Naturally, the Legislature's special session wound up producing a Special Ugly – an omnibus bill loaded down with extras that sock the taxpayers. The centerpiece was of course the two-year renewal of Mayor de Blasio's control of the city's public-school system – without the increase in the charter-school cap that Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan […]

Utica native and illusionist Leon Etienne is currently working in Saipan at his own theater entertaining tourists from around the globe. As he has done so many other times, he will be returning to National television this Summer. Read more at http://ift.tt/2tttP3f

State Assemblyman Anthony Brindisi plans to announce Wednesday that he will challenge U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney in the 2018 election, according to two Democratic sources familiar with his decision. Brindisi, 38, of Utica, invited supporters to an “important announcement” at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Liberty Bell Corner Park in Utica and 2 p.m. in Binghamton […]

The Utica Police Department has officially added three new recruits to their force. In a ceremony yesterday the new department hires took the oath of office in front of Mayor Rob Palmieri and Chief Mark Williams. Read more at http://ift.tt/2tZeowQ

For the first time in over a decade, a major construction project will be taking place at the Masonic Medical Research Laboratory in Utica. New York State is contributing $550,00 toward the $2.75 million dollar project. Read more at http://ift.tt/2tkECff

One of the key components to the proposed 'U District' is getting support from the City of Utica. Both Utica Mayor Rob Palmieri and the Urban Renewal Agency have come out in favor of The AUD Authority purchasing the former Washington Courts to develop their vision. Read more at http://ift.tt/2tkrWps

Utica area residents will soon have a new grocery store option. Price Rite of Utica will officially open it's doors this coming Sunday, June 25th. Read more at http://ift.tt/2shiM80

The Oneida County Department of Social Services has launched an outreach program to assess the needs of panhandlers in Utica and help align them with proper services. County Executive Anthony Picente reached out to the Utica Police Department to form joint assessment teams that will include DSS caseworker and UPD officer. Read more at http://ift.tt/2sA8B23

Utica police, fire and rescue workers pulled the body of a woman from the Erie Canal this morning near Incinerator Road, police said. Police were dispatched to the canal about 10:45 a.m. today after a boater reported seeing a body floating in the water, police said. Read more at http://ift.tt/2s2AQ5G

New York State Police removed more than 200 roosters from this Herkimer County barn that they said were used in an alleged cock-fighting ring and stowed the birds in a barn in Poland, N.Y., as evidence. Two people are accused of trying to break into the barn to steal the rescued birds on Tuesday night, […]