Greater Binghamton New York News You May Have Missed

Every week, we recap some essential local news we reported on 1290 AM/92.1 FM WNBF, our Townsquare Media Binghamton sister radio stations on-air, our websites, and social media platforms.

Catch up on local and regional news items in a short recap we reported on for the week of September 23rd, 2024, from WNBF's Bob Joseph, Don Morgan, and the Townsquare Media staff. For the complete article (if available), click on the headline.

Man Dies After Being Shot on Binghamton Street 

(Bob Joseph)
Binghamton police are working to find the person who shot a man on a city street. The man died after undergoing emergency surgery. Authorities said the shooting happened in the area of the Northside Deli at 511 Chenango Street around 4:30 a.m. Saturday. Police were sent to the neighborhood to investigate a report of shots fired. When officers arrived, they found several witnesses at the scene. There was blood on the sidewalk in the area where the shooting occurred. The man was hospitalized in critical condition for several hours. Police said he died around 3 p.m. Saturday. His name, age, and hometown were not released by police.

Broome County New York Tourism Reaches New Heights

(Don Morgan)
On September 23rd, Visit Binghamton announced that in 2023, the county experienced unprecedented growth in tourism. Record levels were reached from visitor spending and economic impact. According to the Visit Binghamton announcement, tourism has been a major economic factor for the region, showing the Central New York region for tourism to be a 5.1 billion dollar industry, according to a recent Tourism Economics Report. The economic impact of tourism in Broome County in 2023 saw an increase of 18.5% over 2022, reaching $585 million. This impact resulted in 5,465 jobs in our area, according to Visit Binghamton.

Man Arrested After Police Pursuit in Endicott and Endwell

(Bob Joseph)
A man faces charges after a police pursuit that started in Endicott and wound up in a residential neighborhood in Endwell. An Endicott police officer reportedly tried to stop a vehicle that had been reported stolen in Johnson City. The car didn't pull over in the area of Broad Street around 1:20 p.m. Friday. Police continued to track the car into Endwell, where it traveled east on Country Club Road and north into a residential area. The car eventually turned into a parking lot of the Squire Colony apartment complex off Smith Drive. The man then ditched the vehicle and ran through the neighborhood. Endicott police and Broome County sheriff's deputies searched the area and spotted the suspected driver walking on Columbia Drive a few minutes later. He was taken into custody without incident.

New York Governor Announces $90M Program For Youth Mental Health

(Don Morgan)
On September 24, 2024, an announcement was made by New York State Governor Kathy Hochul for nearly $90 million to help six providers in the Empire State establish services that provide critical support to youth struggling with complex mental health issues. The program will serve persons between 11 and 17 years of age, administered by the State Office of Mental Health to help them utilize one-on-one support, provide stability for the children as well as their families, and help the child avoid extended stays in emergency departments or psychiatric emergency programs. One of the six service providers receiving the award is the Children's Home of Wyoming Conference, located in Hillcrest.

Police Presence Increased at U-E High School After Two Teens Hurt

(Bob Joseph)
Two teenagers were injured in a dispute that may have involved a stabbing near Union-Endicott High School. Endicott police received a report of a possible stabbing in the area of the school around 3:30 p.m. Thursday. Investigators determined an altercation occurred after school hours near a Gulf gas station and the American Legion building west of Garfield Avenue. Two youths were taken to the hospital for treatment. Police said one of them sustained a wound to the hand, while the other sustained wounds to the lip and shoulder. Investigators have not indicated what may have sparked the dispute. No weapons were found in the area of the incident.

New York State REAL ID Deadline Delay?: What You Need To Know

(Don Morgan)
The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) proposal is just to delay full enforcement of REAL ID. until May 7, 2027. The May 27, 2025 deadline would remain for states to be compliant. The reason is that according to the TSA report: The Department of Homeland Security has noted that "As of January 2024, only approximately 56 percent of DL/IDs in circulation nationally are REAL ID-compliant. In 34 States, less than 60 percent of DL/IDs in circulation are REAL ID-compliant, and in 22 States less than 40 percent are REAL ID-compliant."

Binghamton Street Reopens After Railroad Bridge Project

(Bob Joseph)
A street linking Binghamton's West Side with the First Ward that had been closed for several weeks is back in operation. Jarvis Street between Clinton and Charlotte streets was shut down in late July while work was being done on a crumbling Norfolk Southern railroad bridge. When the project was announced, city officials said the job was expected to take 14 weeks to complete. The work actually was wrapped up after about eight weeks. Mayor Jared Kraham expressed appreciation to the construction crews who managed to finish the project ahead of schedule.

Program to Further Distribute Free Naloxone In Broome County

(Don Morgan)
Thursday, September 27, 2024, the Broome County Health Department's Overdose Prevention Program, in collaboration with the Central New York Rotary, announced partnering with county-owned, rented, and operated facilities to expand the availability of Naloxone through Naloxone distribution boxes throughout Broome County The boxes, known as Naloxboxes, are supported by a Rotary Global Grant, which partners with organizations in seven upstate New York counties to increase access to this life-saving medication. This effort is designed to help reduce fatal and non-fatal overdoses and save the lives of Brome County residents.

First Phase of Route 17 Rehab in Apalachin Nearing Completion

(Bob Joseph)
Drivers in Tioga County are looking forward to traveling on a smooth road surface on Route 17 in Apalachin for the first time in several years. The first half of a $47 million reconstruction project of a section of the expressway in the town of Owego is expected to be wrapped up this fall. Work on the long-awaited repair job started last spring. A six-mile portion of Route 17's westbound lanes has been closed for more than six months. Two-way traffic has been traveling through the work zone using the eastbound lanes. The project includes new road decks for two bridges that carry the highway over Apalachin Creek to improve resiliency.

Free Covid Home Test Kits To Become Available This Month

(Don Morgan)
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, households will be able to order (4) four free COVID-19 test kits that will be mailed to their homes from COVIDTests.gov. before the end of September 2024.  The COVID-19 Tests will detect current COVID-19 variants and can be used through the end of 2024. The Health and Human Services Department notes that the U.S. government continues to make COVID-19 tests available to uninsured individuals and underserved communities through existing outreach programs. For more information, contact an HRSA-funded health center or ICATT location near you. For more information about Covid testing and how it works, visit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website.

First Binghamton-Area O'Reilly Auto Parts Store to Open Soon

(Bob Joseph)
Construction is nearing completion on the Southern Tier's first O'Reilly Auto Parts store. The national chain, which operates more than 6,000 locations across the United States is preparing to open a store on East Main Street in Endicott. O'Reilly acquired the two-acre site between Garfield and Grant Avenues last December for $695,000. The company has not announced an opening date for the store but operations are expected to start sometime in November. According to the O'Reilly Auto Parts website, the company now has 39 stores in New York and 47 in Pennsylvania.