Get Caught Up On Recent Binghamton New York Area News

Whether you lead a busy life or don't get to find out all that's happening news-wise in our community, this is why each week, we recap in an article some of the essential local news we reported on 1290 AM, 92.1 FM, and 93.9 FM WNBF, our Townsquare Media Binghamton sister radio stations, as well as on our websites and social media platforms.

Catch up on some of the latest local and regional news items in a short recap we reported on for the week of August 3, 2026, from WNBF's Bob Joseph, Don Morgan, and the Townsquare Media staff.

Police Release Name of Binghamton Man Killed in Shooting

(Bob Joseph)
A Binghamton man died after he was repeatedly shot during a dispute involving several people. The incident occurred around 5:48 a.m Saturday near Poncho's Caribbean Kitchen on Robinson Street. Authorities said two city police officers were parked in separate patrol vehicles outside the Walgreens store at 85 Robinson Street. They had been assigned to monitor activity at the restaurant across the street. The officers heard several gunshots in the area of Montgomery Street, east of Whitney Avenue. They located two injured men on the ground behind a commercial building. One of the men had been shot in the head and chest. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Police identified him as 29-year-old Tyshawn J. Hickman of Binghamton. The other man - who is 35 years old - sustained life-threatening head injuries. He was transported to Wilson Medical Center in Johnson City. Police said he underwent surgery. His name and condition were not released.

Binghamton Lawmakers Want Flock Safety Contracts Terminated

(Bob Joseph)
Binghamton City Council is calling for existing contracts for automated license plate readers to be tossed out. Lawmakers have approved a resolution calling on Mayor Jared Kraham to terminate the city's contracts with Flock Safety. In recent months, some Binghamton residents have called on the city to stop using the network of Flock devices because of privacy concerns. Dozens of communities have pulled the plug on the license plate readers in recent years for various reasons, including opposition to surveillance technology. Several cases of unauthorized access and use of the Flock Safety database have been reported across the country. Following the council vote, Mayor Kraham made it clear he has no intention of terminating the Flock contracts.

Saint Agatha Foundation Awards $2.3M For Breast Cancer Care In CNY

(Don Morgan)
On August 4, 2026, the Saint Agatha Foundation announced $2.3 million in grant funding to eight partners in care. This funding was announced as a record-breaking investment by the Foundation. The funding aims to expand access to high-quality care for breast cancer patients in several New York Counties, including Broome, Chenango, and Tioga. According to the release, the Saint Agatha Foundation focuses its grantmaking on providing financial assistance to individuals in Central New York facing breast cancer, with a commitment to direct support for breast cancer patients. This funding will expand support to initiatives that advance breast cancer prevention and early detection.

JC Printing Plant Being Turned Into Battery Development Center

(Bob Joseph)
An abandoned Broome County newspaper printing site is being transformed into a lithium-ion battery research and development complex. The former Gannett Central New York Production Facility is located off CFJ Boulevard in Johnson City. The printing plant, which cost more than $50 million to build and equip, operated from 2006 to 2018. A plan to convert the building into a hemp processing operation fell through. Last week, workers from Procon Contracting of Endwell were installing security fencing around the project site. The company was awarded a $585,000 contract for the job. According to a Binghamton University website, the battery research center is scheduled for completion in September.

Demolition Drug Den: Mayhem Persists at Binghamton Parking Ramp

(Bob Joseph)
The State Street parking garage in downtown Binghamton has been closed for seven months, but the problems continue inside the dangerous structure. Demolition crews from Gorick Construction have been working at the parking ramp for the last few weeks. Despite fencing surrounding the garage and "No Trespassing" signs, people continue to enter the structure to use drugs and set fires. Before demolition operations start every day, they sometimes discover people in the garage, often on the floors below the street. They report finding discarded needles that have been used to inject drugs and evidence of small fires that apparently have been set to provide some light underground.

Broome County Launches A Domestic Violence Protocol

(Don Morgan)
Thursday, August 6, 2026, Broome County Sheriff Fred Akshar held a news conference along with several government officials from Broome County, law enforcement representatives, emergency services agencies, community organizations, and health care providers. The announcement outlined a coordinated, county-wide response to dangerous strangulation-related offenses occurring in domestic violence cases. A first-of-its-kind protocol in Broome County, this effort will involve multiple agencies and organizations who will be able to quickly identify, communicate, and implement evidence-based practices and standards of care for victims who report strangulation.

Changes Promised for Blighted Binghamton Building Next to Fire HQ

(Bob Joseph)
The Brooklyn businessman who owns a vacant apartment house next to Binghamton Fire Department headquarters says repair work will start soon at the property. The three-story structure at 243 Court Street has been sitting in disrepair since it was damaged by fire in December 2020. Mayor Jared Kraham last month said code violation citations were personally served on the owner, who met at the site with members of the city fire marshal's and code enforcement offices. Joel Libowitz told WNBF News that changes are coming to the building "within three weeks." He said new siding and windows will be installed as he works to make the place habitable.

LPGA Tournament Returning To Corning, New York In 2027

(Don Morgan)
I grew up in the Corning-Painted Post area, and one of the most exciting events held yearly was the LPGA Corning Classic at the Corning Country Club in East Corning, New York. This tournament was held at the country club from 1979 to 2009. In that final year, Yani Tseng won a $1.5 million purse. The golf course, clubhouse, and surrounding property are beautiful and make a perfect setting for a professional tournament. According to an August 5, 2026 announcement from the LPGA, the tournament is returning to the Corning Country Club, now renamed "The Classic". The dates for the return of this popular event will be May 27 to May 30, 2027. This tournament will feature a $5 million purse.

Renovation Work Continues at Vestal Parkway Inn

(Bob Joseph)
Broome County is continuing to use a Vestal motel for emergency housing despite problems that had been documented by the town's code enforcement department. Vestal town supervisor Maria Sexton last month said inspections of the Parkway Inn had revealed "horrific conditions" with serious safety violations. Sexton said many of the motel's rooms were "simply not habitable." She said in some cases "children were living in closets" and kids "sleeping on the floor" in the middle of the day. County Executive Jason Garnar criticized Sexton for the way the situation was being handled. He said he was concerned people would be "thrown out" of the motel while repairs were being made. In a WNBF News interview Thursday, Garnar said it's his understanding "that the owner has gone above and beyond the code issues" that were found at the Parkway Inn. He said he believes the town is preparing to reinspect the motel to ascertain current conditions.