Homicide Victim Identified, No Suspects

Syracuse, NY (YNN) - Syracuse Police have identified the victim in a fatal shooting on East Fayette Street Sunday afternoon.

Syracuse Police found Allen Ross, 27 of Syracuse lying in a courtyard at the Parkside Commons Apartment Complex with a gunshot would. He was taken to University Hospital, where he later died of injuries.

Police are still looking for witnesses and trying to identify leads. This is the fourth homicide in Syracuse this year.

Police don't believe the city is in any danger, but are asking for the public to help in figuring out what happened. Anyone with information should cal 315-442-5222.

Schumer to Present Overdue Purple Heart

Syracuse, NY (The Post-Standard) - Not only will NY Sen. Chuck Schumer be discussing baggage carry-on fees at Hancock Airport today, but he will also be presenting a Purple Heart to a Vietnam War veteran.

Larrdy Dobson, of Onondaga County, hit a booby trap while driving a truck on April 18, 1969 in the Vietnam War. He was denied a Purple Heart until Schumer intervened.

Schumer to Speak at Hancock Airport About Carry-On Fees

Syracuse, NY (The Post-Standard) - New York Sen. Chuck Schumer will be speaking at Hancock International Airport today to discuss his campaign for airlines to let passengers fly without paying for carry-on baggage.

Schumer has strongly opposed the carry-on baggage fees since Spirit Airlines started to charge passengers a few weeks ago. Spirit Airlines caused Schumer to get five major airlines to commit to keeping carry-ons free. He still wants 21 other carriers to make the same promise.

Schumer also plans to issue a new rule that would define carry-on bags a "reasonable necessity" for flight, forcing carry-ons to be free.

Airport Renovations May Be Delayed Due to Sales Tax Questions

Syracuse, NY (WSYR-TV) - A $63 million plan to renovate Hancock Airport is still on the Syracuse Common Council agenda after a month. The Council plans to vote on it today, but it might be delayed yet again until Onondaga County decides where to direct its sales-tax revenue.

Councilor Pat Hogan said the city must maintain the $69 million it currently receives from county sales tax so it can borrow the $50 million needed for the renovations.

The renovations would include the floor in the main terminal and security upgrades. Hogan said the airport is in dire need of these renovations, which would be the airport's first in 15 years.

Syracuse Council to Vote on Controversial School Leasing

Syracuse, NY (The Post-Standard) - Today's Syracuse Common Council meeting could make history for the city of Syracuse. The Council will vote on the largest lease agreement in city history to provide a temporary place for students and staff to hold classes during a major school reconstruction project.

The project, which would cost taxpayers $28.2 million over the next 15 years, would lease 2 1/3 buildings at the former Syracuse Developmental Center on the West Side of Syracuse.

Both the H.W. Smith K-8 and Dr. Weeks Elementary schools would hold classes there while those buildings are renovated. The cetner buildings can hold about 1,600 students.

There are mixed opinions from the Common Council. Some support it while others think a 15-year lease is too long. The meeting will take place at 1:00 p.m. at City Hall.

Oklahoma City Bombing Anniversary

Today marks the 15th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombings.

A ceremony in memory of the 168 victims was held this morning at the Oklahoma City National Memorial.

Beginnning at 9:02 a.m., the time when the bomb went off 15 years ago, people all across the state of Oklahoma had a moment of silence to commemorate the 168 victims of the attack.

Former president Bill Clinton was in office when the attack occured commented Monday in the New York Times

"Fifteen years ago, the line was crossed in Oklahoma City. In the current climate, with so many threats against the president, members of Congress and other public servants, we owe it to the victims of Oklahoma City, and those who survived and responded so bravely, not to cross it again."

It was fiftenn years ago today when a truck bomb ripped through the Oklahoma State Federal building in downtown Oklahoma City. Timothy McVeigh was found to be the man behind the terrorist attack. He was put to death in 2001.

Body Found on South Campus at Syracuse University

Syracuse police are now saying a body found near South Campus at Syracuse University was not an SU student. The body was found near the water tower in the woods behind the Skytop Office on South Campus on Friday around noon. Police say the body has been identified but the name cannot be released until the family is notified.

