The Chi Omega national sorority kicked out one of it's members over a Snapchat message that used the 'n-word.'

Chi Omega national sorority has kicked out a sorority sister at the University of Alabama chapter after she allegedly sent a Snapchat with a racist message containing the "n-word" on bid day.

This Snapchat has been shared on social media, and drawn the ire of Chi Omega and the University of Alabama.screengrab from Twitter.com 

Bragging that the sorority had no black women, the Snapchat caption read "Chi O got no [expletive]!!!!!" The Daily Mail reported. The photo behind it showed three smiling white members of the national sorority.

The photo was shared around on social media, and the Chi Omega sorority posted this message on its Facebook page on Monday:

"...What was expressed is absolutely reprehensible and completely inconsistent with Chi Omega's values and policies. Chi Omega took swift disciplinary action in accordance with the organization's policies and procedures. The woman who took the photo is no longer a member of the chapter.

"Chi Omega embraces women from all walks of life, who come together to form a network of friends with high standards and similar values. The Chi Omega chapter at the University of Alabama pledged a diverse group of young women, which included several new members who self-identified as minorities, including two African-American women."

According to the Mail, Chi Omega had pledged two African American women that day. In fact, according to a tweet from the university's newspaper, The Crimson White, "All 16 Panhellenic sororities participating in recruitment offered bids to African American women."

In an email sent to the community, University of Alabama President Judy Bonner wrote, "UA and the members of our Panhellenic sororities took great strides forward on bid day by pledging a diverse group of young women that included 21 African American members."

Chi Omega was specifically singled out in an expose by The Crimson White in 2013 about racial barriers in UA's fraternities and sororities.

The report said black women were being systematically blocked from receiving sorority bids. Chi Omega had allegedly dropped a recruit because she was black on the orders of the rush advisor.

One anonymous tipster sent a message to the humor blog Total Fraternity Move, claiming that the n-word in the post was actually an auto-correct error from the word "ninjas."

According to the tipster, "ninja" is sorority slang used to describe women who end up with a sorority, even though they weren't the sorority's top pick. That definition would seem to be backed up by Urban Dictionary's definition of a "sorority ninja," which is someone who "sneaks into the sorority, like a ninja would."

Another tipster went even further, alleging that the image had actually been altered using Photoshop.

In a post today, Total Frat Move revealed that the original Snapchat was authentic, as confirmed by the sorority's decision to throw out the sister who sent it.

Watch the video report from WBRC-TV below:

Police Chief Sam Dotson said officers responded to Tuesday to a store where the man was reported to have stolen energy drinks and a pastry.

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- St. Louis police say officers shot and killed a 23-year-old man who was wielding a knife and refused to drop it.

Police Chief Sam Dotson said officers responded to Tuesday to a store where the man was reported to have stolen energy drinks and a pastry.

Dotson says the man was acting erratically and told responding officers to "shoot me now, kill me now." He says officers opened fire when the man began approaching them with the knife.

KMOV reports a large crowd gathered at the scene, not far from Ferguson, which has seen days of protests over the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown by a police officer.

No officers were injured in the incident Tuesday.

The app went live today.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Mayor Stephanie Miner this afternoon provided a map of the roughly 90 parking stations where motorists can use a smart phone app to pay for parking.

Syracuse officials plan to extend the Whoosh! app to all 280 parking stations soon, but they are starting smaller to make sure the service works smoothly, said Pete O'Connor, public works commissioner.

For now, the parking stations that accept payments through Whoosh are clustered mainly in the downtown area between South Salina Street and Armory Square, and from Armory Square north to Willow Street.

There are also Whoosh-enabled pay stations along the East Genesee Street corridor between downtown and University Avenue. Pay stations that take Whoosh will continue to accept coins and credit cards.

Motorists can use Whoosh instead of coins or credit cards to pay for parking. After downloading the app to an iOS or Android device, users register their vehicle license plates and a credit card to which the payments will be charged.

To park, a user opens the app, selects the appropriate vehicle, indicates the meter location, and selects how much money to pay the meter. There's no white parking slip to put on the dashboard -- it's all recorded electronically.

