Tasers In Syracuse Schools

Two Teens Tasered: Warranted
By Scott Campbell

SYRACUSE, NY - A 16-year-old Nottingham High School student was subdued by a school police officer, using a taser. The taser was used by the officer after the student struck him in the face.

The incident is the second time this week a taser was used to tame a student. On Monday a similar incident took place at Fowler High School. In both cases Police Chief Gary Miguel says the use of tasers were warranted.

Why Tasers?

Miguel says Syracuse Police Officers have carried guns for years, but this is the first full year the officers have carried tasers. Because the use of tasers were considered necessary, the officers will continue to carry them.

Toyota Recall

Total Recall
By Scott Campbell

WASHINGTON - In a year that has been one to forget for auto dealers, more bad news on the way, this time from Toyota. Toyota announced that as many as 3.8 million vehicles will be recalled in the United States.

The problem with the cars relates to the floor mats, which have caused the accelerator to get stuck, leading to crashes. The recall affects five Toyota models and three Lexus models in the range of years from 2004-2010.

To see if your car is on the list, visit this site.

Saturn Shutdown

Local Auto Slump Continues

By Scott Campbell

DETROIT, MI - General Motors has announced that it will officially shut down its Saturn Division.

After a tentative deal with Penske Automotive Group fell through, the Group was unable to find a manufacturer to make Saturns. No lay-offs are expected, but the brand will be phased out as soon as possible according to a GM spokeswoman.

Local Impact

The news comes at a bad time for local auto dealers, as the Syracuse area finds itself in one of its worst sales slumps in the auto industries history.

Local Saturn dealerships are slated to join a long list of dealerships to shut down. The most recent to shut down, Romano Chevrolet, who shut their doors last week.

Salina Street Fire

Firefighter Rescued From Attic
By Scott Campbell

SYRACUSE, NY - An early morning fire at a two-family home on 3009 South Salina Street gave one firefighter a big scare. While inside the burning home, a firefighter, whose name has not been released, found himself trapped in the attic with no air.

While battling the fire a "Mayday" call was heard, alerting the firemen that one of their colleagues was in trouble. Firefighters were able to pull the man from the attic and transport him to University Hospital, where he was treated for smoke inhalation and a cut to his face, according to Lt. Ken Heffernan.

Firefighters proceeded with putting out spot fires and have not yet begun an investigation. Heffernan says it appears the home was under renovation and no one was in the home.

Facebook Threat

Juvenile Responsible For Threat to President

By Scott Campbell

WASHINGTON - The Secret Service has determined the source of a Facebook survey asking peoples opinion on the assassination of President Barack Obama. The survey was conducted by a juvenile, according to an agency spokesperson on Thursday.

According to spokesman Edwin Donovan, no charges will be filed against the juvenile or his parents. The names of the child and parents will not be identified.

THE POLL

The poll was posted on Facebook on Saturday and was taken down quickly once officials were alerted to its existence. As expected the Secret Service took no chances and took the threat very seriously.

The poll stated the question, "Should Obama Be Killed?" The choices, No, Maybe, Yes, and Yes if he cuts my health care.

Secret Service agents met with the child and his parents and determined the threat to be harmless and characterized it as "a mistake," said Donovan.

Fans Returning to the Carrier Dome

Fans filing into the Carrier Dome is the latest sign that Syracuse football is on the way back. The Carrier Dome Manager Pat Campbell says a number of different factors has attendance on the rise.

Campbell stated that the new head coach, Doug Marrone, the hometown quarterback, Greg Paulus, as well as the $15 tickets in the upperdeck has fans flocking back to the Loud House.

"We think attendance is only going to rise throughout the year if the team does well because of the Big East schedule," said Campbell.

If attendance does rise, the Orange could push across an average mark of 42 or 43,000 people per game. Last year, Syracuse struggled to put more than 30,000 in the Dome for some games.

Watch the Story

Manhatten Man Escapes

Escape From Manhatten Court



By Scott Campbell


MANHATTEN, NY - According to the Associated Press, the search for 56-year-old Ronald Tackman continues today. Tackman, a robbery suspect, casually strolled out of a Manhatten courthouse where he was mistaken for a lawyer.

Tackman was wearing a suit on Wednesday when a court officer spotted him on his way out and mistook him for a lawyer. This isn't Tackman's first escape attempt, in fact he has a criminal record dating back to 1978.

It wasn't long before Tackman escaped that he visited his mother and changed clothes. His mother, Gene Devine, told NY1 television that her son came home, "all dressed up." Devine took the appearance of her son as a sign that he was discharged from prison.

Tackman changed his clothes and was last seen wearing a black jacket and blue jeans.