Twin Tiers Living
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Quote“On Her Game: Caitlin Clark and the Revolution in Women’s Sports,” the title of USA Today columnist Christine Brennan’s new book about the WNBA star, is doing a lot of work.
On one hand, it’s about the game, right? Nobody can deny Caitlin Clark’s talent on a basketball court, where her rookie season stats with the Indiana Fever were eye-popping: 19.2 points, 8.4 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game while leading the WNBA in assists and 3-pointers made. On the other hand, why is Caitlin Clark the poster child for a “Revolution in Women’s Sports?” The WNBA’s been around since 1997 and plenty of female athletes are or were the very best at what they do, inspiring millions of young women to play all sorts of sports — from Serena Williams to Simone Biles to Lindsey Vonn.
But there’s something more to the Caitlin Clark phenomenon, and it’s that something that Brennan’s reporter instincts sensed early, when Clark was filling the Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City for every home game, well before her remarkable first year in the WNBA.
“What was going on?” writes Brennan in her introduction. “Was this because Clark is white and straight in a league that is 74% Black or mixed-race, with a sizable gay population?… Was it because of her eight-year $28 million Nike shoe deal?… Was it jealousy? Was it all of the above?”
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QuoteA Horseheads diner known for its big plates of breakfast and lunch specialties has served its final meal.
Around the Square Diner, located at 114 John St. in the village, announced on its Facebook page over the weekend that the business is closing effective immediately.
"We have decided to close permanently. It was a great run," reads the post. "Thank you all that supported us! We had a lot of fun."
The business, owned and operated by Matthew Rogers and co-owned by his mother, Ronda Rogers, debuted on Dec. 20, 2024 at the site of the former Old Rosar Grill.
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QuoteCamp Mystic, the girls summer camp on the banks of the Guadalupe River in Texas, has confirmed that 27 children and counsellors died in the flash floodsthat have wreaked devastation on the area since Friday.
“Our hearts are broken alongside our families that are enduring this unimaginable tragedy. We are praying for them constantly,” a statement on the camp website read.
The search continued for missing people, it said, adding: “We ask for your continued prayers, respect and privacy for each of our families affected.”
The tragic news surfaced as Texas authorities confirmed at least 82 people had died amid the flash flooding, a figure that is expected to rise as more rain threatens to deluge the region.
Camp Mystic is a nondenominational Christian institution that has hosted the children of some of Texas’s political elite over its 99-year history. Former first lady Laura Bush was a camp counselor there, and past camp attendees included the daughters of former US president Lyndon B Johnson and the former Texas governor John Connally.
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QuoteBy now, you might have heard that seed oils are bad for you — if not from social media wellness influencers, then from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. himself.
Kennedy has said these vegetable oils — extracted from the seeds of plants, like canola, soybean and safflower — are poisoning Americans and driving the obesity epidemic. Part of the evidence he points to is that obesity rates started to rise as seed oils began to dominate the American diet.
Many nutrition and health researchers say that while seed oils might not be as good for you as olive oil, claims that they're harmful to health have been stretched too far.
"This is one of the more studied topics in nutrition. So it's sort of extra bewildering to quite a few of us in the field that this is coming up," says Christopher Gardner, a nutrition scientist and professor of medicine at Stanford University.
He says studies have consistently shown that replacing saturated fats, such as lard or beef tallow, with fats from plant oils leads to better health outcomes.
Still, Kennedy celebrated when the fast-food chain Steak 'n Shake announced earlier this year that it would stop making its french fries with seed oils and use tallow — rendered beef fat — instead.
When we reached out to Secretary Kennedy, his team pointed us to the MAHA report, which says that seed oils contribute to imbalances of fatty acids that play "a potential role in inflammation."
So what is the science on seed oils? Let's unpack some of the criticisms.
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QuoteBRIDGEWATER, N.J. (AP) — Elon Musk said he's carrying out his threat to form a new political party after his fissure with President Donald Trump, announcing the America Party in response to the president's sweeping tax cuts law.
