New York will open vaccine eligibility to residents over 16 next week
The state will allow all residents 30 years old and older to become eligible on Tuesday and residents 16 years old and over to become eligible on April 6. Read more »
State
Lawmakers agree on plan to legalize recreational marijuana
The new agreement would expand the state’s existing medical marijuana program, set up a licensing and taxation system for recreational sales and establish the Office of Cannabis Management. Read more »
City provides aid to small businesses affected by pandemic
In the past year, many businesses in Syracuse were only able to operate for a few months at a time as public health restrictions continued to change. Read more »
SU awaits state approval to launch COVID-19 vaccination site
The campus has already purchased and installed freezers to store the vaccine. The university only needs state approval. Read more »
Local organization joins statewide effort to combat housing discrimination
Fair housing testing uses undercover testers, who pose as individuals looking to buy or rent a property, to determine if sellers act in a discriminatory way. Read more »
Residents honor victims of Atlanta attacks, denounce anti-Asian racism
Organizers at the vigil praised the solidarity that the crowd, which included members of Women’s March Syracuse and Rebirth SYR, exemplified. Read more »
SUNY-ESF ends contract with data-tracking firm
The agreement with the private firm lasted until early 2020, and allowed the firm to install the tracking software on SUNY-ESF’s website. Read more »
Where do Syracuse's Democratic mayoral candidates stand on the environment?
Both Greene and Bey said that while Walsh hasn’t done anything wrong in terms of his pro-environmental efforts, he also hasn’t done enough. Read more »
Biden calls for Cuomo resignation if investigation confirms allegations
Three women, including two former aides in Cuomo’s administration, have come forward with sexual harassment allegations against the governor. Read more »
Cuomo expands eviction protections for small businesses
Small businesses in Syracuse said coronavirus-related relief from state and local governments has made a considerable difference in their operations. Read more »
Identification service will help prevent fraudulent unemployment claims
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the state’s partnership with ID.me on Feb. 25 after the state’s Department of Labor identified over 500,000 fraudulent unemployment claims that have occurred since the start of the pandemic. Read more »
Schumer, Gillibrand join calls for Gov. Cuomo’s resignation
Cuomo has refused to resign despite losing the support of New York's congressional delegation and top state lawmakers. Read more »
New York State faces $15 billion COVID-19 budget deficit
COVID-19 related expenses, as well as losses in sales tax revenues during shutdowns, will cost the state about $39 billion over four years. Read more »
New SUNY initiatives aim to combat domestic and sexual violence
The plan, which Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced in his State of the State address in January, includes four new or updated initiatives meant to reduce sexual and domestic violence on SUNY campuses, as well as at other colleges and universities. Read more »
Breaking down the proposed Syracuse police reform plan
The plan outlines steps to reform SPD’s hiring process, response and community outreach, among other changes. Read more »
New York politicians support investigation into Cuomo harassment allegations
Two former aides have come forward saying Gov. Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed them while they were working for his administration. Read more »
New York expands food assistance eligibility for SUNY students
Students previously needed to be caring for a child, unable to work due to a disability or eligible for 20 hours of federal work-study each week to qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Read more »
With in-person court hearings set to resume, backlog of cases remains
The Onondaga County Supreme Court only held a few time-sensitive or urgent cases in a virtual format over the past year. Read more »
Blueprint 15 aims to protect East Adams residents after I-81 overhaul
A Syracuse nonprofit developed several strategies to prevent displacement in the East Adams neighborhood. Read more »
Relaxed regulations not enough to recover, Syracuse restaurant owners say
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced in a Feb. 14 executive order that New York state would extend mandated closing times for bars, restaurants and gyms by one hour. Read more »
Cuomo eases college shutdowns to 5% positivity rate
Previously, the state would force colleges to shut down in-person activities if the number of active cases in the 14-day rolling reporting period exceeded 100. Read more »
Syracuse will open New York's first STEAM school in next 2 years
The school, which will cater to high school students who want to pursue a career in STEAM fields, is part of the city’s Syracuse Surge, an initiative that aims to improve the city’s economy through technological advancements. Read more »
What SUNY-ESF's spring semester COVID-19 procedures are
The college has kept many of its fall policies in place but has also added new ones to align with updated state guidelines and newfound challenges presented by the pandemic. Read more »
In New York prisons, widespread package room complaints go unresolved
Internal records from 13 New York State prisons show widespread package room grievances, stemming from inconsistent procedures and a directive that leaves families financially hurt. Read more »
