☀️ Today’s Weather
Welcome to May, CNY style. Friday is going to feel more like late March, with highs only reaching 52 and wind chills dropping close to 32 at times thanks to breezy westerly winds gusting up to 20 mph. Expect a mix of clouds and some sunshine, with scattered light rain showers possible in the afternoon and evening, and if you live at higher elevations, do not be shocked to see a wet snowflake or two mixed in. No accumulation expected, but frost is still on the table tonight, so bring those plants inside.
🗞️ Top Stories
1. The Skyline Saga Comes to a Head (and Misses Its Mark)
Today was the court-ordered deadline for Clear Investment Group to have the former Skyline Apartments, now rebranded as "The Metropolitan" on James Street, fully renovated and ready for tenants. They did not make it. Code Enforcement walked through and found unfinished bathrooms, exit signs that literally point up instead of out, and exposed wiring in the ceilings. Deputy Mayor Corey Driscoll Dunham noted the deadline was one Clear set for itself, making the miss even harder to explain for a building that has been a headache for this city for years and holds nearly 300 units that Syracuse families desperately need.
2. A Man Is Dead After Being Electrocuted on Syracuse's South Side
A tragic scene unfolded Wednesday afternoon on Syracuse's south side when a man was found electrocuted inside a hydraulic lift basket in a residential neighborhood. First responders were called to the scene around 3:15 p.m., and despite their efforts, the man did not survive. Police are investigating, and the incident serves as a grim reminder of the dangers that can come with working at height near electrical lines.
3. Micron Keeps Buying Up Clay
Micron is not done land shopping. The chipmaking giant just dropped another $4 million on property near its massive semiconductor factory site in Clay, following a $30 million deal for its main site that was filed just weeks ago. A Micron executive recently said the company is ahead of schedule on the factory that they say will "transform this region," which is the kind of news that makes everyone in CNY feel a little better about the future.
⚡ Quick Hits
Syracuse City School District CFO Michael Puntschenko is warning that the district's fund balance could be completely gone within five years if spending trends do not change, with a $24.5 million budget gap already on the table for this year that leaders admit will not be solved quickly.
A barricaded suspect in the Town of Salina was taken into custody peacefully Thursday after nearby Chestnut Hill Elementary and Middle School were placed on lockout, with two Liverpool schools also briefly locked out due to a reported shots-fired call in the area, though all lockouts have since been lifted.
If you still have a Smokey Bones gift card in your wallet, bad news: the chain has gone bankrupt and those cards are now unredeemable, including at the Liverpool location which has permanently closed.
The Food Truck Battle is returning to the NYS Fairgrounds, so start clearing your schedule and loosening your belt.
West Genesee girls lacrosse is sitting at a perfect 9-0 and is the last undefeated team in all of Section III.
📅 Events This Week
"Leading Ladies" at the Gnac Theater in Clay runs Friday through Sunday, May 1 to 3, with evening shows at 7 p.m. and a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m.; it is a Ken Ludwig comedy, so expect plenty of laughs.
Maker Faire Syracuse takes over the Center of Progress Building at the NYS Fairgrounds on Saturday, May 2, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with hands-on STEAM activities that are great for kids and curious adults alike.
The 3rd Annual Mother's Day Market is free and open at City Hall Commons on Sunday, May 3, from noon to 4 p.m., with more than 15 local vendors selling handmade gifts and treats, perfect timing with Mother's Day coming up.
That is your Friday edition of CNY Insights. Bundle up out there, support a local vendor this weekend, and we will see you back here tomorrow for the Weekend Edition.