Get Local: Your daily headlines for Sunday, May 25th!
We've got you covered with the biggest stories of the weekend right here in today's morning newsletter! Check it out and get caught up in under 60 seconds!
Music in the park series returns to Seneca Falls with expanded lineup, new location
Seneca Falls' "Music in the Park" series returns this summer with a new location and an expanded lineup of free Thursday evening concerts. Due to ongoing Downtown Revitalization Initiative construction, the venue shifts from People’s Park to the Community Center parking lot on Water Street. The event, running from June 5 to August 21, features local bands, food trucks, boat rides, and extended downtown business hours as part of the “Summer Thursdays” initiative. Infrastructure upgrades and museum renovations are also underway, reinforcing the town’s broader revitalization efforts.
Finger Lakes Forecast: Showers and breezy.
The Finger Lakes region will see mostly cloudy skies today with a chance of afternoon showers and highs near 60. Memorial Day brings sunnier skies and warmer temperatures, topping out around 68. Dry and pleasant conditions will continue into Tuesday, with highs reaching the low 70s before showers return midweek. Rain chances increase Wednesday through Saturday, with temperatures fluctuating between the mid-60s and low 70s.
Fast 5: What’s happening in the Finger Lakes?
Canandaigua officials have officially launched the public planning process for the city’s $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) with an informational session outlining application requirements. All project proposals must be submitted by July 11 and fall within the DRI boundary, with a focus on public improvements, building renovations, marketing, or small-scale upgrades. A Local Planning Committee will review proposals over eight months before recommending up to $15 million in projects, though only $10 million will receive funding. Community input is also being gathered to help shape a broader downtown vision, with state funding decisions expected in early 2026.
Gananda Central School District’s $28 million budget proposal was rejected by voters on May 20, falling short of the supermajority needed due to a proposed 4.35% tax levy increase. The district had aimed to fund expanded student services, which pushed the levy above the state’s 2.67% cap. A revised, likely reduced budget will be presented to the board on May 27, followed by a public hearing on June 5. Voters will return to the polls for a revote on June 17 at Richard Mann Elementary School.
A structure fire broke out overnight in Interlaken, prompting a multi-department response after heavy smoke and flames were reported at a home. Firefighters arrived around midnight and quickly declared it a working fire, initiating an exterior-only attack due to unsafe interior conditions. Crews from Interlaken, Ovid, and Lodi assisted with suppression efforts as investigators were called to the scene. No injuries or cause of the fire have been reported as the investigation continues.
A Fairport man was arrested in Arcadia after State Troopers found him driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.25% and a child in the vehicle. The incident occurred on May 17, when 34-year-old Lynn O’Neil Carr was pulled over on Heidenreich Road. He faces multiple felony charges, including aggravated DWI with a child passenger.
A new federal budget bill narrowly passed in the House includes steep cuts to SNAP and Medicaid, drawing strong backlash from New York officials. While it raises the SALT deduction cap for middle-class households, it could cost the state over $13 billion annually and shift massive financial burdens onto local governments. Advocates warn the reductions could increase hunger, slash health care jobs, and strip coverage from hundreds of thousands of low-income residents. The bill now heads to the Senate, where its future remains uncertain amid growing controversy.
Cornell’s date with destiny set
Cornell defeated Penn State 11-9 in the NCAA men’s lacrosse semifinal, earning a spot in Monday’s national championship game at Gillette Stadium. The win sets up a rematch against Maryland, the team that denied Cornell a title in 2022 and features several Upstate New York connections. Syracuse, meanwhile, fell to Maryland 14-8, ending its first Final Four run since 2013 but leaving hope for a stronger return next season. With ties on both teams, the championship ensures Upstate New York will be well represented when the trophy is lifted on Memorial Day.