WAER 88.3 News | NPR from Central New York

Farmworkers in Central New York and across the state are claiming victory after a state appellate court ruled Thursday that they have a constitutionally protected right to organize. Crispin Hernandez filed suit in 2016 after he had gathered his co-workers after work hours in his personal residence to discuss workplace and living conditions. He says Mark’s farm in Lowville intimidated the workers with dogs and police before firing them. Hernandez says through an interpreter that they now have a voice. " We have a lot of workplace abuse, like wage theft, bad housing, farm owners not giving necessary training to workers, and there's a lot of accidents because agriculture is very dangerous work. This is important because this is a tool for workers to organize and collectively fight for better conditions at their workplace." Syracuse attorney Brian Butler represents the New York Farm Bureau, which plans to appeal the decision. He says it seems the court’s majority ignored 80 years of

Officials cut the ribbon Wednesday on a four story, 50 unit development on Syracuse’s near north side aimed at providing affordable and supportive housing. The $17.6 million Catherine Street apartments includes 20 units for residents with low incomes and 30 for those with mental health diagnoses.

More than 160 locally owned business enterprises introduced themselves Tuesday to many departments within Syracuse University who could potentially buy their goods or services in the future.

Syracuse residents dealing with deer in their neighborhoods have a chance to share their concerns and learn more about how the city might manage the problem at an information session on Tuesday evening. Experts from the medical and research communities will be on hand to discuss the growing health and safety matter. Councilor Joe Driscoll is leading the effort and says the deer population continues to grow in number and in range. “When we first started to study this, we were at threshold of what’s healthy for our environment. Then we studied it again three years later, we were at three times the threshold of one urban environment can handle. And now we imagine we are somewhere between five to ten times the healthy balance.” Driscoll says the far east and west sides of the city have the highest deer populations, but are present in just about every neighborhood. The problem goes beyond deer eating your landscaping. Driscoll says the deer carry ticks which can spread Lyme disease, and

Guests from around the world will gather at the Marriott Syracuse Downtown Sunday for a gala to celebrate the life achievements of Onondaga Nation Faithkeeper Oren Lyons. The SU alumnus is 89, and is an accomplished lacrosse player, artist, and author. Lyons is a leading voice at the UN permanent Forum on Human Rights for Indigenous Peoples, and has received numerous environmental and peace awards. WAER News sat down with his son, Rex Lyons, and gala co-chair Gayle Kelley to chat about his influence. Rex Lyons says his father is a humble man, and is always striving for the common good and how to be of service. " He always refers to himself as a runner. He doesn't like to be called a chief or leader. He says I feel like more of a messenger carrying a lot of our wisdom, which is sorely needed." Rex Lyons says his father is a self-made man who believes education is is essential to be successful, and understanding others. He holds a Doctor of Laws Degree from Syracuse University, and is

Onondaga County is getting more aggressive in trying to tackle the stubborn lead paint problem in the area’s older housing stock. County Executive Ryan McMahon issued an order Thursday that holds landlords more accountable for lead abatement on their properties in order to prevent lead poisoning in children.

Syracuse’s Armory Square is already one of the area’s most popular destinations, where people shop, eat, drink, or catch a show. But what can make it more pedestrian friendly and attractive?

When you see bicyclists using a dedicated bike lane, pedestrians strolling along wide sidewalks, buses stopped in a special bus lane, and, of course cars using a roadway, the term “Complete Street” might not come to mind. But that’s just what the City of Syracuse continues to build out since adopting such a framework in 2012.

Funding for the I-81 project could come from a massive, $2 trillion infrastructure spending plan being considered by President Trump and congressional democrats.

Mother’s Day is upon us, and thousands of Central New York moms want nothing more than having enough diapers for their babies. The CNY Diaper Bank is encouraging the community to get involved in its 4 th annual “Make a Mother’s Day” diaper drive this month to help moms who can’t afford diapers.

Most Central New Yorkers have probably been plagued by robocalls like this: " The reason you have received this phone call from our department is to inform you that we just suspended your social security number because we found some suspicious activity. So, if you want to know about his case just press one now. Thank you."

One of the first city leaders to call for the I-81 viaduct to come down is excited that the state has finally made a recommendation to replace it. " I was very much overjoyed that the community grid had been the chosen option. Although that does not mean that's the end of the story."

Businesses on I-81 just north of Syracuse and the county legislators that represent them are continuing to insist that a high-speed highway be maintained through the city. They’re urging residents and others to speak out against the state’s recommendation last week of a community grid to replace the aging viaduct that cuts through downtown.

State officials say they’re ready to spend $27 million to close the current 14-mile gap in the Empire State Trail between Dewitt and Camillus. It’s part of a 300 mile stretch that roughly follows the old Erie Canal between Buffalo and Albany.

Labor leaders, worker advocates, and others came together in Liverpool Friday for Workers’ Memorial Day to recall the at least 30 people who died on the job in the past year across Central New York. They say there’s not enough inspectors to make sure OSHA laws are enforced in more workplaces. The Medical Director of the Occupational Health Clinical Center in Syracuse says the laws also need to be updated to reflect the modernized working conditions. Dr. Michael Lax sees workers suffering with job related problems on a daily basis. " We have an epidemic. When you look at where the most injuries are most recorded, they're not at the steel mills or places you'd traditionally think. They're in hosptials, they're at nursing homes because people are trying to lift patients are blowing out their backs or their shoulders." He adds that many health problems exist in work places today that people may never consider. The President of the CNY Labor Federation, Ann Marie Taliercio say unionized

The state Department of Transportation officials overseeing the planned street grid to replace Interstate 81 viaduct in Syracuse took time Wednesday to clarify some details and stress the benefits of the nearly $2 billion project. The recommendation came Monday as part of a 15,000 page report on the project’s social, economic, and environmental impacts.

Syraucuse University Chancellor Kent Syverud said in an email to the Syracuse University community today that S.I Newhouse School of Public Communications Dean Lorraine Branham died of cancer. She was 66 years old. Branham had served as the dean of the school since 2008.

It was a celebratory mood at University Methodist Church over the weekend as more than 100 guests marked the Syracuse Peace Council’s 83rd anniversary of anti-war and social justice efforts. But the cheerfulness was tempered when guest speaker and Army Reserve Captain, Brittany DeBarros took the mic to condemn militarism for going against American values. " The wars that we're in...there's no definition for what winning looks like that is consistent for the arguments that have been made for why we're there in the first place." DeBarros was deployed to Afghanistan in 2012. She says what she saw on the ground is not the way it’s sold to the American people. "We're not framing the fact that we've killed tens of thousands of civilians in countries that we've invaded under the auspices of liberating and bringing democracy to them. We've harmed far, far more of those people than the supposed enemy." After returning from deployment, DeBarros was disappointed to see social injustice here at

The City of Syracuse is ready to put a number of programs in place to tackle the significant housing stability problem. One in four households in the city moves every year, mainly due to evictions.

A Vera House Program is helping bartenders and servers in Syracuse to spot domestic violence and abuse with the ‘Raise the Bar’ program. The program has been in existence for about a year now.