Finger Lakes Today

Farmington resident David Shields is running for Town Board. On this edition of FLX Today, we continue our series talking with candidates for local office across the Finger Lakes. Shields has a young family, and calls Farmington home. For him, the decision to run for Town Board was a personal one that came from a few interactions that left him believing more was possible. Among his campaign priori...

Wolcott Town Supervisor Lynn Chatfield doesn’t mince words when it comes to the community he calls home. On this edition of FLX Today, we continue our series talking with candidates for local office across the Finger Lakes, catching up with the man running for another term as supervisor in the town of Wolcott. Poverty, struggling first responder ranks, and finding grant money for much needed infra...

On this edition of FLX Today we begin our candidate spotlight series, featuring those running for elected office across the Finger Lakes. Kyle Brimm is a Republican, running for a new term as Ward 6 councilor. Check out the full-interview on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.

On this edition of FLX Today we begin a new monthly series catching up with Cayuga County Sheriff Brian Schenck. Recruiting efforts, an expected contract with the Weedsport Central School District to expand the School Resource Officer program there, as well as an update on a series of larcenies at school events in Port Byron and Cato were among the topics discussed.

Legislation in Congress aims to provide money to rural communities in New York and across the U.S. The  Rebuild Rural America Act  would allocate $50-billion to make it easier for rural areas to access federal grant money for a slew of different projects. In New York, this could mean providing funds for counties with aging housing stock, to make it more  accessible for seniors  or people with limi...

Before New York's legislative session ended, lawmakers expanded vote-by-mail access. The New York Early Mail Voter Act  allows registered voters to get early mail voting ballots through an application to their local Board of Elections. Currently,  35 states and Washington, D.C.  allow "no excuse" absentee voting. Though  Census data finds  less than half of New Yorkers voted in an un...

The Bipartisan State Commission will start work immediately. After the 2020 census, the commission did not agree on a new map, leading to a lengthy legal challenge. It ended with a  state court judge  overseeing the new map's redrawing process for the 2022 elections.

On this edition of FLX Today it's all about what's happening at one of the region's favorite spots. The Montezuma Audubon Center and Montezuma Wildlife Refuge are excellent destinations this time of year; and today we are joined by Chris Lajewski, who discusses recent volunteer efforts to clear out invasive species from waterways at the Refuge, and upcoming events.

A new campaign aims to bolster public education and student learning. The American Federation of Teachers'  Real Solutions for Kids and Communities campaign  aims to boost a variety of issues schools are lagging behind in. In New York and across the U.S. schools are still working to address learning loss from the pandemic. The latest scores from the National Assessment of Educational Progress...

Some one-time grant funding has made the difference between renters in rural New York having a safe place to live - or having to move. The McNeil Park Apartments , in Copenhagen, is an income-based complex for seniors and adults with disabilities. When it was purchased in 2020 by the Copenhagen Happy Acres Housing Fund, McNeil Park was in a state of disrepair. But Snow Belt Housing Company, which...

New apartments on the market in Pulaski are the latest development aimed at reducing New York's housing shortage. Selkirk Landing  consists of 44 affordable homes for families and seniors, along with 20 homes with supportive services to house adults who have been homeless. A Rural Housing Coalition of New York  report  found most rural towns have vacancy rates twice their urban counterparts. M...

As National Rail Safety Month comes to a close, experts in New York and across the country stressed there is more to do beyond June. The Federal Railroad Administration reports there have been 18 rail-related accidents in the last year throughout New York, attributed to a variety of factors. Several recent incidents are getting companies to shape up their safety plans.

Child well-being in New York has fluctuated  over the last year , a recent annual report finds. The  Annie E. Casey Foundation's Kids Count Data Book  found that New York's child health rank increased, although it lost ground in family and community and child economic well-being. Child advocates have said they feel some newly implemented state initiatives will help bolster some of these ra...

In less than a week there will be a contested primary for mayor of Geneva. A pair of familiar faces to City Council will be going head-to-head to see who represents Democrats in the general election. Last week we sat down with Councilor Jan Regan, who received support of the Democratic Committee. Today, we talk with the incumbent, Mayor Steve Valentino, about his re-election campaign, which starts...

In less than a week there will be a contested primary for Seneca Falls Town Supervisor. The ballot will feature two well-known names. Last week we sat down with incumbent Mike Ferrara, who is being challenged by Frank Schmitter. Today we sat down with Schmitter to discuss the issues he sees as most important during this cycle.

On this edition of Finger Lakes Today environmental reporter Peter Mantius gives an update on a pair of local stories that garnered a lot of attention this week. The first involves a court ruling by Judge Doyle, and the second involves something less-commonly known - sewer sludge. He breaks it all down in this conversation with FingerLakes1.com's Josh Durso.

Why does Supervisor Mike Ferrara want to run for a second term in Seneca Falls? While many view the continued operation of Seneca Meadows Landfill as the biggest issue facing the Town - there are a host of others, which Ferrara considers incomplete. This week, he was in the FingerLakes1.com Studio discussing the reasons he's running for re-election. In order for Ferrara to make it to the gener...

This week we begin our series talking with candidates running in upcoming primaries across the Finger Lakes. First up is Jan Regan, who currently represents Ward 3 on Geneva City Council, and is seeking the Democratic nomination for mayor. While she won support of the Democratic Committee, incumbent Steve Valentino picked up enough signatures during the petition process to force a primary. Regan s...

As smoke from Canadian wildfires blankets New York and much of the East Coast, it's causing a wide range of health effects - and not just for people. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the effects can be as minor as eye and respiratory-tract irritation, but worsening to asthma and even causing heart failure. And humans aren't the only ones feeling the effects of smoky skies...

The New York State Senate has passed the  HEAT Act , which now goes to the Assembly. The legislation aims to phase out gas-line extension allowances, which would reduce the use of natural gas in the state. It would also allow the Public Service Commission the authority to keep utility companies in line with the state's climate laws. Robin Wilt, a town council member in Brighton, said the equit...

Prison City Brewing has officially kicked off its Hops N Shop weekend series. Starting today Hops N Shop will be held every Sunday through September 24. It will take place at Prison City Brewing North, which is located on North Street in the city. Fresh, locally grown produce, as well as arts, crafts, and seasonal vendors will be found weekly. There will also be food trucks and live music and ente...

Jennifer Lake has been involved in the Goodwill of the Finger Lakes for more than a decade-and-a-half. As CEO, she has overseen a lot of projects that bring her pride. Last weekend though, the grand opening of the Canandaigua Goodwill store was particularly satisfiying. For the community, partnering agencies, and those served, the new store will greatly help the organization's mission. We caug...

Take the following and rewrite it in a summarized news report form. It should be concise. The new article should be two paragraphs long and only include the most important details from the original text. No plagiarism. Include a headline. For Sue Cirencione there isn't an exact moment she can pinpoint over the last couple years where the decision was made to sell the grocery store that's b...

Foster children in New York and across the nation need better transition support once they age out, according to a new report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The  Fostering Youth Transition  report found  74% of children  in New York foster care are aging out, rather than finding a permanent home, a 22% increase from the national average of 52%.

Parents in New York and across the U.S. want to see schools improve kid's mental health, a recent survey found.