Toyota Fined by the Government

Toyota Motor Corp. is being fined by the Federal Government for not informing them is the correct time frame about the gas pedal defect in some of their vechicles.

The federal law mandates that an automaker must inform the federal government of a safety defect in their cars in five business days, which Toyota failed to do.

There is evidence saying that Toyota knew about the safety problems as early as last September but did not issue a recall until January of this year.

The fine will cost Toyota a total of $16,400,000 which is the largest fine ever imposed on an automaker by the federal government

Stricter Sex Offender Laws

Sex offenders are facing stricter laws due to a proposed legislation by Governor David Paterson. Paterson wants to expand the "Sex Offender Registration Act" to keep better track of offenders and make it more difficult for sex offenders to find loopholes.

The provisions within the legislation include:

• Make it a felony for a sex offender to fail to report his or her address as required, even if he or she has not moved from that address.
• Clarify that individuals convicted of sexually motivated felonies must register as sex offenders.
• Ensure that all sex offenders registered in other states who move to New York are required to register here.
• Require that Level 2 sex offenders have a new photograph taken every year, rather than every three years.
• Authorize a local law enforcement agency providing community notification concerning a Level 2 sex offender to provide the exact address. Now, local law enforcement agencies may only notify the public of the approximate address based on zip code of a Level 2 sex offender.
• Require high-risk sex offenders and sexual predators to personally appear before the local law enforcement agency within 10 days of release or relocation, instead of the current 90 days.
• Require judges to find mitigating factors before they can designate teenagers who commit high-level sex offenses as youthful offenders who do not have to register as sex offenders.

FUTURE OF WALLSTREET

Patrice Innocenti

A new debate hits the Whitehouse again, first it was healthcare now it's over a financial regulatory reform. President Obama says congress should act to pass new regulations quickly. Obama says, "If we don't change what led to the crisis, we'll doom ourselves to repeat it."


Facing opposition from the republican party, right wing lawmakers said the democrats are proposing a plan that would give the Federal Government too much control over the financial industry.


Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said President Obama will travel to New York City Thursday for a planned speech at Cooper Union to address "the need to create new rules for Wall Street and call senate to action on financial regulation." This will be President Obama's second visit to Cooper Union.

This news comes after Goldman Sachs was accused of fraud last week. Analysts are predicting more Wall Street investigations to come.

Tax Day Approaching

April 15th, or otherwise known as Tax Day is only three days away and NCC's Evan Brown went out to day to get all the facts about Tax Day that an average person would need to know.

Making sure you figure out your refund but also how much you owe the federal government is obviously very important. In Evan Brown's report, he said that you can wait up to three years to file for your refund but all money that is owed to the government is due by Thursday. If that money is not filed on time, you get a five percent interest fee per month that can climb up to to 25 percent.

Many of the people Evan Brown spoke to today were students as he wanted to ensure that students also knew what was expected of them come Tax Day. If your are still claimed by your parents in their taxes, you may not recieve an education credit that would entitle you to a $1000 refund from the American Opportunites. However, if they do not, you can claim yourself and you would be entitled to that money. Also, as a student, if you pay your own rent, you may also recieve a refund under renters credit.

The most important part of Tax Day is knowning all the small facts that can either get you a good refund or costing you if filed incorrectly.

Tea Party in Syracuse Today

The political "Tea Party" is making a stop to downtown Syracuse today. They are in town as part of a 43 city bus tour under the theme of "Just Vote them Out."

The Tea Party of Central New York says that it does not plan to start an official political party for the upcoming elections in the fall and they will also not endorse any political candidates.

The rally that begins at 4 pm is being held in Clinton Square in expected to draw between 500 and 1,00 people.

On Thursday, the group will hold their second-annual Tax Day tea party at the James M. Hanley Federal Building in Syracuse.

Jets Staying in Cortland

Governor Pateron announced today the New York Jets will continue to use SUNY Cortland as the site of the summer training camp for the next three years. The deal that was announed also includes an option to extend the contract to five years.