Whoosh notifies users when time is expiring on their meters, and offers the ability to add more time remotely as long as the two-hour time limit is not exceeded.

The app is a service of Parkeon Inc., the French company that supplies Syracuse's electronic parking pay stations. Parkeon collects a 35 cent "convenience fee'' for each transaction on Whoosh.

Contact Tim Knauss anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-470-3023

Whoosh Parking Meters

Officers arrived to the 300 block of South Salina Street at about 12:40 p.m. for a report of a man hit with a vehicle.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A minor fender-bender that turned into a violent confrontation between two men ended with them both being charged, Syracuse police said.

Officers arrived to the 300 block of South Salina Street at about 12:40 p.m. for a report of a man hit with a vehicle.

Police said 52-year-old Lawrence Marcus, of Syracuse, and 38-year-old David Ramos, of Syracuse, were driving south on South Salina Street in separate vehicles when Marcus became upset with Ramos for an unknown reason.

Marcus intentionally hit the rear of Ramos' Toyota with his Buick, police said.

Both vehicles stopped after the fender-bender and Ramos got out of his car and walked toward Marcus, who was still sitting in his car.

The two men "exchanged words" and Ramos punched Marcus and then used his fist to break a window in Marcus' car, police said. Ramos walked away and reached the sidewalk.

That's when Marcus intentionally drove onto the sidewalk and hit Ramos with his car, police said. Marcus backed his car up in an apparent attempt to hit Ramos again when a bystander reached into the car and took the keys out of the ignition, police said.

Ramos was taken to Upstate University Hospital with a lower leg injury that police said was not life-threatening. Marcus was taken to the hospital to be evaluated.

Marcus was charged with second-degree assault, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, second-degree reckless endangerment, reckless operation and driving on the sidewalk. He was released from the hospital and taken to the Onondaga County jail awaiting arraignment Wednesday in Syracuse City Criminal Court.

Ramos was charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief and second-degree harassment. He was issued appearance tickets and released.

Chanel Lakatosz was found unresponsive in her cell at about 10:30 a.m.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- The inmate found unresponsive at the Onondaga County Justice Center Tuesday was accused of being involved in a burglary ring that netted hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Chanel Lakatosz was found unresponsive in her cell at about 10:30 a.m. Medical staff and deputies performed CPR until Rural Metro Ambulance arrived, said Chief Esteban Gonzalez, who oversees the Onondaga County jail.

She was rushed to Upstate University Hospital where she was pronounced dead shortly after 11 a.m.

Chanel Lakatosz 

Lakatosz, 26, of Norridge, Ill., was part of a group arrested Sunday at a Syracuse hotel and charged in a string of burglaries in Manlius, Lysander, Liverpool, and Clay.

Authorities said the group stole more than $544,000 worth of cash and jewelry in a string of robberies that involved about 15 burglaries over several years.

She was processed into the jail Sunday night, charged with three counts of second-degree burglary, second-degree grand larceny, two counts of third-degree grand larceny and fourth-degree criminal mischief. She was being held on $1.5 million bail or $3 million bond.

Prior to being admitted to the jail, Lakatosz was given standard medical and mental health evaluations, Gonzalez said.

"There was nothing to cause us to think this was going to happen," he said.

If there had been a red flag, Lakatosz would have been admitted to the infirmary or transferred to another facility, he said.

She was not on suicide watch at the time of death. She was put on a list of inmates to be checked on frequently, but that was only because she was new to the jail, Gonzelez said.

Lakatosz showed no signs of outward trauma when she was found Gonzalez said. Detectives reviewed video footage and interviewed witnesses, he said. An autopsy is pending.

"It all appears that everything was done appropriately," he said.

The sheriff's office is continuing to investigate.

Around 2:10 a.m. Tuesday, a sheriff's deputy pulled a vehicle over on Port Watson Street just inside the city of Cortland coming from the town of Cortlandville.

CORTLANDVILLE, N.Y. -- A Pennsylvania man was charged Tuesday after a methamphetamine lab and a loaded handgun were found in his car, the Cortland County Sheriff's Department said.

