Episode: 8 Air Date: September 12th, 2025
Editor’s Note: This podcast reflects the opinions and perspectives of the host and guests and is not a product of our editorial staff, including Central Current’s editors and reporters. The program may be edited in post-production for length and clarity.
After a decade of declining enrollment, Onondaga Community College is seeing a surge of interest. Record high student loan debt rates, new state tuition subsidies, and spikes in job demand for healthcare and manufacturing is drawing more students to their campus.
SUNY OCC President Warren Hilton joins hosts Dr. Roosevelt “Rick” Wright and Maximilian Eyle to discuss their new Micron clean room, their most popular degrees among incoming students, and how New York State’s Reconnect program will provide free tuition for adult learners.
Read more of Central Current’s coverage
Sean Kirst: At birth, the doctors said Dave Murray might not live to be 5. A double lung transplant later, he just turned 70.
Born with cystic fibrosis, time and struggle taught Murray one especially vital key to daily life: Listening.
Podcast: The bottlenecks stalling Syracuse’s housing production
Reporter Debadrita Sur unpacks the zoning, permitting, and funding barriers that are keeping housing production goals out of reach.
Rep. John Mannion declines Central Current debate, appearing to avoid only debate with live audience
Campaign manager Josh Ludden cited a lack of capacity when declining the forum, which appears to be the only local debate that would have allowed constituents to directly question candidates.
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.
Meet new Syracuse Housing Authority board commissioner Bea González
González is Mayor Sharon Owens’ third appointee to the Syracuse Housing Authority board in the last year.

