790 WTNY Headlines

Embattled Congressman Anthony Weiner is reportedly telling friends he plans to resign today. The New York Democrat has been embroiled in a growing controversy over sexually explicit online exchanges with women. Earlier this week, Weiner said he is undergoing professional treatment and took a two week leave of absence from the House. In a recent New York news conference, Weiner admitted lying about his involvement in the initial stages of the scandal. He tearfully apologized and took full responsibility for his actions but the scandal would not die. Top Democrats and Republicans have been urging Weiner to step down.

10:49 AM

The fate of legalizing same-sex marriage in New York is now in the hands of the Republican-led Senate. The Democrat-led Assembly passed the Marriage Equality Act yesterday for the fourth time since 2007. There are still some Republican senators undecided about the measure that would allow same sex couples to marry, but protect church leaders from performing ceremonies if they don't want to. Senate leaders must decide whether to put the measure to a vote before the legislative session closes on Monday, or it's dead for another year. New York would be the sixth state to legalize same sex marriage.

10:48 AM

A fire at Knowlton Technologies in Watertown had crews on the scene for several hours early Wednesday evening. The fire was reported at around 4pm after one of the plant's paper machines caught fire. The fire quickly spread to the exhaust system within the section of the plant known as the saturation building. It took firefighters about two hours before they were confident enough to say that they had contained the blaze. The building was evacuated and Mill St. near the plant was closed to traffic for several hours. No injuries were reported. This is the third fire to hit the plant in the last ten years. An employee was killed in an explosion at the plant back in June 2002. A smaller fire occurred back in May 2009.

10:47 AM

A bomb scare shut down parts of Samaritan Medical Center Wednesday after a suspicious package was found in the hospital parking lot. A case was found unclaimed, leading to an evacuation of the immediate area and the bomb squad was called in. It turns out that the case was a copy machine repair kit that had been inadvertently left behind by a repairman earlier in the day. The parking lot was then reopened.

10:46 AM

A Jefferson County grand jury has indicted a Watertown man for allegedly trying to run down officers in a traffic incident last summer. Thirty five year old Randy Hartle was indicted on a total of eight counts in connection with the July 2010 incident on Factory St. It's alleged that Hartle was driving drunk behind the wheel and drove in the direction of four police officers. He is facing charges of first degree reckless endangerment, DWI, reckless driving, speeding, and obstructing government administration. No officers were seriously injured in the incident.

10:45 AM

The developer of the Carousel Center has decided to revamp earlier plans to help fill the nearly million-square-foot mall. The developer, Robert Congel, believes he's found a way to fill the place by luring outlet stores. A newly released list of incoming tenants shows a mix of high end stores ranging from Saks Fifth Avenue to Hugo Boss along with several restaurants and even a 34 lane bowling alley. The "Syracuse Post Standard" obtained the roster of new tenants under a freedom of information act request and published the list.

10:45 AM

An eight-concert summer season has just been announced by Symphony Syracuse. The orchestra, composed of musicians from the former Syracuse Symphony, was formed last month after the symphony filed for bankruptcy. The first scheduled concert is July 1 at Thompson Park in Watertown followed by a July 4 performance at the New York State Fairgrounds. The other six concerts are all in July.

10:44 AM

New York State paid over one-million-dollars in interest for late payments to vendors during fiscal year 2010. That's according to State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli who says the nearly one-point-four-million dollars in interest payments is an increase of 53-percent from 2009. DiNapoli says the money could have been used for public safety, healthcare, schools, or to pay down the state debt. DiNapoli says his auditors were able to save the state a half a million-dollars by accelerating agency payment requests.

10:43 AM

Archives of 790 WTNY