Kristan Cowen, 37, of Meadville, Penn., was charged with fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, third-degree unlawful manufacturing of methamphetamine, insufficient headlamp, aggravated unlicensed operator and unlicensed operator.

View full sizeKristan Cowen 

Around 2:10 a.m., a sheriff's deputy pulled a vehicle over on Port Watson Street just inside the city of Cortland coming from the town of Cortlandville. The deputy had spotted the vehicle earlier with insufficient headlights.

When the deputy got closer to the car, he could smell a strong chemical odor coming from the vehicle.

The driver, identified as Cowen, had a revoked license, the sheriff's department said. As the deputy made arrangements to have the car towed, he discovered several components used for making methamphetamine.

Investigators were called to the scene as were the state police. A state police team searched the vehicle later.

Besides components to make methamphetamine, state police found about three quarters of an ounce of methamphetamine, a one-pot still and a loaded .25-caliber semi-automatic handgun, the sheriff's department said.

An environmental company was called in to clean up. No one was injured.

Cowen was arraigned in Cortlandville Town Court and ordered held at the Cortland County jail in lieu of $15,000 bail or $30,000 bond.

The sheriff's department said more charges are possible.

Firefighters were called to Grape Terrace just before 8 p.m., Deputy Fire Chief Todd Milton said.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A fire at a housing complex Tuesday night briefly forced the evacuation of one of the townhouses while firefighters put the flames out.

Firefighters were called to Grape Terrace just before 8 p.m., Deputy Fire Chief Todd Milton said.

When crews arrived black smoke was billowing from the roof and windows.

No one was home, so firefighters forced their way into the apartment and discovered the fire, which started on the first floor, Milton said. Firefighters put the fire out in minutes and checked for extensions.

Tenants dotted the sidewalk around the townhouse as firefighters set up fans to clear the smoke. The entire apartment suffered smoke damage. Milton said the family that lived there would not be able to stay their Tuesday night.

No injuries were reported.

The New York State Police said that sometime between noon Saturday and Sunday morning someone broke into Riccelli Enterprises at 32 Silk Road in the town of Volney.

VOLNEY, N.Y. -- A trucking company is offering a reward with a twist to help solve a burglary at one of its locations: $1,000 cash plus all the money that was stolen.

The New York State Police said that sometime between noon Saturday and Sunday morning someone broke into Riccelli Enterprises at 32 Silk Road in the town of Volney. Cash was stolen from one of the buildings on the property.

Riccelli is offering a reward of $1,000 cash for information leading to an arrest and conviction, Sam Chiodo, Riccelli's senior vice president for risk, said.

The company is adding to the reward any of the money from the burglary that is recovered by police. Officials think about $7,000 was stolen from several cash drawers, Chiodo said.

Riccelli is one of the largest haulers of bulk commodities and waste transfer in the Northeast. The company also processes and sells stone and gravel. The site of the burglary in Volney was until recently owned by The Northern Group. Riccelli bought it from Northern earlier this year.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the New York State Police at 315-598-2112.

A low pressure system is lumbering across the Great Lakes and will bring rain and thunderstorms to Central New York Wednesday into Thursday.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- We'll have warming weather across Central New York Wednesday, though that warming weather will also come with a bit of rain and possibly some thunderstorms.

A low pressure system is lumbering across the Great Lakes and will bring rain and thunderstorms to Central New York Wednesday into Thursday, the National Weather Service said. Locally heavy rain is possible heading toward the weekend.

It won't be all lousy though. Temperatures are supposed to inch up into the low 80s most of this week and there will be a nice breeze Wednesday.

Things will look up as we head into the weekend. Dry weather will accompany warm temperatures for a fair start to the first weekend of the New York State Fair, Time Warner Cable News said.

Your Forecast

• Wednesday: Cloudy. A slight chance of rain and thunderstorms in the morning. Thunderstorms likely in the afternoon and evening. South winds up to 10 mph. Highs in the low 80s. Lows in the mid 60s.
  
• Thursday: Rain very likely during the day and fairly likely in the evening. South winds up to 10 mph. Highs near 80. Lows in the low 60s.
  
