The Inner Harbor Aquarium's price tag just got real

For the first time since construction started, the full cost of the Inner Harbor Aquarium is on the table: $103.8 million total, per the Onondaga County Legislature, with $85 million in public funds and $5.9 million raised by the Friends of the Aquarium nonprofit. County Comptroller Marty Masterpole said he hadn't heard the final figure until a recent meeting between the Friends group and the legislature. Anonymous donors are filling part of the gap, and County Executive McMahon says those names will be revealed when the aquarium opens, and some will have their names on tanks. The facility is 66% complete and still on track for a summer 2026 opening.

The take: The price ballooned, the donor list is secret, and the legislature is not thrilled. But the building is two-thirds done, and the fish are reportedly on their way. Whether you love it or resent it, this thing is happening.

🔗 Read more at CNY Central

Healthcare workers, union leaders, and elected officials gathered at Crouse Hospital on Friday to sound the alarm about a looming $2 billion Medicaid funding gap tied to federal cuts under H.R.1, also known as the "Big Beautiful Bill." Union leaders say nearly 119,000 people in Onondaga County rely on Medicaid for their coverage. More than 26% of Crouse's patients receive Medicaid support, making it one of the facilities most exposed to any cuts. State Sen. Rachel May warned that pushing people off coverage often forces them into far more expensive emergency care.

The take: This isn't an abstract budget debate; it's a story about your neighbors, your local hospitals, and what happens if the safety net gets pulled tighter. Worth watching closely as Albany's budget deadline approaches.

🔗 Read more at CNY Central

The groundbreaking happened in January, the shovels are in the ground in Clay, and construction is underway. But community groups like Neighbors for a Better Micron are pressing the company for legally binding commitments on environmental goals and job promises, not just assurances. Concerns center on the plant's use of PFAS chemicals, which are widely used in semiconductor manufacturing and known to contaminate water and ecosystems. Advocates want enforceable guarantees before a $100 billion project reshapes the region for generations.

The take: CNY desperately wants Micron's jobs and economic lift. It also deserves clean water and real accountability. Those two things shouldn't be mutually exclusive.

🔗 Read more at The Daily Orange

The No. 9 seed Syracuse Orange women's basketball team faces No. 8 Iowa State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Saturday, with tip-off set for 5:30 p.m. in Storrs, Connecticut. The matchup hinges on a battle of dominant big women: SU freshman Uche Izoje, the 2026 ACC Rookie of the Year, averaged 15.5 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game this season, and she'll have her hands full with Iowa State's Audi Crooks, who posted 25.5 points per game on a historic shooting clip. This is Syracuse's first trip back to the Tournament since their loss to top-seeded UConn two years ago.

The take: Uche Izoje is the real deal. If she can neutralize Crooks, the Orange have a shot. Worth staying up for.

🔗 Read more at Spectrum News

The Syracuse Rescue Mission's emergency shelter has hit its limits, with CEO Dan Sieburg reporting the shelter has housed nearly 700 separate people at risk of homelessness since the start of winter cold weather. The shelter is calling for donations. If you can help with supplies, funds, or volunteering, now's a good time.

The take: Spring can't come fast enough for a lot of our neighbors. If you have the means to give, the Rescue Mission is one of the most direct ways to help.

🔗 Read more at Spectrum News

This week is a classic CNY late-March mood swing. Monday looks breezy and warm, with highs near 66°F and rain likely in the afternoon. South winds with gusts up to 43 mph are in the mix. Then Wednesday brings a reality check: rain and snow are possible before 2 am, then a chance of lingering snow as temperatures fall back. Basically, if you went and bought spring clothes this weekend, put the flip flops back in the closet until at least Thursday.

The plan: Rock a light jacket Monday, have the winter coat within reach mid-week, and by the weekend, you should be looking at 40s and patchy sun. Good enough to get outside. Probably 🤞

🎶 The Bog Brothers at Funk 'n Waffles, 7:30 PM. The beloved Syracuse folk duo kicks off the week with their signature blend of storytelling and acoustic warmth. If you've never caught them live, this is the easiest yes in CNY. | Tickets

🎨 Stay Fresh Artist Series 032: Anthony Beckham runs through April 3. Local illustrator and painter whose humor-forward characters feel like they wandered out of a dream. Sponsored by Skytop Coffee and 315 Brewing Co. | Free | Downtown Syracuse | Details

🎙️ The Dollop Podcast Live at the Oncenter Carrier Theater, 7:30 PM. History comedy podcast hits Syracuse on its live tour. Comedians Dave Anthony and Gareth Reynolds do a live taping where Dave reads Gareth a wild, unheard-of story from American history. If you like laughing at how ridiculous this country has always been, this is your Monday night. | Tickets from $61 | Tickets

🎸 Brit Floyd: The Moon, The Wall and Beyond at the Oncenter Crouse Hinds Theater, 7:30 PM. The world's premier Pink Floyd tribute brings its most ambitious production yet to Syracuse, with full performances of The Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall, lasers, inflatables, and stadium-scale staging. The closest you'll get to the real thing without a time machine. | Tickets from $75 | Tickets

🍳 Vegan Cooking Class at St. Elias Orthodox Church. Hands-on Middle Eastern cooking with dinner, coffee, and dessert included. Runs Tuesdays and Thursdays through March 31. | $35/class or $120 for four | Details

🍺 Trivia Night at Meier's Creek Brewing (Inner Harbor), 7:00 PM. Every Wednesday, Syracuse Trivia Company takes over one of the city's newest breweries on the edge of Onondaga Lake for general knowledge trivia with a rotating theme each week. Teams of up to 7, no cover, and the beer list is excellent. A perfect hump day reset. | Free | Details

