Binghamton New York Area News You May Have Missed

Every week, we recap some essential local news we reported on 1290 AM/92.1 FM WNBF, our Townsquare Media Binghamton sister radio stations on-air, our websites, and social media platforms.

Catch up on local and regional news items in a short recap we reported on for the week of March 10, 2025, from WNBF's Bob Joseph, Don Morgan, and the Townsquare Media staff.

For the complete story from each article, simply click on the headline.

Man Charged with Murder in Death of Binghamton Firefighter

(Bob Joseph)
A suspect has been indicted on murder and arson counts in connection with the Binghamton blaze that resulted in the death of city firefighter John Gaudet. Authorities Friday afternoon announced 36-year-old Patrick K. Shea had been taken into custody in Kirkwood. Shea was indicted Thursday by a Broome County grand jury on charges of second-degree murder and fourth-degree arson. Binghamton police detectives and state fire investigators determined the fire started inside one of the buildings. They concluded the source had "human involvement" and they identified a suspect. After interviewing several people and reviewing surveillance video, investigators developed enough evidence to present to the grand jury which ultimately indicted Shea. Police said Shea was taken into custody without incident at a location in Kirkwood. The address of the residence was not made public. Investigators on Friday declined to discuss any details about how the fire began or when Shea emerged as a suspect.

IBM Endicott Demolition Project "Ahead of Schedule"

(Bob Joseph)
The massive task of tearing down five old IBM buildings in Endicott is moving a bit faster than had been expected. Crews with Gorick Construction of Binghamton have been working for more than two months to remove the unused structures along North Street. A project supervisor told WNBF News on Monday the job has been "going very smoothly." He said things are "a little bit" ahead of schedule. Gorick has positioned multiple excavators at the site. He said about 10 workers are involved in the ongoing operation. He said it's "like a well-oiled machine."

Binghamton's "Big Dip" on I-81 Posing More Challenges for DOT

(Bob Joseph)
Work crews are back on Interstate 81 in Binghamton trying to address a vexing situation involving sinking pavement. What's been described as a "big dip" has been noticeable to drivers traveling south on the highway for the last couple of years. The problem spot is near the Brandywine Highway, a short distance from the troubled I-81 bridge over Chenango Street. The state Department of Transportation last spring assigned workers to assess the issue and to take steps to fix the problem. But the trouble is continuing on that section of the highway. In response to an inquiry from WNBF News, the agency wrote that it has "closed the right lane of Interstate 81 southbound by the Brandywine Highway (State Route 7) while crews undertake temporary repairs to address settlement issues that were similar to what occurred a year ago at this location."

Universities Face Consequences For Failing To Address Claims

(Don Morgan)
On March 10, 2025, it was announced that letters had been sent to 60 universities and colleges with a warning of potential enforcement actions if they do not fulfill their obligations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. The letters originated from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, stating the 60 institutions under investigation for Title VI violations relating to antisemitic harassment and discrimination are required to protect Jewish students on campus and allow uninterrupted access to campus facilities and educational opportunities.  Of the 60 institutions that received letters from the Office for Civil Rights, two are located in the Southern Tier/Central New York area: Binghamton University and Cornell University. Two other SUNY system institutions also received a letter: the State University of New York Rockland and the State University of New York, Purchase.

More Steps Taken to Secure Masonic Temple Building in Binghamton

(Bob Joseph)
New efforts have been made to prevent intruders from illegally entering the abandoned Masonic Temple on Main Street in Binghamton. Large entrances on the east side of the century-old structure have been boarded up. In the past, flimsy construction fences secured with small chains were used in an effort to secure the building. Police and fire investigators have been trying to determine who set a blaze on the first floor of the structure last Friday afternoon. Authorities said someone apparently was trying to burn insulation off some copper wire that was placed in a large pile. The fire generated a significant amount of smoke but did not damage the building.

Vestal Texas Roadhouse Restaurant Closed After Fire

(Bob Joseph)
Diners and employees were forced out of the Texas Roadhouse restaurant in Vestal when a fire broke out in the kitchen. The blaze at the business on the Vestal Parkway across from the Binghamton University campus was reported around 6:45 p.m. Thursday. A substantial amount of smoke was seen pouring from the roof area of the restaurant for a time. The fire apparently was brought under control quickly and no injuries were reported.

