Parents in the Rome City School District are pushing back after officials said a recent bedbug discovery at Stokes Elementary School was handled promptly. But several families say that doesn’t reflect what they experienced.

Utica saw a thirty-one percent drop in gun violence in 2025—part of a statewide decline—thanks to targeted policing efforts and state-led initiatives like "Give".

Senator Joseph Griffo’s monthlong drive collected a thousand used phones to support "Cell Phones for Soldiers", providing over one-hundred thousand minutes of free calls for troops, and aiding veterans in need.

State lawmakers in Upstate New York are proposing new legislation to combat severe doctor shortages by expanding loan repayment programs, offering tax incentives, and improving access to medical education in rural and underserved areas.

Rome Health has secured a nearly twenty million dollar state grant to modernize its IT systems, unifying electronic records and enhancing cybersecurity and telehealth as part of a broader, years-long transformation.

Jim Kramer is stepping down as New Hartford’s head football coach after nine successful seasons to spend more time with his family, leaving behind a revitalized and championship-caliber program.

Broadway Utica is bringing the fast-paced, stage adaptation of the classic whodunit “Clue” to the Stanley Theatre, blending comedy, mystery, and nostalgia while also engaging local students through community outreach.

Early Tuesday morning in Rome, tragedy struck as a fire tore through the Countryside Apartments on Rome-Oriskany Road. The blaze left one person dead, another critically injured, and around twenty residents displaced.

Central New York is under a winter storm watch with up to seven inches of snow expected Wednesday, mixed with rain due to warmer temperatures, and hazardous travel conditions likely.

The annual "Shop With A Cop" event in Utica brought together police officers and over a hundred children for a joyful holiday shopping experience that fostered community connection and support for families in need.

Mohawk Valley Health System is getting ready to open a brand-new outpatient surgery center in Utica, and it’s being billed as a major step forward for healthcare in the Mohawk Valley.

The Rome Planning Board approved a new phase of the Woodhaven housing project, adding a hundred garden-style apartment units off Floyd Avenue as part of a larger residential expansion across the city.

Utica is launching a modern paid parking system downtown, aiming to boost business access by replacing outdated meters with app-based and kiosk options that improve space turnover and enforcement.

A weekend brawl at a newly opened family attraction in New Hartford ended with viral video footage, a police investigation, and two people facing criminal charges.

Clinton’s annual Shoppers’ Stroll brought festive cheer and community spirit to the village while encouraging support for local businesses, marking a bittersweet farewell for longtime shop owners Alan and Dawn Perta as they prepare for retirement.

New York State is investing sixteen point two million dollars to help nonprofits like Utica’s "Home Ownership Center" turn vacant, uninhabitable apartments into safe, affordable homes.

New York State has awarded over one-hundred and twenty-five million dollars for supportive and affordable housing projects.

Utica has begun a two million dollar project to restore snowmaking and year-round operations at the Val Bialas Ski Center, marking the first major revitalization of the historic community hill in more than a decade.

The United Way of the Mohawk Valley has teamed up with the Utica City School District and the Food Bank of Central New York to launch what they’re calling the Backpack Program.

A legal showdown is unfolding over whether the public should see key evidence in a harassment case involving Rome Mayor Jeffrey Lanigan.

Plea talks in the Sangertown mall shooting case collapsed after the defense accused prosecutors of shifting their offers in bad faith, leaving a December trial and new evidence disputes still looming.

Archaeologists conducted a small survey at the Oriskany Battlefield to pinpoint historical features and ensure nearby maintenance work doesn’t disturb any Revolutionary War artifacts.

The family of Antwan Cater has filed a wrongful death lawsuit alleging that Oneida County Jail staff acted with neglect and indifference as he suffered a fatal seizure, reflecting what they describe as a broader pattern of inadequate care at the facility.

A recent forum at Herkimer College highlighted major concerns from rural New York schools, including funding cuts, staffing shortages, and infrastructure demands.