• Friday: Cloudy with a slight chance for rain. Highs near 80. Lows in the low 60s.
  
• Saturday: Partly sunny. Highs in the high 70s. Lows near 60.
  
• Sunday: Partly sunny. Highs near 80. Lows near 60.

You can also follow us on Facebook or visit http://www.syracuse.com/weather/ for more on the weather.

To send in weather info, or especially photos: Use the Twitter or Instagram hashtag: #cnyweather Also, please let us know where the images are located.

Zephyr Teachout is getting national attention, The New York Times takes Rick Perry's side, and a new poll is out on the Cuomo-Astorino matchup.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Good morning. Storms and the New York State Fair are coming. But will they arrive together? (Outlook does not look good.)

The state Department of Transportation project manager in charge of the Peace Bridge project near Buffalo faces an ethics complaint following her comments that plans for the bridge be kept quiet until after the legal objections could be filed.

Republican Rob Astorino released his jobs plan on Tuesday, a collection of promises that call for more tax breaks, more Medicaid reforms and hydrofracking.

Astorino, on a campaign stop in Buffalo, said his campaign is gaining momentum.

A new poll from Quinnipiac University shows Gov. Andrew Cuomo leading Astorino 2 to 1, with the governor topping the Westchester county executive by 28 percentage points (56-28). I'll have more on the poll later this morning.

Cuomo planned on sending a stand-in to a candidates forum on Tuesday night with Zephyr Teachout and Randy Credico.

Teachout is getting noticed: by the Village Voice, the Nation, and the New Yorker.

FYI: Cuomo is expected at the New York State Fair on Thursday, though no time has been announced. Check back with syracuse.com or follow me on Twitter for updates.

Drones have arrived at Syracuse Hancock International Airport and they come with three promises from the current commander.

Macy's will pay a $650,000 fine for improperly detaining minority shoppers.

July's unemployment numbers in Syracuse area lowest in six years.

U.S. Rep. Dan Maffei will answer questions live at 1:30 p.m. today.

A faction of government watchdog groups, including Common Cause, filed a lawsuit challenging the language of a ballot proposal that claims to establish an independent redistricting commission.

But others, like the League of Women Voters, say the amendment and its ballot language is just fine.

In which The New York Times takes Texas Gov. Rick Perry's side.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio's is struggling to incorporate campaign promises into city hall realities.

Meet the couple who brought the Amish girls back home.

States of minds change: Billy Joel is selling his Hamptons estate for $20 million.

Philadelphia may have Mo'ne, but we've got Beth Schneider.

See the New York State Fair from the early 20th century.

Tweet of the Day

Day Zero is nearly upon us! How about these OG Infielders!? #INFIELDWARRIORS #NYSFAIR pic.twitter.com/sw9NHVJ0oR

— Johnny Vig (@johnny_vig) August 19, 2014

Contact Teri Weaver anytime: Email | Twitter | 315-470-2274

Of those polled, 48 percent say Gov. Andrew Cuomo is part of the corruption problem in Albany, yet 56 percent are ready to re-elect him.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Nearly half of voters in New York say Gov. Andrew Cuomo is part of the corruption problem in Albany, but that hasn't shaken the Democrat's massive lead over his Republican challenger, a new poll from Quinnipiac University says.

Cuomo leads Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino 56 to 28 percent, according to the poll.

Half of those polled say they disapprove of the way Cuomo, a Democrat running for his second term, is handling ethics in Albany. And 48 percent say that Cuomo himself is apart of the problem.

Yet 49 percent say they believe Cuomo would do a better job than Astorino in tackling ethical issues.

Confusing? Maybe this will help. Only 51 percent know details about the Moreland Commission, Cuomo's anti-corruption panel that was shut down this spring. This summer, more details have emerged about how Cuomo and his top staff counseled the panel's investigatory work, moves critics say interfered with the commission that the governor himself once labeled as "independent."

Of those familiar with the commission, 77 percent said they believe Cuomo's dismantling of the panel was a political decision rather than a sign of good government.

The poll surveyed 1,034 registered voters from Aug. 14 to 17. The survey has a margin of error of 3.1 plus or minus percentage points.

