Local News: February 16, 2024

- Broome County reports overdose spike in 24-hour period -

The Broome County Health Department reports there was a spike in overdoses. John Barry at the Southern Tier AIDS Project (STAP) says there were 4 overdoses in a short period between February 14 and 15th. County officials are urging anyone who uses drugs to not use them alone, have a Narcan kit nearby, and test drugs for fentanyl or xylazine before using them. Test strips and Narcan kits are available from several locations around the county including the health department and STAP.  Binghamton University staff, faculty, and students can get kits on campus. A link to a list of services is on our website WRFI dot org slash news. Earlier this month Tioga County reported a 3-day overdose spike. 

- Redistricting Commission approves new congressional maps -

New York’s redistricting commission approved new congressional district maps on Thursday. The Associated Press reports the new maps make minor changes to three competitive districts. 

They include the 22nd congressional district represented by Republican Brandon Williams. It includes Syracuse and Utica. It would expand to include more left-leaning cities of Auburn and Cortland. The 19th congressional district represented by Republican Marc Molinaro would also change. It includes Ithaca and Binghamton and extends east into the Hudson River Valley. That district would change to include some Republican-leaning areas. AP says the map might help Democrats in two districts and Republicans in one. The map must be accepted by the Democratically-controlled state legislature. They can accept, reject, or draw another map. The new map would replace one created by an outside expert in 2022 after the Independent Redistricting Commission failed to create one . Democrats sued to have the map thrown out. In December, the state’s highest court orders the Commission to redraw the map by the end of this month.

-  Family Life Ministries to break ground on new headquarters in Steuben County this Spring -

Family Life Ministries will break ground on its new $50 million headquarters in the Gang Mills area of the town of Erwin next to Corning. The Corning Leader reports the 124,000-square-foot building will have a Center for the Arts which will house a performance center theater, office spaces, and the organization's Christian radio broadcast studios. Family Life Ministries is not connected to the similarly named Family Life Radio.