790 WTNY Headlines

A case of drag racing led to a head on crash last night in the Town of Theresa. One person was hospitalized and a second individual is now facing charges. State Police say 17 year old Bret Staie of Theresa was racing with a second vehicle on County Route 21 at around 11 pm Thursday night when he collided with a third vehicle driven by 19 year old Kayla Guillermo of Evans Mills. Guillermo suffered leg injuries and was transported to Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse. Staie was charged with participating in an unauthorized race, speeding, and unlawful use of a lane.

11:26 AM

A brand new city manager is on the verge of being hired. The Watertown City Council will be holding a special meeting tomorrow morning at 9am at City Hall. The purpose of the meeting will be the official hiring of the new manager. That person will reportedly be in attendance at the meeting. The council made it's decision to hire the candidate at their meeting Monday night.

10:30 AM

Jefferson County Sheriff's Deputies have charged a city man with multiple counts of possessing stolen property. Police accuse 48 year old Steven Beach of Merline Ave with possessing numerous stolen items, including an ATV. The charges against him include third degree criminal possession of stolen property , fourth degree criminal possession of stolen property, and fifth degree criminal possession of stolen property. He was arraigned and ordered held in the Jefferson County Jail without bail. Police say he is a convicted felon who has spent several previous stints in prison.

10:29 AM

An accident shut down a section of Route 126 in the Town of Watertown on Thursday. A van went off the road and crashed into a utility pole, bringing wires down. National Grid crews were called to the scene to fix the wires. The crash happened at around 4:15 pm near the intersection with the Weaver Rd. The driver was not seriously injured.

10:28 AM

Major reconstruction work on Factory St. is underway, and it began with a demolition on Thursday. Contractors were out yesterday tearing down 429 Factory St. The building has been in disrepair for some time. The soon to be vacant site will be used to install a storm sewer drain, part of the Factory St. overhaul that will take place next summer.

10:28 AM

Senate Democrats have unveiled a new campaign to push for an increase in the state's minimum wage. Democrats have launched a website called PovertyWageNY.com that urges voters to sign a petition urging Senate Republicans to take up the minimum wage proposal. GOP leaders in the Senate have said they don't support Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver's proposal to increase New York's minimum wage to eight-dollars, 50 cents an hour.

10:27 AM

As thousands of New Yorkers hit the road today to begin their Memorial Day weekend, lawmakers in Albany are looking to crack down on chronic dangerous drivers. Two assemblymen have joined with a state senator to support a bill that would permanently yank the driver's license of anyone convicted of three or more serious vehicular offenses such as DWI or vehicular manslaughter. Anyone caught driving after the lifetime ban could possibly get a felony conviction and spend four years behind bars.

10:27 AM

The state Assembly has passed a bill banning synthetic marijuana. The new bill makes the possession of synthetic pot a misdemeanor crime. It comes after the state Department of Health decided to ban the sale and distribution of the drug earlier this year. Supporters of the bill say synthetic marijuana and other designer drugs can ultimately be more dangerous than the drugs they are supposed to mimic.

10:25 AM

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