City considering ‘weapons detection’ tech from company connected to Utica stabbing, FTC lawsuit
Public records show the Syracuse Police Department “has done their own research” and found “no red flags” on Evolv. The FTC in 2024 hammered the company for “misleading marketing claims.”
CITY AND GOVERNMENT
Sean Kirst: On Tipp Hill, St. Patrick’s Day unveiling of marker will be ‘as unique as the light itself’
For centennial of the green-over-red traffic signal, a streetside marker that beautifully tiptoes the line between history and legend.
What Haudenosaunee resistance to reindustrialization means for ancestral lands in the AI age
Haudenosaunee see harbingers of harm in Upstate New York’s reindustrialization akin to the disastrous environmental impact of past industrial development.
One Syracuse lawyer’s relentless battle against ICE
Immigration enforcement agents are changing the rules of engagement. Syracuse lawyer Jose Perez has adapted to meet them.
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Sean Kirst: Eighty years after Jackie Robinson’s minor league heroics, a spotlight on his courage and pain in Syracuse
The Montreal Royals, Robinson’s old team, are now the Syracuse Mets — while community elders hope what he endured playing here is not forgotten.
Onondaga County legislators approve industrial wastewater district for Micron
All but two Onondaga County Democrats voted to approve the wastewater district, though they expressed skepticism about the vote over what they deemed a lack of information provided by the county.
Syracuse city clerk helped create ‘unprofessional work environment,’ according to previously unreported documents
The head of the city’s human resources office chastised Syracuse City Clerk Patricia McBride for her conduct. An independent investigation in 2025 found some substance to complaints against McBride.
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Central New York folk artists hope to fuel resistance through benefit concert for immigration resource network
The May Memorial Unitarian Universalist Society on Wednesday will host the “Songs of Hope and Resistance Benefit Concert” from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Emails appear to undercut SHA board member’s allegation that board chair was ‘pushing so hard’ for contractor
A series of emails indicate that Hueber Breuer was hired by SHA’s development partner nearly 11 months before Ryan Benz was appointed to the board.
In a city of renters, landlords win
Syracuse lawmakers capped a nearly two year back and forth by voting down ‘good cause eviction’ legislation.
SHA Chair Ryan Benz asks city clerk to step down from board over allegation
“I wondered if one of the reasons why Ryan was pushing so hard for [Hueber Breuer was] so they can profit,” said SHA Commissioner Patricia McBride.
Sean Kirst: For Arlene Abend, legendary Syracuse artist, a daughter’s quest to create a living memorial
The hope that Abend — whose welding helped shatter artistic barriers for women — will inspire similar courage and vision in ongoing generations.
Mo Brown launches primary campaign against Bill Magnarelli, a fixture of Syracuse politics
The race pits Brown, an upstart progressive Onondaga County legislator, against Magnarelli, a longtime fixture of Democratic politics.
Landlords, tenants make last cases on ‘good cause’ before Syracuse lawmakers plan to vote
Debate over ‘good cause’ eviction protections has consumed landlords, tenants and Syracuse lawmakers for about two weeks.
SHA Executive Director Bill Simmons accuses board chair of conflict of interest; board chair denies allegations
Simmons sent an email to HUD alleging Board Chair Ryan Benz had a conflict of interest with an SHA contractor, leading to a spat between board members.
Sean Kirst: For two Buffalo families after racist mass killing, Rev. Jesse Jackson saw ‘a torch’ within their burning grief
In Rev. Jesse Jackson’s passing, memories of solace at the hardest moment from a giant of civil rights.
As Democrats take power in the Onondaga County Legislature, they’re reckoning with what they can — and can’t — do
Legislature Dems are trying to set their priorities for their year in power. “We’re not moving at a pace that I’d love to see,” said one legislator.
Central New York lawmakers, sparked by Wegmans, begin efforts to rein in biometric technology
Onondaga County legislators have drafted a proposed biometric disclosure law after Wegmans was revealed to be using biometric technology in New York City.
Sean Kirst: In nation’s snowiest large city, snow-blocked sidewalks, one hard winter and the needs of those on foot
In Syracuse, which receives extraordinary annual snowfall, pedestrians deserve an extraordinary annual response.
