Sentinel Today

The Rome City School District has significantly expanded its workforce over the past three years, adding 171 employees as officials focus on filling classrooms and support positions across the district.Support the show: http://URSentinel.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new statewide public art program is drawing criticism in the Mohawk Valley, where State Senator Joseph Griffo says the state should have chosen a local organization to oversee the region’s murals.Support the show: http://URSentinel.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At 106, longtime Rome art teacher and champion golfer Marge Hubbell is making history as the first person inducted into both the Rome Arts Hall of Fame and the Rome Sports Hall of Fame.Support the show: http://URSentinel.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three Rome city officials who witnessed the September 11th attacks in New York City remember the tragedy, uncertainty, unity, and lasting emotional impact of that day.Support the show: http://URSentinel.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Mohawk Valley orthopedic surgeon is leading a national campaign to reduce opioid use after hip and knee replacements by using alternative pain-management methods that he says allow most patients to recover without narcotic prescriptions.Support the show: http://URSentinel.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three juveniles are facing multiple charges after police say a fight broke out during a New Hartford High School football game.Support the show: http://URSentinel.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Twenty-five years after the September 11th attacks, Clinton's Gordon Felt is still carrying the story of Flight 93.Support the show: http://URSentinel.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Crime numbers are continuing to fall in Utica, part of a broader decline being reported across New York State.Support the show: http://URSentinel.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Utica students and families kicked off the new school year Wednesday with excitement, hopes for academic growth, and a focus on safety across the district.Support the show: http://URSentinel.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chobani is making another major investment in dairy manufacturing — this time in Pennsylvania. But officials say the move will not change the company’s plans for its massive new facility in Rome.Support the show: http://URSentinel.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Turning Stone Resort Casino has completed its $400 million Evolution expansion, opening "The Grand Expo" and becoming New York’s largest meetings and conventions resort.Support the show: http://URSentinel.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Clinton Art and Music Festival showed how creativity and community can give everything from fallen trees and scrap metal to old barns and historic buildings a second life.Support the show: http://URSentinel.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New York’s Appellate Division has agreed to review Gordon Mower’s claim that ineffective legal counsel influenced his 1996 guilty plea in the murders of his parents.Support the show: http://URSentinel.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A newly graduated Rome Marine, PFC Brody Hanrahan, received the first "Lance Corporal Daniel J Geary Military Achievement Award", carrying forward the memory of the Rome Marine killed in Afghanistan in 2009.Support the show: http://URSentinel.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2026 Great New York State Fair butter sculpture uses 800 pounds of butter to celebrate New York traditions, dairy farming, and America’s 250th anniversary.Support the show: http://URSentinel.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scientists in Utica are reporting a promising advance in the treatment of a serious heart condition linked to Noonan syndrome.Support the show: http://URSentinel.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Arts at the Palace is launching the Village Academy of the Arts this fall, offering semester-long music, dance, multi-arts, and mentorship programs for young artists in Hamilton.Support the show: http://URSentinel.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Hartford is taking the next major step in reviewing a proposed BJ’s Wholesale Club at Sangertown Square.Support the show: http://URSentinel.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rome has rededicated the renovated front lawn of City Hall as the Joseph Griffo Green, honoring the former mayor and current state senator for his decades of public service.Support the show: http://URSentinel.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Utica’s continued use of Flock license plate cameras is fueling debate over whether their value as a police investigative tool outweighs concerns about privacy, data sharing, and potential misuse.Support the show: http://URSentinel.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Disability advocates are calling on New York congressional candidate Anthony Constantino to apologize for a 2024 video using a disability slur, while Constantino and comedian Ricky Berwick defend the video and say the backlash is politically motivated.Support the show: http://URSentinel.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Local artists Tim Rand and Maria Vallese are finishing a 1,300-square-foot mural at the Clinton Cider Mill celebrating agriculture, community growth, and the business’s upcoming 100th anniversary.Support the show: http://URSentinel.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rome’s Common Council unanimously approved a $150,000 Canal Street property purchase tied to downtown redevelopment, a revenue-sharing agreement with the new Copper City Chiefs hockey team, and several other local measures involving internships, traffic, property sales and dog-license fees.Support the show: http://URSentinel.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chobani’s Rome plant is moving forward, with construction expected to begin between 2027 and 2028.Support the show: http://URSentinel.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Residents of the Mary D Buck Memorial Apartments in Whitesboro are under new management, but village officials say many of the building’s old problems remain unresolved.Support the show: http://URSentinel.