Musk, once an ever-present ally to Trump as he headed up the slashing agency known as the Department of Government Efficiency, broke with the Republican president over his signature legislation, which was signed into law Friday.
As the bill made its way through Congress, Musk threatened to form the "America Party"if "this insane spending bill passes."
"When it comes to bankrupting our country with waste & graft, we live in a one-party system, not a democracy," Musk said Saturday on X, the social media company he owns. "Today, the America Party is formed to give you back your freedom."
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Subject: Shooting at the Queen City Deli
On July 5th, 2025, at approximately 1:12 AM, Officers of the Elmira Police Department were dispatched to the area of Broadway Ave and Mt Zoar St for a report of a large disturbance. While
Officers were responding to the area, Officers were informed that a firearm was involved in the disturbance.
Officers arrived at the scene within seconds to find a crowd of over 100 people gathered.
Officers then observed a group of individuals in the intersection who were tending to a male that was laying on the ground, suffering from a gunshot wound to his abdomen. As other officers were arriving on scene, they observed a black truck leave the area at a high rate of speed.
Officers followed this vehicle to the Arnot Ogden Medical Center, where they discovered that the male driver of this vehicle had also suffered a gunshot wound to his left thigh. Through the early investigation it was learned that the male found on the ground was the intended target of the shooting, and the other male was a bystander struck by a stray bullet. Both males are currently being treated at the hospital.
Investigators from the Elmira Police were called to the scene as well as Evidence Technicians to begin investigating the incident. This incident is still under investigation and anyone with any information is encouraged to contact the Elmira Police Department at 607-737-5626 or the Tip Line at 607-271-HALT.
The Elmira Police Department was assisted by the Chemung County Sheriff’s Office, ElmiraHeights Police Department, West Elmira Police Department, Horseheads Police Department, New York State Police, Elmira Fire Department, and Erway’s Ambulance.
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QuoteStar Wars actor Kenneth Colley has died at the age of 87, his agent has announced.
The film and television performer is best known for starring in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi as Admiral Piett, an imperial officer in command of Darth Vader's flagship.
He died peacefully at his home in Ashford, Kent, on Monday after contracting Covid and developing pneumonia, his agent Julian Owen said in a statement.
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On July 2, 2025, the New York State Police at SP Horseheads announce the arrest of Grace E. Balthazor, age 33, from Elmira, NY and Devin G. Lavalley, age 37, from Burlington Flats, NY for Predatory Sexual Assault Against a Child (A II Felony) and Use of a Child in a Sexual Performance (C Felony).
The arrest was subsequent to an investigation into a sexual assault that occurred to a 1-year-old female victim and the video recording of the same.
Lavalley and Balthazor were arraigned in the City of Elmira Court, where they were remanded to the Chemung County Jail with no bail pending future court action.
The New York State Police in Horseheads were assisted in this investigation by the State Police Computer Crimes Unit and the New York State Police at SP Sidney Bureau of Criminal Investigation Unit.
Police say this is an ongoing investigation.
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QuotePresident Trump's massive spending and tax cut bill is on the way to his desk for a signature. The bill passed Thursday after Republican leaders in the House of Representatives convinced holdouts in their own party to get in line behind the controversial legislation.
House Republicans passed the bill by a vote of 218 to 214, nearly entirely along party lines. All 212 Democrats voted in unison against the bill, and were joined by two Republicans, Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania. Leaders were forced to work all night to win the votes necessary to pass to meet Trump's demand to sign the bill by July 4.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., pledged in a speech on the House floor that the bill would make the country "stronger, safer and more prosperous than ever before."
"Today we are laying a key cornerstone of America's new golden age," he said.
The sprawling GOP bill — clocking in at nearly 1,000 pages — represents a dramatic realignment of the federal government's role in American life, shifting resources from the social safety net and investments in clean energy, and reorienting them to finance trillions of dollars in new spending on tax cuts, immigration enforcement and national defense.