🎨 Joyce Kozloff: Contested Territories, 1983-2023 at the Everson Museum, through April 5. Four decades of map-based works that ask hard questions about how geography, power, and ideology shape the world we think we know. Worth a midweek visit. | Free with admission | Details

📷 Double Opening Reception at Light Work, 5:00-7:00 PM. Two new shows open tonight at Light Work on the SU campus. We're Just Here for the Bad Guys by Brian Van Lau is a deeply personal documentary project following his estranged father in Vietnam. Alongside it, Arcanite Pictures: Oracle in the Aperture showcases emerging photographers from the platform Van Lau founded. Both run through May 22. | Free | 316 Waverly Ave | Details

🎶 Grupo Pagan at the 443 Social Club, 7:00 PM. Latin grooves in one of the most intimate rooms in the city. SOLD OUT — but worth knowing about for next time, and worth checking their site for last-minute availability. | Details

🏒 Syracuse Crunch vs. Hershey Bears at Upstate Medical University Arena, 7:00 PM. The Crunch hosts one of the AHL's most storied franchises on a Friday night. Fast hockey, cold rinks, and the kind of energy that's hard to find on a weeknight. | Tickets

🎶 Lil' Ed & The Blues Imperials at the 443 Social Club, 7:00 PM. SOLD OUT — Lil' Ed Williams is a Chicago blues legend and one of the rawest, electrifying live performers in the genre. Keep an eye on their site to see if any tickets open up. | Details

🛍️ CNY Regional Market in full Saturday glory. Produce, baked goods, crafts, and the best people-watching in the city as spring finally starts feeling real. | 7 AM-2 PM | Free

🎮 Syracuse Collectors Con at the NYS Fairgrounds Micron Center of Progress, 10:00 AM-5:00 PM (VIP 9:00 AM). CNY's biggest comics, toys, gaming, collectibles, and pop culture show of the year. Vendors, celebrity guests, cosplay contests, and wall-to-wall nostalgia. Runs Saturday and Sunday. | Tickets at the door | Details

🎵 Syracuse Orchestra: Candlelight Pops at Inspiration Hall (709 James St.), 7:00 PM. Six decades of pop and rock hits performed live by the Symphony. An Insider's Experience pre-show starts at 5:30 PM. A legitimately great date night. | Tickets

🎮 Syracuse Collectors Con — Day 2 at the NYS Fairgrounds, 10:00 AM-4:00 PM. Sunday tends to be the calmer, more browsable day — still packed with vendors and finds, with a little more room to breathe. | Tickets at the door | Details

🎬 Silent Film: Ben-Hur (1925) with Live Pipe Organ at the NYS Fairgrounds, 2:00 PM. A 101-year-old epic, live organ score, and a Sunday afternoon. One of those only-in-CNY experiences. | Details

🎭 Joe Turner's Come and Gone at Syracuse Stage, 2:00 PM. Closing day for August Wilson's masterwork. If you haven't seen it, this is the last chance. Open captioned performance. | Tickets from $35 | Tickets

Spring break is the perfect time to bring a new family member home while the kids are around to help them settle in. These three are currently waiting at HumaneCNY in Liverpool and would love to meet you:

Wren is a medium-sized, very sweet boy who absolutely loves his walks. Like the true hound he is, he enjoys following interesting scents along the trail and keeping a watchful eye out for squirrels and rabbits. When something exciting catches his attention, you might hear the classic houndy howl that hound lovers know and adore. 🔗 Meet Wren

Heisenberg A young male Domestic Shorthair who almost certainly did not cook meth. He did, however, cook up a personality worth meeting. Perfect for anyone who appreciates a cat with a little extra drama. 🔗 Meet Heisenberg

Rory is the kind of dog who makes friends wherever she goes. With her warm, friendly personality, she loves spending time with people and enjoys the company of other dogs just as much. 🔗 Meet Rory

📍 HumaneCNY | 4915 West Taft Rd, Liverpool | Mon–Sat, 12–4:30 PM 📞 (315) 457-8762 🔗 See all available animals

Can't adopt right now? HumaneCNY always needs fosters, supplies, and donations.

Work with one of America's 50 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Surgery right here in Syracuse. St. Joe's CVOR team performs roughly 18,000 procedures annually across 16 OR suites, including complex cardiac, vascular, and robotic cases. Up to $10,000 recruitment bonus for qualified RNs, with flexible scheduling and a nationally recognized Magnet nursing environment. 🔗 Apply Now

A Monday-Friday, 7 AM-3:30 PM OR nursing role with no mandatory overtime and up to a $20,000 sign-on bonus for experienced RNs. Pay range of $39.00-$50.00/hour. One year of OR or surgical nursing experience required. A rare chance to work OR hours without the weekend and on-call grind. 🔗 Apply Now

SU is building out its global online education arm and needs an analyst to build enrollment and marketing data infrastructure from scratch. On-campus, full-time. Great opportunity for someone who loves wearing multiple hats and digging into messy datasets to find a clean story. 🔗 Apply Now

A senior leadership role reporting directly to the Chief Lending Officer, overseeing all loan servicing (consumer, mortgage, and commercial), debit and credit card programs, fraud management, and a loan quality control program. Salary range: $145,767–$242,946. 7 🔗 Apply Now

Syracuse University's Drama department is hiring a faculty member with expertise in theater management. An incredible gig for someone who's straddled the worlds of arts administration and education. Apply through the Chronicle of Higher Education. 🔗 Apply Now