When asked whether voters approve of Cuomo's gun policies, the answer is tied: 44 percent approve and 44 percent disapprove.

Other findings from today's poll:

• 51 percent of those surveyed don't know enough about Astorino to form an opinion of him.


• 88 percent don't know about Zephyr Teachout, Cuomo's Democratic primary challenger.


• 89 percent haven't learned enough about Green Party candidate Howie Hawkins to form an opinion.


• 1 in 5 Republicans said they would vote for Cuomo and 30 percent of GOP members surveyed say the Democrat deserves re-election.

Contact Teri Weaver anytime: Email | Twitter | 315-470-2274

Police officials agree to neighborhood meetings to discuss use-of-force policies. Watch video

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The father of Elijah Johnson implored Police Chief Frank Fowler during a city council meeting tonight to change the culture of the city police force to prevent beatings like the one his son allegedly suffered at the hands of police in July.
 

"There's a culture and a practice that's disrespecting that uniform,'' John Johnson, the father of Elijah Johnson, said to Fowler. "And you should be the first one offended by that.''

Johnson spoke during a committee meeting of the Syracuse Common Council that was called to address the police department's use of force and community concerns about alleged excesses. City officials have declined to discuss Elijah Johnson's specific allegations, which are being reviewed by the Citizen Review Board.

Johnson was one of only two members of the public allowed to speak during the meeting, which disappointed some of the 70 people in attendance, many of whom shouted in displeasure. But Fowler pledged to attend neighborhood meetings to be arranged by councilors to meet with city residents on the issue.

Fowler said after the meeting that he believes his department has a good system to detect and respond to allegations of excessive force, but he is willing to consider changes if they will help.

"When a person thinks that what they have in place cannot be improved, then it's time for that person to go and work someplace else,'' Fowler said. "I'm not that guy. Anything that we have I know can stand to be improved."

At a meeting of the Syracuse city council Tuesday, John Johnson holds a poster showing the heavily bruised face of his son, Elijah, who says he was beaten by Syracuse police.Tim Knauss 

In response to inquiries from councilors, Fowler provided this data: In 2013, Syracuse police responded to 175,000 calls for service, made 22,000 arrests and received 41 complaints about excessive force. Through July 31 of this year, the department received 102,000 calls for help, made 12,365 arrests and received 21 complaints about excessive force.

Fowler said he has 424 officers on the force, more than 90 percent of whom are white. The population of Syracuse is roughly 52 percent white, according to the 2010 census.

Councilor-at-Large Pamela Hunter, who chairs the public safety committee, said she called the meeting to gather information about the police department's staffing and policies in light of recent concerns about the use of force against suspects. Two cases in particular have been widely publicized in recent months.

Elijah Johnson, 20, said four police officers punched, kicked and used racial slurs against him while dispersing an early morning crowd July 6 on University Hill. Police declined to comment but indicated in court documents that Johnson had thrown a rock at them, which Johnson denied.

Hospital worker Alonzo Grant, 53, of 105 Hudson St., suffered a concussion, broken nose and cut lip in a June 28 confrontation with police. Grant, who had called 911 to report a dispute at his residence, says an officer charged him without warning, grabbed him in a bear hug and flung him over a stair railing before putting him in a chokehold as another officer struck him repeatedly with his fist. Police charged Grant with resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and harassing and annoying police.

John Johnson said Syracuse police generally do a good job, but their reputation in the community suffers from the actions of a few officers. "We can do better,'' Johnson said. "I know you can do better.''

Councilors agreed to schedule further meetings in the neighborhoods so that residents can speak with police officials.

The Citizen Review Board, which investigates complaints against police, recommended earlier this year that the police department look into beefing up its use-of-force policy to meet standards promulgated by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Barrie Gewanter, Syracuse executive director for the New York Civil Liberties Union, said she strongly advocates tightening the written policy.

Mayor Stephanie Miner, who did not attend the council meeting, said earlier in the day that she did not see any need to amend the policy. But Fowler told councilors he would be willing to discuss the issue further with the Citizen Review Board and others.

"This world is evolving. Things are changing,'' Fowler said. "If it requires me to take a look at my policy and make the changes, I will take a look at the policy and make those necessary changes.''