Paterson said "without this intervention, by ESDC who knows, the Jets might have chosen some other place to have their summer home and Cortland would have lost out."

Last summer was the Jet's first in Cortland and more than 34,000 spectators visited the SUNY Stadium Complex between July 31st and August 20th.

Syracuse to Enforce Cell Phone Driving Laws

Syracuse has recieved $300,000 for a pilot program to increase law enforcement of distracted driving laws. Starting today and continuing through the rest of the weekm special patrols will be on the look for people breaking the law by either texting or talking on their phone while driving their car.

The money that was recieved by the city will be used to pay for the overtime of state troopers, Onondaga county sheriff deputies and Syracuse police who are patroling for people on their phone.

The whole purpose of the strict enforcement is to increase public awareness and change driver's behaviors and attitudes towards driving while using their cell phone.

NCC's Noel Aliseo spoke to Jason who is an employee at the Able II Driving School who said that one way to avoid getting a ticket is by using a Bluetooth head set. But he went on to say that "even if you have a blutooth, if the call can wait, wait..."

HIV Cases Rise in Onondaga County

Public officials are investigating a rise in the number of HIV cases in Onondaga County in men under the age of 25. Within the past four months there have been nine newly diagnosed cases. That is the typical number of new cases Onondaga County sees in a year.

Our NCC's Stacey Rice went to the Onondaga County Health Department testing clinic at the Civic Center to learn the cause behind the rise in HIV numbers. Rice spoke to Diane Rothermel, who works at the HIV testing clinic at the health department and Rothermel says that young people don't see the disease to be as big of a risk anymore.

Rothermel went on to say that "people need to keep in mind that sexually transmitted disease, HIV, is out there, the rates are still high, and people need to know who they're having sex with and protect themselves."

Testing at the HIV clinic is free and is highly encouraged by the Onondage County Health Department.

Forman Park Face Lift

Forman Park, which is located on East Genesee Street in downtown Syracuse will be redesigned and improved with the help of the city and Syracuse University

The park, which has been around since 1839 will be getting between $1.5 and $2 million for the face lift. The redesign of the park will include a new pathway of bricks that will memorialize members of law enforcement agencies in Onondaga County.

The park new design plan is part of Syracuse University's Connective Corridor project. The plans are still being drawn up by the architects but construction is scheduled to begin in the fall and continue next year.

The bricks in the new path can be purchased at $75 a piece. The bricks will be laid in the path with the purchaser having a name of a current or former police officer engraved into the brick's facing.

Schumer Fighting Carry-on Fees

U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer is fighting for the public against yet another airline fee. Last week, Spirit Airline said it would charge up to $45 for a carry-on bag but also reduce the cost of most tickets by $40. Spirit said the new fee would mean fewer carry-ons and empty the plane much faster,

Schumer calls charging a fee for a carry-on a "slap in the face to travelers." The senator is making a plea to the Treasury Department to rule that carry-on bags are a necessity when traveling and should be exempt from any extra fees.

"Airline passengers have always had the right to bring a carry-on bag without having to worry about getting nickeled and dimed by an airline company."

Schumer went on to say that if no action is taken by the Treasury Department, he will introduce new legislation to stop the carry-on fee.

Proposed Grocery Stores

This morning, Senator Kirsten Gilibrand is doing her part to ensure that people around the country have access to fresh food. Gilibrand proposed a $1 billion bill to help build 2,100 grocery stores around the nation.

Gilibrand said that the bill would help build over 350 stores in New York state that would give new grocery store access to over four millions New Yorkers. The stores woud be for residents living in "food deserts," or low-income areas where grocery stores are not close by.

Gilibrand hopes that by allowing access to fresh food, the measure would help fight obesity.

"By building new grocery stores in underserved areas across the state we can give people the opportunity to live longer, healthier lives, save billions in health care costs, and create tens of thousands of good-paying jobs.''

The Obama administration had a similar proposal in their 2011 budget that will dedicate $345 million.

NYS tire surcharges: here to stay

Syracuse, NY - For the past six years, the state has been adding two dollars and fifty cents to every new tire sold. The money was supposed to pay for the cleanup of old tire dumps, and when the work was complete, the fee was supposed to end.

