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

Monday, June 10, 2013  It does not appear that there is enough support in the New York State Assembly to pass a bill legalizing professional mixed martial arts (MMA) events this year. The New York Daily News is reporting that 35 Assembly Democrats have signed a letter opposing the legalization of MMA that was delivered to Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.

Wednesday, May 15, 2013  Ultimate Fighting Championship chairman Lorenzo Fertitta was joined by UFC fighters Uriah Hall and Ryan LaFlare at a press conference at the Oncenter War Memorial Wednesday morning to push for New York State to legalize professional mixed martial arts events.

Thursday, December 06, 2012  The mayor of Ithaca is urging the New York State Legislature to legalize marijuana. In an editorial to the Times Union, Mayor Svante Myrick says he has "directed the Ithaca Police Department to focus on other issues that will more effectively protect the public."

Monday, March 26, 2012  With a change in Albany, lawmakers are hoping Oneida County can be home to one of New York's new casinos.

Friday, December 02, 2011  New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is taking a lucrative, one-day victory lap to California where he is being celebrated as a hero for legalizing gay marriage in New York.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011  Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who in last year's campaign shut the door on a medical marijuana law, now says he's reconsidering.

Thursday, June 23, 2011  Dozens of gay couples are planning to converge on Albany Thursday to witness what would be a historic vote to legalize gay marriage in New York, the sixth state to do so and a potential bellwether in the national gay rights movement.

Thursday, June 16, 2011  Conflicting interests and political maneuvering threatened to stall a vote in New York on whether to legalize gay marriage, viewed by advocates and opponents alike as a pivotal moment in the years-long debate.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011  UPDATE: The effort to legalize gay marriage in New York is getting an all-out lobbying effort from Democrats and celebrities, but there's still no sign of wavering among a critical bloc of Senate Republicans who led the defeat of the measure and blunted national momentum two years ago.

Thursday, April 16, 2009  With supporters cheering on, Governor Paterson said Thursday that he wants to legalize gay marriage in New York State.