Contact Tim Knauss anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-470-3023

Republican gubernatorial candidate Rob Astorino and Green Party candidate Howie Hawkins will make separate appearances at the state fair Thursday.

GEDDES, N.Y. -- Gov. Andrew Cuomo will open the New York State Fair Thursday morning with a ribbon-cutting.

Cuomo is scheduled to open the state fair with the ribbon-cutting at 9 a.m. Thursday is Governor's Day at the state fair.

Cuomo, a Democrat, is running for a second term this year. But he won't be the only person running for governor at the state fair.

The Republican gubernatorial candidate, Rob Astorino, will also be at the state fair Thursday. He is scheduled to arrived at 3 p.m. Astorino, the Westchester County executive, has been polling behind Cuomo by about 2-to-1, according to recent polls.

Green Party gubernatorial candidate Howie Hawkins will hold a news conference in front of the main entrance to the state fair at 1 p.m. Hawkins will attend an a rally earlier in the day at the state fair against hydraulic fracture drilling

David Davis, 30, was charged with second-degree manslaughter.

David Davis, 30, was charged with second-degree manslaughter.

At about 10:48 p.m. officers responded with Rural Metro Ambulance to 209 Wendell Terrace in Sedgwick for a report of an unconscious person. Officers found 36-year-old Dale Schantz in cardiac arrest, police said.

Schantz was rushed to St. Joseph's Hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

Witnesses told police Schantz and his boyfriend, David Davis, got in a "physical altercation" before Schantz collapsed. Davis left the scene as soon as Schantz collapsed and before officers arrived, police said.

Officers found Davis shortly after arriving at the scene and took him to police headquarters for an interview.

Police said it wasn't initially clear what caused the victim's death, so officers secured the scene until an autopsy could be performed by the Onondaga County Medical Examiner's Office.

A preliminary autopsy report ruled the death a homicide. Police said the altercation Schantz and Davis had before he collapsed contributed to his death.

Sgt. Tom Connellan, a police department spokesman, declined Wednesday to say specifically say how the altercation between Schantz and Davis led to his death. He said the investigation into the homicide is still very active.

Officers returned to 209 Wendell Terrace Wednesday afternoon to process the scene for evidence.

Davis is being held at the Onondaga County jail pending arraignment in Syracuse City Criminal Court Thursday morning. Police said a mugshot of Davis is not available.

An upper-level low pressure system over the Great Lakes will move southeast and bring rain and even a few thunderstorms to Central New York Thursday.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- It's going to be a bit soggy Thursday in Central New York as the New York State Fair gets underway, but we'll be heading into a much nicer weekend.

(Our Faircast chart below will tell you the best times to go, weatherwise.)

An upper-level low pressure system over the Great Lakes will move southeast and bring rain and even a few thunderstorms to Central New York Thursday, the National Weather Service said.

(View live radar map of New York state here.)

There will be a slight breeze during the day. Temperatures will reach into the 70s and might push to 80 degrees. Especially heavy rain is possible in some spots during the afternoon.

Though Thursday will be wet, nicer weather is on the way for the weekend.

High pressure will build into our region, improving the weather greatly. There is a chance for a shower or two Friday, but overall it will be sunny and warm for the first weekend of the state fair.

Your Forecast

• Thursday: Rain likely during the day and evening. Thunderstorms possible. Heavy rain possible in spots. Highs in the high 70s. Lows in the low 60s.
  
• Friday: Cloudy with a slight chance for rain during the day and evening. Southeast winds up to 10 mph with gusts up to 20 mph. Highs near 80. Lows in the low 60s.
  
• Saturday: Partly sunny. Highs in the high 70s. Lows near 60.
  
• Sunday: Partly sunny. Highs in the high 70s. Lows in the high 50s.
  
• Monday: Partly sunny. Highs near 80. Lows near 60.

Faircast: Opening day, Aug. 21

You can also follow us on Facebook or visit http://www.syracuse.com/weather/ for more on the weather.

To send in weather info, or especially photos: Use the Twitter or Instagram hashtag: #cnyweather Also, please let us know where the images are located.

