☀️ Today’s Weather
Happy Good Friday, CNY! You're going to want to enjoy this morning while it lasts. We're looking at a warm and breezy day with temps climbing into the low-to-mid 70s (the warmest we've felt in over five months) but don't get too comfortable. South winds gusting to 40+ mph will be rolling through, and between 2 and 8 PM, some hit-or-miss thunderstorms are possible, with a couple that could turn severe with damaging wind gusts or even some spin. Once the storms clear out, overnight lows settle back to a comfortable 47. If you've got outdoor Easter weekend plans Saturday and Sunday, keep an eye on that forecast as things continue to change.
🗞️ Top Stories
1. Devastating Fire Kills Mother, Toddler, and Relative in Dryden A heartbreaking story continues to unfold out of the Town of Dryden, where a house fire killed a mother and daughter, Christy Oralls, 30, and 3-year-old Paisley Wood, along with Oralls' cousin, Katherine Gray, 31, who was visiting at the time. Fire Chief Peter Tyler noted his crew was forced to pull firefighters out of the burning home and battle the blaze from the outside, leaving many on the department dealing with serious emotional trauma. A GoFundMe has been opened for the family, and if you're in a position to help, it's worth a look.
2. GMac Is Building His Bench… Fast Gerry McNamara isn't wasting any time. Just days after being introduced as Syracuse's new head coach, VCU assistant coach Ryan Daly and Penn State associate head coach Jamal Brunt are reportedly joining his staff at Syracuse. Daly, 28, helped two programs reach the NCAA Tournament in back-to-back seasons, while Brunt brings more than two decades of coaching experience including stints at Penn State, VCU, Miami, and Richmond. The energy around these hires is real. Orange fans, it's okay to be cautiously excited.
3. Mercury Turns Up in Onondaga Lake Marina Where Nobody Was Testing As if Onondaga Lake needed more bad news on the contamination front, is reporting a surprising discovery of mercury in the lake's marina. And here's the kicker: despite decades of cleanup efforts and testing across hundreds of acres of the lake bottom, there's apparently no record of the marina area ever being tested until now. Given the lake's long and complicated history with industrial pollution, this one raises some real questions about how comprehensive that cleanup actually was. Stay tuned as more details emerge.
⚡ Quick Hits
Former SU head coach Adrian Autry has landed on his feet, joining Virginia's coaching staff under Ryan Odom… a reunion of sorts, as the two previously worked together at Virginia Tech back in 2008.
Oneida Lake has flooded its banks near Cicero, closing Beach Road. Yet another reminder that spring in CNY comes with soggy strings attached.
A man was found with a gunshot wound on South Salina Street in Syracuse, and a stabbing on Helen Street also had police busy this week. A suspect in the Helen Street case is in custody.
Auburn leaders are weighing tax hikes and job cuts as the city faces a nearly $5 million budget gap. Tough decisions ahead for Cayuga County's biggest city.
A man was charged after a pocketknife stabbing at the Red Roof Inn in DeWitt, because apparently even budget hotels have drama these days.
📅 Events This Week
SU Drama's A Rebel Prayer — Running through Saturday, April 5 at Syracuse Stage; a brand-new musical about protest, art, and loss.
Stay Fresh Artist Series: Anthony Beckham — Through tonight, Friday April 3, 7–11 PM at Stay Fresh; free illustration and painting exhibit, no excuses needed to stop by.
Beginnings: A New Century of Associated Artists of CNY — April 3–5 at City Hall Commons; a free centennial art show featuring paintings, photography, glass, fiber art, and more. Perfect for a low-key weekend afternoon.
Maple Syrup Celebration at Critz Farms — Sunday, April 6, 9 AM–6 PM in Cazenovia; wagon rides, maple demos, breakfast buffet, and all the family-friendly fun you can handle.
Easter Brunch at Marriott Syracuse Downtown — Sunday, April 5, seatings at 10 AM, 12 PM, and 2 PM in the Grand Ballroom; Easter Bunny included, make a reservation before it's too late.
That's your CNY rundown for Friday. Enjoy the warm temps while they last, stay weather-aware this afternoon, and we’ll see you tomorrow.