Sentinel Today

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.

Rome has received a second $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant from New York State to transform Bellamy Harbor Park and better connect its waterfront with downtown.

The Bunker Sports Bar and Golf Lounge is opening a new indoor golf, dining, and entertainment venue near Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, expanding its Central New York presence.

Rome police have charged 47-year-old Gregory Mignot Junior with second-degree murder in the death of 31-year-old Michael Brown, whose body was found with a chest wound on April 1st.

Utica was the site of this year’s regional National Civics Bee, where a dozen middle school students from across the area put their knowledge of government, citizenship, and civic engagement to the test.

FX Matt Brewing Company in Utica will host a Prohibition Party from April 8th to 11th celebrating Utica Club’s historic role as the first beer legally sold after Prohibition.

Rome police say 31-year-old Michael J. Brown was found dead Wednesday morning, April 1, in a wooded area near Railroad Street with a puncture wound to the chest, and his death has been ruled a homicide. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are asking anyone with information to contact police or Mohawk Valley Crime Stoppers.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and in Oneida County, local leaders are using the moment to push a simple message: protecting children takes an entire community.

A jury in Utica has not yet reached a verdict in the Jonah Levi murder trial and is continuing to review key testimony, body camera footage, and legal instructions before resuming deliberations today.

Utica police are testing Flock Safety’s new gunfire detection system alongside ShotSpotter to see whether it can improve gunfire response without expanding surveillance.

Over the weekend, hundreds of people across New York’s Mohawk Valley turned out for a new round of “No Kings” protests, joining a wider national movement focused on defending democratic norms and pushing back against what organizers describe as authoritarian leadership.

John Urtz, the former town supervisor of Lee, is being remembered as a deeply committed public servant whose impact on the community stretched across more than half a century.

The Utica Comets rallied from a third-period deficit to beat Laval 2 to 1 in a shootout, with Nico Daws making 33 saves and setting the franchise wins record to keep Utica’s playoff hopes alive.

Utica’s downtown peregrine falcons have officially kicked off the 2026 breeding season, and for local bird watchers, it’s a big moment.

Rome’s Common Council is heading into a busy meeting this Wednesday, March 25th, and the biggest item on the agenda is a major sewer planning effort tied to the future Chobani plant.

Utica’s restaurant scene is growing with six new eateries now open and a seventh expected to open soon.

Utica’s Common Council approved a 2026–27 budget with no property tax increase after revising the plan with new state aid, but the vote exposed sharp disagreements over paving, firefighter gear, and the council’s limits on the mayor’s spending flexibility.

Recovery Sports Grill in Verona has closed after 17 years, leaving longtime patrons mourning the loss of a beloved community gathering place known as much for its friendships and staff as for its food.

A month after the Boonville church explosion, the community has raised more than $40,000 to support the five injured victims as most recover at home and one continues to fight through a long recovery.

Utica’s police union is condemning Mayor Michael Galime’s interim appointment of James Holt as deputy chief, warning it could worsen morale and retention.

Shook, a new healthy eatery in Ilion founded by young entrepreneur Madison Conigliaro, offers quick customizable meals while supporting local community programs.

A small fire at Utica’s long-vacant historic Kempf Building was quickly contained Thursday morning, with officials saying squatters likely started it while trying to strip wire for scrap.

At a tense Lee Town Board meeting, officials debated sensitive town records being kept at a deputy supervisor’s home instead of town hall.

CAVA plans to open its first upstate New York location later this year in New Hartford’s Consumer Square.

Worthington Steel is marking 70 years in business and looking ahead to the Rome plant’s 100th anniversary in 2026, while highlighting its local impact, its push into electrical steel, and its plans for continued growth.

Central New York’s Red Cross depends on volunteers to respond to house fires and other local emergencies, providing immediate support to families in crisis when they need it most.

New Hartford officials are fast-tracking plans for a Chick-fil-A and another unnamed fast-food spot at Avenue Plaza while focusing closely on traffic concerns and ongoing town financial cleanup.

Bellamy Elementary posted the biggest year-to-year academic gains in the Rome City School District as the district reviewed ESSA accountability labels for 2025–2026, reset state intervention timelines, and outlined next-step improvement plans for identified schools.

Rome City School District is building its next budget around the full tax-cap increase to protect student programs and operations, while it waits for final state aid numbers before sending the plan to voters in May.

Utica firefighters condemned a councilor’s joking “hazard duty” remark during a budget discussion about replacing chemical-laced turnout gear, saying it trivialized cancer risks.

In 2025, Mohawk Valley Health System handled rising patient demand while expanding outpatient and preventive services, investing in staffing, navigating leadership changes, and planning further growth in 2026.

Symeon Tsoupelis Senior, founder of Symeon’s Greek Restaurant in Yorkville, has died, and his family vows to continue his legacy of Greek cuisine, warm hospitality, and community care.

New York’s Central and Northern district lawmakers split along party lines after Trump’s State of the Union, with Republicans praising his economic, border, and security agenda and Democrats warning his policies are worsening affordability and undermining trust in elections.

New York state awarded $9 million in tax credits and subsidies to help DePaul Properties move forward with the Columbia Square Apartments affordable housing project in Utica.

Utica Anime-Fest returns to the Delta by Marriott Utica on Saturday, Feb. 28 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., featuring vendors, artists, panels, special guests, and a 5:30 p.m. Sailor Moon concert, with $20 admission.