in Syracuse about New York energy, his own successes and the unfairness of the Nobel Prize Committee.
Posted inOnondaga County
After ‘horseplay’-less budget cycle, Onondaga County Legislature approves 2027 budget and $25 million housing program
County Executive Ryan McMahon had told legislators he would fund their priority project if there was no “horseplay” in the budget cycle. Everybody played along.
Posted inNews
In November, you can vote on whether the Onondaga County executive will have term limits. How will it work?
This November, voters will have to turn over their ballots and decide: Do they want the county executive’s and comptroller’s term capped at 12 years, 16 years or not at all.
Posted inOnondaga County
County Executive Ryan McMahon’s proposed 2027 budget: new housing initiatives, food pantry support and airport upgrades
The Onondaga County Legislature will hold weeks of budget hearings before the legislative body votes on whether to approve the budget.
Posted inOnondaga County
McMahon signs term limits compromise, ending spat until November
Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon repeatedly pointed out the similarities between the compromise reached through a judge and the one he proposed in late-July.
Posted inOnondaga County
Onondaga County Legislature takes next step in ending term limits spat
The term limits bill approved by the legislature would create a November referendum. The last step for its approval is for County Executive Ryan McMahon to sign off on it.
