Your bottle returns could soon be worth double in New York
For more than four decades, returning a soda can or a water bottle in New York has earned exactly the same reward: 5 cents. Now, lawmakers in Albany are considering whether that nickel should finally get an upgrade. A proposal known as the “Bigger, Better Bottle Bill” would double the...
Two New York cities rank among best for first-time homebuyers
Two New York cities were ranked among the top ten best markets for first-time homebuyers in 2026, according to a new report from Realtor.com. Rochester was ranked No. 1, and Syracuse was ranked No. 6 on the list, which ranked the 10 best markets based on affordability, availability of homes, local amenities, economic...
Closing Time: 5 Major Retail Chains Closing Doors in New York: March 2026
Between the $16.00 statewide minimum wage and the high cost of maintaining "legacy" square footage, several household names are finishing their final "everything must go" sales this month. From the total disappearance of a discount icon to the pruning of iconic department stores, here are the 5 major retail chains...
Connecticut’s new bottle and can redemption law has unintended consequences, business owners say
BRIDGEPORT - Connecticut's problem with cross-border fraud, in which people from New York, Massachusetts and beyond bring in their nickel-deposit empty cans and bottles to take advantage of the region's only 10-cent redemption system, is not occurring at Fred Miers's massive recycling operation on Boston Avenue here,...
Great Northern Mall demolition efforts begin
CLAY, N.Y. — The Great Northern Mall is expected to start demolition this week. This comes after the property sat vacant for multiple years. According to the developer, Guy Hart, the land will turn into a residential, retail and medical complex. People in the area said that for the...
Micron completes tree-clearing in Clay, easily meeting deadline
Micron targeted an estimated 330 acres of trees needing to be taken down. This completion easily achieves the March 31 deadline.
🚨 Auburn man charged in child exploitation case
New York State Police say Christopher M. Donahue, 50, of Auburn was arrested on March 3, 2026, after an investigation into child exploitation. The case began when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reported suspected illegal files on January 29, 2024. Troopers searched a home in Auburn on February...
Deadly shooting in Syracuse Thursday night
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — Syracuse police are investigating a deadly shooting that occurred inside a home on Park Avenue late Thursday night. A 26-year-old man died at a local hospital after suffering multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body. Officers responded to the 600 block of Park Avenue at...
Brandon’s Bright Spot: Come view the bald eagles of Onondaga Lake
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Bald Eagles are back at Onondaga Lake and on March 7, you can see these majestic birds up close. The Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps is offering two guided, half-mile walks along the Onondaga Creek to see the dozens of Bald Eagles who live at the lake, along with hundreds of other birds, during...
Onondaga County extends Micron sales tax break timeline
Micron’s planned semiconductor expansion in Onondaga County is getting more time to use a major tax break as the project’s construction timeline shifts. The Onondaga County Industrial Development Agency voted unanimously to extend the termination date for Micron’s sales tax exemption on building supplies. The...
