Announcing an expanded twice-weekly newsletter
Central Current readers will now receive two newsletters each week: “Staying Current” and “One Big Story”.
LATEST REPORTING
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.
I-81 AND PUBLIC HOUSING COVERAGE
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.
How much did taxpayers pay for former Syracuse Housing Authority Executive Director Bill Simmons to retire?
As part of his separation agreement, Simmons received more than $90,000 for what appeared to be nearly six months of accrued vacation time.
Sean Kirst: What seemed impossible then is about to happen. It’s 25 years since Van Robinson made a public call to pull down I-81
In 2001, Robinson saw forces coming together that would allow his longtime dream to become a 2026 reality.
CULTURE
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.”
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.
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EDITOR’S PICKS
Central Current presents: Laurie Woolever
Best-selling author Laurie Woolever will be interviewed live on Wednesday, September 30th about her work with Anthony Bourdain and how Syracuse sparked her journalism career.
Could the North Country get its Micron moment?
As the North Country makes a pitch for its role in the Micron supply chain, Micron has responded with donations.
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.
SEAN KIRST’S UPSTATE JOURNAL
Sean Kirst: After 67 years at Pioneer Homes, Jean Singletary hopes her last great move equates to staying there
Nearing 94, Singletary is an extraordinary witness to many decades of daily life in the state’s oldest public housing complex — which could be gone within two years.
Sean Kirst: Orphaned at 11, a Manlius woman’s World War II journey in ‘footsteps’ of Buffalo parents she dearly missed
Mary Ward’s mom and dad worked side-by-side in an American combat field hospital. Until last week, Mary still had her mom’s wedding dress, made of silk from a German parachute.
Sean Kirst: A Kirk Park gathering Saturday to unveil memorial for Al Turner, ‘who got the soul of it’ in community he loved
Whether it was On Point for College or the Inner-City Rotary, a guy who did the quiet civic work that matters most.
