☀️ Today’s Weather
Hope you enjoyed that warm Monday, because today is going to feel like a completely different season. Expect mostly cloudy skies with a few light flurries around Syracuse, while areas north and northeast of Onondaga County get hit with lake effect snow, and that band could creep closer to the city by evening. Winds will be gusting up to 45 mph with a high of only 24°F and wind chills dropping into the single digits, so if you're heading out for St. Paddy's Day festivities tonight, dress like you're going to a Crunch game, not a parade.
🗞️ Top Stories
1. The Orange Family Mourns Rex Culpepper Former Syracuse quarterback Rex Culpepper passed away Saturday at just 28 years old following a dirt bike accident in Georgia. If you followed SU football between 2017 and 2020, you know Rex wasn't just a backup QB, he was a walking story of heart and resilience. Playing in Syracuse's spring game while still undergoing chemotherapy for testicular cancer before being declared cancer-free in 2018. He'd just gotten engaged last month. His fiancée Savanna Morgan wrote in her tribute: "You don't just meet people like Rex all the time. He was one in a billion." The Syracuse football program, teammates, and fans across CNY have been pouring out their love all day, and rightfully so. Rest easy, Rex.
2. 60 Animals Rescued from Oswego County Property The Oswego County SPCA rescued roughly 60 animals: horses, cows, chickens, cats, guinea pigs, exotic birds, lizards, and more from a local property after a man was charged with animal cruelty. It's the kind of story that's hard to read but important to know about, and it's a reminder of the work our local SPCA does every single day. If you've been thinking about donating or volunteering with an animal rescue group in CNY, consider this your nudge.
3. SU Hosts NFL Pro Day, Orange Players Audition for the Next Level Nineteen former Syracuse football players worked out in front of NFL scouts at the Ensley Athletic Center on Monday, with eyes on the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh next month. Punter Jack Stonehouse, SU's only player at the NFL Combine, was there, along with defensive back Duce Chestnut and several others looking to hear their names called on draft day. It was also the first public look at new transfer quarterback Danny Lauter throwing the ball in orange. For fans who stuck through a tough 2025 season, it's a good reminder that SU still sends players to the next level.
⚡ Quick Hits
The Onondaga County Sheriff is pushing for Level 1 sex offenders to be publicly searchable online — a policy debate worth watching as it moves forward.
Fayetteville-Manlius school district is standing by its decision to violate the Open Meetings Law, which... is a choice.
Melting snow across Syracuse is revealing a not-so-pretty surprise: piles of litter, with volunteers already out helping the city clean it up — kudos to them.
A man is in critical condition after a stabbing on Syracuse's North Side, and police are actively investigating.
Lane closures are active along I-81 North in Salina and Cicero as part of the ongoing I-81 construction project — plan accordingly if that's your commute.
📅 Events This Week
Organ Fairchild Plays Grateful Dead — Tonight (Tues., March 17) at Funk 'n Waffles; a jam organ trio doing improvisational Dead covers, the perfect way to keep St. Paddy's Day rolling.
Dancing with the Celts — Wed., March 18 at the Center for the Arts of Homer; high-energy Irish dance and music if you've still got Celtic spirit left in the tank.
ZZ Ward with McKinley James — Fri., March 20 at the Center for the Arts of Homer; blues-rock powerhouse ZZ Ward brings her tour to Homer, a small-venue show absolutely worth the drive.
Monster Truck Wars — Sat., March 21 (12 PM & 6 PM) and Sun., March 22 (2 PM) at Toyota Coliseum; monster trucks, stunts, and meet-the-drivers access, equally fun for kids and the adults pretending it's just for the kids.
Syracuse Crunch vs. Cleveland Monsters — Sat., March 21 at 7 PM & Sun., March 22 at 4 PM at Upstate Medical University Arena; a full home weekend for the Crunch, great excuse to get out if the roads have cleared up.
The Syracuse Orchestra: Symphonic Dances — Sat., March 21 at 7:30 PM at Crouse Hinds Theater; a classy night of famous orchestral dance pieces, and yes, you can absolutely do this and the monster trucks in the same day.
Stay warm out there, CNY. And if you're celebrating St. Patrick's Day tonight, do it safely (and with an extra layer). We'll see you tomorrow.