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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.
Sean Kirst: To honor a wife lost on Sept. 11, a guy who never forgets understands how the simplest moments mean everything
Twenty-five years later, Mark Morabito sees the greatest lesson in his life, amid vast grief, as following through on quiet things that matter most.
With two months to go until midterm elections, affordability could define the race for New York’s 22nd Congressional district
As Americans reel from rising costs of living, NY-22 candidates offer disparate plans to increase affordability.
Sean Kirst: At newly-named Haudenosaunee Village, state fair goodbyes softened by all that’s coming next
Organizers say the excitement and pride intertwined with the new name only opens the door to the potential of a 2028 village centennial.
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.
Syracuse Housing Authority Board Chair Ryan Benz resigns
Former Executive Director Bill Simmons complained to the federal government earlier this year accusing Benz of having an “apparent conflict of interest”— a claim that SHA counsel has dismissed and the developer has denied.
At the New York State Fair, Waymo sells its future as inevitable. Is it?
The company is gaining establishment political support and for a day has its own space at the Great New York State Fair.
Sean Kirst: Until its last gasp, a second-hand lawn mower honored work of Syracuse small-engine wizard ‘Dr. Mark’
Fond memories of a throwback repair shop — and its memorable regulars — on Grand Avenue.
Announcing an expanded twice-weekly newsletter
Central Current readers will now receive two newsletters each week: “Staying Current” and “One Big Story”.
Ahead of budget season, Onondaga County Legislature’s advisory board shares proposed solutions to housing crisis
The board derived its solutions from months of community work. Legislature Chair Nicole Watts hopes the proposed solutions end up in County Executive Ryan McMahon’s proposed budget.
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.
In Micron lawsuit, DOJ’s filing raises a question: Does national security trump state environmental law?
The DOJ has been using the threat of national security to pressure courts around the country to rule against environmental lawsuits. Now, that strategy has come to Central New York.
Sean Kirst: To Indigenous elder, what you feel at Lake Ontario is in the name itself
A Mohawk linguist says the essence of the lake — a female entity within his ancient language — is intertwined with the origins of the word “Ontario.”
New York shifts from reactive to proactive on lead safety in homes. Advocates question whether it’s enough.
The state has started ramping up its enforcement of a lead rental registry program approved in 2023 by lawmakers and Gov. Kathy Hochul.
The night mogging, maxxing and the manosphere came to Syracuse
Syracuse’s young men flocked to Clavicular, messiah of the manosphere, seeking ascension.
Sean Kirst: At McChesney Park, a court named for Dennis Bardenett, a coach who ‘always sees the gold’
A packed house honors a Syracuse coach and educator whose warm nature and support have lifted up thousands of city children.
What are the bottlenecks in housing production leading to Syracuse’s housing crisis?
Central Current dove into the issues clogging the pipeline of housing production and what city officials are doing to speed up construction as the region experiences unprecedented need.
Onondaga County officials come to term limits agreement, sidestep ‘democracy question’
Voters will have a chance to choose either 12 or 16 year term limits for the county executive and county comptroller. County officials have agreed that the saga will not create legal precedent.
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.
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.
Onondaga County Legislature to consider resolution about keeping ICE away from election polling sites
The resolution was inspired by ICE’s arrival at the polls during the June primary.
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.
New York paused AI data center development for a year. In the interim, lawmakers want to block tax breaks
Gov. Kathy Hochul has signaled support for a Syracuse-based state lawmaker’s proposal to ban IDAs from floating tax breaks to woo data centers.
Take our 2026 audience survey
Central Current’s annual survey provides critical feedback that shapes our coverage and helps us better understand the needs and opinions of our readers.
A week after waffling, Citizen Review Board to resume investigations into Syracuse police misconduct
The board four months ago paused investigations because of legal advice from the city’s top lawyer. After three attorneys argued the city’s lawyer was wrong, the Common Council directed the board to resume its investigatory work.
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.
Councilor rules out resolution that CRB chairman says is necessary to resume investigations; board to meet Wednesday to discuss future
At the board’s last meeting, residents called on board members to accept the common council’s directive to resume police misconduct investigations, or resign.
Can AI in the permitting process help solve Syracuse’s housing crisis?
City officials say incorporating AI will help speed up the permitting process for quicker development of much needed housing in Syracuse.
Research, edits and Thurgood Marshall’s voice: How Syracuse officials are using AI
Central Current set out to learn more about the role that AI is playing in local governance, and what Syracuse officials see as the ideal role of AI moving forward.
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.
Democratic Board of Elections commissioner asks judge to review Republican counterpart’s refusal to put term limits law on ballot
Dustin Czarny has challenged the actions of Republican Board of Elections Commissioner Kevin Ryan over his refusal to put term limits on the November ballot.
