WSKG Public Media

11/07/2025

Organizers in Elmira will host their second annual pumpkin smash on Nov. 9 at Elmira Community Cycle from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The event is coordinated by Liv Lovejoy of Uplift Neighborhoods and highlights composting organic materials.

Composting is an alternative to keep food waste out of landfills where decomposition produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas, as well as carbon dioxide.

According to the Associated Press, the Department of Energy estimates more than 1 billion pounds of pumpkins rot in U.S. landfills each year after Halloween.

People can bring their pumpkins and gourds to be smashed by volunteer smashers, or participate in the smashing themselves in Elmira.

For more visit WSKG.org

Story by Natalie Abruzzo/WSKG News
Photo by Alex Brandon/AP

11/07/2025

Tuesday, November 11th, WSKG premieres MAKING, an Artistic Exploration of Our Creative Community. Discover the stories of local artists, craftspeople, and small businesses who are making our region vibrant, connected, and uniquely ours.

11/07/2025

Cornell University has struck a deal with the federal government to restore its lost funding.

Under the terms of the settlement, the university will pay $30 million directly to the federal government. It will distribute a further $30 million in grants to research programs that benefit U.S. farmers.

In April, the New York Times reported that the Trump administration froze $1 billion in federal funding to Cornell over alleged civil rights violations.

In a statement, Cornell University President Michael Kotlikoff also said that Cornell had not been found in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.

Cornell is the fifth university to strike a deal with the federal government to restore pulled funding.

For the full story visit WSKG.org

Story and photo by Aurora Berry/WSKG News

11/06/2025

A special prosecutor has been overseeing the case of Susan Rice, the girlfriend of former Binghamton Police Chief Joseph Zikuski.

There have been questions about whether the prosecutor is also looking into possible criminal violations by Zikuski himself.

Rice was charged with several crimes after punching a 16-year-old neighbor in July. Zikuski was present but off-duty and did not intervene.

An independent investigation concluded that he violated many city and police policies.

John Muehl is the special prosecutor in Rice’s case. As for Zikuski, he says “that is not my job.”

“I’ve not been asked to do that. Nobody’s authorized me to do that. I’m not doing that,” Muehl recently told WSKG.

For the full story visit WSKG.org

Story by Celia Clarke/WSKG News
Photo by Phoebe Taylor-Vuolo/WSKG News

11/06/2025

Weather Hunters is a hit! Have you checked out the newest PBS Kids series on WSKG yet?

11/05/2025

Voters cast ballots in local races across the region Tuesday. Most races were local, with just one statewide proposition.

Results are unofficial until all votes have been counted and certified by the state’s board of elections. Under New York state law, manual recounts are triggered when the margin of victory is under 20 votes or 0.5 percent of the vote.

For a full breakdown of some of this year's local races in Broome, Tompkins, Chemung, Schuyler and Steuben counties visit WSKG.org

Story by Phoebe Taylor-Vuolo, Natalie Abruzzo, Aurora Berry and Celia Clarke/WSKG News
Photo by Phoebe Taylor-Vuolo/WSKG News

11/05/2025

Join us in Bainbridge, NY on Thursday November 13th for a free preview screening of Ken Burns's AMERICAN REVOLUTION, premiering 11/16 at 8pm on WSKG!

by WSKG

11/05/2025

Incumbent Republican Mayor Jared Kraham declared victory over Democratic challenger Miles Burnett Tuesday night in the race for Binghamton mayor.

With all districts counted, the Broome County Board of Elections shows Kraham ahead by 696 votes or just under 54 percent of the vote.

Kraham spoke to a crowd at a Republican watch party downtown shortly after receiving a call from Burnett conceding the race.

“I think so strongly that the voters of Binghamton voted for hope. They voted for optimism over cynicism,” Kraham said. “They voted for someone that wants Binghamton to reach the higher highs, wants to tackle the problems we’ve ignored for decades, and wants Binghamton to be the place we’ve always imagined it can be.”

Results are unofficial until all votes have been counted and certified by the state’s board of elections.

For the full story, visit WSKG.org

Story by Celia Clarke and Phoebe Taylor-Vuolo/WSKG News
Photo by Celia Clarke/WSKG News

11/05/2025

The 5th/6th grade youth football 'Super Bowl' was at the Maine-Endwell Senior High School on November 2. The Vestal Golden Bears played the defending champion Maine-Endwell Spartans Blue. Both came into the game undefeated.

The Vestal Golden Bears won 25-16. It is the first time Vestal has won the championship in since 2019.

WSKG’s Celia Clarke went to the game and brought back an audio postcard. To hear the full piece, visit WSKG.org.

Story and photos by Celia Clarke/WSKG News

11/04/2025

Voters head to the polls today to cast ballots in local elections across New York and Pennsylvania.

Polls are open until 9 p.m. in New York and 8 p.m. in Pennsylvania. Voters can find information on polling site locations and sample ballots at their county’s Board of Election website, the New York State Board of Elections website and the Pennsylvania Department of State's website.

New Yorkers will consider one statewide proposition: it asks voters to approve a measure to allow the state to continue to develop a winter sports complex on Forest Preserve land in the Adirondacks.

Most races across New York are local this year. Many local elections are uncontested in the Southern Tier, but some voters will cast ballots in competitive races.

For a full rundown of some of the local races in the region this year, head to WSKG.org.

Story by Phoebe Taylor-Vuolo, Natalie Abruzzo, Celia Clarke and Aurora Berry/WSKG News
Photo by Phoebe Taylor-Vuolo/WSKG News

11/04/2025

This Election Day, county clerk races are on the ballot across New York. In Broome County, voters will head to the polls to select their county clerk Tuesday. Democrat Nick Libous and Republican Aaron Martin are vying for the role.

The county clerk position is an important one that sometimes gets overlooked by voters. But don’t be surprised if a former city mayor or state politician is running for the position.

WSKG’s Celia Clarke spoke with Monroe County Clerk Jamie Romeo, who is president of the state’s Association of County Clerks, about the importance of county clerk elections.

"Most people don't realize your life is impacted by county clerk's office, whether you have directly worked with us or not."

For the full interview visit WSKG.org

Story by Celia Clarke/WSKG News
Photo courtesy of Kelly Kester Photography