Did You Miss These Important Binghamton New York Areas News Items?

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 17, 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.

Vestal Firefighters Called to Alarm at Binghamton Univ. Building

(Bob Joseph)
The Vestal Fire Department was sent to the Binghamton University campus to investigate a possible smoke condition that triggered a building's fire detection system. Authorities said the alarm came in around 4:30 a.m. on Monday for a science building. According to the fire department, there was a "hazy condition" in the first-floor room of the Science II building on West Drive. The condition tripped two detectors. Initially, units from a single Vestal fire station were dispatched to the scene. However, the department's other three stations were requested to respond as a precaution after the haze situation was reported. Firefighters investigated the situation and found there was no fire problem. The haze apparently was caused by an autoclave.

Binghamton Crews Cleaning Up Dozens of Properties Each Month

(Bob Joseph)
City public works employees are being kept busy with cleanup operations at private properties across Binghamton. It's not uncommon to see a convoy of three large green garbage trucks and several workers roll up to trash-strewn sites in residential neighborhoods. Mayor Jared Kraham told WNBF News the city public works department conducts between 20 and 30 such property cleanups each month. In an email, he said the number of jobs is typically lower during the winter months. The city takes the action only as a last resort. One residential property on Prospect Street in the First Ward was targeted early this month. The mayor said in that case, the public works crews were assigned to the site on a work order from the code enforcement department.

Free New York State Sheriff's Summer Camp Applications Due April

(Don Morgan)
One of the things many kids look forward to is summer camp. Although not every family can afford to send their child (children) to summer camp. That's where the New York State Sheriff's Summer Camp comes in. This camp is for children between the ages of 9 and 12, who,  due to economic reasons, are unable to attend a summer camp experience. The NYS Summer Camp program allows a certain number of children from each county to go to the camp for free.

Vestal Fights Big Tax Break for Parkway Luxury Apartment Complex

(Bob Joseph)
Vestal officials are expressing strong opposition to a long-term tax reduction plan for a massive luxury apartment complex to be built near the Binghamton University campus. The five-story, 310-unit building is to be constructed on the site of the Quality Inn and Fuji San Japanese restaurant on the Vestal Parkway East at Bunn Hill Road. Town supervisor Maria Sexton said she and a Vestal School District representative spoke against a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes proposal for the big project. The Broome County Industrial Development Agency is scheduled to consider the tax break at a meeting Wednesday afternoon.

Great Summer Jobs Looking for Candidates in Binghamton

(Don Morgan)
For anyone looking for summertime employment, now is the time to begin looking and applying. We checked around and found a few local places accepting applications for local jobs. We are sure there are many more throughout the Southern Tier of New York and Northeast Pennsylvania, in addition to applying for summer internships. For more information and summer job opportunities, click on the headline above.

Binghamton Double Murder Suspect Returned to Broome County

(Bob Joseph)
The Binghamton man suspected of killing two men on the city's West Side is back in Broome County. Authorities said 50-year-old Scott Mitchell was extradited from Florida on Tuesday. Mitchell has been charged with two counts of second-degree murder in connection with the deaths of 55-year-old Marshall VanOven and 58-year-old Daniel McCloe. The bodies of the men were discovered at a single-family home at 11 Westwood Court on February 4. They had been reported missing to police the prior evening. According to Binghamton police, Mitchell was arraigned in Binghamton City Court and ordered held in Broome County Jail in the town of Dickinson. Mitchell was on the run for more than a week after VanOven and McCloe were killed.

$6.3 million For Gateway Revitalization Project In Binghamton NY

(Don Morgan)
On March 18, 2025, over $270 million was awarded to create and preserve more than 1,000 affordable and sustainable homes throughout 28 developments in New York State, according to Governor Kathy Hocul's Office. The money awarded is through the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit and subsidies. Governor Hochul and Representative Paul Tonko announced that these projects will expand or preserve the housing supply, upgrade and modernize public housing, further local economic development initiatives, and include energy-efficient features.

New York State Forest Rangers Conduct Daring Rescue Of Hikers

(Don Morgan)
Over a recent week, New York State DEC Forest Rangers taught a Basic Wildland Fire Suppression course to area firefighters, assisted in fighting 28 wildfires in 28 counties, helped prepare scouts for receiving their Fire Safety Badge, and were a huge part of a wilderness search and a wilderness rescue, in addition to many other tasks. Click on the headline for details on a bald eagle rehab by the NYS DOT.

$47 Million I-86 Reconstruction Project to Resume in Apalachin

(Bob Joseph)
Preparation work is underway for the next phase of a major highway rehabilitation project in Tioga County. Lane reductions have been implemented on Interstate 86 in Apalachin and Vestal as crews set up new traffic patterns which will be put into use next month. The state Department of Transportation is advising motorists that eastbound traffic will be crossed over to the westbound side of the highway starting April 1. There will be only one lane in use for vehicles moving in either direction during the construction season. The Apalachin exit (Exit 66) will be closed to eastbound traffic beginning April 1. Eastbound drivers traveling to Apalachin will need to use the Owego exit (Exit 65) near the Lockheed Martin plant.

Binghamton University to Tear Down "Very Attractive" JC Building

(Bob Joseph)
A century-old building on Main Street in Johnson City is about to be demolished by Binghamton University. Village records indicate the original two-story wood frame residence at 190 Main Street was constructed around 1925. A large addition was built on the east side of the house in 1947. The residential property was converted into dentist offices. The Binghamton University Foundation bought the site for $327,000 in June 2020. Although about two dozen other nearby residential and commercial buildings were acquired and demolished by the university, the property at 190 Main Street was expected to be repurposed.

Binghamton Parking Garage Apartment Complex Still Possible

(Bob Joseph)
The new 500-space city-owned parking garage in downtown Binghamton next to Boscov's department store is now fully open. While the $25 million five-story parking facility at Water and Henry Streets is completed, there remains the possibility that a housing project might eventually be developed above the structure. City officials initially had pushed for the development of a 120-unit market-rate apartment complex on top of the garage. That plan was scrapped after the Binghamton City School District board unanimously rejected a tax break package for what was expected to be a $60 million project.