WAER News Round up: Week of May 23-27

WAER | By Wanshi Zhang

Published May 27, 2022 at 7:55 PM EDT

A graphic of a notebook paper list five of the top stories of the week of May 23-27, 2022: Calls for gun reform; more patrols at school; redistricting decision; mural for SU athletes, and; jazz is back.

1. Sen. Gillibrand hopes lawmakers "take control of this issue" and act on gun safety measures

An 18-year-old gunman killed 19 children and two adults at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde on Tuesday.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is hoping Congress will consider the common ground on gun reform legislation after the mass shooting at a Texas elementary school. For example, she hopes there’s movement on a universal background checks bill, a ban on military style assault weapons, and an anti-gun trafficking bill.

2. Senator Rachel May's State of Our Youth Rally focuses on violence in schools

Christian Brothers Academy 11th grader speaks at the 2022 State of Our Youth Rally about the threat gun violence poses to students.

Many Syracuse City School District high schools participated in the event where they discussed the impacts of gun violence and what can be done after recent mass shootings happened at the Texas elementary school in a Tops Market in Buffalo.

3. SPD adds roving patrol to cover city schools

The Syracuse Police Department is adding a second roving patrol after a student from Syracuse City School District brought a gun into Ed Smith School earlier this week.

4. Newly approved congressional and senate maps have CNY candidates and voters scrambling

The districts that cover Central New York have shifted significantly to cover different territory.

It’s now clear which congressional districts Central New York voters will be in after a judge gave final approval to redrawn maps. A special master was charged per court order to redraw the maps. He drew the new 22nd district to include Onondaga, Madison and Oneida counties.

5. Gov. Hochul signs Adult Survivors Act, giving victims their day in court

Governor Kathy Hochul signs the Adult Survivors Act in the Red Room at the State Capitol.

Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the Adult Survivors Act to open a one-year window of opportunity for survivors of sexual harassment and abuse who are past the statute of limitations to bring their case to court, like the Child Victims Act.

6. United Way and Commonspace launch "Give Where You Live" campaign to help Syracuse residents in need

United Way President Nancy Eaton addresses media at Commonspace work about the "Give Where You Live" campaign starting among Commonspace properties to provide funds from tenants in support of the United Way CNY's efforts to support 70 service organizations to the community.

Tenants and residents of Commonspace will see their monthly donations to the United Way matched by their landlords.

7. New Cicero renewable-energy project comes online to lower costs and help during peak demand

Power storage units are able to store power generated by solar panels for release when the electricity is needed most. Convergent Energy + Power collaborated on the project with National Grid

Convergent Energy+Power is partnering with National Grid on a project that uses batteries to store solar-generated electricity. Developers said it can help during times of peak demand, help protect against electric grid problems, and lower costs for consumers.

8. Drone conference at SUNY ESF explores remote sensing in environmental settings

A drone takes a water sample from a pool on the ESF quad, with the goal of placing it in the bucket to the lower left. The demonstration simulates a scenario where a drone could take a sample from an in accessible body of water.

A conference at SUNY ESF gathered more than 150 professionals, students and industry leaders across the region and the country to share the latest in drone research and development. The gathering was an opportunity for experts to understand the potentials and challenges for the development of drones.

9. Legendary Syracuse Firsts Mural to take shape downtown. Curator, Artist: Four basketball players who embody so much more

This is a conceptual rendering of what the Legends Syracuse First Mural will look like.

A massive mural on the side of a building in Downtown Syracuse will honor four basketball players: Dolph Schayes and Earl Lloyd, Manny Breland and Breanna Stewart, who were the legends of the game, despite facing racism, antisemitism, sexism, sexual child abuse and homophobia.

10. Jazz In The City 2022 returns in Syracuse to entertain and educate about public health, COVID

Jazz In The City 2022 returns in Syracuse to entertain and educate about public health and COVID. All families could enjoy concerts and food, or access free goodie bag materials about healthcare information and practices.