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A formal announcement was scheduled later Thursday in Syracuse, N.Y. Walsh, serving his 10th term, nearly lost his last election in 2006 to a former House Ways and Means Committee aide, Democrat Dan Maffei. Walsh's stance on the Iraq war has been an issue in his District. Maffei is running again this year. Walsh's retirement is the latest in a spate of Republican retirements this year. Walsh sits on the influential Appropriations Committee.

Updated: 4/21/2007 9:16 PMBy: Web Staff The Catholic Diocese is facing hard times. Because of lack of resources, including money and clergy, Bishop James Moynihan said it's time for change. "We have to tailor our resources to fit what we do have, and at the same time, we want to meet the needs," Bishop Moynihan said.Discussion of how to address the problem began back in 1982. Now, a plan to close or merge churches across Central New York has been put in motion. On Saturday, Moynihan announced plans for the Eastern Region, which includes Oneida, Madison, and a small part...

<p>SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) -- A former University of Idaho football player has been arrested as a material witness in an investigation of Islamic charities with possible links to terrorism, FBI agents said Tuesday.</p> <p>Abdullah Al-Kidd, 30, was arrested Sunday at Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C., according to two FBI agents who separately spoke on condition of anonymity. He was carrying a one-way ticket to Saudi Arabia, court documents show.</p>

NEW YORK -- About a minute or two before the Knicks-Nuggets brawl erupted Saturday night in Madison Square Garden, New York coach Isiah Thomas mentioned to Denver star Carmelo Anthony that it wouldn't be a good idea to go anywhere near the paint, according to a member of the Denver Nuggets organization. The message was unmistakable: A hard foul was coming. And when it came, the NBA had its first full-scale fight of the 2006-07 season. As it tries to stay in the race in the Western Conference, Denver now has a huge question to ponder: How long will Anthony...

Right or wrong, the code of the street in poor, largely black neighborhoods in the Bay Area is never, ever cooperate with police. To do so, the idea goes, means risking retaliation from criminals. The ethos cuts across generations, even as some who embrace it complain police do little about crime in their neighborhoods. The mind-set is moving from the streets to the mainstream, carried by rappers denouncing rats and T-shirts declaring, "Stop Snitchin." The T-shirts have proven popular in Oakland and elsewhere, prompting a debate within the communities where they're worn and frustrating police who say they're another...

DENVER -- Denver Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony is featured in an underground DVD that is circulating in his home town of Baltimore, Md. The DVD is called "Stop Snitching" and shows alleged drug dealers talking about what happens to people who cooperate with the police, and Anthony is standing next to one of them. He is also seen on the DVD talking about his Olympic bronze medal and saying that he threw it in a lake. The man he stands next to later goes on to tell how he would take care of snitches by "putting a hole in their...

NEW YORK The Post-Standard of Syracuse, N.Y. is offering newsroom employees a buyout package that could give some longtime workers two years of pay, while possibly reducing the staff by 10%, Publisher Stephan A. Rogers told E&P. "We don't know how many jobs we're looking to cut," said Rogers, who has run the non-union paper since 1980. "Ten percent, maybe. I don't know. We have never done anything like this." The buyout offer was presented to the paper's 204 editorial workers on Tuesday, offering the best deal to 20-year-veterans who are 50 years of age or older. The paper has...

Cindy Sheehan is coming to Syracuse University on Oct 19th at 7pm. We have been granted approval to hold a pro-USA rally outside of Hendrick's Chapel to show our support for the troops and our country vs this vile person...join us! We are meeting around 630pm, bring a sign, bring an effigy. All patriotic Central New Yorkers are encouraged to show their support for our country and our troops by showing up and giving Cindy Sheehan the greeting a traitor deserves.

AUBURN NY--Stop the presses. The war on terror must be over. The Syracuse Post Standard reports that, instead of hunting bombmakers, enemy combatants and terror cells, the local branch of the FBI is busy "looking into an August 2004 arrest of a skateboarder by an Auburn police officer." [Auburn Police Chief Gary] Giannotta said the FBI asked for a complete copy of the entire investigation surrounding the arrest of Richard Picciano, of Auburn. Picciano, who was then 16, was charged on Aug. 4, 2004, with skateboarding in the city's no-skateboard zone and resisting arrest. In the midst of the arrest,...

Syracuse University, along with Cornell University, Colgate University and Ithaca College, made the list of the 100 best campuses for LGBT students in a new book released today. While anti-gay rights efforts have gained traction in many places, particularly in opposition to gay marriage, college campuses are widely embracing efforts to support the gay community. To be considered for the guide, colleges had to be nominated by a current student. About 600 schools were in contention for the 100-best designation, said author Shane Windmeyer, who is the founder of Campus PrideNet, an online network that combats homophobia at colleges. Campuses...

Duke transfers unwelcome here Gross says he will not sanction transfer of high-scoring Zack Greer to SU. Wednesday, April 19, 2006 By Donna Ditota Staff writer At least one Duke University lacrosse player has indicated an interest in transferring from the troubled program. But Syracuse University athletic director Daryl Gross said Tuesday he will not sanction the transfer of any former Blue Devil to Syracuse. "I think it would be inappropriate," Gross said. SU coach John Desko said he's received written notification from Duke that sophomore attackman Zack Greer is seeking his release from the school. Athletes intent upon transferring...

