Southern Tier New York News Stories You May Have Missed

Every week, we recap some of the 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 of July 7, 2025, from WNBF's Bob Joseph, Don Morgan, and the Townsquare Media staff.

SWAT Team Sent to Binghamton West Side After Shooting

(Bob Joseph)
Sections of two streets on Binghamton's West Side were shut down following a reported shooting incident. Police responded to a report of shots fired on Brintnall Place between Main Street and Grand Boulevard around 2:20 p.m. Monday. A shell casing was found in front of a residence at 2 Brintnall Place. Detectives interviewed people in the area and searched the street for other possible evidence. There were no reports of injuries related to the incident.

Two Killed in Head-On Crash on Court Street in Binghamton

(Bob Joseph)
Binghamton police say two people died and at least one other person was hurt in a three-vehicle collision in a Court Street construction zone. The crash happened around 4:30 p.m. Monday on Court Street between Century Drive and the Kirkwood town line. The collision occurred in a work area where traffic is limited to one lane in either direction. The drivers of a sedan and a sport utility vehicle were pronounced dead at the scene. The operator of a third vehicle that was damaged was taken to Wilson Medical Center in Johnson City by Superior ambulance for treatment of injuries.

Binghamton Police Officer Hurt in Three-Vehicle Crash

(Bob Joseph)
Authorities are investigating a collision involving a Binghamton police department patrol unit and two other vehicles. The crash occurred at the intersection of Main and Front streets shortly before 5 p.m. Monday. A police department Ford sport utility vehicle, a 2022 Toyota SUV, and a 2019 Cadillac sedan were damaged in the incident. Police Chief Joseph Zikuski told WNBF News at the scene that the police officer involved in the crash was taken to a hospital for evaluation. On Tuesday, Zikuski said the officer was treated and released. Airbags in the Toyota SUV were deployed in the crash. A woman and a dog in that vehicle were uninjured. The man who had been driving the Cadillac said he was not hurt.

West Side Shooting Suspect Turns Himself In to Binghamton Police

(Bob Joseph)
A Binghamton man who had been sought in a West Side shooting investigation has been arrested. Authorities said 33-year-old Alberto Wong Jr. surrendered to city police while accompanied by his attorney. Police believe Wong is the man who fired a gunshot at a man at 1 Brintnall Place on Monday afternoon. Police units were nearby when a shots-fired incident was reported, but the suspect had fled the area by the time they arrived at the scene. Wong turned himself in to the police on Wednesday. He has been charged with reckless endangerment and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon.

Binghamton's Fight Against Unsafe Housing: Key Legal Successes

(Don Morgan)
On July 8th (2025), City of Binghamton Mayor Jared Kraham announced several court victories by the city's code prosecutor. Mayor Kraham created a dedicated City attorney position to prosecute slumlords and repeat code offenders, with a focus on addressing unsafe housing conditions and persistent blight. Binghamton has prosecuted code cases in both City Court and Broome County Supreme Court, secured fines and compliance from property owners, and arrested out-of-town landlords to enforce court warrants.

Work Starting at Site of Blaze That Killed Binghamton Firefighter

(Bob Joseph)
Construction crews are about to begin work around the scene of the fire that resulted in the death of Binghamton Firefighter John "JR" Gaudet. Temporary fencing was erected after the February 12 blaze that tore through buildings at 1 and 3 Main Street. Gaudet died of injuries he sustained in a structure collapse as he worked to battle the raging fire. Binghamton Mayor Jared Kraham said repairs will be made to the bridge railing and sidewalk near the fire scene. In a news release, the mayor said the city had retained engineers to assess bridge conditions and design repairs.

Important Travel Updates For ECDL Holders This Summer

(Don Morgan)
The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles was advised by the Transportation Security Administration that the problems with TSA staff at airports scanning New York State Enhanced Commercial Driver Licenses are linked to the TSA’s ID scanners used at airports. A system update that Transportation Security Administration believes may fix the problem is expected to be implemented later in July. Until that happens, travelers who have an Enhanced Commercial Driver's License are encouraged to bring additional identification with them when flying.

Some Binghamton Drivers Unhappy with Main Street "Bump-Outs"

(Bob Joseph)
One aspect of a $6.2 million improvement project on Binghamton's Main Street is bothering a few motorists. Some are complaining about the addition of curb extensions or bump-outs at several intersections. Work on the two-year construction project has been underway for a couple of months. Mayor Jared Kraham said the reason for the curb bump-outs is because of the goal to improve pedestrian safety along the busy street. The mayor told WNBF News there have been "several fatal pedestrian and car accidents there" over the years. He said, "This is to slow down traffic on Main Street
and "make it safer for people who walk, bike, and also drive."

Behind The Scenes Of Forest Rangers' Search And Rescue Efforts

(Don Morgan)
One of the many jobs our Forest Rangers perform includes responding to search and rescue incidents. many times working with other state and local agencies, response organizations, and volunteer search and rescue groups. Last year, 2024, 362 search and rescue missions were executed by NYS DEC Forest Rangers. Not only that, they were an integral part in extinguishing 122 wildfires, participated in 60 prescribed fires, and worked on cases that resulted in more than 1,200 tickets and arrests. According to the NYS DEC, during the afternoon of July 1st, 2025, NYS DEC Forest Rangers were called to respond to a person on Mount Jo with a leg injury.

Broome County Landfill Capacity Growing with Opening of New Cell

(Bob Joseph)
The capacity of the Broome County landfill is being expanded with the completion of a new cell for household trash. The massive disposal site is located in the towns of Nanticoke and Barker. Construction of the cell covering about 13 acres of the landfill property started in early 2024. The cell has a double composite liner system, which is designed to prevent leachate from causing groundwater contamination. Construction of the liner cost about $14.8 million. The new cell is expected to be used starting in September. The state Department of Environmental Conservation will review the facility before allowing it to open.

Southern Tier Flood Management Projects Funded By New York State

(Don Morgan)
On July 10th, $21 million was allocated to support flood protection projects in the Southern Tier, according to an announcement by New York State Governor Kathy Hochul. Four New York Southern Tier communities, including Binghamton, Whitney Point, Olean, and Elmira, will benefit from projects that will address stormwater management and resilient infrastructure projects. These projects are designed to safeguard residents from extreme weather and the costly expenses of rebuilding after a flood, according to Governor Hochul's announcement. In the City of Binghamton, the NYS DEC is making improvements to the Binghamton Flood Control Project located along the Susquehanna and Chenango Rivers.

New Uses Planned for Vacant Vestal Parkway Retail Building

(Bob Joseph)
A Vestal building that once housed a supermarket is coming back to life after sitting idle for several years. The place along the Vestal Parkway West had been vacant since an American Freight Furniture & Mattress store closed. The 23,000-square-foot building, which has an address of 1000 Front Street, is located west of the Vestal Town Hall. The property was acquired by Walsh and Sons Construction Corporation last December for $575,000. Synergy Athletics has opened a new facility in a portion of the building. Owner Brian Palmer said the site is somewhat larger than a previous operation that had operated nearby.