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 May 5, 2025, from WNBF's Bob Joseph, Don Morgan, and the Townsquare Media staff.

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

Understanding The New Smartphone Rules For K-12 Students In New York

(Don Morgan)
Beginning with the 2025-2026 New York State School year, bell-to-bell restrictions will be put into place throughout school districts. In an announcement by New York State Governor Kathy Hochul today (May 6, 2025), this fall, the policy will go into effect, creating a statewide standard for distraction-free schools in the Empire State, as part of the fiscal year 2026 state budget. During the announcement, it was noted that New York will become the largest state in the nation to require statewide, bell-to-bell restrictions on smartphones in grades Kindergarten through 12th grade.

Fire Rips Through Abandoned Endicott Restaurant

(Bob Joseph)
An Endicott building that's been home to several popular restaurants sustained extensive damage in a two-alarm fire. The blaze at the former Greek Key Restaurant & Bar at 113 South Nanticoke Avenue was reported around 12:30 a.m. The first police officers on the scene observed flames and smoke in the building. A second alarm was called in shortly after the first fire department units arrived. Several neighboring departments assisted Endicott firefighters in battling the blaze. The closed restaurant occupied space on the first floor of the building. There are two apartments on the second floor of the structure.

Broome County Sheriff’s Weekly Report: May 2025 Arrest Highlights

(Don Morgan)
The Broome County Sheriff's Office released the weekly arrest report on May 6, 2025. 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. All arrests and charges are open and ongoing investigations through local law enforcement agencies, including the Broome County Sheriff's Office, Broome County Special Investigations Unit Task Force, or other law enforcement agencies. To view the arrest report, click on the headline above.

Public Hearing to Be Held on Front Street Cannabis Factory

(Bob Joseph)
A Michigan company is seeking a zoning change to open Broome County's first marijuana packaging facility. An affiliate of Dragonfly Brands plans to set up the cannabis product operation in a building at 1245 Front Street in the town of Chenango. The site was previously occupied by Tokyo Sushi Buffet. The town planning board will hold a public hearing on a proposal to approve a special use permit for the former restaurant site. Chenango officials have determined the Dragonfly packaging factory could not operate at the location as it is currently zoned.

How Operation Yellow Jacket Ensures Safety In PA Work Zones

(Don Morgan)
On May 6, 2025, details were announced for 'Operation Yellow Jacket' from the Pennsylvania State Police and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation in highway work zones in the north and central sections of Pennsylvania. The goal is safety for both road construction workers and motorists during the 2025 road construction season. During the 'Operation Yellow Jacket ' initiative, Pennsylvania State Police Troopers will be inside PennDOT vehicles in active construction zones, on the lookout for speeding, distracted driving, and aggressive driving behavior.

Construction Starts for New Binghamton Fairview Recovery Facility

(Bob Joseph)
Work on a long-planned addiction stabilization center has gotten underway in Binghamton. The new 20-bed three-story facility is being built on the Fairview Recovery Services campus on a hillside overlooking Interstate 81 on Binghamton's East Side. Agency executive director Patrick Haley said construction on the site began a few weeks ago. An original part of the agency's site was removed to make room for the new facility. The old Merrick House initially provided 12 beds for women using Fairview Recovery's services more than five decades ago. The new structure is being built on the southwest corner of the Fairview Recovery campus. Haley said the total cost of the facility now is estimated to be about $6 million.

Walton Man Among 205 Offenders Arrested in FBI Crackdown

(Don Morgan)
On May 7, 2025, an announcement was made by the United States Department of Justice Northern District of New York with details and results of the recent 'Operation Restore Justice' effort. This enforcement was designed to identify, track, and arrest child sex predators. As a result, 115 children have been rescued and 205 offenders have been arrested throughout this nationwide search. 'Operation Restore Justice' was conducted over five days through all 55 FBI field offices, along with the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, and United States Attorney’s Offices around the country. Several offenders were arrested and charged throughout the Northern District of New York State, including Walton, New Paltz, Pine Plains, Watervliet, and Scotia, New York.