2024 New York State Bear Harvest Reports 24% Increase

(Don Morgan)
Hunters in New York State harvested around 1,685 bears during the 2024 hunting season according to a new report from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The 2024 harvest was 24 percent higher than in 2023 and about 13 percent higher than the five- and 10-year averages according to the NYS DEC. OF the two New York State zones, about 657 bears were harvested in the Northern Zone and about 1,028 bears in the Southern Zone. According to the NYS DEC, statewide drought conditions most likely contributed to the elevated bear harvest last year. Natural food sources for bears can become scarce and bears may travel farther in search of food or congregate around available food sources.

Binghamton's MacArthur Elementary School Awaits Another Cleanup

(Bob Joseph)
The once-beautiful black locust wood exterior on the $80 million building is generating a growing number of complaints because of ongoing discoloration. The cladding's color was impressive when the school was being constructed less than a decade ago. But things took an ugly twist just a few years after the building opened. A Binghamton City School District official four years ago told WNBF News the problem was due to "unanticipated weathering." He said the trouble was linked to the school's "close proximity to the highway." At the time, the district representative said the black locust wood was expected to "develop a consistent gray patina over time." In response to the blighted-looking black blotches that developed on the siding, the district hired a company to do a "deep cleaning" to address the problem.

Broome County Sherif Weekly Arrest Blotter

(Don Morgan)
The Broome County Sheriff's Office released its latest weekly arrest blotter on March 11, 2025. These arrests and charges from the Broome County Sheriff's Office do not reflect all the department's activity for the week. All persons are considered innocent unless proven guilty in court. For the report, click on the headline above.

17 People Lose Jobs as Cortland Standard Newspaper Closes

(Bob Joseph)
A newspaper that has served central New York for more than 150 years has gone out of business. The Cortland Standard published its final edition on Thursday. Employees of the family-owned newspaper were advised of the decision to close around noon Wednesday, according to WXHC Radio. In its story reporting on the demise of the business, the newspaper said it was "a casualty of declining readership and increasing costs, including an expected 25% tariff on newsprint." Cortland Standard publisher and editor Evan Geibel said: "I hoped this day would never come." The Cortland Standard Publishing Company, is filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection. The newspaper's first edition was published on June 25, 1867. The operation has been located in a building at 110 Main Street in the center of Cortland since 1883.

The Rumble Ponies Announce The Southern Tier Spicy Meatballs

(Don Morgan)
The Binghamton Rumble Ponies have announced that in honor of National Meatball Day, the front office has announced that one of the fun things happening during the 20205 season, the team's newest alternate identity, will be the Southern Tier Spicy Meatballs. In January, the team announced another alternate identity for the 2025 season, the Binghamton Bathtub Donkeys on June 28th and July 30th. According to the description of the logo from the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, the Bathtub Donkey is sitting in a tub fit for a baseball player with footers that are made of a baseball bat and ball, a baseball bat scrubber, and a shower cap featuring tiny baseballs. From the tub, bubbles appear to rise into the air.

Endwell Family Brings Back Binghamton's Pasquale's Deli

(Bob Joseph)
A beloved business on the East Side of Binghamton is being resurrected by a husband and wife who are former customers of the place. Brent and Andrea Hannum have been hard at work in recent weeks preparing to reopen Pasquale's Deli at 180 Broad Avenue with the menu fans had enjoyed for years. The Hannums and their daughter, Brianna, are excited that they now are able to welcome people back to Pasquale's. The deli had been a fixture in Binghamton for decades. Regular patrons were stunned when the business closed without advance notice in October 2023. The owner of another city restaurant made an effort to operate a revised version of Pasquale's in what was billed as a soup and sandwich shop. The changes weren't embraced by people who loved the original deli. When the Hannums revealed their plan to replicate the Pasquale's they knew and loved in an WNBF News interview a few weeks ago, they made it clear they were excited by the opportunity.