☀️ Today’s Weather
Start your Friday with a little patience. Morning sprinkles will slowly wind down through midday, leaving us with a cloudy sky into the early afternoon before the sun eventually breaks through, potentially as early as 1 PM on the west side of the region and as late as 6 PM to the east. Highs top out around 64 with a light northwest breeze between 5 and 12 mph, so a light jacket is not a bad idea if you're heading out early.
🗞️ Top Stories
1. 80 Rounds Fired in Pioneer Homes Standoff, Four Officers Named
Syracuse Police Chief Mark Rusin revealed this week that four officers exchanged gunfire with Rodney Vanderpool, 55, during a harrowing six-hour standoff at Pioneer Homes on May 9. Lt. Patrick Moore, Sgt. Brian Bach, Sgt. Walter Brainerd, and Officer Bryan Kloepfer were among the 19 officers placed on paid administrative leave following the incident. Vanderpool, who allegedly fired through his apartment door and injured three officers, is facing three counts of attempted murder, and was notably out on release from prior charges when the whole thing went sideways.
2. Liverpool Officers Under Investigation After Arrest Caught on Video
Three Liverpool police officers are now under internal investigation after video surfaced showing them punching a suspect and using their legs to push the person's neck to the ground during an arrest. This is the kind of story that gets people talking at the dinner table, and with body camera footage and community trust both on the table, local officials will have a lot of explaining to do.
3. Former Marcy Guard Robert Kessler Sentenced in Inmate Death
Former Marcy Correctional Facility officer Robert Kessler was sentenced to four years in prison for his role in the December 2025 death of inmate Robert Brooks, a case that shocked the region and led to the murder conviction of fellow officer David Kingsley. Kessler had pleaded guilty to gang assault back in March, and Thursday's sentencing in Oneida County Court closes another chapter in one of the more disturbing institutional abuse cases this area has seen in years.
⚡ Quick Hits
The former president of the Auburn Enlarged City School District Board of Education has been arrested on child pornography charges, according to New York State Police.
Syracuse City Hall is weighing new limits on biometric surveillance, with privacy advocates warning that face scanning and similar technologies have already been running with very little oversight.
School superintendents across Central New York are sounding the alarm that inflation-frustrated voters could reject school budgets when they hit the polls next week, which could mean real cuts to local programs.
A police chase in Oswego ended in an arrest Thursday morning after the Oswego County Sheriff's Office spotted a driver acting suspiciously near the Public Safety Center; a loaded weapon was found in the vehicle.
The Town of DeWitt quietly amended its zoning laws earlier this week to allow for the possibility of a wholesale club, with a Costco-style retailer reportedly in the mix for the area.
📅 Events This Week
RetroGameCon Spring Edition runs Saturday and Sunday, May 16 and 17, at the Oncenter Convention Center, with free play, vendors, panels, and tournaments; if you still mourn the cartridge era, this one's for you.
The Syracuse Orchestra: Dancing Queen, The Music of ABBA takes the Oncenter Crouse Hinds Theater stage Saturday, May 16 at 7:30 PM; singing along is practically part of the ticket price.
Nate Bargatze: Big Dumb Eyes World Tour rolls into Upstate Medical University Arena at the Oncenter War Memorial on Sunday, May 17 at 7:00 PM; clear bags are required, and laughing loudly is strongly encouraged.
Joe Satriani and Steve Vai: Surfing With The Hydra 2026 Tour plays the Landmark Theatre on Sunday, May 17 at 7:30 PM with Animals as Leaders opening; if guitars are your love language, this is the weekend show to catch.
That's your Friday rundown. Stay dry this morning, soak up the sun when it finally shows, and we’ll see you tomorrow for the Weekend Insights.