WNBF 1290 (Binghamton, NY)

Take a drive through almost any neighborhood in Upstate New York, and you'll see them everywhere. They're parked outside schools in Vestal, lined up at grocery stores in Elmira, and filling driveways across the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes. SUVs have become the go-to vehicle for many families, offering space, comfort, and confidence during New York's snowy winters. But a new analysis of federal crash data reveals a sobering reality.

Somewhere in New York tonight, someone will raise a glass to celebrate the Fourth of July, then get behind the wheel to drive home. It happens every year, and most of the time, nothing goes wrong. But research shows exactly how often it does, and the numbers are worth knowing before you plan your own holiday drive. MoneyGeek analyzed federal crash data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to rank every state by how deadly its roads become during the July Fourth holiday period.

Summertime is road/bridge work and construction time. Plenty of that is happening in the Southern Tier of New York this season to improve our roadways.

The early stages of a $2.5 million project to tear down an unsafe parking garage in downtown Binghamton is getting underway. The city-owned structure was closed last January because of deteriorating concrete and steel. A view of a section of the west side of the State Street garage on July 2, 2026. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News) A view of a section of the west side of the State Street garage on July 2, 2026.

You can feel it in the grocery store checkout line. The quiet pause when someone glances at the total before sliding their card. The moment at the gas pump when the digits climb faster than expected. The nighttime searches on phones and tablets that start with simple questions like “How do I make this stretch until payday?” Turns out, a lot of people across the state are doing exactly that.

The owner of a site near the Binghamton University campus in Vestal is working to develop a new food venue. The business would be located on a parcel where a vacant two-story commercial building now stands. The town planning board has been reviewing a proposal to develop Sugar Lips Food Truck Park at 105 Annetta Street. The site is located just south of the Vestal Parkway next to a Speedway convenience store.

An announcement was made on July 1, 2026, of an expanded partnership to deliver addiction support, therapy, counseling, and other services for those who find themselves incarcerated at the Broome County Correctional Facility. Representatives from the Addiction Center of Broome County and the BCSO Reentry Reform Advisory Task Force, along with members of the Broome County Sheriff’s Office, joined together to provide details on the announcement.

The American Business Women's Association Binghamton Chapter is hosting a fused-glass workshop this August, where attendees will build their own glass succulent under the guidance of Jablon Studios. You don't need any art background to join. The instructors walk you through the process from the first cut of glass to the finished piece. The workshop runs on Wednesday, August 19, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Chenango Supply Company, 142 Susquehanna Street in Binghamton.

The smell of fresh fair food, kids laughing across the lawn, patriotic music drifting through the air, and fireworks waiting to light up the night. If you are still deciding where to spend your Fourth of July in Broome County, Kirkwood has put together a full day that makes it easy to stay from the first parade all the way to the grand finale. Whether you're bringing little ones, meeting friends, or just looking for a hometown celebration, here is what to expect.

We need to talk about your cooler. With July 4th coming up, this is not just any summer cookout season. This year, America turns 250 years old, and whether you're watching fireworks reflect off Seneca Lake, grilling in your backyard in Syracuse, spreading out a blanket on the shores of Lake George, or staking out your favorite spot at Highland Park with a lawn chair and a cooler, you're going to want your food spread to be worthy of the occasion.