Binghamton Area Local News Recap

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 July 27, 2026, from WNBF's Bob Joseph, Don Morgan, and the Townsquare Media staff.

Binghamton Prepares to Add Elementary School Resource Officer

(Bob Joseph)
Another school resource officer may be working in Binghamton starting in September. The Binghamton City School District has had three officers in recent years. They work at the high school and at the district's two middle schools. The city now is prepared to expand its contract with the school district to hire an additional officer who would be shared among several Binghamton elementary schools. The school district budget approved by voters in May allocates $60,000 for an elementary school resource officer. In a statement, Mayor Jared Kraham said the "SRO program is vital." He said it makes city schools safer and strengthens "the relationships between our police officers and our young people."

Vestal's Original Station Four Firehouse Is History

(Bob Joseph)
The Vestal Fire Department Station 4, which went into service in 1952, has been demolished. The firehouse was last used in November 2023. That's when a newly constructed $7.5 million complex on Jensen Road opened. Marchuska Development purchased the old fire station for $900,000 last April. Company workers quickly gutted the interior of the building. Justin Marchuska initially indicated there might be a possibility that the vacant station could be put back into use in some form. But he told WNBF News it turned out the facility's layout made that difficult. Marchuska believes there are many potential uses for the 1.2-acre site, which is located about a mile west of the Binghamton University campus.

Binghamton Gateway Project Will Bring Big Traffic Pattern Changes

(Bob Joseph)
The long-anticipated 363 Gateway Project in Binghamton is moving forward to transform a key route in the city's downtown district. Preliminary construction work on the $46 million project began last February when DOT crews removed trees along North Shore Drive and near the Visions Veterans Memorial Arena. A half-mile-long pedestrian pathway will be built along the Susquehanna River to provide a link along the shoreline and existing trails to improve access to downtown Binghamton. The pathway will run from Confluence Park to the Rockbottom Dam. The Carroll Street on-ramp to Route 363 northbound will be eliminated, and the deteriorating bridge over Exchange Street will be rehabilitated. The project is scheduled to be completed at the end of the 2028 construction season.

Binghamton Gas Station Customers Get A Powdery Surprise

(Bob Joseph)
An incident happened around 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Mirabito station at 98 Broad Avenue on the city's East Side. Binghamton police and firefighters were sent to the store after a white powder was sprayed over a few customers and vehicles at the fuel pumps. A fire department official said the trouble appeared to have been caused by a faulty detector. He said a heat detector may have activated the fire suppression system, which then dumped a dry chemical over the area around the pumps. There was no fire, but the airborne powder - which is similar to baking soda - caused some lung irritation to those who were exposed to it. Three people who reported difficulty breathing were evaluated at the scene. No one sought any medical treatment.

Binghamton-Based Pharmacy Tech Firm Employs Hundreds in Broome

(Bob Joseph)
Today, iA has about 130 employees at its headquarters site in the Charles Street Business Park in Binghamton's First Ward. Another 200 people work at the company's manufacturing facility in Johnson City. Tom Utech, iA chief executive officer, said the ongoing consolidation in the pharmacy industry is providing the company with opportunities to improve the way prescriptions are filled. iA has developed advanced robotics and specialized software for use by major pharmacy retailers and online pharmacies. The company's technology is also used by private and government healthcare organizations. Utech said iA now is putting more resources into its software development efforts and in enhanced robotics as the pharmacy business continues to evolve.

Former Binghamton CVS Store Becoming Mental Health Crisis Center

(Bob Joseph)
The Mental Health Association of the Southern Tier acquired the former CVS Pharmacy property at 34 West State Street. The soon-to-open crisis center is designed to serve an eight-county region. Renovation work inside the old store began early this year. Rotella told WNBF News representatives of the state Office of Mental Health are expected to visit the site in the next couple of weeks. She said the agency is finalizing staffing for the center, which is located across from the now-closed Binghamton Plaza. The center is expected to open by the end of August.