WAER 88.3 News | NPR from Central New York

A Syracuse University neighborhood landlord who’s been the target of tenant protests for unsafe living conditions and poor maintenance says he’s turned his operation around. WAER's Scott Willis reports on how pressuring a landlord might get results, but also poses an inherent risk. I recently joined Ravi Saluja for a tour of some of his properties. " We're at 303 Lexington Avenue..." He’s the President of Syracuse Quality Living, or SQL. " Tenants have moved in, and are very happy. No issues in any apartment. Everything is good, right?" he asked the tenant. " Yes, I'm totally satisfied, " said the tenant. We visited more than a half dozen of his properties, and all of them appeared to be in good condition. Tenants said they were happy. Saluja owns more than 50 homes on the outskirts of the university neighborhood, renting to mainly graduate, Phd, and international students. But about two years ago, some of those students began publicly complaining about rodent and insect infestations,

It was February 4 th , 2018, when then-Syracuse Police Sgt. James Milana pulled up on the scene of a man wielding a gun on South Salina Street near West Calthrop Avenue. Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul picks up the story…

Cooler nights and trees beginning to drop their leaves in Central New York also mean the apple harvest season is well underway. "This actually is going to be a very beautiful crop. We've had a great range of sizes. The color is coming up beautifully this time of year." Cynthia Haskins is President and CEO of the New York Apple Association . They’re anticipating 31.5 million bushels of the crunchy fruit this year, which is slightly above the five year average. That translates to about a billion pounds of apples, and includes increases in popular Cornell-bred varieties such as SnapDragon and RubyFrost. Haskins says weather was not much of a factor this year… " Spring was wet. But that's OK. It just meant that the ground was wet. The grower's did well. It didn't affect volume at all." Haskins says the state’s 600 growers also had little issue with pests or disease this season. The continued success and growth of the apple crop means New York is still the second largest apple producing

Syracuse University is celebrating it's Sesquintennial in 2020, and a lot has happened in its 150 year existence. Her Hilltop High will explore the University's traditions, tragedies and triumphs. It will also explore how the events of the past have affected the present and the way SU approaches the future.

Onondaga County and Jobs Plus have partnered with a ride sharing service to help bridge the gap between transportation and employment. Effective immediately, Lyft will provide individuals on temporary assistance an alternative means to get to and from work.

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During this fall membership campaign, we’re keeping things local! WAER is excited to be partnering with Food Bank CNY and Cooley Group to offer PRE-ORDER copies of the City of Syracuse 1 st Edition MONOPOLY Game to listeners who give to WAER today with an annual gift of $250 or a monthly sustaining gift of $21. The Hasbro-approved first edition game features three iconic Syracuse University locations in the orange properties (but, of course) as well as other Syracuse staples. The boards will be printed this fall and will be delivered in November, just in time for holiday gift-giving. You can reserve your pre-ordered copy today with a contribution of $250. Reserve your copy today and be sure to type Monopoly in the comments box.

Two victims of clergy sexual abuse are taking a different approach to justice. Daniel Paden of Johnson City, and Matthew FitzGibbons of Fayetteville both agree that forgiveness and love are the most effective means of healing. They spoke Thursday at the Marriott Syracuse Downtown.

Tuesday was back to school already for some school districts and a new state law allows districts to bring video evidence taken by digital cameras to the authorities when drivers pass a stopped school bus. Fayetteville Manlius has installed five additional cameras and a total of eight buses are now equipped with more likely on the way. Superintendent Craig Tice says the video evidence will hold drivers accountable. "They're about two thousand dollars each, and we are hopeful that they will serve as a deterrent by capturing the images of any cars that will be passing the stopped school bus with the red lights on." Onondaga County authorities are working with school districts who have the cameras. Sheriff Conway says the digital cameras will greatly increase their capabilities but drivers still need to be aware. "People should just stop for a school bus, whether they're in the one lane over, two lanes over, always err on the side of caution. We have children getting on and off buses.

Hundreds of members of organized labor didn’t seem too discouraged when it literally “rained on their parade” Monday morning at the state fairgrounds, as they chanted "We are the union, the mighty mighty union!" Members of any number of unions ranging from carpenters to teachers marched through raindrops and puddles to show their solidarity. But union membership nationwide is at its lowest in 65 years…at just over 10 percent. Staffer at SEIU 1199 Lawrence Brooks says apathy is a factor. "We haven't really had many big fights. People have gotten used to the fact that they can get a job and those rights are ingrained into what folks already fought for. People don't necessary realize that nothing's given. Somebody had to fight for the rights that they received." Brooks says they hope the parade tells people that working people still matter and that it’s OK to sign a union card. Vice president of the Syracuse Labor Council Julie Searle says labor contracts lead to better overall pay and

Careers in Code set out six months ago with the goal of helping alleviate poverty in the Central New York area and help provide area tech employers with more local talent. The program was run by Hack Upstate , funded by the Alliance for Economic Inclusion , and targeted women and minorities. The coding boot camp graduated 11 students last week, all now with the skills needed to get a job in Syracuse’s growing tech sector . The graduation highlighted the work of the participants and the program as a whole.

The New York State Fair might not have survived the early 1900’s, or be in Syracuse, if it wasn’t for some over-the-top entertainment…held OFF the fairgrounds. Here's how the Ka-noo-no Karnival united the community behind the fair and attracted many visitors.

We’re already at the halfway point of this year’s State Fair, and the attendance continues to grow. Fair spokesperson Dave Bullard says they attribute that to major fair improvements to the tune of $120 million in recent years which allows people to sprawl out.

The service and dedication of the state’s law enforcement community took center stage Monday at the state fairgrounds. Dozens of elected officials and fairgoers gathered at the memorial for the annual ceremony honoring those serving and those who died in the line of duty.

For the first time in 15 years, visitors to the historic train exhibit at the New York State Fair will be able to tour an almost fully restored 1910 caboose that had its start in here Central New York.

A temporary exhibit at ArtRage gallery shows the past and present realities of the land where the Interstate 81 viaduct now exists side by side. Organizers of 'A Shadow Cast: Interstate 81' Shane Lavalette and the New York Civil Liberties Union hope the photos help to explain why restorative justice should be a necessary part of the I-81 Project.

Syracuse city officials say they’re working to ensure a brighter future for the long vacant former Syracuse Developmental Center now that they’ve seized it for back taxes. Police, Fire, and DPW crews are working to secure the sprawling site on South Wilbur Ave. to prevent additional arson, vandalism, and dumping.