Governor's and gubernatorial candidates' day at the New York State Fair, Marco Rubio's plans for Buffalo, and Onondaga County Executive Mahoney on I-81.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- It's Governor's Day at the New York State Fair, in every sense of the word:

Gov. Andrew Cuomo will cut the opening ribbon at 9 a.m. Green Party candidate Howie Hawkins will be there at 1 p.m. And Republican challenger Rob Astorino makes his stop at 3 p.m. I'm wearing my rain boots. It's going to be fun out there today.

NY1 has invited Cuomo and Democratic challenger Zephyr Teachout to a primary before the Sept. 9 vote. If Cuomo, who has barely acknowledged he has a primary challenger, declines the invitation, Astorino said he'd be glad to spar with the Fordham University law professor.

Teachout on Tuesday won another court challenge from Cuomo, who has argued she hasn't lived full-time in New York for the past five years, a residency requirement of gubernatorial candidates.

Even with the court win, Teachout is a long shot -- 88 percent of voters say they haven't heard of her.

Assemblyman Bill Magee, D-Nelson, faces his first Democratic primary challenge from Mike Hennessy. It was Magee's vote against a minimum wage hike that was the last straw.

Magee says there's no need to debate Hennessy. Why? After 24 years in Albany, voters should know where he stands, the veteran lawmaker reasons.

In Buffalo, meanwhile, the debates among Democrats are underway.

And Sen. Malcolm Smith -- who is under indictment on corruption charges -- says he had a stellar year in Albany and asked for Queens voters to re-elect him.

A Brooklyn lawmaker called on Cuomo to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the death of Eric Garner, who died after a police office put him in a choke hold on Staten Island.

The Assembly is spending more money on legal fees.

PEF, one of the state's largest public unions, released its full slate of endorsements of candidates.

Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney shared her thoughts on Interstate 81.

The Syracuse area Regional Economic Development Council made its fourth wish list of projects for consideration from the state.

U.S. Rep. Dan Maffei shot back at Republican challenger John Katko on Tuesday, saying family ought to be kept out of the political fray.

Marco Rubio is coming to Buffalo.

Welcome, Syracuse University students. I feel so old.

Tweet of the Day

In honor of #NYSFair, one of the bestever songs about fair food -- via Templeton the Rat https://t.co/GkGbpt7vSZ

— laura (@nahmias) August 20, 2014

Contact Teri Weaver anytime: Email | Twitter | 315-470-2274

One year just 0.02 inches of rain fell during the 12-day fair.

Syracuse, N.Y -- You probably remember years when you ducked in and out of buildings at the New York State Fair seeking shelter from the sun. Or years you lugged around umbrellas. Or just wore a T-shirt and soaked in the sun.

The fair straddles late August and early September, which are meteorological grab bags in Central New York. It's starting to feel like fall, but there's still plenty of time for a summer downpour or a blast of late-summer heat.

With help from our friends at the Northeast Regional Climate Center, we looked at the weather of every day of the state fair since 1990. We picked that year because that's when the fair switched to its current 12-day schedule, allowing us to make apples-to-apples comparisons from Opening Day Thursday to Labor Day.

What we found: Despite the extremes, the weather for the fair is pretty nice. The average high temperature is 79 degrees. Just 1.4 inches of rain falls across the typical 12-day fair. Not bad at all.

Here are some of the extremes for the past 24 years. Remember any of these? Let us know in the comments below.

-- Hottest days: 93 degrees, on the last Fridays of 1993 and 2012
-- Hottest fair: 2012, when the average high was 85.6 degrees
-- Coolest day: 42 degrees, Labor Day 1994
-- Coolest fair: 1994, with an average low of 53 degrees
-- Rainiest day: 2.98 inches on Aug. 28, 1990
-- Rainiest fair: 2005, with 3.91 inches
-- Driest fair: 0.02 inches in 1996. (One day of measurable rain)

We'll provide daily almanacs each day of the fair, too, like the one below for Opening Day. Stay tuned.

State Fair Opening Day Almanac

Contact Glenn Coin: Email | Twitter | Google + | (315) 470-3251

US Ebola patient Dr. Kent Brantly has recovered from Ebola.