Dangerous Downtown Binghamton Buildings Await Demolition

(Bob Joseph)
A plan to tear down several derelict buildings on a downtown Binghamton street has yet to be approved by the city council. The properties were acquired by the city as the result of a legal settlement with landlord Isaac Anzaroot of Brooklyn. Three of the four old apartment houses are located on the south end of Fayette Street, near Susquehanna Street. The city has been awarded about $126,000 in state funding to cover half of the demolition cost. In an email to WNBF News, Mayor Jared Kraham noted council members have not voted to accept the funding to help pay for the removal of the blighted properties. The mayor outlined the plan for the demolition work to lawmakers on March 10.l

How To Get Real-Time Weather Alerts In New York State

(Don Morgan)
Have you heard of New York State's “Triple Three Triple One?"  From the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, this is a new real-time emergency and weather alert system. Announced today (May 8, 2025), by New York State Governor Kathy Hochul as part of the State’s Hurricane Preparedness Week recognition efforts, this new service is a text optionNew Yorkers can now text their county of residence to 3-3-3-1-1-1.

Beloved Vestal Restaurant Loses Site It's Occupied for 23 Years

(Bob Joseph)
A popular Broome County restaurant is being forced to close its doors after out-of-state developers bought their building for a $69 million redevelopment project. The Fuji San Japanese restaurant in Vestal will shut down operations at the site it has called home for more than two decades. The business is located at the Quality Inn hotel on the Vestal Parkway. The property is being sold by Gokulesh Hospitality of Connecticut to Aptitude Acquisition of New Jersey. A sign posted at the entrance to the restaurant states that Fuji San will be permanently closing at that location "due to urban redevelopment plans beyond our control." Aptitude Acquisition plans to demolish the existing hotel and restaurant to clear the site for a luxury apartment complex. The new five-story building to be constructed at the property across from the Binghamton University campus will have 197 units. The development will also have amenities for residents and some commercial space.

Johnson City Students Celebrate Governor Hochul's Budget Signing

(Don Morgan)
May 9, 2025, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul signed the Fiscal Year 2026 budget, which was proposed in January of this year, into law. Governor Hochul was at Johnson City Middle School to sign the budget. She told the students that they were the first students in the history of the state to ever be there for the signing of the New York State budget. Governor Hochul noted, “Your family is my fight. And I wanted to make sure I could fight for your moms and dads to have more money back in their pockets." She spoke about the Empire Child Tax Credit, which, according to an announcement from New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, increases the maximum credit to $1,000 for children under four years old for 2025 to 2027, and $500 for children aged four to 16 for 2026 and 2027. 

Man Arrested After Johnson City Dispute Involving Gun

(Bob Joseph)
A Johnson City man faces several charges following a reported dispute at a Riverside Drive residence in the village. The incident occurred just before 2:30 p.m. Thursday at 397 Riverside Drive. Authorities said the suspect fled in a vehicle before police officers arrived. A description of the car and its registration plate was provided to other police agencies. License plate readers in Binghamton alerted authorities that the vehicle was in the city. Johnson City police located the vehicle on Riverside Drive in Binghamton about 20 minutes after the incident. The car was pulled over at Riverside Drive and Briar Court.

What The New Unadilla River Bridge Means For Local Recreation

(Don Morgan)
On May 9, 2025, an announcement was made about work underway to replace a bridge on State Route 23 over the Unadilla River between Chenango County's South New Berlin and Otsego County's towns of Morris and Butternuts, according to Marie Therese Dominguez, New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner. The $11.8 million project will replace a 76-year-old structure with a modern, two-span bridge, enhancing safety and improving resiliency. This route connects Norwich and Oneonta. Other improvements from the project include access area recreational destinations in the area, and facilitating access to the Unadilla River for fishing, kayaking, and canoeing.

Well Drilling Starts for Endicott Village Water Supply

(Bob Joseph)
Workers have started the complicated process of drilling a new well to provide a reliable source of drinking water for the village of Endicott. Drilling operations started a few days ago on a site next to a parking lot at the former IBM Country Club on Watson Boulevard in the town of Union. Endicott paid $935,000 to acquire the five-acre site from Homestead Village Development Group last August. The village awarded Layne Christensen Company $646,000 to develop the new water well. Endicott launched an urgent search in 2022 to find a good spot to develop a much-needed well to back up the existing supply well located near the En-Joie Golf Course. A drilling company pinpointed the old country club site as a location that showed good potential. Experts determined the site could have "excellent" water flow with the capability of producing 2,200 gallons a minute.

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