WLZW-FM (Marcy, NY)

As the school year gets closer for parents, a new report has ranked many Central New York school districts. The U.S. News & World Report 2026-2027 Best High Schools rankings looked at 18,000 public high schools nationwide. READ MORE: Central New York Schools With Free Meals For Every Student The criteria for school placement were based on college readiness, graduation rates, and state assessment performance.

I can't remember the last time I reached into my pocket to pay with loose change or dig into the cup holder of the car to get a quarter at the drive thru. READ MORE: NY Named Most Social Media Addicted State But many still do just that. First, it was the penny, but could the nickel be on the chopping block next? On the flip side, not having cash or coins in my pocket doesn't entice me to buy things I may not really need.

If you’ve been waiting for Toss & Fire to get a little weird with pizza again, your time has come. Toss & Fire is celebrating its 10th year at the New York State Fair, and they’re bringing some new creations that you can only get at the Fair. They’ll be back inside Chevy Court with three brand-new pizzas, three returning favorites, two new wing flavors, a returning wing, and a new deep-fried appetizer. Toss & Fire is also bringing some new wing creations to the Fair.

We may have finally found something New Yorkers can agree on: apparently, we all need to put our phones down. A new study has named New York the most social media-addicted state in America, beating out every other state when it comes to our apparent obsession with Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and the rest of the internet rabbit hole. So if you've ever opened your phone to check one notification and somehow found yourself still scrolling 45 minutes later... you (and I) are in very good company.

A lot is happening at the New York State Fair this year, and some of the biggest additions are coming from the food vendors. The Fair is welcoming over 30 new food options this year, serving up everything from Korean fried chicken and Haitian food to loaded nachos, smash burgers, dumplings, crepes, and even grilled squid. Al Forno Ferruzza Pizzeria – Hand-tossed Sicilian-style pizza and an octopus pizza slice. Apple Dumpling & Co: Dumplings, nachos, sundaes, floats and cider.

Who says you have to be the same species to become best friends? That seems to be the lesson at Six Flags Great Adventure’s Wild Safari, where a two-month-old American bison calf named Gertie has found an unexpected buddy in Penny, a hand-raised kangaroo who is just over a year old. The two have been spending time near the Wild Safari’s veterinary clinic, and their friendship has quickly become a favorite among the animal care team.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are heading back to the UK — and after years of keeping their distance from royal life, the move is raising plenty of questions. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will return at the end of August for an “extended period” with their children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5. The palace was reportedly informed of the move, but the reason behind the Sussexes' decision may be more personal than royal.

Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente has signed a new local law banning the sale of kratom and kratom-derived products anywhere in Oneida County. Picente signed the legislation following a public hearing Wednesday. The county has now submitted the law to the New York State Secretary of State for filing. The move makes permanent a ban that has essentially been in place since June.

If you have State Farm auto insurance in the Mohawk Valley, keep an eye on your mailbox and your email. You could have some money coming your way. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company has started sending payments to qualifying auto customers as part of a one-time $5 billion cash-back dividend. The company says millions of customers have already received payments, with more going out over the next several months.

In what seems to be a time of many business closures, one local business is doing the opposite. READ MORE: An Ilion Staple Set To Close After 52 Years Tailored Computer Care in Ilion is preparing to expand into a new location, bringing more options for customers. Business Backstory Tailored Computer Care, operated by owner Michael Taylor, began in 2010 while he was actively serving in the U.S. Army. In April of 2025, the business moved into its current location at 55 Central Plaza in Ilion.