Central New York

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.

Police in Utica, New York, are investigating after employees discovered a deceased infant girl at the Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Authority's recycling facility. Officials said the baby had passed through sorting machinery before workers stopped the equipment and recovered her.

At a press conference, Utica Police Captain Michael Curley, Oneida County District Attorney Todd Carville, Chief Mark Williams and a New York State Police representative said the investigation is in its early stages, with state police assisting because the facility processes waste from five Central New York counties. An autopsy was scheduled for October 15 through the Onondaga County Medical Examiner.

Authorities have not said whether charges would be filed against a parent who comes forward, and instead appealed for the birth mother to contact investigators to share what happened. Officials noted that New York's safe-haven law allows parents to anonymously surrender infants within 30 days of birth at any Utica firehouse, the police department, or Wynn Hospital without facing prosecution.

President Donald Trump made his first visit to Syracuse as a sitting president, headlining a rally for Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman ahead of New York's November elections. About 2,500 supporters packed the Oncenter while a roughly equal number of protesters gathered at Clinton Square before marching toward the venue; no arrests or violence were reported. Trump repeated familiar campaign themes, criticizing immigration policy, downplaying climate change, and claiming credit for the Micron Technology project despite the deal predating his second term. He urged supporters to vote as though he were on the ballot.

Notably, many local Republicans skipped the event, including Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon and District Attorney Bill Fitzpatrick, reflecting lingering friction after the GOP's historic losses in Central New York last year. Trump's approval rating in New York sits at 34%, and Blakeman trails Gov. Kathy Hochul in every poll. The visit underscored the high stakes of the governor's race and down-ballot congressional contests, as both parties battle for control of Upstate districts and Congress.

President Donald Trump campaigned in Syracuse Friday night for Republican gubernatorial nominee Bruce Blakeman, drawing about 2,500 supporters to the Oncenter while roughly 4,000 protesters gathered nearby. The rally came a day after an ICE agent shot and wounded Oscar Belgal, 28, in Manhattan's Marble Hill neighborhood while he was driving with his 5-year-old son; federal authorities alleged Belgal had gang ties.

In a speech lasting more than 80 minutes, Trump attacked Gov. Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James over immigration, energy and tax policy, repeated disputed claims about election fraud and the Interstate 81 teardown, and promised Blakeman would sharply cut electric bills and taxes. Blakeman pledged to end New York's sanctuary-state status by executive order on his first day in office if elected. Hochul's campaign has branded Blakeman "Trump's puppet" and defended her record, including the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act limiting local cooperation with ICE, which some upstate sheriffs are suing to overturn. Immigration enforcement and affordability remain central issues as the governor's race enters its final weeks.

Onondaga County, New York officials are getting ahead of possible data center development, even as a statewide one-year moratorium on such projects remains in effect. County Executive Ryan McMahon said Central New York's available water, power, and land make it attractive to data center developers, and he wants local communities prepared with the right questions before deals are struck.

At the New York State Association of Counties' fall forum, McMahon consulted with Michael Turner, an official from Loudoun County, Virginia—home to the nation's largest cluster of data centers. Turner urged county leaders to set clear standards around six key impact areas: noise, power, water use, emissions, setback, and appearance, and to negotiate tax structures and community benefit agreements before approving projects. County officials are compiling a study on data center impacts, expected to be released publicly in about four months. McMahon said the county's primary economic development focus remains high-tech manufacturing, particularly the Micron Technology project, but officials are not ignoring the broader data center boom reshaping communities nationwide.

Carlos Arreaga, a Syracuse painter and longtime community volunteer, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on his way to work June 26. His wife and supporters say he was taken without a warrant and has since spent nearly three months at the Buffalo Federal Detention Facility in Batavia. Arreaga, originally from Guatemala, has been pursuing asylum for eight years and has a U.S.-citizen daughter.

About 70 friends, faith leaders and immigration advocates rallied outside a Syracuse church to demand his release and raise money for legal costs and family support. Neighbors submitted letters describing him as trustworthy and hardworking. A federal habeas corpus petition led a judge to order a bond hearing, but Arreaga was denied bond; a new hearing has since been ordered following further legal action.

Advocates from the Workers' Center of Central New York and the New York Immigration Coalition say the case reflects a broader surge in ICE arrests across Central New York since early 2025, often involving immigrants with pending legal status and no bond hearings.

Nearly 300 people gathered in Syracuse's Forman Park on Friday for a 17-minute moment of silence honoring victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, part of more than 25 ceremonies held across Central New York to mark the 25th anniversary. The silence spanned the interval between the first plane striking the World Trade Center's North Tower and the second hitting the South Tower. Attendees included around 50 Syracuse firefighters, more than 25 police officers, sheriff's deputies and EMTs.

Officials lit memorial candles, and speakers included Police Chief Mark Rusin, Fire Chief Michael Monds, Sheriff Toby Shelley, Mayor Sharon Owens and County Executive Ryan McMahon. Rusin read call logs from first responders on the day of the attacks, while Monds recalled the 343 FDNY firefighters killed—roughly the size of Syracuse's own fire department. Speakers reflected on unity in the attacks' aftermath and urged the public to preserve that solidarity a quarter-century later.

Syracuse officials are asking Upstate University Hospital to slow down its request to permanently close a block of East Adams Street to make way for a new emergency room. Mayor Sharon Owens, who along with the Common Council must approve abandoning the city-owned road, says she backs the need for a larger ER — the current one is overcrowded and outdated — but wants more data on traffic, public safety and neighborhood impacts before committing. Upstate argues closing the street and directly connecting its planned $450 million annex would save critical time for trauma patients, while a skybridge alternative would add delays. Crouse Hospital, city firefighters and ambulance providers warn the closure could cut off emergency routes and worsen traffic across University Hill, especially as the Interstate 81 viaduct removal reshapes downtown traffic patterns.

Local lawmakers are weighing potential tradeoffs from the state, such as road improvements, a new fire station or housing development, in exchange for the closure. City officials say more traffic studies and public input are needed before any final decision.