Utica-Rome News (BETA)

Bagpipes droned and tents shook from stomping, clapping festival-goers Friday during the first day of the Great American Irish Festival at Herkimer County Fairgrounds. 

After three letters and a fleet of legislative support, Kristian Connolly finally got the meeting he hopes will save the Hall of Fame Game. 

Nine people were charged following a scuffle with police outside the Hollyrock bar early Friday, but city officials say the incident does not indicate bar-hopping crowds on Varick Street are getting out of control. 

Johnson Park has seen significant change. Just ask Frank Drayton, who used to work in Cornhill and remembers a time when the park was a haven for drug dealers. But times have changed. 

  Local mixed martial arts celebrity Matt “The Hammer” Hamill thought it was important he attend Friday’s celebration of the Americans with Disabilities Act at the State Office Building. 

Yogi Berra, Frank Robinson,Wilie Mays and about 50 other Hall of Famers are expected in Cooperstown this weekend as Rich ``Goose'' Gossage is inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Successes in the battle against methamphetamine have opened the door to importation from Canada, Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said Wednesday.

Launching conversations and igniting memories is the goal of the Forget-Me-Not Totes project.

On Friday, the Otsego County Board of Elections ruled that county Judge Jhilmil ``Jill'' Ghaleb's Independence Party petition was short 15 signatures, but it was split on whether Ghaleb should be allowed to run on the Conservative line.

To see a satellite view of Sheep Pen Road/state Route 7 junction near the Susquehanna, click here. Then, click "Bird's Eye view."

After receiving reassurances from two lake experts, the board of trustees took no action to change its water-testing schedule.

The board of trustees decided Monday night it would not sell 300,000 gallons of water to be used in exploratory gas well drilling.

Last year’s Baseball Hall of Fame induction of Cal Ripken, Jr. and Tony Gwynn was recordbreaking, attracting approximately 75,000 people to Cooperstown.

Rich "Goose’’ Gossage said last week being a relief pitcher nowadays would be "easy.’’ Dick Williams said he wouldn’t last a week managing in today’s major leagues.

FRANKFORT - NEWSChannel 2's Susan Campbell interviews a leprechaun taking in the sights and sounds of the 2008 Great American Irish Festival.

HERKIMER - There are plenty of souvenirs to be found at the Irish Festival.  From t-shirts to flags, everything is covered.     

WEST LEYDEN - Our only local olympian, Jen Kaido from West Leyden, left Friday for Beijing. She'll compete in the women's quad skulls and her team has a good chance at a medal.

COOPERSTOWN - Business owners in Cooperstown now have big smiles on their faces. For them, induction weekend is very important.

FRANKFORT - There are tons of vendors selling food at the Irish Festival.  Everything from Sheppard's pie to other Irish favorites.

ROME, N.Y. -- The Legal Aid Society of Mid New York will be receiving more funding from the State Assembly. Assemblywoman RoAnn Destito announced that $75,000 has been secured for the not for profit law office.

OSCEOLA — The New York State Old Tyme Fiddlers’ Association (NYSOTFA) Annual Fiddlers’ Picnic Festival opens with a free fiddlers’ jam session starting at 7 tonight at the Hall of Fame and Museum, 1121 Comins Road.

Eight people evacuated during Wednesday's storm are staying in hotels, officials said Thursday, and highway crews in Delaware County will continue working today to reopen roads in Andes, Colchester and Middletown.

On his way to an emergency call Wednesday, Downsville firefighter Garen Griffith ran into some trouble of his own. As Griffith was responding to a call from Gulf Brook Road in Roscoe for a diabetic needing assistance, his truck was surrounded by water.

Mohawk, N.Y. - The German Flatts Town Council on Wednesday unanimously approved the purchase of a 2008 Gradall XL 3100 excavator from Vantage Equipment for $223,406.

A new breed of camp counselors deal with demanding parents.

The explosion sent flames shooting into surrounding apartments and spread devastation, prompting the evacuation of scores of Flushing residents.

When a notebook falls onto the subway tracks, a debate of whether to go down after it or ask for help.

City lawyers trying to force a group to turn over videotapes from the 2004 Republican National Convention claim that it may have copies of tapes possibly lost by the D.A.?s office.

Plans to build a $260 million wholesale merchandise mart cater-corner from the Air Train station in Jamaica were scuttled when the co-developer pulled out.

Three Queens lads, years away from their first driver's licenses, are gearing up to race their hand-built soap box cars Saturday in Akron, Ohio.

Two New York City firefighters reacted this week to deadly danger with the kind of selfless courage that surprised no one who knew them.

It was supposed to be the mother of all flea markets - but the Brooklyn Flea has turned into the mother of all gentrification battles.

A horrific explosion ripped through a Queens apartment building Friday just minutes after gas service was restored, blowing out walls and windows and injuring 17 people, residents and officials said.

Mir Sabiry had just finished having lunch with his sister's family when their living room walls blew apart.Friday's gas explosion had opened up a huge hole between their apartment, the one next-door and the one after that, 2P, where the blast occurred.

A high-living accountant used his daughter's college fund in an elaborate scheme to steal more than $1 million from his Long Island firm to bankroll his cocaine and gambling addiction, authorities said. Steven Rubenoff, 47, faces up to 9 years in...

Sean Connery's family nemesis - his neighbor "Dr. No" - was at it again yesterday. Dr. Burton Sultan called the cops on construction workers doing more renovations on the East 71st Street townhouse he shares with the James Bond portrayer's son...

Rescuers struggling to save a Brooklyn firefighter's unconscious son had no idea the father was still in Lake Tahoe's churning waters, a teen who helped lifeguards drag him out said yesterday. Martin Simmons ended up drowning Monday trying to save...

They could be twins. Thomas "TJ" Earle's wife had the moxie to step out yesterday in practically the same outfit worn by Ashley Dupre on a date with her husband. Alisa Earle, 36, emerged from the Earle home in Wall Township, NJ, for a day with...

Two people drowned and two were missing after being swept to sea by powerful ocean currents yesterday in three separate incidents at beaches in the city and Long Island, authorities said. At 7:30 p.m., two Brooklyn men who were enjoying the water...

The parents of Martin Simmons struggled to cope with the loss of their son, who drowned in Lake Tahoe on Monday as he tried to save his 10-year-old son, Kevin.

Ynez Brooks never felt comfortable with the idea of going to a sleep-away camp. The 12-year-old Mastic girl has kidney disease and takes four medications daily.

Long Beach drivers, take heed. This weekend, traffic violations could mean not only a ticket but also a spot on television, because "Speeders" is in town.

In a deadly day for the Island's ocean beaches, four swimmers were dragged into the sea, with two confirmed drowned and two still missing Friday night.

The "Liberty Let's Roll" tour arrives in Huntington for a few hours on Saturday.

IHS begins construction on a state-of-the-art pool.

A cab driver was killed about 10 last night in a neighborhood off West Main Street.

At 21 Warsaw St., police found the bodies of Robert Camacho, 48; his wife, Sandra, 32; and his stepdaughter, Jessica Avilas, 15, on Friday morning. WITH VIDEO.

Midtown Plaza's last day was filled with poignant memories and farewells. Panoramic view of Midtown

As ADA turns 18, disabled people say struggles remain.