HUD rules SHA Chair Ryan Benz has an “apparent conflict of interest,” should continue recusal until SHA obtains full disclosures
While Bill Simmons will soon leave SHA, his complaint against Benz will have enduring effects.
CITY AND GOVERNMENT
Micron ceremonial concrete pour filled with celebration of American manufacturing
“I’m here to say: as goes Micron, goes America,” said New York Gov. Kathy Hochul.
State lawmaker Pam Hunter pushing to regulate license plate reader surveillance
Hunter, the speaker pro tempore of the New York State Assembly, in April introduced a bill to restrict license plate readers, calling them a “weaponization of technology.”
Onondaga County Legislature passes three term limit for county executive, comptroller
For the legislation to become law, County Executive Ryan McMahon has to sign off on it and a majority of voters have to approve it.
FEATURED STORIES
Cheers to four years of Central Current
Join us on August 10th at Harvey’s Garden to support our reporting while celebrating our newsroom’s fourth anniversary.
How Andy Mager and the Syracuse Cultural Workers found another way to celebrate July Fourth
Andy Mager and his colleagues designed a poster that celebrates resistance movements in the United States as an alternative way to celebrate July Fourth.
Podcast: How gambling services are partnering with commercial newsrooms
Journalist Judd Legum discusses how local newsrooms across the country are quietly partnering with online gambling companies to attract new users and share in the profits.
More News
Sean Kirst: The passing of Tom Coulter, ‘king’ of boxing, who taught so many youths the great lessons of the ring
Coulter was a national boxing legend, beloved co-owner of the old Remedy tavern and a guy who knew being rich had nothing to do with money.
Bill Simmons to leave Syracuse Housing Authority after yearlong turmoil
Syracuse Housing Authority Executive Director Bill Simmons agreed to retire a year before his contract with SHA is set to expire. Simmons’ last day with the housing authority will be July 10. The housing authority’s board voted to approve a mutual separation agreement with Simmons by a vote of 4-3. Board commissioners Patricia McBride, Quwanka Ellerby and…
How democratic socialists reshaped the Central New York political landscape
DSA members and progressives pulled off Democrats’ second historic election upset in less than a year. An organized campaign and a rising affordability crisis helped topple a CNY titan.
Sean Kirst: At Clinton Square roller rink, for a city and its children, the shared goal of ‘staying up’
Envisioned as a bright and brief chance for community, roller skating takes on deeper meaning in a hard week in Syracuse.
Maurice ‘Mo’ Brown declares victory while Magnarelli concedes in Democratic primary for Assembly seat
One DSA member likened Brown’s victory to U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s unlikely rise in 2018, calling it, “Central New York’s ‘Joe Crowley moment.’”
Looming threat of ICE casts a shadow over Syracuse’s World Refugee Day
Organizers canceled World Refugee Day’s typical festival out of fear of ICE crackdowns. The event typically draws about 500 people, organizers said.
After 35 years of research and no solution, Onondaga Nation’s leader laments the cultural cost of mudboils
Mudboils have spewed hundreds of tons of silt, sand and clay into the Onondaga Creek, which has prevented the Onondagas from using their sacred waterway for fishing, harvesting and gatherings.
CNY Decides podcast: Breaking down the closest primary races
Listen to takeaways, results and more from Central New York’s primary election cycle.
Syracuse police used Flock Safety readers for nearly a month after readers were supposed to be taken down
A city law required Flock to take down its license plate readers by May 26. Syracuse police continued using the readers after Flock left them up.
Micron, Clay agree on $30M deal that could offset some effects of Micron’s arrival
The agreement between Micron and Clay still needs to be approved by the Clay town board to become final.
Brown leads incumbent Magnarelli in Democratic primary for Assembly seat but race is too close to call
If Brown’s lead holds, he could be poised to complete one of the biggest upsets in Central New York political history.