But now that the work is done, Governor Paterson wants to keep the fee in place. Christine Fedele is the manager of Iroquois Tire in Solvay. She believes the state is looking for anything to keep the money coming in.

"People are going to have to buy tires. People are keeping their cars because of the economic situation. They're not going out and buying new ones, so people are going to have to replace their tires and this fee is a guaranteed fee," said Fedele.

But other drivers think the tire tax isn't that big of a deal.

"Tires are already so expensive, so the $2.50 won't really make that big of a difference, especially when you're buying tires and it's $10 and you're already paying $300," said Renee Brown of Syracuse.

The State Legislature will decide whether the tire fee remains in effect when they vote on the budget in the coming weeks.

Christine Fedele also said if you buy a new car and it comes with a spare tire, you're charged for the spare tire. So it would come out to be twelve dollars and fifty cents if you buy a new car.

115 trapped Chinese miners rescued

Xiangning, China (AP) - Rescue teams this morning saved the lives of 115 Chinese miners who were trapped in a flooded northern China mine for 8 days.

The miners are described by emergency crews as weak, dehydrated, malnourished and with unstable vital signs. There are none in critical condition though 26 appear to be in worse condition than the others.

The miners got trapped March 28 when they accidentally dug into an already flooded mine. There was no sign that miners were alive until April 2nd when rescuers heard tapping on a metal pipe that came from deep underground. Rescuers sent milk, glucose, and letters of encouragement down the pipe to sustain the trapped miners. Until then, the miners stayed alive by eating tree bark and sawdust.

Emergency teams are still trying to reach another 38 miners trapped in the Wangjialing mine, but authorities are calling this rescue a "miracle" for China's mining industry, which is considered the deadliest in the world.

Buffalo developer Paladino to run for governor

Buffalo, NY (YNN, The Post-Standard) - Buffalo real estate developer and businessman Carl Paladino will formally announce his run for governor at a rally later on this evening.

He will be the third Republican to announce his candidacy in addition to former congressman Rick Lazio and Democrat-turned-Republican Steve Levy, the Suffolk County executive. Paladino is seeking the backing of the Conservative Party and is talking about creating a Tea Pary line in the general election.

Paladino is willing to spend up to $10 million of his own money to fund the campaign.

Paladino is currently the chief executive officer of Ellicott Development Co. and a graduate of Syracuse University College of Law.

Route 174 closed for next three days

Syracuse, NY (The Post-Standard) - Due to culvert repairs, Route 174 will be closed to through traffic between Otisco Valley Road Rose Hill Road Monday, April 5th through Wednesday, April 7th from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Officials comb through Montezuma Refuge fire area once more

Seneca Falls, NY (The Post-Standard) - The fire that burned more than 700 acres of the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge on Easter Sunday is most likely out, but officials are double checking one last time.

A two-men crew from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service used a special truck called the Marsh Master to find hot spots and put out any remaining ashes. The Marsh Master vehicle can carry water to a fire or pump it from the swamp to put out flames.

Officials still don't know what caused the fire, but they said it could have been anything from a tossed cigarette to sparks from a chain being dragged behind a truck on the Thruway.

The fire didn't injure anyone, nor did it cause much damage to wildlife, including Montezuma's nesting eagles.

Liverpool, N. Syracuse School Districts to hold budget meetings

Liverpool, NY (YNN) - Two significant meetings that could determine the future of both the Liverpool and North Syracuse School Districts will take place Monday night.

Both districts have to make some severe budget cuts. The Liverpool School District's $130 million budget is proposing to cut 130 jobs and close two elementary school over the next two years. The Liverpool Board of Education will vote on the budget in full Monday night at 7 p.m. at the District Office.

The North Syracuse Board of Education will also hold a public hearing Monday night to discuss its budget cuts. The district now has a multi-million dollar deficit and is considering cutting more than 100 positions. There is also a chance of cutting freshman sports and elementary-level music education.

Tonight's meeting will be open for public feedback, and the district will vote on the budget next week. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at the junior high school.