Binghamton New York Area News You May Have Missed

Whether you lead a busy life or don't get to find out all that's happening news-wise in our community, this is why each week, we recap in an article some of the essential local news we reported on 1290 AM, 92.1 FM, and 93.9 FM WNBF, our Townsquare Media Binghamton sister radio stations, as well as on our websites and social media platforms.

Catch up on some of the latest local and regional news items in a short recap we reported on for the week of April 20, 2026, from WNBF's Bob Joseph, Don Morgan, and the Townsquare Media staff.

Binghamton Clearing More Homeless Encampments Along River

(Bob Joseph)
City public works crews were assigned to remove items that had accumulated at encampments along the Susquehanna River in Binghamton. Police officers were sent to various spots off Conklin Avenue early Monday to assist in clearing areas where people have been staying in recent months. Representatives of Broome County outreach groups were sent to the encampments to assist those who were being displaced. About a dozen public works department employees spent hours filling several large trucks with personal items, including books, furniture, and piles of debris west of the Washington Street Bridge. Access to some of the encampment spots was limited because extremely muddy conditions prevented workers from using equipment to clear the sites.

Binghamton Arson: Man Charged with Attempted Murder

(Bob Joseph)
A Binghamton man has been accused of setting fire to an occupied apartment house on the city's North Side. Authorities said the blaze at 16 Emmett Street was reported shortly after 6 a.m. Monday. The fire was spotted by a neighbor. When firefighters arrived, heavy smoke and flames were seen coming from the first floor in the rear of the two-story wood frame structure. The fire was extending to the second floor of the house. Residents reported there were several animals trapped inside the burning building. Firefighters rescued a dog from a second-floor window and multiple cats from inside the structure. No injuries to residents or firefighters were reported. Authorities were unable to provide an exact count of how many people were homeless as a result of the fire. They estimated that between eight and ten residents were displaced.

Washington County Dogs Rescued From Cruelty By SQSPCA

(Don Morgan)
On April 20, 2026, the Susquehanna Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Cooperstown had representatives sent to Washington County, New York, to assist the Washington County Sheriff’s Office with a suspected case of animal cruelty. During the previous week, Washington County Sheriff's Deputies were processing an eviction when they discovered more than a dozen hound-type dogs in need in the Town of Hebron. Nine dogs taken in received medical intake evaluations at the SQSPCA on April 21st. The remaining dogs were placed with individuals in Washington County.

Endwell Investigation: Shooting Incident on East Main Street

(Bob Joseph)
A section of East Main Street in Endwell was shut down for hours after a reported shooting incident. The busy street, which connects State Route 17C with Endicott and Johnson City, was closed between North Street and Moore Avenue on Wednesday afternoon. Gunshots were heard in front of Lupo's Char Pit at 2710 East Main Street. People in the area said they believed three or four shots were fired. State police secured the scene in the roadway in front of the popular takeout restaurant. Yellow crime scene tape was stretched in front of Lupo's and a small retail plaza on the other side of East Main Street.

Two Charged After Police Seize Gun Near Binghamton High School

(Bob Joseph)
Authorities say two teenagers have been arrested following a disturbance across the street from Binghamton High School. Police confiscated a loaded semi-automatic handgun from a 14-year-old student after a fight involving two other people around 3:10 p.m. Thursday. The disturbance occurred in the area of Royal Fried Chicken at 52 Main Street. According to a news release, 18-year-old Ramier Rainey of Binghamton was one of those involved in the fight. Investigators said Rainey passed the gun to the 14-year-old boy in an alley between the restaurant and an apartment building. A school resource officer took the boy into custody at the scene. Rainey turned himself in to detectives around 10:30 p.m. The other person who had been fighting with Rainey ran from the scene of the disturbance. Rainey and the boy have both been charged with three weapon possession counts.

The 'No Empty Chair' Campaign: Protecting Graduating Students

(Don Morgan)
The New York State Police announced on April 20, 2026, their participation in the statewide, multi-agency traffic safety campaign focused on reducing crashes involving teen drivers. NYS Police note that communities across New York State experience tragic losses of high school students in traffic crashes leading up to graduation every year. In an effort to reduce these tragedies, the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC) launched a campaign in 2014 to help reduce these tragedies, named "No Empty Chair.' It symbolizes the absence of a high school senior lost to a preventable crash on graduation day. The campaign began on April 20th and ran through Friday, April 24, 2026. New York State Police and partner law enforcement agencies are conducting targeted enforcement to address traffic violations before and during graduation season.

