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The Pain of Prison I never knew how much prison could affect a child until I got home to really witness it for myself. Rebuilding a relationship with my youngest child by far is the hardest part of my reintegration process. I left when Aaliyah was 4, at an age when all she wanted was her dad. I couldn’t leave …

Dozens protest the decision to invest in an aquarium while so many in Syracuse live in poverty By April Santana South Side resident Ida Stewart knows how she would spend the county’s $85 million surplus: Health care for seniors and children, food security, housing, and on the fight against lead poisoning, for starters. Not on her list? An aquarium for …

Spades is More Than a Game “I would say it’s embedded within our community and even I’ll take a step further and just Black culture in general. People love playing Spades,” Tyrone Dixon said. “It brings out emotions, but it also brings out a kind of happiness and cares in good times.” Dixon was born and raised in Syracuse where …

Dear County Executive Ryan McMahon, Our community is in need of funds for housing, for mental and physical healthcare, childcare and social services and to adequately address the lead crisis affecting young children and their families. According to the best estimate, each year — more than 600 children in our county are poisoned by exposure to toxic lead, primarily from …

Motivation from the Next Generation Guest Column by Habakkuk Nickens Within the first two years of my prison bid, I received a letter from my daughter, Ariahanna.  This letter was unlike the others she had sent. In this particular one, she asked me if I would be home to make it to her high school graduation. With two years completed …

In May 2022, Habakkuk Nickens returned home from a 20-year prison sentence, convicted on racketeering charges. His time was cut short thanks to a compassionate release motion and the First Step Act, which reduces prisoners’ time based on participation in recidivism programs. His contributed column, “Seeking Redemption,” will document his return home. Column 1: Seeking Redemption Column 2: My Return …

A Father’s Day Dream Guest Column by Habakkuk Nickens My first Father’s Day out was more than I could ever imagine. There were so many years in prison spent only receiving cards and letters from my kids. I never got the chance to actually experience their characters and personalities. Experiencing that now was something I always dreamed of.  And now my …

First Downtown Festival is held since Federal Holiday Recognition By Darian Stevenson Quintal Stitt has had memories of Juneteenth celebrations in the city of Syracuse since childhood. Now, years later, Stitt continues to build those memories with his family so they too can celebrate and come to reminisce on the now federal holiday known as Juneteenth National Independence Day. “Although …

Reporter Debrief: Jeff Kramer on Syracuse’s Humanitarian Parolees “I remember at one point, the most dramatic, it felt like being in a movie,” said Jeff Kramer, in recalling assisting Saboor Sakhizada to evacuate his family from Afghanistan after the fall. “We were sitting in my truck, in the rain, with him in the front seat, and I was helping him …

The Stand to offer free Fatherhood Portraits to dads on their big day