Get Local: Your biggest stories to start the day in the Finger Lakes!
What's happening this morning across the region?! We've got the latest to get you up-to-date before you head out the door! Read it here!
Canandaigua Council reviews DRI concepts, approves multiple measures
Canandaigua City Council reviewed conceptual designs tied to the city’s $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI), focusing on making downtown more pedestrian-friendly. Proposed upgrades target Phoenix Street, Coach Street, Central on Main, and Mill Street, with design options ranging from enhanced walkability to partial street closures. While the plans received broad support, concerns were raised about parking, winter usability, and preserving historic character. In other business, the council approved several infrastructure contracts, a new Deputy Treasurer position, and set public hearings on local laws.
Finger Lakes Forecast: Highs and lows of forecasting.
The Finger Lakes Weather Center forecasts scattered showers and thunderstorms throughout the week, with highs ranging from the upper 70s to mid-90s. Juneteenth will bring a 70% chance of storms, followed by a slight cool-down on Friday before heat builds again over the weekend. Saturday and Sunday will see highs in the mid to upper 80s, with a continued chance of nighttime showers. By early next week, sunny and hot conditions will dominate, with temperatures climbing into the 90s.
Fast 5: What’s happening in the Finger Lakes?
A garage fire on Gorham Street in Canandaigua prompted a multi-agency response Sunday evening, injuring one firefighter who was later treated and released. Limited staffing initially delayed the response, as one unit was tied up on a medical call when the fire was dispatched. Additional support from neighboring departments helped extinguish the blaze and protect nearby structures. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Two people were injured in an ATV crash Sunday afternoon on Hansen Harbor Road in Yates County. The incident occurred when a juvenile driver lost control while turning on a private gravel road, throwing both riders from the vehicle. The juvenile suffered leg and hand injuries, while 65-year-old Richard K. Olson sustained head and arm injuries; both were taken to Strong Memorial Hospital. The crash is being treated as a personal injury incident, and no charges have been filed.
A bipartisan push to raise New York’s public retiree earnings cap from $35,000 to $50,000 stalled as the 2025 legislative session ended without action. Advocates say the unchanged cap is hindering local governments from rehiring experienced retirees to fill critical roles. While lawmakers have suspended the cap for school employees through 2027, broader reforms for towns, counties, and cities remain unapproved. Supporters now hope the Legislature will revisit the issue next year to address workforce shortages and recruitment challenges.
NYSEG and RG&E have expanded their Betterments Program to improve power grid reliability and reduce outages across Upstate New York. The initiative enables local staff to propose targeted infrastructure upgrades, complementing broader capital investments. Projects include multi-million-dollar circuit upgrades and pole relocations in communities like Canandaigua, Clarence, and Hornell, impacting thousands of customers. Since 2023, the companies have invested over $500 million in grid improvements and continue to prioritize proposals based on outage history and cost-efficiency.
A new report reveals growing concern among nonprofit leaders in New York and across the U.S. over political polarization, economic uncertainty, and looming federal funding cuts. Many organizations are facing staffing shortages and fear losing critical programs, with some—like those reliant on AmeriCorps—preparing contingency plans to avoid service disruptions. Leaders say burnout and safety concerns are rising as their missions come under threat, even as community needs grow. Some groups are pushing back through legal action, challenging funding decisions they argue devalue essential work like violence prevention and community intervention.