The End: Downtown Binghamton Eyesore Demolished

(Bob Joseph)
An abandoned apartment house in Binghamton is finally being removed after the property owners refused to make repairs to the structure. The Kenmore Building at 263 Washington Street was owned by an entity using a New Paltz address. Two men - Kevin Findley of Binghamton and Philip Costa of Walkill - had been found guilty of 50 code violations last year. Mayor Jared Kraham announced on April 10 that the owners were being ordered to demolish the building or the city would do it and send them the bill. Kraham told WNBF News that those responsible for the property ignored the directive, so the city hired LCP Group of Vestal to do the job. Crews started knocking down the front of the structure late Thursday morning. The mayor said the cost of removing the building is expected to be around $100,000.

Graduation Day Plans For Binghamton University And SUNY Broome

(Don Morgan)
May 2026 means graduation time for students at Binghamton University and SUNY Broome, as they move to that next exciting phase of life (or maybe continuing education). According to a release from SUNY Broome, the 2026 graduation ceremony will take place on Thursday, May 21st, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Visions Veterans Memorial Arena in Binghamton. Graduation ceremonies for Binghamton University graduates will all be held at the Events Center, except for the first two ceremonies on Thursday, May 14th. Those ceremonies will be held at the Anderson Center. Binghamton University will confer more than 4,600 degrees for baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral candidates over three days - May 14, 15, and 16, 2026. Over 3,400 baccalaureate, 950 master’s students, andclose toy 250 doctoral candidates will be awarded.

The JYNX: New Details of Planned Downtown Binghamton Music Venue

(Bob Joseph)
A Binghamton native wants to find out what area music fans would like to see included in a $4 million downtown entertainment complex. Nathanial Levy, who now lives in the Boston area, told WNBF News in February he was working on plans to construct a new venue on a site behind the former CVS Pharmacy store on Court Street. That property and several other related parcels were acquired from CVS last November by Kalurah Temple LLC for $712,000. Levy said he is seeking information from residents, students, and Binghamton-area businesses to find out what should be incorporated into the proposed project. His vision is to develop a place he's dubbed "The JYNX." He said the goal is to make the place "an eclectic and inclusive music venue" that would accommodate between 200 and 600 people.

How To Prepare For Broome County's Passport Fair In Endwell

(Don Morgan)
A joint announcement was made by Broome County Clerk Aaron Martin and Town of Union Clerk Leonard Perfetti about an upcoming passport fair. The passport fair will be held at the Town of Union Town Hall, in the Board Room on the 2nd floor of the Town of Union Town Hall, located at 3111 East Main Street in Endwell, on Wednesday, April 29th, 2026. The hours will be from 5 to 7 p.m. An appointment must be made in advance. For each passport needed, be sure to bring the following:

An original or a certified copy of their birth certificate with both parents' names and a raised seal, and a photocopy (front and back), or a naturalization certificate
Photo ID and a photocopy (front and back), or a current non-expired government ID
Two checks to cover the fees. Cash and credit cards are not accepted at passport fairs.

Johnson City Carousel Knocked Out by "Major Mechanical Failure"

(Bob Joseph)
The historic carousel at CFJ Park in Johnson City won't operate this summer. Broome County's oldest and largest carousel will be out of service until further notice. Joshua Holland, Johnson City's director of public services, said there was a "major mechanical failure" during recent testing of the ride. Holland told WNBF News that when workers attempted to start the merry-go-round as part of routine preparations ahead of the season, they heard a series of "cracks, bangs, and pops." The noise indicated the century-old carousel will need significant repairs. Holland said, "We don't know the extent of the damage" at this point. He said a complete inspection of the facility is needed. That won't happen until sometime this summer at the earliest.

New Discount Store Opening in Downtown Johnson City

(Bob Joseph)
A familiar retail space on Main Street in Johnson City that's been vacant in recent months is springing back to life. A new discount shop is opening at 222 Main Street. Most recently, Sami Liquidation operated at the spot for about one year. That shop was owned by a couple of brothers who came to Broome County from Brooklyn. It closed in March 2025. Muhammad Algahim of Johnson City said he saw an opportunity to set up his own business at the site. He's been busy for the last three months getting the place ready. Algahim said the store's initial hours will be from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The business will be closed on Sundays.