Latest news with #WPNY
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Utica Zoo mourns loss of Warty Pigs
UTICA, NY (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY) — The Utica Zoo is in mourning on Wednesday after the death of a pair of animals in their care. According to a release by the zoo on Wednesday, May 28, Axl and Ace — the zoo's two remaining Visayan Warty Pigs — were humanely euthanized just shy of 17 years old. The two pigs had been at the zoo since 2018 with Ozzy, another of their kind. The zoo had said that at almost 17 years old, both pigs were at 'a remarkably advanced age for their species.' According to the Wild Pigs Specialty Group, this particular species of pig — native to the Philippines — normally live to be about 18 years old in captivity. 'These pigs were not only ambassadors for their critically endangered species but also vibrant personalities in our zoo family,' Nicole Blance, Veterinary Programs and Records Manager at the Utica Zoo, said in a statement. 'Their presence will be sorely missed, and their legacy will live on in the education and awareness they helped foster for their wild counterparts.' The zoo said that the decision was made to humanely euthanize the pigs due to progressive decline in their health. The decision was arrived at after consultation with the zoo's veterinary and animal care team, which also took into consideration the pigs' complex social needs. According to Allison Snyder — the director of communications at the zoo — for pigs like Axl and Ace, the loss of a companion can cause significant psychological stress and increase the risk of injury. Snyder said that after the loss of Ozzy, both pigs observed signs of grief and depression. According to the zoo, both Axl and Ace spent their final days doing their daily routines, which included rooting in the dirt, rearranging rocks, engaging with enrichment activities and sunbathing together. Snyder said in a statement that the two were provided with additional enrichment, affection from keepers and a variety of their favorite treats. The zoo says that they will continue to share the story of Axl and Ace to raise awareness about the pigs' challenges in the wild. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
Gerling murder case begins with pretrial motions
UTICA, NY (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY) — The trial of the man accused of murdering a Utica City School District principal last summer began in earnest on Friday with pretrial hearings. Lawyers for Jeremy Kirch and District Attorney Todd Carville stood before Judge Robert Bauer on Friday, May 23 to be heard on several motions. While Judge Bauer did deny the suppression of several pieces of evidence, several hearings were granted to determine the validity of certain pieces of evidence. Kirch was arrested in August of 2024 and was charged with second-degree murder in the death of his girlfriend — Elizabeth Gerling, a former principal at Columbus Elementary in Utica. Kirch was found in the city of Rome soon after her death and subsequently arrested. Scholarship fund established for former Utica teacher Bauer granted a motion for a Sandoval-Ventimiglia hearing, which will determine if behavioral evidence can be used in the trial. A mental evaluation — to determine Kirch's fitness to stand trial — was conducted, but Carville said that evaluation is under review. Bauer denied a motion to suppress statements Kirch made to law enforcement. Bauer did grant a Huntley Hearing to determine if the statements being used by the prosecution were voluntary or not. Bauer also denied motions to suppress other evidence, including identifying testimony and physical evidence. However, hearings have been granted to determine the admissibility of both the testimony and evidence. A Mapp-Dunaway Hearing was granted to assess the circumstances of Kirch's arrest. It will also be used to assess the seizure of Kirch's trailer and truck, which were impounded for the reasons of executing the search warrant. Bauer granted the other following motions: To have the court review search warrants for Kirch's truck, trailer home and phone, as well as the defendant's blood, and A review of the grand jury minutes to assess the sufficiency of the legal instructions given. Bauer denied the following motions: Search warrants to Blink and Ring cameras at Gerling's home A change of venue, citing that the defense had not proven a reasonable cause of unfair or impartial ruling. However, Bauer said, if circumstances change, that ruling can be reconsidered. Directing the prosecution to supply defense with an electronic copy of all of their evidence. The case is scheduled to reconvene on Thursday, July 17 at 10:30 AM for suppression hearings. Also up for discussion during the suppression hearings will be a claim by the defense that Kirch did not know his calls from the jail were being recorded. After the suppression hearings, both sides will discuss going to trial. You can look at the full hearing from Eyewitness News Reporter Kayla Bruce below: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Yahoo
Frankfort Amazon stabbing suspect arrested
UTICA, NY (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY) — Utica Police arrested a man on Monday who allegedly stabbed a convenience store clerk — along with a pedestrian and an Amazon warehouse employee — over the weekend. On Sunday, May 4, at approximately 4:55 pm, Utica Police officers and firefighters were called to the 600 block of Bleecker Street regarding a stabbing. Upon their arrival, they spoke with people who stated an unknown male — later identified as 22-year-old Daniel Namutereza of Utica — entered the convenience store and attempted to make a purchase there, which was declined on his credit card. According to police, Namutereza attempted to make a smaller purchase, at which point he began to argue with the clerk. As the argument escalated, Namutereza brandished a knife and stabbed the clerk in the face. Namutereza then exited the store and stabbed another pedestrian without provocation. He then fled the scene on foot. Later in the day, as officers were interviewing victims from the previous incidents, a report came in that a male similar to Namutereza was threatening patrons of the North Utica plaza with a knife. He fled on foot before officers were able to respond to the area. On Monday, May 5, the New York/New Jersey Marshal's Regional Task Force provided the Utica Police with information on Namutereza's identity. With that information, both forces were able to conduct surveillance of his residence. When Namutereza exited the residence, he was taken into custody without further incident and transported to the Utica Police Department Namutereza was also a suspect in an incident at the Amazon Warehouse in Frankfort earlier in the day. According to the Rome Sentinel, at approximately 3 am that same day, Namutereza allegedly stabbed an Amazon associate, also in the face. Their identity has not been released, nor has their condition. Namutereza was charged with: First-degree Attempted Assault, a Class B Violent Felony, second-degree Assault, a Class D Violent Felony, and fourth-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon, a Class A Misdemeanor. Utica Police have said additional charges are likely as the investigation continues. None of the victims' identities or current conditions have been released. Utica Police were also assisted in the investigation by the Town of Frankfort Police, as well as security officers at the Amazon Warehouse in Frankfort. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WUTR/WFXV -
