Ellen Abbott

Reporter, Syracuse, WRVO Public Media

Ellen produces news reports and features related to events that occur in the greater Syracuse area and throughout Onondaga County.  Her reports are heard regularly in regional updates in Morning Edition and All Things Considered. 

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4:18pm

Fri May 17, 2013
Regional Coverage

Mayor Miner wants Hotel Syracuse redeveloped - one way or another

Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner says the city isn't giving up on the latest proposal to renovate the Hotel Syracuse. A plan for the city to take over the tax delinquent property stalled last week when, Financitech, which holds the mortgage on the hotel, paid back taxes at the last minute.

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9:11am

Thu May 16, 2013
Regional Coverage

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

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.  

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4:56pm

Wed May 15, 2013
Arts

Symphoria launches first full season of concerts

Credit Ellen Abbott/WRVO

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.

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9:14am

Wed May 15, 2013
Regional Coverage

Syracuse's Hancock Airport unveils remodeled security checkpoint

Credit Ellen Abbott/WRVO

Starting this morning, it won't take so long for you to get through security at Syracuse's Hancock International Airport. A $60 million project will funnel all outbound passengers through a new security checkpoint at the center of the airport.

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3:51pm

Tue May 14, 2013
Business

Popular Syracuse ice cream shop sets up permanent shop downtown

Credit Ellen Abbott/WRVO

An ice cream icon in Syracuse has become the latest business to join in the revitalization of downtown Syracuse. Gannon's Isle has opened up a permanent store in the Dey's building, on the corner of South Salina and Jefferson Streets.

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4:54pm

Mon May 13, 2013
Health

Hospitals fear the unknown when it comes to the Affordable Care Act

In a little more than six months, the Affordable Care Act will change the lay of the land for healthcare in this country. For hospitals, it continues changes that started a decade ago, says Richard Umbdenstock, the president of the American Hospital Association, who was in Syracuse Monday.

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9:41am

Mon May 13, 2013
Regional Coverage

City plans to take over Hotel Syracuse on hold for now

For the second time in less than two years, back taxes have been paid on the Hotel Syracuse, effectively scuttling plans for the city of Syracuse to take control of the property, and sell it to a developer. So, city officials are now looking at a "Plan B."

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11:51am

Fri May 10, 2013
Health

Rally hopes to shed light on diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease

Credit John Tann / Flickr

Victims of Lyme disease converge on Albany today for an awareness rally meant to focus attention on the tick-borne disease, that can attack a person's skin, nervous system, heart or joints. Over 95,000 cases have been reported to the New York State Health Department since Lyme disease became reportable in 1986, including hundreds in central New York.

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4:53pm

Thu May 9, 2013
The Upstate Economy

Hancock International Airport's midnight shifts will not be cut

The Federal Aviation Administration has announced the midnight control tower shifts at the Syracuse Hancock International Airport will not be cut as part of federal sequestration.

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11:39pm

Wed May 8, 2013
Regional Coverage

Syracuse Common Council restores fire department cuts, but that may not last

The pleas of Syracuse firefighters pleas were answered by the city's common councilors as they voted to restore cuts to the fire department.   But, the vote by the council to shift money in the mayor's proposed budget, doesn't mean the Syracuse Fire Department will get that money.

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9:16am

Wed May 8, 2013
Politics and Government

Central New York group pushing for Women's Equality Act

Credit Ellen Abbott/WRVO

Supporters of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's 10-point Women's Equality Act are ramping up efforts to get support for the proposed legislation. The  Women's Equality Coalition just launched a statewide television ad to raise awareness about the agenda, and supporters in one small central New York County are also raising their voices.

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3:48pm

Mon May 6, 2013
Politics and Government

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

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.

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2:17pm

Fri May 3, 2013
Education

Assertive attitude key to dealing with bullies

Credit Ellen Abbott / WRVO

Educators and parents can always use advice on how to deal with bullies. A conference on bullying in Syracuse this week brought in a national expert on the issue, Barb Colorosa, who offered some clear strategies on how to identify bullying, as well as how to deal with it.

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7:39am

Thu May 2, 2013
Energy

Solar program has success in small upstate New York county

Credit Ellen Abbott / WRVO

The thing that strikes you when you walk up to Jimmy Golub's farm on the western edge of Madison County are the giant solar panels covering the part of the roof on his barn that faces west. The 45 panels are part of a 10 kilowatt solar system, that provides all the electricity the farm needs.