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A double murder-suicide in Madison County has claimed the life of a longtime Rome businessman and community supporter, along with his wife.Support the show: http://URSentinel.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A judge ordered Deerfield to approve PathStone’s 65-unit affordable housing project, ruling the town acted arbitrarily by delaying it over speculative infrastructure concerns tied to unrelated future development.Support the show: http://URSentinel.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rome school voters will decide in December on significant capital project that will include demolishing the former Staley Elementary School.Support the show: http://URSentinel.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Rome business owner says Route 46 safety upgrades near Ridge Mills Elementary School could worsen traffic by removing road shoulders, while state officials argue the new sidewalk, curbs, and crosswalks will better protect pedestrians.Support the show: http://URSentinel.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The New York State Fair ranked fourth nationally for festival food, celebrated for its mix of affordable classics, creative indulgences, and diverse international offerings.Support the show: http://URSentinel.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Utica Common Council unanimously approved a five-year suspension of the city’s police residency requirement, allowing new officers to live in the county or neighboring counties in an effort to address recruitment shortages.Support the show: http://URSentinel.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whitesboro Central School District held a realistic, multi-agency emergency drill simulating a chlorine gas leak to test response plans and improve student safety.Support the show: http://URSentinel.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After 35 years on the federal bench, Judge David Hurd will be honored with the naming of Utica’s federal courthouse for his lifelong service, landmark rulings, mentorship, and commitment to preserving justice in the region.Support the show: http://URSentinel.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Utica National Insurance Group has become an official Buffalo Bills insurance partner, marking its largest corporate sponsorship and expanding its visibility, growth opportunities, and community impact.Support the show: http://URSentinel.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Star Performance Dance Centre" in Vernon earned "Studio of the Year" and numerous other national honors after 66 dancers delivered standout performances at the "Elite Dance Challenge" in Providence.Support the show: http://URSentinel.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Utica City School District Board of Education held a brief but significant special meeting Monday evening, ending with a unanimous decision to place a district employee on paid administrative leave.Support the show: http://URSentinel.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rome celebrated America’s 250th anniversary with a patriotic parade, concert, and fireworks that brought thousands together to honor freedom, history, veterans, and community.Support the show: http://URSentinel.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

FedEx closed its Oriskany facility under its Network 2.0 restructuring, affecting 31 employees and redirecting customers to nearby drop-off locations.Support the show: http://URSentinel.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Utica Common Council is weighing a proposal that could change where newly hired police officers are allowed to live, as city leaders continue searching for ways to address staffing challenges.Support the show: http://URSentinel.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Utica school board voted not to renew Superintendent Christopher Spence’s contract, while extending Acting Superintendent Kathleen Davis’s agreement and addressing concerns about leadership, communication, student services, and union negotiations.Support the show: http://URSentinel.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Frontier Roads, a new family entertainment park in Westmoreland featuring food, shopping, games, live music, and future attractions, will celebrate its grand opening on Thursday, July 23rd.Support the show: http://URSentinel.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Rome school board meeting balanced praise for student-centered graduation events with community concerns over staffing, special education services, communication, and several upcoming leadership changes.Support the show: http://URSentinel.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whitesboro village leaders are moving forward with several public safety decisions.Support the show: http://URSentinel.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wolfspeed has sued Navitas Semiconductor, alleging that several gallium nitride and silicon carbide products infringe five patents central to its power-semiconductor technology.Support the show: http://URSentinel.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Utica-Rome Speedway will honor one of its most successful drivers tonight with the Dale Planck Memorial.Support the show: http://URSentinel.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rome author Frank Pape’s new book uses historic maps and local research to reveal the canals, forts, landmarks, and forgotten history hidden throughout the city.Support the show: http://URSentinel.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ilion native, Keith Willner, completed the Boilermaker 15K in honor of his late father, continuing a cherished family tradition.Support the show: http://URSentinel.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Utica Superintendent Christopher Spence alleges the school board discriminated and retaliated against him after he raised concerns about its conduct.Support the show: http://URSentinel.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Utica is coordinating city departments, residents, and businesses to clean, inspect, and prepare roads, public spaces, and race areas ahead of the annual Boilermaker Road Race.Support the show: http://URSentinel.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New York’s historic Merci Train boxcar, a 1949 gift from France thanking Americans for postwar aid, has been moved from Whitesboro to Union Station in Utica for continued preservation.Support the show: http://URSentinel.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.