Looking For Binghamton News You May Have Missed? It's Right Here (2025)

Every week, we recap some essential local news we reported on 1290 AM/92.1 FM WNBF, our Townsquare Media Binghamton sister radio stations on-air, our websites, and social media platforms.

Catch up on local and regional news items in a short recap we reported on for the week ofNovember 25, 2024,from WNBF's Bob Joseph, Don Morgan, and the Townsquare Media staff.

One Person Hurt in Suspicious Endicott Apartment House Fire

(Bob Joseph)
About 20 people were left homeless after a fire caused extensive damage to a three-story apartment building in the Union District of Endicott.The blaze at 310 East Main Street was reported around 6:50 p.m. Saturday.A man who sustained burns due to the fire was taken to a hospital for a private vehicle. His name, along with the extent of his injuries and his condition were not released.Authorities said firefighters first encountered a smoke condition at the apartment house before discovering a blaze engulfing the entire rear porch of the structure.As the fire spread to the second floor and third floor of the building, a second alarm was sounded to bring additional firefighters to the scene.Firefighters searched the building and assisted several inside people to get out safely. There are about 14 apartments in the building.

Safety Initiative In Binghamton New York Leads To 86 Arrests

(Don Morgan)
Broome County Sheriff Fred Akshar today (November 27) announced the results of a targeted, five-week public safety and crime response initiative which was conducted in the City of Binghamton by the Broome County Sheriff’s Office Strategic Response Group.According to the Sheriff's office, the Strategic Response Group spent 20 days targeting various zones in the City of Binghamton, aimed at reducing shootings and firearm-related crime. The 20 targeting dates occurred between October 10th and November 15th, 2024.

Endwell Woman Sues Wegmans, Carrot Producer in E. coli Case

(Bob Joseph)
Wegmans and a California company are being sued by a Broome County resident for health problems she believes are linked to carrots contaminated with E. coli bacteria.73-year-old Denise Dixon of Endwell contends she became ill after eating Grimmway Farms carrots she had bought at the Wegmans store in Johnson City.According to a complaint filed in Broome County Supreme Court, Dixon sought medical treatment at Wilson Medical Center in Johnson City. She was hospitalized for eight days and now is being treated for permanent kidney failure.The court document indicates Dixon was advised she had tested positive for E. coli. She then was interviewed by the health department which confirmed she had eaten Grimmway carrots before getting sick.Joseph O'Connor, an attorney who is representing Dixon in the case, told WNBF News the woman is doing "much better" since her hospitalization.

Person Facing Charges After Firing Warning Shot At DOT Worker

(Don Morgan)
According to areleasefrom the Broome County Sheriff's Office, on November 25th, a woman fromPort Crane who fired a warning shot at a New York State Department of Transportation worker in the Town of Fenton is facing multiple charges.Patrols from the Broome County Sheriff's Officeresponded to a 911 call just after 11 a.m., with a report of shots fired in the area of NY Route 7B near the intersection of Nowlan Road in the Town of Fenton.The call came from a DOT employee who was onNew York State property clearing brush with a Bobcat machine. The DOT employee stated that he heard a gunshot, and saw a person pointing a shotgun at him. He raiseda portion of the Bobcat to protect himself and called 911.

First Level of New Binghamton Parking Garage Now in Service

(Bob Joseph)
Downtown Binghamton shoppers now have another parking option with the opening of a section of the $25 million Water Street garage.About 40 spaces in the facility next to Boscov's department store became available Wednesday afternoon.The new garage was built on the site of a parking ramp that had opened in 1970. That crumbling structure was closed nearly three years ago and demolished.Mayor Jared Kraham said construction will continue on the upper levels of the new five-story garage. More than 500 precast concrete sections were put into place last spring.Boscov's shoppers can park for three hours for free at the Water Street facility with a validated ticket from the garage.

(Don Morgan)
November 21st, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul revealed retail rebates for low- and moderate-income residents to purchase energy-efficient appliances at participating retailers. This program willhelp New York families save energy and reduce harmful emissions in their homes and communities.According to the Governor's office, theAppliance Upgrade Program offers retailpoint-of-sale appliance rebates to provide a customer-centered process for replacing inefficient electric or fossil fuel-powered clothes dryers with clean heat pump-powered alternatives, and making associated electrical upgrades if needed.

Conversion of JC School Into Apartment Expected to Begin Soon

(Bob Joseph)
Plans to transform the old Johnson City High School into a residential complex are being finalized. The Lane Group of New York is preparing to acquire two three-story buildings at 435 Main Street to develop 58 market-rate apartments.The project - which is expected to cost more than $20 million - calls for the reconstruction of the old school building and the former gym behind that structure.Johnson City officials declared the building unsafe in early October after someone apparently used a sledgehammer to damage an electrical panel.Tenants who had been using what had been known as the NY-Penn Trade Center were forced to move to other locations.The old school building was boarded up shortly after the action by the village code enforcement office.

Binghamton Cannabis Shop with Drive-Up Window Ready to Open

(Bob Joseph)
A closed A&W restaurant in Binghamton is about to come back to life as a legal marijuana store - complete with drive-up service.The building at 439 Court Street on the city's East Side has been quiet for nearly seven years since the fast-food establishment went out of business.The unused restaurant equipment and fixtures were removed early this year in a project under contract to the state dormitory authority. An Albany construction company was hired to remodel the place so it could be used by a licensed cannabis retailer.Now, the operators of Cotton Mouth Dispensary say the place is ready to start operating.Daron and Regina Driscoll of Elmira told WNBF News they expect to be awarded their state license as soon as Tuesday. They said when they receive the license, they are prepared for a soft opening of the business.