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Children's Museum reopens in new Parkway building
UTICA, NY (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY) — The Utica Children's Museum cut the ribbon on its new building on the Parkway in South Utica on Tuesday. The $8 million project was part of a bigger $14 million project by Integrated Community Alternatives Network (ICAN) to create a first-of-its-kind human services non-profit and children's museum hybrid. 'Today marks an incredible milestone not just for the Utica Children's Museum, but for our entire community,' Meghan Fraser McGrogan, the museum's executive director, said in a statement. 'We are so excited to celebrate the hard work of our team and all of our partners who made this project possible. We have thoughtfully designed this museum to be an inclusive, welcoming and inspiring environment for children to learn and grow. Our new museum is truly a place where families can come together to play, learn and create lasting memories.' Thank you Governor Kathy Hochul and Commissioner Hope Knight for your unwavering support and investment in our vision.' The museum's new building features a 4,000 square-foot rotunda and a 10,000 square-foot second floor. The second floor showcases six galleries and 60 exhibits focusing on Central New York, entitled 'Love Where You Live!' The museum also features multiple play zones for children, including: The Climber, providing two stories of physical challenges, The Meeting Place, which is common space for groups and other programs, The World Market, a global gallery that allows children to experience world cultures, Build It Up, a place for children to get hands on with building structures, Let's Experiment, a zone that allows children to get creative through STEAM-based challenges, Seasons, a zone that allows children to learn about weather, The Cove, a zone that promotes the importance of pausing and calming down by providing an 'oasis of calm,' and Several other multi-purpose rooms for groups and programs to enjoy. ICAN and the Children's Museum announced the move in 2020, a week before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the museum earlier than expected. While the new museum was being built, a Mobile Museum was sent out into the community to 'take the fun out on the road.' Groundbreaking on the museum began in a ceremony in 2021, while the new Rotunda was completed in 2023. The project was funded by a $750,000 grant from the Governor's state capital funding sources, $1 million from the Market New York program from Empire State Development, and $300,000 in a capital grant from the New York State Council on the Arts. Assemblymember Marianne Buttenschon also secured another $125,000 in funding through last year's state budget. 'The Utica Children's Museum is a place where families can gather and watch their children thrive, and I am proud to celebrate this wonderful space for the Mohawk Valley,' Governor Kathy Hochul said in a statement. 'These exciting exhibits and additions to the project will become an important extension of the community — families and children from across the region will experience the new museum together and create a welcoming environment for many years ahead.' The museum will officially open on Thursday, May 1. Tickets are $15 for adults and children above the age of one. Children under one year old are admitted free. Museums for All members can get in for three dollars with an ID and EBT card. Visitors can book reservations and purchase memberships on the Children's Museum website. 'The opening of the Utica Children's Museum is a shining example of what our community can accomplish when we come together to invest in our future,' Mayor Mike Galime said in a statement. 'Whether it was through a financial contribution or the sharing of ideas, I want to sincerely thank everyone who helped make this incredible space a reality. I look forward to creating memories here with my own family and seeing generations of children and families enjoy it for years to come.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Waterville brothers win Griffiss AFRL Challenge
ROME, NY (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY) — A pair of Waterville brothers took home the top prize in the Griffiss Institute's AFRL Challenge on Friday. The win for Waterville students Edmond and Oscar Yang culminated a week-long event that helped students from across Central New York learn STEM skills and critical thinking, among other skills. The Yang brothers also earned $2,500 for their New York 529 savings account, to be used for their future college. Four local schools were given a challenge at the beginning of the week: analyze, design, and pitch a technical solution to a problem. This year, the problem was focused on aircraft detection and classification using an AI model. 'When I first heard the challenge I was pretty excited, because I'm interested in aviation,' Oscar said in a statement. The four teams were given mentorship by scientists and engineers from the Air Force Research Laboratory throughout the week. Over the course of four tasks, students advanced from running pre-trained models to running their own trained models. 'I was pretty excited, but then learning it was code I was a bit anxious since I had no experience with it coming in,' Edmond Yang said in a statement. 'It was a big curveball, but we're happy with the result.' Later tasks required the teams to distinguish between specific types of aircraft. The final tasks had teams identifying almost 80 different types of aircraft under a variety of real-world conditions. 'The AFRL Challenge Competition exemplifies the power of partnership,' Heather Hage, President and CEO of the Griffiss Institute, said in a statement. 'By bringing students into direct contact with Department of Defense research leaders through Rome Lab, we spark a lifelong curiosity in STEM and open doors to opportunity. Events like this one show how community investment in education pays dividends, fostering future innovators and strengthening our region's role in national security.' Holland Patent's Henry King and Nicholas Race took second place, while Notre Dame's Lily Elinskas and Eva Putrello took third. Timothy Hill and Jolainna Sciorilli of Rome Free Academy took fourth place. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