The VVS Community Rotary Club donated a new refrigerator and freezer to the Verona Food Pantry, expanding its ability to store and distribute fresh food for local families.

Rome’s 2026 budget passed unanimously, bringing a modest property tax increase to maintain essential services amid rising costs and disaster recovery needs.

The county approved a five-hundred and sixty-one million dollar budget for 2026 that includes its first property tax increase in thirteen years, aiming to prepare for rising costs and future uncertainties.

Today - As Thanksgiving approaches, the Rescue Mission of Utica is gearing up for what could be one of its most challenging holidays in years.

The annual Flags for Heroes event in Utica honors military service members and their families with a weeklong flag display and ceremony, supporting veteran care through the Sitrin Military Program.

A drug raid led to multiple charges for a local man, after police uncovered cocaine and other materials during a search on Brinckerhoff Avenue.

Democrats won enough seats in Utica’s 2025 elections to secure a supermajority on the nine-member Common Council, solidifying their control heading into 2026.

Demolition has begun on the former Griffiss Air Force Base Parachute Shop in Rome, NY, to remove asbestos and make way for a new office building, marking another step in the area’s economic redevelopment.

SUNY Morrisville went into lockdown Monday afternoon after a shooting on campus left one person injured.

The County Sheriff’s Office donated over $7,000 dollars—raised through its No Shave October and November fundraiser—to help the Barneveld Fire Department rebuild its fire station after a roof collapse.

Turning Stone’s $370 million expansion opens early in 2026, adding a hotel, event space, and over three-hundred jobs.

Utica’s schools have a lot to celebrate this year. The latest state test results show that students across the Utica City School District are making major strides in English Language Arts, math, and science.

In Vernon Center, a former fire department treasurer is heading to state prison after stealing more than three hundred thousand dollars from the department he once helped lead.

A former correctional officer, has been sentenced for his role in the 2023 beating death of inmate, Messiah Nantwi.

Following extensive renovations to the Bertolini Clubhouse at Valley View Golf Course in Utica, two new establishments are set to open and mark a new chapter for the venue.

Utica is looking to its residents for ideas on how to shape the city’s future — specifically, the future of its Uptown Commercial District.

Two veteran politicians, Democrat Frank Meola and Republican Michael Cerminaro, are vying to become Utica’s next comptroller, each emphasizing fiscal responsibility, transparency, and decades of city government experience.

This evening, the Rome Common Council will vote on a proposed $56.6 dollar budget for 2026, along with updates to a bridge project, funding for police equipment, and renewal of a contract with the county’s Child Advocacy Center.

A former Marcy correctional officer was convicted of murder while two others were acquitted in the 2024 beating death of inmate Robert Brooks, highlighting ongoing concerns about systemic abuse in New York’s prison system.

Thousands in Rome, Utica, and Herkimer joined nationwide “No Kings” protests to oppose President Trump’s leadership, decrying what they view as threats to democracy and misuse of military power.

Jurors in the trial of three former Marcy correctional officers accused of murdering inmate Robert Brooks deliberated all day Thursday without reaching a verdict.

Vernon Center is launching a twelve million dollar project to connect about one-hundred and seventy homes to the Village of Vernon’s public water system, replacing private wells with a reliable, EPA-approved supply expected to be completed within a year.

Tully’s Good Times, a popular Central New York restaurant chain known for its chicken tenders, is seeking approval from the New Hartford Planning Board to open a location at the former Uno Pizzeria and Grill site on Clinton Street.

Investigator Shannon Acquaviva-Cinque retired after twenty years with the Utica Police Department, leaving a legacy of dedication, resilience, and leadership.

Bruce Cutler, the famed defense attorney for John Gotti and a former Hamilton College athlete, passed away at seventy-seven. He’s remembered as a larger-than-life figure who combined toughness, intelligence, and humor.

On day three of the Brooks murder trial, jurors saw video of inmate Robert Brooks hours before his fatal beating, as testimony revealed concerns about his mental state, prior assaults, and the limited training officers received on intervening in abuse.