Onondaga County

"Opt-out" deadline for NY gun law passed, with backlog of applications

Ellen Abbott — Thu, 16 May 2013 13:11:11 +0000

As the deadline for the "opt-out" portion of the New York SAFE Act passed Wednesday, the Onondaga County Sheriff's Department was still wading through thousands of forms from gun owners who don't want their pistol permit information available to the public.

Symphoria launches first full season of concerts

Ellen Abbott — Wed, 15 May 2013 20:56:33 +0000

For the first time since before the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra went bankrupt two years ago, musicians will play a full season of symphonic music. The Symphoria's "Music in the Key of CNY" series marks a big moment for the fledgling musical group.

Primary challenge for Syracuse council president dropped

Ryan Delaney — Wed, 15 May 2013 19:25:21 +0000

Syracuse Democratic party activist Gary Morris has dropped his bid to become president of the Syracuse Common Council and endorsed current president Van Robinson Monday.

Cynthia Morrow on the Campbell Conversations

Grant Reeher — Tue, 14 May 2013 15:36:36 +0000

When it comes to health, what does the region do well, and what does it do poorly? What are the next frontiers in making the community healthier? In this edition of the Campbell Conversations, Onondaga County Health Commissioner Cynthia Morrow reflects on recent statistics about the county's health, discusses different approaches that communities and government can take toward improving health, and speculates about possible futures.

D.A. Fitzpatrick supports unsealing juvenile records involving sex crimes

Ellen Abbott — Mon, 06 May 2013 19:48:39 +0000

Juvenile records are automatically sealed in New York state, so they don't prejudice a prosecutor or judge, but state Sen. John DeFrancisco is proposing an exception. He wants those records be available to court officials if they involve sex crimes.

Chenango County named latest foreign trade zone in N.Y.

Matt Richmond — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 13:10:35 +0000

In March, the federal government awarded Chenango County, northeast of Binghamton, foreign trade zone status. That means county businesses can import goods without paying a tariff. They also pay a lower tariff if those goods are sold within the United States and no tariff if the final product is exported.

Proposed Syracuse budget includes cuts, consolidations

Ellen Abbott — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 10:09:00 +0000

Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner's proposed election year budget includes no increases in taxes or fees; there are also no proposed layoffs. But despite spending cuts and consolidations, the city's fund balance takes a big hit, in order to fill a multi-million dollar budget hole.

Onondaga County legislature hopes to close pawn shop loophole

Ellen Abbott — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 13:37:08 +0000

It'll be easier for police to recover stolen goods from pawn shops and second-hand stores throughout Onondaga County, if a law approved by the county legislature goes into effect. The legislation is aimed at closing a loophole that pushes criminals outside Syracuse city limits to sell stolen goods.

Onondaga County wants to consolidate human services agencies

Ellen Abbott — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 20:32:14 +0000

There could be changes coming to the human services agencies and departments in Onondaga County government. County Executive Joanie Mahoney says there's a two-fold reason for a proposed realignment.

Public wants park space at Onondaga Lake

Ellen Abbott — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 13:16:17 +0000

Central New Yorkers want a public park available to everyone along Onondaga Lake. That was the upshot from the latest survey on the future of what was once the most polluted lake in the nation.

Onondaga County takes measures to shorten wait for pistol permits

Ellen Abbott — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 13:53:26 +0000

The Onondaga County Sheriff's Department has received the go-ahead to do whatever necessary to ease the pistol permit backlog that's mushroomed in central New York, because of the dramatic increase of the number of permit applications coming into the Syracuse office.

State of Onondaga County is financially sound

Ellen Abbott — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 20:11:23 +0000

Unlike many other local governments in New York state, Onondaga County has weathered the recent fiscal crisis, and come out on firm financial footing. In her State of the County address Tuesday night, County Executive Joanie Mahoney credits recent budget cutting tactics for the difference.

Onondaga County is latest to call for repeal of gun control law

Ellen Abbott — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 14:14:33 +0000

Onondaga County is the latest county government in New York state to call on Albany to repeal the SAFE Act. The county legislature voted Tuesday to ask the state to scrap the new state law, which Gov. Andrew Cuomo has called the toughest gun control law in the country.

Onondaga County Legislature will voice opinion on state's gun laws

Ryan Delaney — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 14:12:25 +0000

The Onondaga County Legislature is expected to join a growing list of county governments cementing their opposition to New York's new, stricter, gun control laws.

