Latest local news, weather and sports for Syracuse and Central New York

Yesterday at 11:20 PM  The County and City Planning Agencies merged to form one agency after years of attempts in a move to streamline local government.

Yesterday at 11:00 PM  A 23 year old Syracuse man is arrested on rape charges.

Yesterday at 8:25 PM  HBO and James Gandolfini's managers say the actor famous for his role in "The Sopranos" has died in Italy.

Yesterday at 8:17 PM  Friends, family and strangers gathered Wednesday evening at Onondaga Lake Park

Yesterday at 6:50 PM  Some New York lawmakers are pushing to prohibit using cash welfare benefits to pay for tobacco, alcohol, strip clubs and illegal drugs.

Yesterday at 6:44 PM  The House has voted to cut food stamps by $2 billion a year.

Yesterday at 6:27 PM  Police say a collision between a car and a bus in Oneida has sent 15 people to hospitals, most of them with bruises and other minor injuries.

Yesterday at 5:41 PM  Nojaim Brothers Supermarket on the city's distressed Near West Side will likely get tax breaks for a $2.7 million expansion.

Yesterday at 5:04 PM  The New York State Department of Transportation is interested in what the community thinks should be done with the portion of Interstate 81 that runs through Syracuse.

Yesterday at 4:27 PM  An accident in the City of Oneida has closed Route 5 from Upper Lenox Avenue to Seneca Street, near the Oneida Hospital.

Yesterday at 3:07 PM  CNY Central announced Wednesday it will once again be the home to Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) football and basketball in Central New York, giving CNY Central exclusive broadcast rights to a select number of Syracuse Orange men’s football and basketball games.

Yesterday at 1:56 PM  Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders say they have a deal to authorize four upstate New York casinos that would drive jobs and tourism to the long economically distressed area.

Yesterday at 1:42 PM  Efforts to legalize professional mixed martial arts in New York have foundered again with the state Assembly's Democratic leaders refusing to allow a vote on the measure.

Yesterday at 1:29 PM  A Utica man is accused sexual offenses involving a child in the city of Utica earlier this month.

Yesterday at 12:45 PM  Four Georgia men are accused of forging and cashing counterfeit checks from Central New York businesses, stealing upwards of tens of thousands of dollars.