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6:35am

Thu May 2, 2013
Education

Teachers, parents, raise concern over Common Core testing

Credit Thomas Favre-Bulle / via Flickr

Voices opposed to Common Core testing are rising in central New York, as teachers and parents met this week at a forum in Syracuse to discuss these new education standards that bring major changes to the way math and reading is taught in public schools.

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2:18pm

Wed May 1, 2013
Gun control

Schumer pushes for gun sale ban for those on terror watchlist

While universal background checks for gun buyers proved to be a death knell in the latest attempt to pass gun control legislation in the U.S. Senate, Sen. Charles Schumer is hoping a tightening up of current background checks is on the horizon.

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10:23am

Tue April 30, 2013
Regional Coverage

Syracuse firefighters make last gasp to save Station 7

Credit Ellen Abbott / WRVO

Syracuse firefighters have made a last gasp attempt to save Engine Company Number 7 from the Mayor's budget ax. Mayor Stephanie Miner's proposed budget would shutter the crumbling station, as well as cut four members from the ranks of the firefighters. 

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8:05am

Tue April 30, 2013
Health

Schumer calls for curbing of hydrocodone prescriptions

Credit Ellen Abbott / WRVO

Sen. Charles Schumer is continuing his assault on the misuse of prescription drugs with a proposal to tighten control over the painkiller hydrocodone.

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9:17am

Wed April 24, 2013
Health

Researchers to gather in Syracuse to discuss emerging threat of Dengue fever

Biomedical researchers from across the world will converge in Syracuse Friday to discuss a disease that is usually associated with tropical climates. Dengue fever, which is one of the leading causes of illness and death in the tropics, has turned up in the United States.

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6:34am

Tue April 23, 2013
Education

OCC to offer first doctoral program

Credit Ellen Abbott/WRVO

For the first time, there will be doctorate students on the campus of Onondaga Community College this fall. A collaboration with St. John Fisher College will bring a doctoral program in executive leadership to the Syracuse campus.

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4:19pm

Fri April 19, 2013
Regional Coverage

Events like Boston Marathon bombing can have psychological effect on everyone

Central and northern New York may be hundreds of miles from Boston, but there is still a psychological fallout for people in this region and across the country from the marathon bombing and subsequent manhunt. 

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9:16am

Fri April 19, 2013
Environment

Going green still a challenge for area businesses, governments

Central New York has a lot to be proud of when it comes to going green. That was the message at the Greening USA annual meeting in Syracuse yesterday. But there are still challenges when it comes to making the investment in green energy.

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4:34pm

Fri April 12, 2013
Health

Research study could lead to new test for colon cancer

Researchers at Upstate Medical Center are helping in a nationwide study that could change the way people are screened for colon cancer, and the potential to change the way one of the most dreaded medical screening tests is used.

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9:17am

Thu April 11, 2013
Health

Organization tries to encourage organ donation

Credit Ellen Abbott/WRVO

New York state has one of the lowest organ donation rates in the country, at 20 percent. Donor boosters are trying to get the word out that donating an organ is something most everyone can do to save a life.

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5:01pm

Wed April 10, 2013
Regional Coverage

Onondaga County DA announces indictment in Bresnahan murder

An Onondaga County grand jury has returned a 37-count indictment against the Cicero man accused of raping a 10-year old girl and stabbing a Liverpool woman to death last month. 

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2:12pm

Tue April 9, 2013
Government

Council gets earful on proposed closure of Fire Station 7

Credit Ellen Abbott / WRVO

Syracuse lawmakers Tuesday got an earful about the pros and cons of closing down a fire station as the Common Council held a hearing on the future of Station 7 on the city's east side.

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6:09am

Tue April 9, 2013
Politics and Government

Proposed Syracuse budget includes cuts, consolidations

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.

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10:08am

Fri April 5, 2013
Regional Coverage

Local and state groups work to end sex trafficking

Credit office of Sen. Lanza
New York state Sen. Andrew Lanza is sponsoring anti-trafficking legislation.

It may sound like the stuff of Hollywood, but the sex trafficking trade is alive and well in the United States, and that includes central New York. Forcing young women and men into a life of prostitution is a very lucrative business, but there is a move afoot to end it in New York state.

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10:49am

Thu April 4, 2013
Regional Coverage

Syracuse Police Department Review Board making a difference

Credit Ellen Abbott / WRVO

It's been about a year since a revitalized Citizen's Review Board started investigating complaints about Syracuse Police officers, but their first annual report, which covers the last half of 2012, shows progress.  

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9:37am

Wed April 3, 2013
Regional Coverage

Onondaga County legislature hopes to close pawn shop loophole

Credit Ellen Abbott/WRVO

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.

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