Sentinel Today

Mohawk Valley Health System and Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield have announced a three-year effort called the Mohawk Valley Partnership for Healthy Lifestyles Initiative.

On Wednesday, Jennifer Gudnaya said her custody dispute with former deputy Aaron Alshaman came just before he allegedly set fire to her family’s home.

The "A Call to Men Football Camp" at Utica University used football drills, mentorship, and John Petrelli’s story of overcoming paralysis to teach local boys leadership, resilience, respect, and character.

Rome Free Academy valedictorian Elijah Pomales was honored with an early graduation ceremony before leaving for the Air Force Academy, where he hopes to eventually serve in the Space Force.

Jury selection is set to begin today in Utica for the trial of former county sheriff’s deputy Aaron Alshaman, who's facing serious charges tied to an alleged arson at the home of his infant child’s mother.

Madison County is still reckoning with the fallout from a massive Ponzi scheme that prosecutors say drained millions of dollars from nearly a thousand investors.

A legal notice has been filed after the February explosion that destroyed Abundant Life Church in Boonville. But the attorney representing the church’s pastor says that doesn't mean a lawsuit is coming.

Over the weekend, the Oneida County Pride Alliance’s fourth annual Pride Festival celebrated LGBTQ community, visibility, and activism.

More than 530 people gathered Saturday at Delta Lake State Park for the fifth annual Relay For Life of Central New York, continuing a local tradition of support for people affected by cancer.

Elaine Lindsey, a longtime Utica Special Olympics athlete, made her hometown Summer Games especially meaningful by competing alongside her husband and son.

Utica will begin its annual roadway improvement program on June 15th, with paving, repairs, micro-paving, and maintenance planned across dozens of streets to improve safety and extend road life.

History comes home to Utica this weekend, with a look at one of the city’s most powerful, and most combative, political figures.

The Special Olympics New York State Summer Games are coming to Utica University on June 5th and 6th. The Games are expected to bring more than 1,200 athletes with intellectual disabilities to the area for two days of competition, celebration, and community support.

Utica leaders recognized Pride Month with proclamations, Pride displays, and messages of inclusion, even as debate continues over the city’s ceremonial flag-raising policy.

Utica’s Cornhill neighborhood came together Saturday for a celebration centered on pride, connection, and a new piece of public art.

For half a century, generations of Uticans have come to Cafe Daniele for tomato pie, catered family gatherings, and familiar faces behind the counter. Now, one of the city’s longtime Italian food staples is entering a new era.

Utica's mayor vetoed a Common Council flag-raising ordinance over First Amendment concerns, leaving the city’s broader flag policy dispute unresolved even as Pride Month recognition continues.

The Copper Easel in Rome will close at the end of June after seven years. The owner, Adam Chrisman, is citing rising expenses, declining sales, debt, and other pressures.

A classroom in Herkimer was transformed into a Holocaust museum this spring, giving Pathways Academy students a more immersive way to study history.

Communities across the Mohawk Valley are marking Memorial Day with parades, wreath layings, rifle salutes, and ceremonies honoring the men and women who died while serving in the United States military.

22 brass grave markers honoring fallen Rome firefighters were stolen from local cemeteries before Memorial Day, prompting the fire department to seek their return and replace them at its own expense.

A 45-year-old Marcy Correctional Facility inmate, Terry Demonstoy, suffered life-threatening injuries after state police say he was severely beaten by another inmate Friday night.

Utica preservationists are restoring the historic Schuyler Street Tower, a rare surviving railroad control structure that once protected West Utica crossings and now stands as a reminder of the city’s industrial past.

Chobani founder and CEO, Hamdi Ulukaya, has been named to New York’s Future Works commission, which will recommend how the state can use AI to grow the economy while protecting workers.

Local filmmaker Dennis Dewey’s sci-fi feature “2051: The Return Project,” about a scientist whose consciousness is digitally preserved and awakened in the future, will premiere May 21st in Utica.

Clinton boys basketball coach, Mike Hayduk, says he was told he won't be retained after next season, prompting strong community support and a petition calling for his reinstatement.

