Syracuse, New York

Rylin Turley, 27, of Cleveland, N.Y., was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison and 10 years of supervised release for possessing child pornography, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of New York announced. Turley was arrested in August 2024 at the U.S.-Canada border after Customs and Border Protection officers found illegal material on his phone during a search.

Turley had pleaded guilty to possessing 52 videos and 324 images, admitting he purchased the files from another user via social media in November 2023. Chief U.S. District Judge Brenda K. Sannes ordered $18,500 in restitution to four victims. The case was prosecuted under Project Safe Childhood.

Gov. Kathy Hochul rallied in Syracuse ahead of Election Day, criticizing opponent Bruce Blakeman for pursuing what she called "Trump-style leadership" in New York. Her remarks followed President Trump's earlier Syracuse rally endorsing Blakeman, where Trump praised him and attacked Hochul's record on cost of living, crime, and corruption. Blakeman has called Hochul "Clueless Kathy" and accused her of neglecting upstate voters; the two have also sparred over utility bills and immigration enforcement in debates. At her rally, Hochul touted local projects including the I-81 overhaul and the Micron semiconductor plant, and endorsed Rep. John Mannion for New York's 22nd District.

A Twin Cities opinion piece by local election official Ken Peterson defends Minnesota's voting system amid DOJ threats to deploy election-day monitors. Peterson notes bipartisan agreement between state GOP and DFL chairs that the system, run by over 30,000 local poll workers, is secure. A federal judge recently blocked DOJ efforts to obtain state voter rolls for DHS review. Minnesota uses paper ballots, certified equipment, and the Statewide Registration System to prevent double voting. Cited fraud cases remain rare: a St. Thomas Law School study found only three noncitizen voting convictions among 13.4 million ballots cast from 2014–2024. Minnesota led the nation in 2024 voter turnout and election administration rankings.

The Onondaga County Deputy Sheriff's Benevolent Association, representing Justice Center jail deputies, announced a "no confidence" vote against Sheriff Toby Shelley days before early voting opened in his reelection race against Republican challenger RJ Lenhart. The union cited understaffing, low morale and frequent labor disputes, also opposing Shelley's plan to close the downtown jail and consolidate operations at the Jamesville facility. Shelley attributed the vote to a contentious relationship with union leadership and disputed grievances, calling many complaints gratuitous. Two other sheriff's office unions, covering patrol and Jamesville deputies, declined to issue no-confidence votes, with one voicing qualified support for Shelley.

Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon, speaking for county executives statewide, has pressed Gov. Kathy Hochul to follow through on repealing New York's 2000-era sales tax exemption for internet data centers, calling it outdated for today's hyperscale facilities. McMahon, who heads the New York State County Executives' Association, wants the repeal included in Hochul's upcoming state budget proposal, arguing developers should negotiate incentives locally rather than claim exemptions automatically. Niagara County officials have said a major local data center claims the exemption, costing the county millions. Separately, Onondaga County has hired consultant CPL to study data centers' local impacts, with results expected by mid-2027, as officials weigh a proposed project in Lysander.

Onondaga County Sheriff Toby Shelley, a Democrat seeking re-election, and Republican challenger RJ Lenhart Jr. clashed in a televised debate over staffing and morale, immigration enforcement, vehicle pursuits and a proposed jail consolidation. Lenhart, a former Syracuse police officer and Madison County undersheriff now working as a DA's office investigator, cited a no-confidence vote by the deputies' union and called the department's culture punitive. Shelley touted hundreds of new hires and falling sick leave at the Jamesville jail. On ICE, Shelley said he prioritizes criminals for removal without directly confirming cooperation, while Lenhart said he'd help remove violent offenders but not aid civil immigration enforcement. They also split on pursuit policy and moving downtown jail operations to Jamesville. Election Day is Nov. 3.

Republican Ed Theobald, 74, and Democratic incumbent Elaine Denton, 41, are competing for the Onondaga County Legislature's 10th district seat, covering Manlius, Fayetteville and Minoa. Denton, elected last year after unseating longtime Republican Mark Olson, is seeking a full term and has prioritized housing reform, environmental protection, and transparency, including model zoning to expand housing options. Theobald, a former Manlius town supervisor and Minoa village trustee, is focused on controlling property taxes and says he was recruited to run after Olson declined a rematch. Both candidates addressed data centers: Denton favors caution on hyperscale facilities, while Theobald wants stricter local permitting. The election is November 3, with early voting starting October 24.