Syracuse wants to break up with Flock. Not so fast, company says.
Syracuse officials are moving to replace Flock Safety license plate readers. But Flock isn’t leaving without a fight — and pledges taxpayers will pay the price.
To fix ‘broken immigration system,’ Mannion helped expand ICE’s powers. Now, he wants reform.
Mannion voted for the Laken Riley Act, supporting Trump’s pledge for ICE to go after “the worst of the worst”. A year later, Mannion says that’s not what the country got from Trump’s immigration agencies.
Sean Kirst: The dog who knew the way out of the room
A rescue dog named Bentley, start to finish, did his job.
A majority of Onondaga County legislators want to help transfer Maple Bay. Here’s what’s standing in their way
Some Onondaga County lawmakers want to fulfill their decade-old promise to return the land to the Onondaga Nation.
SHA has missed deadlines on the Choice grant by at least a year. Does it matter?
SHA failing to close on a third or fourth phase this year emphasizes the importance of a need for transition at leadership levels, Mayor Sharon Owens said.
Why Syracuse lawmakers’ voting session became a meltdown between activists and lawmakers
Members of the local chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America protested the Syracuse Common Councilors’ choice of Axon Enterprise as the city’s license plate reader provider.
Syracuse Common Council’s ‘good cause’ caucus flips key vote
Syracuse lawmaker Donna Moore, who previously and publicly pledged to vote against the legislation, said a tenant helped flip her opinion on ‘good cause.’
Syracuse lawmakers approve contract for Axon license plate readers, plan to block Flock Safety from city streets
Syracuse lawmakers plan to ground Flock Safety readers about a year and a half after introducing them to city streets. Lawmakers voted to replace them with Axon readers.
Sean Kirst: In Syracuse, marathon pioneer Kathrine Switzer returns to heart of storm
In an extraordinary JMA Wireless Dome ceremony, Switzer’s Boston Marathon bib number will be raised to a high place in the dome.
Syracuse police to pitch lawmakers on switching license plate reader provider
Police department officials plan to pitch Syracuse lawmakers on buying license plate readers from Axon, a longtime provider of police technology. Like Flock Safety, Axon has strong ties to the federal government.
Onondaga County Legislature rejects $1M settlement to end decades-long legal saga
Lawyers for the estate of Hector Rivas, who was accused of killing his ex-girlfriend in 1987, sued the county and alleged DA William Fitzpatrick used faulty evidence to convict Rivas.
How Syracuse lawmakers say they’re going to vote on ‘good cause’
Syracuse lawmakers are split on ‘good cause’ without about half saying they will vote for the legislation.
Mayor Sharon Owens is committed to the Children Rising Center project. Can Syracuse make it happen?
Almost a year after the development of the Children Rising Center came to a standstill, Mayor Sharon Owens’ 2026 State of the City address provided a glimmer of hope to restarting the project.
Syracuse lawmakers disappeared ‘good cause’ from their agenda. After a year, it’s back.
Housing advocates have heralded the legislation as a step forward for tenants. Now that ‘good cause’ is back, will it pass?
Sean Kirst: In Minneapolis shootings, a Lyncourt native wounded at Kent State hears familiar echoes
Tom Grace, one of 13 people shot by the Ohio National Guard in 1970 at Kent State, sees haunting parallels unwinding now.
Onondaga County to pay $100K to woman who in 2022 gave birth at jail to baby who later died
Cheree Byrd gave birth to her daughter Ayanna at the Onondaga County jail after jail and healthcare employees ignored for days Cheree’s claims that she was in labor. Ayanna later died.
Hochul proposes limited anti-ICE bill as Central New Yorkers rally for New York For All
Gov. Kathy Hochul proposed the “Local Cops, Local Crimes Act,” which would prohibit formal collaboration between local police officers and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
What could Mayor Sharon Owens’ 1st year in office have in store for Syracuse?
Housing, immigration, public safety and taxes are central for Mayor Sharon Owens, she said at her first State of the City speech.
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