Get Local: HABs in Cayuga, bicyclist airlifted from Ontario, and day care closes in Wayne
It's Thursday, July 10th and we've got the biggest headlines to start your day right here in this morning's newsletter. We've also got an in-depth look at delays in adult care facility inspections.
NY audit finds dangerous delays in adult care facility inspections
A new audit from New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli reveals serious inspection delays and oversight failures at adult care facilities across the state. Inspectors found hazardous conditions at nearly half of the facilities they visited, including expired medications and broken safety systems. The report blamed post-pandemic staffing shortages and poor data tracking for the failures, and called for immediate reforms to protect vulnerable residents.
Finger Lakes Forecast: Mostly cloudy, warmer.
The Finger Lakes region will see mostly cloudy skies today with a high near 83 and patchy morning fog. Thunderstorm chances increase Thursday, with a 50% chance of showers and highs in the mid-80s. The weekend brings rising heat, with sunny skies Saturday and a high near 90 before storm chances return Sunday afternoon. Temperatures will stay in the mid to upper 80s through early next week under mostly sunny skies.
Fast 5: What’s happening in the Finger Lakes?
Families in Macedon are facing a child care crisis after The Tot Spot announced it will close on August 1, giving just three weeks’ notice. The center serves 78 children, and many parents have already been on waitlists for over a year. While the state is offering support through referral agencies, parents and staff are left scrambling to find solutions.
Health officials are warning swimmers, boaters, and pet owners to avoid parts of Cayuga Lake after toxic algal blooms were confirmed from Varick to Taughannock. The blooms, fueled by hot and still weather, contain cyanobacteria that can cause serious illness in humans and animals. Authorities urge the public to stay out of discolored or scummy water and report sightings through the state’s online HABs tracking system.
A Canandaigua man was airlifted to Strong Memorial Hospital after being hit by a car while riding an e-bike in Ontario County. Deputies say the driver failed to yield while turning and struck the cyclist, who was not wearing a helmet and suffered a leg injury. Both individuals were ticketed, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Auburn City Council will vote Thursday on a series of infrastructure and public service measures, including a $509K intersection overhaul and $155K in police department renovations. Council will also consider extending a key water supply agreement with Cayuga County and reappointing a member to the city’s Historic Resources Review Board. A presentation on citywide property revaluation will round out the meeting, which will be livestreamed for the public.
Access to F.F. Thompson Hospital in Canandaigua will be temporarily disrupted from July 14–28 due to road and parking lot construction. Crews will rebuild a retaining wall and repave a major lot, forcing temporary closures and rerouted entry points. Hospital officials urge visitors to plan ahead and follow posted signage for updated directions.
