☀️ Today’s Weather
Tuesday night's lake effect mess should be mostly out of the picture by the time you're reading this. Wednesday brings a mostly dry, partly sunny day with light winds out of the south at 5–10 mph. That said, keep the jacket handy: we're only topping out at 32°F, and clouds will thicken up heading into the evening. Low tonight drops to 26 before slowly climbing back up. Better news? The Crunch are home this weekend, and Saturday's forecast is pushing 52°F, so the roads should be in much better shape for a night out at the arena.
🗞️ Top Stories
1. So… About That Basketball Coach Well, that didn't pan out. South Florida head coach Bryan Hodgson, who had emerged as a top candidate to replace fired SU head coach Adrian Autry, has reportedly turned down the Syracuse job, according to national reporter Jeff Goodman. Hodgson guided the Bulls to an American Conference regular-season and Tournament title with a 25-8 record this year, and apparently Tampa suits him just fine. With Hodgson off the table, all eyes are turning to Siena head coach Gerry McNamara, who led the Saints to the NCAA Tournament this season, their first bid since 2010. GMac vs. the field: it's officially a drama series now, folks.
2. Five CNY Schools Just Said "No Thanks" to CBA Football In what's being called an unprecedented move in Section III, five of Central New York's biggest public high schools, Cicero-North Syracuse, Henninger, Liverpool, Rome Free Academy, and Utica Proctor, have opted out of Class AA Tier 1 football for 2026 to avoid playing five-time state champion Christian Brothers Academy. The public-vs.-private tension has been simmering for years, with recruiting allegations swirling around the Brothers. The result? CBA will play a travel-heavy schedule this fall, including long road trips to schools as far as Massachusetts. Whether this sparks real reform or just a really expensive bus schedule for the Brothers remains to be seen.
3. ShoppingTown: Still Looking for Its Knight in Shining Hard Hat The saga of DeWitt's favorite vacant eyesore continues. The Onondaga County Industrial Development Agency voted to issue a new request for proposals from developers for the old ShoppingTown Mall space, which has sat vacant for years, this after the original development group walked away from the deal. The county now owns every piece of the 65-acre site except the Macy's parcel, which is still being sorted out through eminent domain proceedings. If you've got $300 million and a vision, Onondaga County would love to hear from you.
⚡ Quick Hits
A 20+ vehicle pileup shut down I-81 near Pulaski during whiteout conditions Tuesday — a brutal reminder that lake effect doesn't mess around.
Syracuse women's lacrosse picked up their sixth straight win, topping No. 7 Yale while ranked No. 10 nationally — the Orange are rolling.
County Democrats are raising red flags over anonymous donations tied to the proposed Syracuse aquarium project, calling for more transparency on who's funding it.
A North Country justice resigned after a wave of misconduct allegations, including pro-vigilantism and anti-transgender posts on social media.
Floor & Decor has set an opening date for its first CNY location — a win for home renovators who are tired of the drive to Albany.
📅 Events This Week
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 a small venue — worth every mile of the drive down.
Monster Truck Wars — Sat., March 21 (12 PM & 6 PM) and Sun., March 22 (2 PM) at Toyota Coliseum in Binghamton; meet the drivers, watch things get loud — equally fun for kids and the adults who are "just there 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 now that the roads are clearing.
The Syracuse Orchestra: Symphonic Dances — Sat., March 21 at 7:30 PM at Crouse Hinds Theater; a classy night of iconic orchestral pieces — and yes, you can absolutely do the monster trucks and this in the same day.
Stay warm out there, CNY. Spring is technically here, even if the weather didn't get the memo. We'll see you tomorrow.