Ellen Abbott

3 weeks ago | wrvo.org | Ellen Abbott

Onondaga County has won a waiver from New York state that will allow dozens of low income families to continue receiving child care. A state cap on spending for the program earlier this year forced the county to cut back on the number of families that could join the day care program, forcing 63 on a waitlist. After lobbying the state, County Executive Ryan McMahon said the state Department of Children and Family Services granted a waiver that will allow the county to keep 95% of the cases open.

3 weeks ago | wrvo.org | Ellen Abbott

Owners of the iconic Westcott Theater say they will host regularly scheduled shows this weekend after city officials forced it to close for a few days this week, following some safety and licensing issues. But the shutdown has prompted the city auditor to call for some changes in the city’s licensing procedures. Instances of gunfire and fights outside the 100-year-old theater, as well as a lengthy attempt to get the theater into compliance with the city’s licensing procedures led to the shutdown.

3 weeks ago | wrvo.org | Ellen Abbott

The groundbreaking of the $100 billion Micron project in central New York is being delayed by the release of an environmental impact statement, which won’t be released until later this month. Officials have had Micron’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) on how the project will affect everything from wildlife to housing since late March. Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon said local and federal officials have been reviewing it since then and preparing it for public release.

3 weeks ago | wrvo.org | Ellen Abbott

Democratic state lawmakers are optimistic that wine will soon line the shelves in some New York grocery stores, after making some changes to legislation that would upend a century old law, to make it more palatable. New York is one of 10 states that doesn’t allow grocery stores to sell wine. Lawmakers have been fighting New York State Liquor Authority’s rules for years, but have been blocked by a powerful liquor store lobby.

1 month ago | wrvo.org | Ellen Abbott

As the I-81 project approaches its midpoint, one success has been the initiative to get more residents from the city of Syracuse and the Onondaga Nation working on the job. Word of mouth is starting to help put more locals into the massive Interstate 81 project job force. Deka Eysaman, of the Urban Jobs Task Force, admits reaching the 15% local hiring goal at the start was challenging, but it’s become easier, in part, because of the success stories infiltrating the community.