First Presbyterian Church in Rome has completed roof repairs nearly two years after a July 2024 tornado badly damaged the building, and crews are now rebuilding the sanctuary with new drywall, HVAC, electrical systems, entrance work, and a balcony. The church is still raising funds to replace its steeple, which could cost more than $1 million, while services continue at Zion Episcopal until reopening.

Whitesboro Central School District marked its 90th anniversary by burying two time capsules at the middle school, filled with school memorabilia to be opened by a future generation in 2051.

Crust Kitchen and Bar opened its second location in Utica’s Bagg’s Square, bringing the same made-from-scratch sandwiches, sides, and bourbon-focused menu that made its Rome restaurant popular.

Rome teacher and mom of two Tory Ferlo made a strong bodybuilding debut April 18 at the OCB Big East Natural in Syracuse, placing in all four Bikini Division categories. She trained for about six months, dialing in intense workouts and strict macro-based nutrition that she says was the hardest part of prep. Turning 40 helped motivate her to push herself, and she plans to compete again June 20 in Rochester with a long-term goal of earning a Master’s pro card.

Rome is looking for public feedback through May 19th on a draft Parks, Open Space and Trails Master Plan that proposes major upgrades, pool changes, new splash pads, a possible regional park, and an indoor sports arena.

The Rome Planning Board conditionally approved two new four-story hotels, a commercial building, and two property subdivisions, with some items still requiring Zoning Board review.

Utica City School District’s proposed $310 million budget would keep staffing and programs intact, hold the tax levy flat, and go before voters on May 19th.

The New Hartford Public Library is celebrating 50 years since 10 local women founded it in a converted school basement shower room, growing it into a community hub for books, programs and connection.

Central New York’s indie game developers are building a growing local scene through showcases, meetups, college programs, and self-made projects that prove serious games can come from outside major industry hubs.

Ares and Vera’s first peregrine falcon chick hatched atop Utica’s Adirondack Bank building, marking a hopeful new chapter for the city’s falcon population after the disappearance of Ares’ longtime mate, Astrid.

A Utica father has been sentenced to state prison in the death of his 6-year-old son, after admitting he failed to get the child medical help.

Reset Juice Bar in downtown Utica offers fresh, additive-free drinks and bowls while using local technology to recommend menu items based on customers’ wellness needs.

Camden graduate Rachel Schwartz turned her childhood love of space into an aerospace career at Collins Aerospace, where she helped develop systems that supported the Artemis Two mission around the moon.

Wynn Hospital says it recognizes ambulance wait-time problems, caused by rising patient volume and ER backups, and is working with EMS partners on clearer escalation steps and communication to reduce delays.

Sherrill City Commissioner Chris Niles has resigned, saying the decision came after more than a week of reflection and conversations with family, friends, and colleagues.

Ralph and Lois Humphreys, who met on a 1952 hayride, are celebrating 72 years of marriage built on faith, family, teamwork, and a lifetime of shared work and adventure.

Utica is preparing for another closely watched trial tied to the death of inmate Messiah Nantwi, and this time the focus is on former Mid-State correctional officer Caleb Blair.

Last week, a tiny 2.7-pound black bear cub was rescued alone on a road in Ava, given emergency care, and will later be released back into the wild.

Rome Health has opened a new 18-bay pre- and post-surgery unit next to its operating rooms, improving efficiency, patient comfort, and care as part of its $45.7 million hospital modernization project.

The Lee Town Board scheduled April 28th public hearings on two proposed water district projects totaling $36 million, while also discussing paving bids, possible public transit, and questions about board procedures.

Authorities say three teens were charged after a planned shooting at Clinton Middle School was uncovered through Snapchat messages, a journal, and interviews revealing both attack plans and suicidal intent.

An Ohio family, with ties to Central New York, was killed in a nine-vehicle crash on Interstate 71 after a tractor-trailer failed to stop in backed-up construction traffic.

Ashley Faubert, a 29-year-old Ilion firefighter, died after her car crashed into a tree Friday night in Richfield. The accident remains under investigation.

New York State awarded $20 million to Rome, Utica, and Morris to support downtown revitalization projects that local and state leaders say will strengthen economic growth, public spaces, and quality of life across the Mohawk Valley.