ATLANTA -- At least one of the two American aid workers who were infected with the deadly Ebola virus in Africa has recovered and was to be discharged Thursday from an Atlanta hospital, a spokeswoman for the aid group he was working for said.

Alison Geist, a spokeswoman for Samaritan's Purse, told The Associated Press she did not know the exact time Dr. Kent Brantly would be released but confirmed it would happen Thursday. Emory University Hospital planned to hold a news conference Thursday morning to discuss both patients' discharge.

Franklin Graham, president of North Carolina-based Samaritan's Purse, said in a statement that the group was celebrating Brantly's recovery. He has been in the hospital's isolation unit for nearly three weeks.

"Today I join all of our Samaritan's Purse team around the world in giving thanks to God as we celebrate Dr. Kent Brantly's recovery from Ebola and release from the hospital," Graham's statement said.

Brantly was flown out of the west African nation of Liberia on Aug. 2, and Nancy Writebol followed Aug. 5. The two were infected while working at a missionary clinic outside Liberia's capital. Writebol was working for North Carolina-based aid group SIM. Representatives for the group did not respond to messages Thursday morning.

The Ebola outbreak has killed 1,350 people and counting across West Africa.

On Thursday in the Liberian capital of Monrovia, calm set in one day after residents in a slum that was sealed off in an effort to contain the outbreak clashed with riot police and soldiers. World Health Organization officials were visiting two hospitals that are treating Ebola patients and struggling to keep up with the influx of patients.

The death toll is rising most quickly in Liberia, which now accounts for at least 576 of the fatalities, the WHO said. At least 2,473 people have been sickened across West Africa -- more than the caseloads of all the previous two-dozen Ebola outbreaks combined.

Ebola is only spread through direct contact with the bodily fluids of sick people experiencing symptoms.

The area in the town of Mexico is south of Rice Road, east of Route 11, west of Bangall Road and north of Route 69 and Red Mill Road.

Mexico, NY -- The massive search for the remains of 1994 kidnapping victim Heidi Allen through a square-mile wooded area of Oswego county has not started yet.

Two people who own property in the area said Oswego County sheriff's deputies were getting written permissions Wednesday from property owners to get access to the woods.

The area in the town of Mexico is south of Rice Road, east of Route 11, west of Bangall Road and north of Route 69 and Red Mill Road.

Kevin Bowman, who lives on Rice Road, said a sheriff's deputy was at his house Wednesday to get permission to access the woods through his property.

The deputy told Bowman and his wife that investigators planned to look for an old Boy Scout camp, and that the search would cover a wide area, Bowman said. The search would start either Thursday or Saturday, the deputy told the Bowmans.

"With the weather predicted for today, they will likely start Saturday," Bowman said. "It's swampy back there."

Oswego County District Attorney Greg Oakes wouldn't say if the search would happen today. He said he had "no comment" on the search and the case.

Sarah Moses covers the northern suburbs of Onondaga County and Oswego
County. Contact Sarah at smoses@syracuse.com or 470-2298. Follow @SarahMoses315

Rain drenched the fairgrounds as fair-goers huddled for shelter.

Syracuse, N.Y. -- Lightning struck and knocked down a main power line to the New York State Fair just before the gates opened for opening day.

The power went off briefly to the fair, but went back on almost immediately, said acting fair director Troy Waffner. He said backup lines continued to provide power to the fair.

No one was injured and there was no damage reported, Waffner said.

Power was temporarily out in other parts of the fair, including the Dairy Building and the Empire Room just before Gov. Andrew Cuomo held a press conference.
As of 10:30 a.m., buildings have power except for two administration buildings, spokesman Joe Morrissey said.

Power to the main administration building is on as of 10:45 a.m., but the marquee remains out.

Solvay Electric is on its way to repair the line, Waffner said. The pink parking lot will be closed while the line is repaired, he said.

The storm struck just as a line of fair-goers were going through security and into the main gate. Heavy rain formed puddles an inch deep or more in low-lying areas of the fair.

The storm ended by about 10:45 a.m.

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