Natalie Mooney

2 weeks ago | spectrumlocalnews.com | Natalie Mooney

The Syracuse Police Department is facing questions about a traffic stop where two Black men were taken into custody. The incident was caught on tape and shared on social media. Now, community members are speaking out. On Wednesday, police say Jaumar Chandler, 21, says he and his friend, Antal Tatum, 22, were stopped for driving with tinted windows on Syracuse’s southside. Seven officers were at the scene. “We were worried for our life,” said Chandler. “We were like, why are there all these many cops?

2 weeks ago | spectrumlocalnews.com | Natalie Mooney

The White House is reporting that more than $1 billion in federal money meant for Cornell University in upstate New York is frozen amid what the Trump administration said are “credible and concerning Title VI investigations.” This comes after the U.S. Education Department sent letters to more than 60 universities, including Cornell and some SUNY campuses, warning of potential enforcement actions if they do not “protect Jewish students.” Cornell leaders say they have not received word about...

3 weeks ago | spectrumlocalnews.com | Natalie Mooney

Some incarcerated individuals in New York state will be released early as prison guards continue to face a staffing crisis.  DOCCS documents report a 24.4% decline in correction officers and correction sergeant plot plan positions between the years 2000 and 2023. Since then, numbers have only continued to drop. In February, COs were told that 70% of staffing is the new 100% staffing — one of the main reasons behind the statewide wildcat strike that lasted nearly a month.

4 weeks ago | spectrumlocalnews.com | Natalie Mooney

Efforts to crack down on illegal immigration across New York state are leading to questions about the relationship between local law enforcement and federal agencies. Numerous areas across New York consider themselves sanctuary locations, according to the Center for Immigration Studies. One of those is Monroe County, where an internal investigation is taking place after officials say Rochester police were sent to assist in a traffic stop involving immigrants.

1 month ago | spectrumlocalnews.com | Natalie Mooney

He’s the Cornell graduate student at the center of a First Amendment case. Momodou Taal says his free speech rights were violated by the recent executive orders issued by the White House. A motion hearing was held Tuesday in Syracuse federal court as Taal's lawyers say he is facing deportation. The case started recently when Taal sued the Trump administration over two executive orders targeting free speech and calling for the deportation of foreign student protestors.