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Elmira, NY – The Lecom Event Center is entering an exciting new chapter as it transitions to new ownership. Mark Margeson, Chairman of the Chemung County Industrial Development Agency (IDA), announced today that an agreement has been reached with Tracey and Marc Stemerman, owners of the Elmira Aviators Organization, to assume ownership of the 25-year-old facility.
“The management agreement leading to a purchase of the Lecom Event Center aligns perfectly with our business model to build a sustainable and profitable hockey operation,” said Stemerman. The Elmira Aviators Tier II Junior A hockey team, which debuted last season in the North American Hockey League (NAHL), will continue to call the Event Center home. Additionally, the organization revealed that the North American Tier III Hockey League (NA3HL) Binghamton Buzz will relocate to Elmira and rebrand as the Buzz. The Aviators are also expanding player development through the launch of U-18 and U-16 Academies, while the Junior Aviators program will oversee the growing local youth hockey community, now boasting over 250 players.
Margeson emphasized the broader economic benefits of the agreement, stating, “With 125 young hockey players living at Elmira College and 30 to 40 attending Notre Dame High School, the local economic impact is significant. Based on national spending averages for youth and travel hockey, it’s estimated that out-of-town families spend between $500–$1,000 per trip on lodging, dining, gas, and entertainment, according to estimates from the Chemung County Chamber of Commerce.”
“With over 70 games scheduled across four teams and hundreds of visiting families expected throughout the season, this could result in an estimated economic impact of $1.5 to $2 million or more over the year,” added Chamber President Jennifer Herrick.
Ray Welsh will continue in his role as General Manager of the Aviators, and additional staff will be brought on to accommodate the organization’s growth.
The agreement begins with a 90-day operational phase, during which the Stemerman family organization will take over daily operations. The IDA will complete the final sale and officially close their books at the conclusion of this period.
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Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that she is demanding the Department of Public Service scrutinize the proposed rate hikes the New York State Electric and Gas (NYSEG) and the Rochester Gas and Electric Corporation (RG&E) are seeking, protecting consumers from sky-high utility costs that are making New York State less affordable.
“At a time when New Yorkers are struggling to meet everyday costs, New York State Electric and Gas (NYSEG) and the Rochester Gas and Electric Corporation (RG&E) must find a way to avoid these unacceptably high rate hikes,” Governor Hochul said. “I am calling on the Department of Public Service to scrutinize these proposals to ensure these companies have the resources to keep our energy grid going but are not making additional profit off the backs of ratepayers.”
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QuoteCNN — The Federal Reserve would likely have lowered interest rates this year if it weren’t for President Donald Trump’s significant policy changes, Chair Jerome Powell said Tuesday.
“I do think that’s right,” he said at a central banking forum in Sintra, Portugal, when asked if the Fed would have cut rates by now.
The Fed hasn’t lowered interest rates at all this year: Central bankers broadly expect Trump’s tariffs to have some effect on the US economy and they’ve said that they want to see how the dust settles first before resuming rate cuts.
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QuoteCNN — The truce between Elon Musk and President Donald Trump didn’t even last a month.
After the Senate narrowly passed a procedural vote to debate Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” over the weekend, Musk on Monday said he would use his vast resources to launch primary campaigns against Republicans in Congress who voted for the massive domestic policy agenda. Musk spent much of Monday and early Tuesday morning posting and re-posting messages that criticize the tax cut and spending bill — particularly for its sky-high cost.
Trump late Monday night fought back, suggesting his administration may investigate Musk’s companies’ massive government contracts. On Tuesday at the White House, Trump said Musk risked losing “a lot more” than government subsidies and threatened that the Department of Government Efficiency that Musk once led may become a monster that will “go back and eat Elon.”
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QuoteWASHINGTON (AP) — Ticks can be active in any season and it’s important to check for and remove the bloodsuckers as quickly as possible — especially after you’ve been outside hiking, gardening or enjoying nature.
“Humans are outside more in summer so we hear about more tick infections,” said Sam Telford, an infectious diseases expert at Tufts University. But he urges caution year-round because “every season is tick season.”
