Scott Willis

Just when Central New Yorkers thought winter was over, it appears the flu season is also sticking around.  It's almost a repeat of last year – where one virus predominates the season, peters out and another strain replaces it, say Onondaga County health officials.   County Medical Director Quoc Nguyen says the H1N1 virus has faded, but influenza type B has been trending up during the past week. 

It’s probably happened to some of us – we’re focused on checking email or texting on the go that we might not be aware of our surroundings.  Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said smartphone robberies are becoming more of a problem because it can mean easy money. 

“People who are on their smartphones often are distracted,” he said, “you know, if they’re listening to music or something. People just knock them over, grab [the cell phone], and it’s too easy.”  

A rise in smartphone robberies is why Schneiderman and the San Francisco District Attorney began the “Secure Our Smartphones Coalition.” Unlike other cities, Syracuse is lucky and has yet to report any fatality due to cell phone robberies. However, Frank Fowler, Syracuse Police Chief, said phone thefts have risen in the past year. According to Fowler, they account for more than 1/3 of all robberies.

“Robberies of any type of property places people in harm’s way. When we can discourage this type of robbery, we can have an opportunity to decrease our robberies by 35%, and that’s a great number.”    The "kill switches" would make the phones less appealing to thieves.  But Schneiderman says  there's also little incentive for manufacturers and even the service providers, who are not cooperating. 

Massive tents on the quad, painters in the main entrance of Hendrick’s Chapel and a walk-through balloon bouquet were all indications Thursday that something of significance will be happening soon at Syracuse University. A full day of events will coincide Friday with the inauguration of a new chancellor.  As part of the celebrations, Kent Syverud wanted to involve students by encouraging them to submit ideas for projects they would like to launch to improve the campus and local community.  Allie Curtis is one of the contestants.

The Chair of the Syracuse Common Council's Finance Committee is concerned the Mayor may be relying too much on the city's reserves in her budget proposal. Councilor Kathleen Joy and her colleagues began budget hearings Wednesday to go over the $660 million spending plan line by line.  Joy says using 20 million dollars in rainy day funds doesn't seem to address past warnings from the Mayor herself.

Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner releases her budget proposal Tuesday, and it includes five million dollars to hire more police officers and firefighters.  As many as 25 new police officers and 25 firefighters could be on the streets starting next year.   Miner says it's about balancing retirements and new positions with overtime costs.    Miner says the city can’t hide behind its money troubles and do nothing.   Common Council majority leader Helen Hudson says unless the state or federal governments provide more resources, that’s all they can hire for right now.