WAER News Round Up: March 6-10

WAER | By Yoki Tang

Published March 10, 2023 at 10:13 PM EST

A graphic of notebook paper lists the top stories of the week of Mar.06-10, 2023. — A graphic of notebook paper lists the top stories of the week of March 6-10, 2023.

Following a sudden rush of the crowd during a GloRilla concert in Rochester, another person has died. The majority leader of the U.S. Senate, Chuck Schumer visited Syracuse to call for improved rail safety nationwide after the two train derailments in Ohio. Also, New York lawmakers move to ban discharging radioactive waste, and the New York budget seeks to reform prescription drug prices. Catch up on more of the week's news below:

1. 1 dead, 9 hurt in stampede at GloRilla concert in Rochester

An open area with a brown rug is littered with trash and clothing. — Debris is seen in the main entrance of Main Street Armory on Monday, March 6, 2023, in Rochester, N.Y following a stampede that left one dead and several injured.

A panic broke out at a concert in Rochester, New York, after people thought they heard gunshots. The crowd rushed towards the exits, causing a stampede that resulted in one person dying and two others being critically injured, according to authorities.

2. Third woman dies from injuries sustained at Rochester Armory concert

A third woman who was trampled by a large crowd following a GloRilla concert Sunday at the Main Street Armory has died.

3. Schumer cites Ohio derailment in call for safer railways in Syracuse

Sen. Chuck Schumer is joined by emergency response and elected officials in front of the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railroad that winds through downtown Mar. 6, 2023.

The leader of the U.S. Senate visited Syracuse to call for improved rail safety nationwide, following two train derailments in Ohio, one of which involved hazardous materials.

4. New York lawmakers want to ban discharging radioactive waste

Lawmakers in New York have proposed a law to prohibit radioactive waste from being released from the Indian Point Energy Center.

5. New York budget seeks to reform prescription drug prices, transparency

blurry orange cups with pills inside are seen in a formal line. — Rows of prescription drugs

New York's executive budget was calling for reforms to prescription drug prices. For starters, Governor Kathy Hochul is calling for public disclosure of "pay for delay" deals.

6. Syracuse men's basketball coach Jim Boeheim leaves the program after 47 seasons

A man standing by the Syracuse bench crossing his arms, talking to his players, pointing at the court, walking off the court floor. — Jim Boeheim coaches the sidelines for a final time in Syracuse's 77-74 loss to Wake Forest on Wednesday afternoon.

Longtime Syracuse University men's basketball head coach Jim Boeheim’s tenure is officially over, SU mentioned this Wednesday.

7. Shrinking population, employment big issues facing rural New York

A man holds a box with books and binders. — Unemployment is affecting many people in rural New York, among other things.

A new study shows rural New York is struggling with declining populations and lacking employment.

8. Onondaga County lawmakers disagree how to spend $2 million in extra parks funding

Workers irrigate the new baseball fields at Carrier Park in DeWitt upon opening in May 2016. The park was five years in the planning, and includes facilities for people of all abilities.

Onondaga County lawmakers Tuesday set aside $2 million for sports and tourism projects, but they can’t seem to agree on where to spend it.

9. Closure of Jamesville Correctional threatens sanctity of Onondaga burial site

Onondaga Nation General Counsel Joe Heath looks at a survey that might show the approximate location of the burial site. Since the burials are unmarked, their exact location isn't entirely clear.

There are worries about the shutdown down Jamesville Correctional Facility and combining processes could disturb the location of Onondaga Nation's burial ground where numerous ancestors have already been disturbed in the last 60 years in future development.

10. Hochul's charter school expansion plan faces pushback

Rows of high-top science tables fill a science classroom.

Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposal to increase the number of charter schools in the state is getting some pushback from members of the public education community, including teachers unions and the state education department.

11. Farmers want more money in state budget to keep safety program active

A barn and animals on a farm — The sun shines on a barn and animals on a farm.

New York’s Farm Bureau is asking Gov. Kathy Hochul and the State Legislature to double the amount of money allotted to a nationally recognized farm safety program that relies on state funding.