While tick populations vary a lot regionally, some Northeastern states including Maine, Massachusetts and Rhode Island are seeing “above average” numbers of American dog ticks this year, said Telford.
And New York state is seeing a higher number of reported deer tick bites this year than last year, said Saravanan Thangamani, who studies tick-borne diseases at SUNY Upstate Medical University.
A main worry is blacklegged ticks, also called deer ticks, which can spread Lyme disease. Once found mainly in New England and pockets of the Midwest, the ticks are now present over a wider range.
A tick bite doesn’t always lead to illness. “If you remove a tick within 24 hours of attachment, it’s fairly unlikely that you will get infected,” said Telford.
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In a recent ranking of counties across New York state according to wealth, Chemung County placed 52nd out of 62 with a median household income of $63,469.
Other counties that ranked low included other Southern Tier counties, including Broome, Chenango, Alleghany and Cattaraugus.
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QuoteSome 300,000 New York households could lose all or part of their monthly food payments under program changes in the massive federal bill Republicans hope to lug across the finish line this week.
That estimate comes from the Hochul administration, which has joined with New York's Democratic senators and House members in sounding alarms about the bill's looming impact on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. The changes in the GOP bill would force more SNAP beneficiaries to prove they're working and would shift a chunk of the program's costs to states for the first time.
Some 3 million New Yorkers with low incomes or disabilities rely on SNAP — formerly known as food stamps — to buy groceries. Many must already prove they're working at least 80 hours a month to qualify under existing rules. If the pending bill becomes law, people ages 55 to 64 would have to do so as well for the first time. So would parents with school-age children 7 and older under the House bill.
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QuoteThe mayor of the city of Elmira, Dan Mandell, and other Council Members say they don't believe that Grasso obtained a copy of the email from a whistleblower.
"First off, that's a very strong and brazen allegation to make, especially when no research or investigation was done into the validity of them," said Grasso. "The communication was valid between two department heads, and again, I stress that it was obtained ethically and legally."
Mayor Mandell responded, saying, "Council Member Grasso doesn't think he did anything wrong, but you know, getting an unauthorized document, that we basically know how he got it. I'm not gonna get into detail right now, but the way he did it was underhanded and it's typical of this councilman and the way he behaves...The fact that he's saying it's a whistleblower, I can tell you right now that is not true. There is nothing here in that document that we had or that he had that would require a whistleblower type of matter here. Period."
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QuoteThe Allen-Berry Bridge in Elmira, formerly the Madison Avenue Bridge, received its new plaque this week highlighting two local pioneering civil rights leaders: A’Don Allen and Bessie Berry.
According to Elmira Mayor Daniel Mandell, the plaque was completed earlier this year and installed on June 20. The dedication ceremony was held on June 25.
City officials, Mandell, Fifth District City Councilmember Jackie Wilson and former Mayor James Hare attended the unveiling of the plaque on Wednesday.
Hare was instrumental in coordinating efforts to rename the bridge to commemorate Allen and Berry.
The bridge was dedicated and renamed the Allen-Berry Bridge during a Juneteenth ceremony last year. The recommendation to rename the bridge was introduced to the Elmira City Council last March and unanimously approved.
Other members of the committee to rename the bridge included community leaders Holly Strickland, Jeff Aaron, Second District Councilmember Corey Cooke and Georgia Verdier, president of the Elmira-Corning chapter of the NAACP.
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Today, Congressman Nick Langworthy (NY-23) announced the Federal Aviation Administration has awarded $1,580,131 to Corning Regional Airport for reconstructing an existing terminal building roof. The FAA awarded Corning Regional an additional $615,943 grant to improve a snow removal equipment storage building.
“Corning’s airport is a vital resource for the regional economy,” said Congressman Langworthy. “This federal investment will ensure the airport can make necessary upgrades that enhance safety, improve operations, and support long-term development across the Southern Tier. I’ll always fight for infrastructure that delivers results for our rural communities.”
