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The Watertown City Council remains at an impasse when it comes to the Municipal Arena renovations, with neither side willing to budge on where to go from here. The project was discussed during Monday night's work session. Councilmembers Joe Butler Jr. and Teresa Macaluso remain against going forward with the project, citing it's estimated $10.3 million price tag. The remaining three members, Mayor Jeff Graham and Councilmembers Roxanne Burns and Steve Jennings, are against rebidding or scaling back. They argue the city has already spend enough money on the planning stages and the project should move forward as is. There have also been discussions on how to bring in additional revenue from the arena, and will likely include increased fees. Organizations that use the arena would find themselves paying more for that opportunity. The council will continue discussions next week.

11:02 AM

A fundraising goal has been set for the the city run dog park on Factory St. On Monday night, the city council was told that $80,000 in private funds would be needed to get the project off the ground. The city is working with the Northern New York Community Foundation on raising those funds. Last year, the city decided to move ahead with a proposed dog park. After looking at several locations, including Thompson Park, city leaders decided to play it on Factory St. The street itself will soon be the focus of a major renovation and redevelopment project.

11:02 AM

A proposed law in the Village of Clayton that would have limited the serving of alcohol outside of licensed venues has been taken off the table. That determination was made during a village meeting Monday night. Officials ultimately determined that the new law would be unenforceable and the village may not have the authority to enact such a law. The proposal would have limited the serving of drinks for outside patrons past 11 pm. Officials considered it after receiving complaints from residents about noise by patrons of these establishments late into the night.

11:01 AM

The Carthage teen accused of killing a Watertown man apparently set his body on fire after stabbing him multiple times. That according to police documents detailing the arrest of 18 year old Kyle Box, who is charged with second degree murder in connection to the death of 62 year old Randy Bent. The murder scene was discovered by city firefighters who were dispatched to 821 Morrison St. Sunday evening just before 9 pm. They entered the burning home to find Bent's body and that he had been stabbed numerous times. Watertown Police were then called. Police documents say Box admitted to the murder when he was picked up and questioned by police as a person of interest. Authorities are not discussing a possible motive or would expound on what relationship, if any, existed between the two. Police documents say the two went to Bent's home together before the murder occurred. Box was arraigned Monday morning and ordered held in the Jefferson County Jail without bail. There is also the possibility that Box may be eligible for youthful offender status. That according to Watertown City Judge Catherine Palermo.

11:00 AM

Residents in the Village of Antwerp are once again being asked to boil their water due to low levels. Water is being transported later today to the village's water tower from neighboring Philadelphia. The boil water advisory begins at 8 am this morning and will last until further notice.

10:59 AM

The state DEC is looking at eliminating mute swans around Lake Ontario, which means more lethal methods made be used by the state similar to a controversial situation last year in Sackets Harbor. Calling them an invasive species, the DEC Monday released a revised management plan, calling for the killing of the birds along the lake. The revised plan also allows for downstate municipalities to manage the swans in public park settings. The DEC came under fire last year for the killing of swans in Sackets Harbor. Public comment on the proposal is being accepted through April 24.

10:59 AM

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and the three major credit reporting agencies have a new agreement on how they collect and report consumer information. Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax have all signed on to the deal with makes it easier for consumers to correct bad information. They'll also withhold medical debt from the report while an insurance dispute is being resolved. In addition, debts from "payday" lenders will be excluded. Schneiderman says most of the reforms will be instituted nationwide.

10:58 AM

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