Local News for June 29, 2023

- New Air Quality Alert From Ongoing Canadian Wildfires -

A new air quality alert is in effect for today. The state Department of Environmental Conservation, the DEC issued the warning for the entire state. They consider the particulate level especially bad for people with special sensitivities. That includes anyone like asthma, heart or respiratory illnesses, young children or older adults. Avoid being outdoors and if you must go outside wear a high quality mask, like a KN95 or N95 but not a cloth mask.

- Results From Some Of Tuesday’s Democratic Primaries -

We’ve got unofficial results from some of Tuesday’s primary elections. In Ithaca there were four Common Council Democratic primary races. The most significant upset was in Ward. Incumbent Cynthia Brock was defeated by Kayla Matos who got 53% of the votes. Matos is the deputy director of Southside Community Center. Brock has served on Common Council since 2011.

The only other incumbent running for reelection is Kris Haines-Sharp in Ward 2. She won with 43% of the ballots. Her opponents were Aryeal Jackson and West Fox. 

In Ward 3 David Shapiro beat Nathan Sitaraman by 9 votes. 

Ward 5 had two primaries. Margaret Fabrizio edged out Michelle Song by 6 votes, for the four-year seat. Song is a Cornell student. In the race for the two-year seat, Clyde Lederman beat Jason Houghton by 7 votes. Lederman is a rising sophomore at Cornell.  

This was only the Democratic primary for Common Council. Some candidates are running on other party lines so they will be on the ballot for the November election. The mayor and the Fourth Ward will also be decided in the general election.

In the town of Caroline, all three incumbent candidates won their primaries. Kate Kelly-McKenzie and Tim Murray held on to their seats on the town council. Mark Witmer defeated Tonya Van Camp for town supervisor. The November election will decide who will fill a third town council position after the recent resignation of Katherine Goldberg.

Election results aren’t official until confirmed by the county Board of Elections.

- Micron Will Build $100 Billion Computer Chip Plant In Syracuse Starting Next Year -

Micron Technology confirmed it will begin construction of a microchip plant in Syracuse next year. It’s estimated it will cost $100 billion. The company announced the plan last October. This is the largest corporate investment in the state’s history. On The Capitol Pressroom, a representative from Empire State Development said the project will create about 50,000 new jobs over 20 years. New York State beat out other locations with a multi-billion dollar tax credit deal.