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Elmira Police have released the following update on this incident:
The Elmira Police Department has concluded its investigation into this matter. It was determined through interviews with eyewitnesses and from video in the area that the individual involved had intentionally set himself on fire.
The Elmira Police Department has been notified that the victim in this case died at an area hospital as a result of his injuries. Out of respect for the deceased and their family, the identity of the victim will not be released.
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The Chemung County Sheriff’s Office announces the arrests of a 15-year-old juvenile and a 14-year-old juvenile of Horseheads, NY for Promoting an Obscene Sexual Performance by a Child, a Class D Felony of the NY State Penal Law, and Possessing an Obscene Sexual Performance by a Child, a Class E Felony of the NY State Penal Law.
On Friday, June 6, 2025, the Chemung County Sheriff’s Office was notified by the Special Patrol Officer, assigned to Horseheads High School, of an incident regarding an inappropriate video that was taken of another student while in the bathroom of the school. The incident was turned over to the Criminal Division for further investigation.
During the investigation, it was determined that a student was unknowingly recorded by other students while in the bathroom of the school. The recorded video was observed by multiple students in person as well as being sent via Snapchat.
As a result of this investigation, the two juvenile students were arrested for Promoting an Obscene Sexual Performance by a Child, a Class D Felony of the NYS Penal Law, and Possessing an Obscene Sexual Performance by a Child, a Class E Felony of the NYS Penal Law. Both juveniles were issued an appearance ticket to appear in the Chemung County Family Court at a later date.
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ELMIRA, NY, JUNE 25, 2025– The Chemung County Historical Society (CCHS) will host a community read-aloud of the US Constitution on Thursday, July 3, 2025 to increase awareness of our nation’s founding document.
The event will take place on the Powers Stage at the Clemens Center. The event will start at 10 am and is expected to last an hour. Community members should sign up through the museum’s website or by calling the museum at 607-734-4167.
CCHS is also encouraging other communities to host their own reading of this important document.
The event will be filmed to be a companion piece to the upcoming exhibit, Voice and Votes, a Smithsonian traveling exhibit on display throughout New York State. The exhibit arrives at the Chemung Valley History Museum in early October.
Readers and Audience members are asked to leave all political clothing, signs, and paraphernalia outside the venue for this nonpartisan event.
The event is free and open to the public.Parking is available at the Centertown Parking Garage on Gray Street, cash only. Accessible parking spots have been added on the ground level for a total of 17.
Parking in the WETM parking lot is not permitted. Violators risk being towed.
If you park across Clemens Center Parkway, be sure to use the pedestrian crosswalk or cross at the corners only.
Please enter the building through the Box Office vestibule.
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One half of the famous Sgro Brothers, Tony, has died. He was 91
Here's a clip from 1955:
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QuoteBobby Sherman, whose winsome smile and fashionable shaggy mop top helped make him into a teen idol in the 1960s and ’70s with bubblegum pop hits like “Little Woman” and “Julie, Do Ya Love Me,” has died. He was 81.
His wife, Brigitte Poublon, announced the death Tuesday and family friend John Stamos posted her message on Instagram: “Bobby left this world holding my hand — just as he held up our life with love, courage, and unwavering grace.” Sherman revealed he had Stage 4 cancer earlier this year.
Local Weapons Arrests
in Local News
Posted
The Chemung County Sheriff’s Office announces the arrest of 53-year-old Kevin J. Clark of Van Etten, NY for Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a Class C Felony.
On Saturday July 5, 2025, a deputy from the Chemung County Sheriff’s Office Road Patrol Division conducted a traffic stop on State Route 34, in the Town of Van Etten, for violation of the NYS Vehicle and Traffic Law. While conducting the traffic stop, the driver and passenger appeared extremely nervous, and a further investigation was conducted. During the investigation, the driver and passenger were removed from the vehicle and a search of the vehicle was conducted. During the search, deputies located a loaded 9mm handgun in the vehicle and both the driver and passenger were detained.
As a result of the investigation, Clark was arrested for Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, arraigned in the Town of Van Etten Court, and remanded to the Chemung County Jail.