Here’s a look back on some major events that happened throughout New York state in the year 2025.

January

Spectrum News 1 spent seven months talking with families in Steuben County who alleged a farm that spread sewage sludge on farmland contaminated their drinking wells and creeks with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Also known as “forever chemicals,” they have been linked to human health issues such as increased cancer rates, decreased immune response and birth defects. In January, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released a draft risk assessment of the use of sewage sludge on farmland and found that those living next to sites that spread the biosolids at risk of being exposed to PFAS. This was the first time the agency spoke out about the impact of PFAS in sewage sludge. 

Eva Turner stands for a portrait near her creek which she believes was contaminated by sewage sludge spread on farmland in Steuben County. (Emily Kenny/Spectrum News 1)

Water being treated at the Watertown Wastewater Treatment Plant. Angel French, the chief operating officer at the Watertown wastewater treatment plant said they have only gotten positive feedback from farmers who use their biosolids. The plant takes in 10 million gallons of water per day and produces 4,000 wet tons of biosolids every year. (Emily Kenny/Spectrum News 1)

February

Following massive amounts of snow, an Oneida County farmer experienced a tragic loss of 60 cows after his barn collapsed. Richard Pedersen had about 100 cows and were hoping to expand the herd with the births of calves in the spring.

“Ever since the first of January, we got 75 inches here and that’s just kept coming,” Pedersen said.

Pedersen reaches out to touch one of the cows that survived the barn collapse. Many of his neighbors have come to help support them in the clean-up efforts which Pedersen said he is grateful for. (Emily Kenny/Spectrum News 1)

March

On Feb. 17, prison guards across New York state began to strike in protest of poor working conditions. The strike persisted through the month of March despite Gov. Kathy Hochul’s efforts to get them back to work. After 22 days, the strike ended on March 12. 

A prison guard holds a strike sign up outside of Auburn Correctional Facility. (Emily Kenny/Spectrum News 1)

April

Ryan Dunham, a resident of New Scotland, said the farmer who owns the field across from his house spread sewage sludge on the land. Shortly after, Dunham’s daughter was in the shower when she yelled to him. 

“When I opened the door, I saw the water coming from the shower head was brown and had a foul, sour, rotten stench,” Dunham said.

Albany County Health Department then tested the Dunham’s well and found high levels of E. Coli and Coliform, which led him to advocate for legislation to place a moratorium on the use of sewage sludge. New York lawmakers proposed a five-year moratorium citing Dunham’s story among other concerns about PFAS chemicals.

Dunham stands at his kitchen sink in his New Scotland home. (Emily Kenny/Spectrum News 1)

May

Brett Chedzoy, owner of Angus Glen farms in Watkins Glen, is taking advantage of New York’s rich forest land by raising his head of 500 beef cattle with a practice called silvopasturing. This technique incorporates trees and grazing livestock on the same land with intentional management practices for forest products and forage. New York has 18 million acres of forest land, and Chedzoy believes this technique could help expand the beef industry in the state.

Angus cattle grazing on Chedzoy’s farm. (Emily Kenny/Spectrum News 1)

June

A 105 mph tornado killed three people in Oneida County on June 22, including two children. In Kirkland, Emily Bisson and Kenni Bission, both 6 years old, died when a tree collapsed on their home on Hoyland Avenue. The third person, Shelly Johnson, was killed too after a tree fell on her home on Millstream Court. The following day was very hot and thousands were without power so in an effort to help children cool off, the Oneida Fire Department ran their water hoses for them. 

Kids sit under the fire hose in the city of Oneida. (Emily Kenny/Spectrum News 1)

July

Micron hosted a public hearing following the release of the draft environmental impact statement. Each person was given three minutes to speak, and when time became available at the end, they were given another opportunity. Some of the concerns brought up by neighbors of the Clay development included a loss of wetlands, PFAS chemicals, increased rent and lack of housing. 

On Nov. 6, the Onondaga County Industrial Development Agency accepted the final environemtnal impact report. 

People enter the school where the public hearing was held. (Emily Kenny/Spectrum News 1)

August

The New York State Fair is held every August, and this year was no different. New acts including a lumberjack show, and a stunt dog show drew large crowds and Dubai chocolate seemed to be the most popular new flavor for many food vendors. Additionally, 51 people earned the permanent citizenship status during a naturalization ceremony at the fair.

A little girl is held by her dad during a naturalization ceremony at the New York State Fair. (Emily Kenny/Spectrum News 1)

A lumberjill raises her axe during the lumbrejack show at the fair. (Emily Kenny/Spectrum News 1)

September 

On Sept. 4, federal agents decended upon the Nutrition Bar Confectioners factory in Cato. The immigration raid resulted in the detainment of 57 people. Many of the family members of those detained couldn’t locate those taken from the facility. At least one person was deported within 48 hours despite having a valid work permit. Since the raid, a federal judge ruled that the actions by agents violated a worker’s Fourth Amendment rights.

Federal agents escort people out of the Nutrition Bar Confectioners factory. (Emily Kenny/Spectrum News 1)

An employee hugs another employee who was released from the facility. (Emily Kenny/Spectrum News 1)

October

Family homelessness has skyrocketed around New York state since 2022. Many counties have run out of shelter space to put them so they have resulted to using hotels. Onondaga County spent $3.4 million last year putting families up in hotels, and Erie County spent $13.1 million. Spectrum News 1 spent months looking into the spending, hotel conditions and how families end up in this position. Alica Burkart was another single mom living out of the Budget Inn. She and her son were there for six months but she was finally able to find her own apartment.

The Budget Inn on S Salina Street in Syracuse houses only families, and has no rooms open to the public. The county has spent nearly $1 million last year to house families here. (Emily Kenny/Spectrum News 1)

A little boy plays in the parking lot across the street from the Budget Inn. He and his mother Alazea Darrow lived in the hotel for about three weeks but have since found a permanent home. (Emily Kenny/Spectrum News 1)

Burkhart stands for a portrait in her new apartment. (Emily Kenny/Spectrum News 1)

November

The City of Syracuse elected its first Black mayor, Sharon Owens, and she is the second woman to hold the position. Owens was the former deputy mayor under Ben Walsh. She will be inaugurated on Jan. 3. 

Sharon Owens celebrates her campagin win. (Emily Kenny/Spectrum News 1)

Former Syracuse mayor Ben Walsh hugs Owens after her win. (Emily Kenny/Spectrum News 1)

December 

Much of upstate New York got a lot of snow throughout the month of December. Syracuse had one of the snowiest days on record with over 18 inches of snow on Tuesday.

A pedestrian walks through downtown Syracuse. (Emily Kenny/Spectrum News 1)

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