You Need It – We’ve Got It: Your Local News Recap

Each week, we recap 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, 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 December 15, 2025, from WNBF's Bob Joseph, Don Morgan, and the Townsquare Media staff.

Broome County Jail Precautions Continue After Inmate Hospitalized

(Bob Joseph)
Officials say enhanced health precautions remain in effect at the Broome County Jail following an inmate's hospitalization due to potential respiratory problems. The sick inmate was evaluated by medical staff at the town of Dickinson facility on December 4. The inmate was sent to a hospital for testing and treatment under the supervision of the county health department. According to an update provided Monday by county officials, the inmate tested negative for tuberculosis at intake and again in a follow-up blood test. Although the inmate showed no symptoms of active TB, preventative measures were implemented by the health department. The action included TB testing for all inmates and jail staff who may have come into contact with the person who was hospitalized. County officials said blood tests showed no instances of active TB.

What’s Next For Binghamton’s Clinton Street Revitalization Project?

(Don Morgan)
Binghamton was named the Southern Tier winner of New York State’s DRI in February 2025, securing a $10 million grant award to revitalize Clinton Street. August 26th, 2025, Major Jared Kraham announced that the City of Binghamton received 55 project proposals for the Clinton Street neighborhood through the Downtown Revitalization Initiative. On December 16th, Kraham announced that the Local Planning Committee for the Downtown Revitalization Initiative has submitted its proposal for Clinton Street to New York State. After hosting six meetings, two public workshops, several pop-up and online feedback opportunities, and Q&A sessions with project sponsors,  22 projects were advanced by the Local Planning Committee.

Apartments Planned for Downtown Binghamton Office Building

(Bob Joseph)
Another office building in downtown Binghamton may soon be converted into a residential complex. Two city men are working on plans to develop apartments on the upper floors of a five-story structure at 168 Water Street. The building is located across from Boscov's department store and the recently-opened city-owned parking garage. David Whalen and Owen Blye appeared before the Binghamton planning commission to discuss the proposed project. Plans call for the creation of 20 apartment units with up to 30 bedrooms. Whalen said the developers are working with an architect to finalize plans for the project. The project would include one- and two-bedroom apartment units.

High-Speed Chase In Broome County Ends With Drug Arrest

(Don Morgan)
According to a release from the Broome County Sheriff's Office, on Thursday, December 11, 2025, around 6:05 PM, Road Patrol deputies observed a gold Ford F150 with a loud exhaust and an obstructed license plate. Deputies attempted a routine traffic stop in the area of Downs Avenue in the Town of Dickinson. The driver of the Ford F150,  Ryan Dirig of Long Eddy, NY, was apprehended a short time later after he unsuccessfully attempted to enter a parked and locked sheriff's patrol vehicle. Broome County Sheriff's Deputies found over 6 grams of narcotics, multiple baggies containing 3.2 grams of powdered cocaine, 2.2 grams of crack cocaine, and .9 grams of a granular substance that tested positive for fentanyl in Dirig’s possession at the time of his arrest.

John Ryan to Become Binghamton Police Chief

(Bob Joseph)
John Ryan's appointment as police chief is to be effective January 3. He's been the acting police chief for the past five months. Ryan has been overseeing the police department since July 21st, when longtime chief Joseph Zikuski was placed on administrative leave following an off-duty incident in Johnson City. Mayor Jared Kraham on Friday announced Ryan was his choice for police chief. He said Ryan "brings nearly three decades of law enforcement experience" to the position. The mayor said Ryan is "the right person to guide the Binghamton Police Department into a new era." Ryan served as a patrol officer for the Vestal Police Department for four years before joining the Binghamton agency in 2000.

Mercy House's Mission Shines In EWTN's 'Living Divine Mercy'

(Don Morgan)
The Mercy House of the Southern Tier announced that it has been selected to be featured in an upcoming episode of Living Divine Mercy. The episode will air January 1, 2026, at 10 p.m., and again on January 8, 2026, at 9 a.m. Living Divine Mercy is produced by The Marian Group and broadcast on Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN), highlighting individuals and organizations that embody compassion, faith, and service. Mercy House was chosen for its mission-driven work providing comfort, dignity, and loving care to individuals at the end of life. The goal of the episode is to share Mercy House’s story in hopes of inspiring other communities to establish similar homes of compassionate end-of-life care.

New Binghamton Parking Garage Sign Displays Wrong Info

(Bob Joseph)
Some downtown Binghamton shoppers are expressing confusion over a newly-installed sign at the Water Street parking garage next to Boscov's department store. The electronic display - which has been in place for a couple of weeks - was designed to help people find an available space in the $25 million parking structure. It turns out that the sign has been showing the incorrect number of open spaces in the short-term parking section accessible from Water Street. There are only a few dozen slots for vehicles in that part of the garage, and many of them are designated for compact cars. Accurate information about the number of available spaces is crucial to prevent drivers from entering the street-level portion of the garage when there's no room to park. A second entrance on Henry Street provides access to hundreds of additional spaces on the structure's upper levels.

Recent Arrests In Broome County: Who Was Charged And Why?

(Don Morgan)
The weekly report from the Broome County Sheriff's Office was released on December 18th, 2025. Arrests and charges listed below do not reflect all the activities of the Broome County Sheriff's Department for the week. For the list of arrests and charges, click on the headline above.

Johnson City Street Named in Honor of Retired B.U. President

(Bob Joseph)
A street that runs through Binghamton University's Health Sciences Campus in Johnson City has been renamed. The village board has approved a local law to change the name of the eastern section of Corliss Avenue to honor Harvey Stenger, who retired as university president at the end of October. The street between Ozalid Road and Arch Street now is known as "H. Stenger Place." The signs bearing the new street name were installed a few days after the board authorized the change. Mayor Martin Meaney said the new name was adopted in recognition of Stenger's "commitment to the community, especially in that area of Johnson City."  The mayor told WNBF News that the new university facilities opened over the last several years have "brought a lot of great development" to the village. Meaney said Stenger has "done so much for not just Johnson City but for the entire area."

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