News Tracker

Bacterial Meningitis Kills an Oklahoma Student
By Julia Palmer
March 11, 2010 - 6:27pm
Plus, The Orange Loses to Georgetown and Firefighters rescue, revive cat from burning Syracuse building.

According to a CNN.com report an Oklahoma elementary school student has died from bacterial meningitis this Thursday and two other students are hospitalized with the illness.

A statement from Oologah Talala Emergency Medical Services says health department officials are at Oologah Lower Elementary School.  Oologah Talala School Superintendent Rick Thomas asked parents to remain calm until the health department says what actions should be taken.  

Kansas City school district to close almost half of the district's schools in cost-cutting measure
By Braedan Ritter
March 11, 2010 - 5:21pm
Plus Gary LaTray appears before a federal judge and an update on Arinze Onuaku's status for the NCAA Torunament.

The superintendent of the Kansas City, Missouri school district is defending the decision to close many of the districts schools. John Covington said the district was operating too many schools, and closing schools was the right thing to do.

“Closing schools and making the remaining schools much stronger academically is unquestionably the right thing to do for kids,” Covington said.

Three earthquakes strike Chile during inauguration
By Emily Knox
March 11, 2010 - 1:38pm
Plus, Time Warner restores phone, internet service, and a report: Tiger working with Fleischer

As Chile was inaugurating its new president, not just one, but three earthquakes struck.

There's a new richest man in the world as Bill Gates now sits in second
By Alex Plavin
March 10, 2010 - 7:41pm
Also the "no fly list" continues to grow and a former Olympic star tries her hand at pro basketball.

Forbes released their list of richest men in the world and Carlos Slim Helu, a Mexican telecommunications billionaire tops the list. His net worth is $53.5 billion dollars according to CNN.com, which is half a billion more than Bill Gates.

This is the first time since 1994 that a non-American tops the list of richest men. There are also more than 1,000 billionaires, up a little more than 200 from last year. 

Businessman gains conservative approval
By Melissa Opsal
March 10, 2010 - 6:53pm
Plus, China might ban the eating of cats and dogs and Letterman celebrates winning his extortion case.

A businessman from Clay won the approval of the Onondaga County Conservative Executive Committee.

Donald Miller won the committee's approval on his bid for the 121st assembly position.

Miller is up against Manlius Town Councilor Sandra A. Schepp.

New York State's highest paid employee
By Nena Garga
March 10, 2010 - 4:04pm
Also, Philadelphia woman arrested for aiding terrorists, and actor Corey Haim found dead.

New York State's highest paid employee made almost $1 million this past year, and it wasn't Governor David Paterson. After adding in overtime and extra pay, Dr.Stephen Onesti, a doctor at the Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, made $958,047 in 2009 and came out on top of the state almost 300-thousand employees. 40 other Downstate Medical employees were among the top 50 wage-earners in the state. As for Governor Paterson? There are 900 other state employees who made more than his $178,509 last year. Paterson isn't even the highest paid in the state's executive branch.

Gates hints at early exit from Afghanistan
By Alex Hart
March 10, 2010 - 3:14pm
Plus, former Governor Pataki endorses Lazio and Syracuse to face Georgetown again.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates finished his two-day, unannounced trip to Afghanistan yesterday, and hinted at the idea that American forces could be pulled out earlier than expected.

Gates announced Wednesday that American troops could be leaving earlier than the original July 2011 withdrawal date, but it is based on the condition of the Afghan forces.

Syracuse School District plans to cut 220 jobs
By Eric Silverman
March 10, 2010 - 11:48am
Plus a former N.Y. Congressman diverts attention from harassment allegations and a former child actor dies of an apparent accidental drug overdose.

Syracuse City School District Superintendent Daniel Lowengard is scheduled to present a budget plan Wednesday which will include the elimination of 220 jobs. This is the largest number of staffing positions on the line in any Central New York district.

Wes Johnson is Big East player of the year, Jim Boeheim is coach of the year
By Erika Wachter
March 9, 2010 - 7:51pm
Plus, College students collect limbs for Haiti and Donovan McNabb and T.O team up again.

Syracuse University Basketball is racking up the Big East awards.

Wes Johnson was named 2009-2010 Big East Player of the Year and Jim Boeheim was selected as 2009-2010 Coach of the Year. The awards were announced at a press conference today at Madison Square Garden, the host site for the Big East Tournament.

Johnson, a junior transfer from Iowa, is the first transfer student to earn Big East Player of the Year honors. He is the fourth Syracuse player to earn the honor.

Actor John Malkovich to Spend Summer in Syracuse
By Erika Mahoney
March 9, 2010 - 4:00pm
Plus, Cisco Unveils New Internet Technology and Martha Graham Dance Company Comes to Syracuse University.

Two-time Oscar nominee John Malkovich is scheduled to spend his summer in Syracuse filming a movie called "Hotel Syracuse", according to Syracuse University. The film tells the story of a famous math professor who stays in Hotel Syracuse during an international math conference. During his stay, he comes face to face with the ghosts that haunt the hotel property.