Hobart and William Smith Colleges President Mark Gearan has sent a letter to faculty and staff decrying the use of the word "fruit" on t-shirts worn by Hobart lacrosse fans to the game against Syracuse last week at the Carrier Dome. The shirts read "at least our mascot isn't a fruit." Syracuse teams are called the Orangemen, frequently shortened to Orange. Gearan points out that the term fruit is used as a derogatory term for gays. Gearan calls the use of the word, "especially painful to many because of our commitment to diversity, equity and social justice."

(Rochester, NY - AP) - Winds gusting up to 77 miles per hour knocked out power to more than 200,000 homes and offices today and toppled trees onto a school bus, a car and a truck, killing a suburban Rochester woman and a state worker at a park in Saratoga Springs. A fierce storm swept across the Midwest and into the Northeast before dawn, sending temperatures in some parts of western New York plunging from 60 degrees to below freezing within a few hours. Downed or damaged power lines cut off electricity to at least 215,000 customers. A falling tree...

SYRACUSE, N.Y. They shaved their heads to support a co-worker with cancer. Now that decision by five white deputies in Syracuse has escalated into a federal race-discrimination dispute. The white deputies at the Onondaga County jail's transport division claim black deputies accused them of being members of a racist skinhead organization. The white employees have complained to their bosses and to the U-S Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that the skinhead comments created a hostile work environment. The federal agency said their complaints were unfounded, based on the results of a sheriff's office investigation. But another look at the original investigation...

Driscoll Survives It's the closest Syracuse mayor's race in 80 years Wednesday, November 09, 2005 By Frederic Pierce and John Mariani Staff writers Syracuse Mayor Matt Driscoll won a second term Tuesday in the city's tightest mayoral race in 80 years, beating Republican Joanie Mahoney by 3.6 percent of the vote. Driscoll took 49.4 percent of the vote, while Mahoney took 45.8 percent, according to unofficial results from the Onondaga County Board of Elections. Green Party candidate Howie Hawkins earned 4.6 percent. "We held together, we closed ranks," Driscoll told a cheering crowd of about 500 supporters in Eastwood's Palace...

SYRACUSE NY--Producers from the student-run "Over the Hill" show approached The Daily Orange because HillTV, the student-run Syracuse University television station, had refused to air the show without prior script approval. "Over The Hill" producers felt that trampled their rights under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, said Emily Wasco, the station's entertainment director, on Tuesday night. Instead, the student paper ran a report on the show's content, which featured jokes about rape, race and eating disorders. The article sparked outrage from students and faculty and led Chancellor Nancy Cantor to shut down the television station. Tuesday night, some...

A boat trailer ran over a 13-year-old Syracuse boy who was playing a game of “chicken” with his friend in the 200 block of Mary Street Saturday morning, Syracuse police said. Tywon Robinson, of 410 Pond St., darted between a 1993 Chevrolet Blazer and the boat it towed about 11:30 a.m., said Lt. Joe Cecile, speaking for city police. The passenger-side wheel of the trailer ran over Robinson. He was in serious condition Saturday evening, a nursing supervisor said. Witnesses who saw the boys playing told police it appeared they were challenging each other in a game of “chicken,” police...

A North Syracuse elementary school music teacher is facing four felony charges in connection with a series of false bomb threats in 2003. Anna C. Markle, 27, of 227 Erickson St., Syracuse, is in the Justice Center Jail in lieu of $25,000 bail. She faces four counts of first-degree falsely reporting an incident, a class D felony. "This is a very unusual situation," said Onondaga County Sheriff Kevin Walsh. "I can't think of any other (bomb threat) case where a teacher was involved." Advertisement Markle, who teaches singing in her classes, was assigned to Bear Road Elementary School in 2000....

Other group helping in Iraq not prosecuted Friday, March 07, 2003By Renee K. Gadoua The same federal act used to indict three Central New Yorkers accused of illegally sending money to Iraq has not been enforced against at least a dozen local residents who openly violated U.S. law by traveling there. The International Emergency Economic Powers Act authorizes U.S. sanctions against Iraq. Four Muslims, including three Onondaga County residents, were indicted Feb. 26 on charges that include violating the act by using the Syracuse-based charity Help the Needy to send money to Iraq without a license. About 600 people have...

SULLIVAN, N.Y. (AP) - Car owners around town are covering their mirrors in an attempt to outsmart a woodpecker who apparently thinks his reflection is an enemy. Tim Taylor, who owns Thruway Auto Glass, said he replaced 30 smashed mirrors last year and 18 this year because of the bird, which has claimed this area east of Syracuse as his territory. "People come in pretty mad. One guy's been in here three times already because he keeps forgetting to cover up the mirrors," Taylor said. During breeding season, male woodpeckers aggressively defend their turf, even against imaginary foes, said bird-watcher...