Onondaga County sheriff speaks out against new gun control rules

Ryan Delaney — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 20:30:36 +0000

The Onondaga County sheriff’s office is speaking out on New York’s new gun control rules for the first time.

Post-Standard takes leap into digital era

Ellen Abbott — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 10:44:00 +0000

The newspaper business is changing. It has to, in a digital world where information is as close as an app on a phone, or a tap on a computer. The question is, how will newspapers make that change? The Syracuse Post-Standard, owned by Advance Newspapers, has made its move, and the change is about to occur.

Pawn shops finding ways around Syracuse laws

Ellen Abbott — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 14:06:39 +0000

The city of Syracuse is asking Onondaga County to help crack down down on burglaries. Syracuse officials want to make it harder for burglars to sell stolen items to second hand shops throughout the county.

Onondaga County increases Veterans Services staff as need goes up

Ellen Abbott — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 08:01:00 +0000

Onondaga County lawmakers this month approved a new staff member for the Veterans Service Agency. an increase of returning veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan is putting more stress on the agency.

Miner running for mayor again

Ellen Abbott — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 04:15:00 +0000

The political season in the city of Syracuse has begun. Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner has made a relatively early announcement of her intentions to run for re-election.

One district attorney sees plusses and minuses to new gun control law

Ellen Abbott — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 21:23:28 +0000

Reaction to New York's new gun control law from prosecutors is generally positive. For one central New York District attorney it closes some loopholes, but leaves others open.

Central New York prepares for the Emerald Ash Borer

Ellen Abbott — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 10:44:00 +0000

It's only a matter of time before the ash tree population in central New York is decimated by the Emerald Ash Borer. A task force is at work getting ready for the invasion of the deadly insects, that are now in massive numbers only two counties away from Onondaga County.

Groups calls for Onondaga County jail oversight board

Ellen Abbott — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 13:35:10 +0000

The United as One Coalition is taking its case for an Onondaga County jail oversight board to county lawmakers. Coalition members want the Onondaga County Legislature to create a board that they say could ultimately save lives.

Last year's Christmas tree is this spring's mulch

Ryan Delaney — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 14:11:15 +0000

If you're putting away Christmas decorations and taking ornaments off the tree, Onondaga County's recycling agency wants to make sure that old tree gets re-purposed.

Onondaga County moves to sell Van Duyn nursing home

Ellen Abbott — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 12:13:58 +0000

Onondaga County lawmakers have taken the first steps to moving the 185 year old Van Duyn nursing home off county tax rolls.

World AIDS Day remembered, activists worry disease is often forgotten

Ellen Abbott — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 22:07:10 +0000

World AIDS Day was remembered in Syracuse this morning during a service of remembrance. Participants say they are worried that the disease, which has been around for over 30 years now, has become forgotten.

New Syracuse orchestra to debut in December

Ellen Abbott — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 14:00:31 +0000

A new orchestra is rising out of the ashes of the old Syracuse Symphony Orchestra. The new group has announced it will make its official debut at a holiday concert December 14.

Ambulance company starts fall prevention program for seniors

Ellen Abbott — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 14:55:24 +0000

An ambulance company in Onondaga County has started a program it hopes will help one of biggest causes of injury among the elderly. The focus is on making senior's homes safe from falls.

Flu season starting early in upstate New York

Ellen Abbott — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 21:14:21 +0000

The flu is making an early appearance across upstate New York this fall, from the North Country through the Mohawk Valley. With the holiday season approaching, experts say it becomes more important than ever to take precautions.

Onondaga County considers smoking ban in parks

Ellen Abbott — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 14:07:10 +0000

Onondaga County lawmakers are considering the possibility of a smoking ban in county parks and the perimeter of county facilities. But an initial proposal from the county executive's office needs to be whittled down before lawmakers will agree to it.

Buerkle-Maffei race disputed

Ryan Delaney and Ellen Abbott — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 08:33:28 +0000

The candidates in the 24th congressional district contest were prepared for the race to go down to the wire, since polls predicted that democrat Dan Maffei and Ann Marie Buerkle were locked in a statistical tie, with Green Party candidate Ursula Rozum trailing behind. But it looks like former Congressman Maffei will be returning to Washington to represent central New York in Congress.