Charlene Tarver leads Democratic primary for Onondaga County Legislature’s 16th District
Charlene Tarver leads Nyatwa Bullock in the race. The winner is not likely to face a Republican candidate in the general election and could replace Legislator Charles Garland.
Chad Ryan wins Democratic primary for Onondaga County Legislature’s 8th District seat
Chad Ryan beat Tammy Honeywell in the Democratic primary for the 8th District for the second year in a row.
Jo Bennett wins Democratic primary for Onondaga County Legislature’s 15th District
Jo Bennett beat Bill Kinne, who previously served in the Onondaga County Legislature for more than 20 years.
Sean Kirst: On Father’s Day, John Kucko’s daughters see even deeper beauty and meaning in the landscape
Family messages of love and gratitude to their dad, beloved digital storyteller in recovery from brain surgery.
Syracuse police ‘moved to unplug’ Flock Safety scanners months after revoking company’s privileges
The move came days after Central Current asked city officials why Flock readers were kept up beyond a legislatively imposed deadline for the readers to be taken down.
Sean Kirst: Syracuse teens find 21st century meaning in new marker for abolitionist giant
Just before Juneteenth, a straight bridge of remembrance and gratitude to Jermain Loguen, ‘underrated’ human rights champion.
McMahon appoints former Oswego Mayor Billy Barlow to be deputy county executive overseeing economic development
Barlow has spent time as the Mayor of Oswego and as vice president of public affairs and system development at Oswego Health. He will replace Deputy County Executive Bob Petrovich.
What are ‘best practices’ for building a data center in Onondaga County? McMahon to fund $500K study to find out
While McMahon said county government has no role in determining whether a data center will be built, he said he wants to give towns information when they decide whether to allow one to be built.
2026 Primary Election Q&A: Onondaga County Legislature 15th District candidate Bill Kinne
Democrat Bill Kinne is running to represent the legislature’s 15th District. He faces Jo Bennett in the Democratic primary for the seat.
2026 Primary Election Q&A: Onondaga County Legislature 15th District candidate Jo Bennett
Democrat Jo Bennett is running to represent the legislature’s 15th District. They face Bill Kinne in the Democratic primary for the seat.
2026 Primary Election Q&A: Onondaga County Legislature 8th District candidate Tammy Honeywell
Democrat Tammy Honeywell is running to represent the legislature’s 8th District. She faces Chad Ryan in the Democratic primary for the seat.
2026 Primary Election Q&A: Onondaga County Legislature 8th District candidate Chad Ryan
Democrat Chad Ryan is running to represent the legislature’s 8th District. He faces Tammy Honeywell in the Democratic primary.
2026 Primary Election Q&A: Onondaga County Legislature 16th District candidate Nyatwa Bullock
Democrat Nyatwa Bullock is running to represent the legislature’s 16th District. She faces Charlene Tarver in the Democratic primary.
2026 Primary Election Q&A: Onondaga County Legislature 16th District candidate Charlene Tarver
Democrat Charlene Tarver is running to represent the legislature’s 16th District. She faces Nyatwa Bullock in the Democratic primary.
Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon vetoes term limits — for now
McMahon said he would consider signing a law limiting the number of terms he could serve if it also addressed the county comptroller.
Parents, community members rally in support of F-M student who read Palestinian poem
At a recent F-M school board meeting, community members spoke out about the district’s response to the reading of a Palestinian poem at Fayetteville-Manlius High School.
Meet the 3 Democrats vying for the party line in the race for an at-large seat on the Syracuse Common Council
Councilor Helen Hudson faces two progressive challengers: Cjala Surratt, a longtime community organizer, Moise Laub, a city schools budget analyst.
Sean Kirst: Saturday’s literacy parade ‘lights a candle’ for new dream for Hayden home
Light A Candle For Literacy organizers envision a community literacy center in revered Midland Avenue house.
Sean Kirst: At Brighton Academy, Alfonzo Whitehurst’s gutsiest coaching move was sharing his own story
An emotional team meeting offered lessons that will resonate far beyond one flag football season.
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