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

Friday, May 17, 2013  A state senator and several local business owners are pushing for residents to take part in the debate over the future of Interstate 81 in Syracuse, and are warning the public that changing traffic patterns could have a negative impact on local businesses.

Tuesday, May 07, 2013  The chairman of a Senate committee says the sexual battery arrest of the Air Force officer who led the branch's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response unit underscores how far the Defense Department has to go in addressing the plague of sexual crimes in the military.

Sunday, April 28, 2013  The arrest of a 41-year-old Mississippi martial arts instructor in a probe of poison-laced letters sent to President Barack Obama and others capped a week in which investigators initially zeroed in on a different man.

Monday, April 22, 2013  A New York state senator has spurred controversy online by asking in a tweet if the Boston Marathon bombing suspect arrested Friday should be tortured.

Thursday, April 18, 2013  A U.S. Senator is outraged that the Federal Probation Office apparently ignored dozens of alerts set off by David Renz's GPS monitoring bracelet, indicating it had been tampered with.

Wednesday, April 17, 2013  Law enforcement officials say a second suspicious letter that has been received in Washington was actually directed to the White House, not the Senate.

Tuesday, April 09, 2013  Senator Chuck Schumer announced Tuesday that Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Sensors in Owego has received a Navy contract award totaling over $13,516,318. The contract will extend a previous contract data and software systems upgrades of MH-60R helicopters.

Thursday, April 04, 2013  The new owners of Greek Peak in Cortland will keep the ski resort open and possibly even expand.

Tuesday, April 02, 2013  New York state Sen. Malcolm Smith, a New York City councilman and four other politicians are facing charges in a public corruption probe.

Saturday, March 30, 2013  Members of New York's congressional delegation are trying to get the post office in Brockport named for an Army sergeant from the upstate village who was killed in Afghanistan.

Monday, March 18, 2013  At a press conference in front of the vacant Hotel Syracuse, Senator Schumer lends his support for a New Market Tax Credit program which would bring $10 Million in tax credits to revitalize the historic landmark.

Monday, March 18, 2013  Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York legislative leaders hope to announce agreement on the third straight on-time budget.

Wednesday, March 06, 2013  The White House says President Barack Obama picked up the dinner tab at a tony Washington restaurant where he had dinner with 12 Republican senators.

Monday, February 25, 2013  Senator Chuck Schumer announced Monday that, at his public urging, two private loan companies have agreed to forgive the student loan debt of the late Andrew Prior.

Friday, February 22, 2013  Central New York has seen a sharp decline in manufacturing jobs recently, but as the industry moves toward a more technologically-based focus, some think we can turn it around.