🌱 Synthetic Marijuana Warning + Utica Schools 12.25% Budget Increase

Hello there, Utica. I'm here in your inbox per usual to tell you everything you need to know about what's going on in town.

But first, today's weather:

Some sun, then clouds; warmer. High: 85 Low: 54.

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Here are the top three stories in Utica today:

1. Utica police have issued a warning to residents to be alert for laced synthetic marijuana after responding to several overdoses in the area. Authorities believe the victims in each case consumed synthetic marijuana containing benzodiazepine, a form of sedative found in Valium and Xanax. Victims reported experiencing slow or labored breathing and near unconsciousness. (CNY)
2. On Tuesday, the acting superintendent of the Utica City School District, Brian Nolan, presented the district’s 2023–24 preliminary budget, which includes a 12.25 percent budget increase with no increase in taxes. This puts the proposed budget at $243,340,050, a nearly $30 million increase from the previous budget of $213,512,562. Nolan said the reasons for the increase include the need for more staff and services for students, charter school tuition increases, contractual obligations, transportation costs, debt service, and supply costs. (Subscription: Rome Sentinel)
3. The Oneida County Board of Legislators voted to pay a Rochester company almost $500,000 to take aerial photos of the county to help with emergency planning and response. The county will pay $77,757.13 annually over the next six years for the service. “The services are utilized by Emergency Services in conjunction with the Computer Aided dispatch system to assist in mapping calls for service,” said the Oneida County Director of Emergency Services Edward Stevens. “The service can also be used to evaluate the terrain and other potential obstacles a first responder could face when responding to an event.” (Utica Observer-Dispatch)

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Today in Utica:

• ACR Health Earth Day Cleanup At 287 Genesee Street (12:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• The Utica Police Department is asking for the public's help in finding two men who have been charged with the murder of a 24-year-old man in November. Officials are looking for any information on the locations of Jamel Baker, 19, and Curon Jackson, 23. Anyone with information on their whereabouts is asked to call the U.S. Marshal Service at 315-690-1834 or UPD at 315-223-3461. (Subscription: Rome Sentinel)
• Several Oneida County volunteer fire departments will join departments across the state this weekend for the annual RecruitNY open house geared towards bringing on new volunteers. If you know anyone who may be curious about the life of a firefighter, you should let them know about this event. (Subscription: Rome Sentinel)
• An important update for runners who may have been considering joining this year's Boilermaker 15K: the race has reached capacity, and there is now a waiting list. The cap was set at 8,500 this year. As of this writing, there are still 800 spots left for the 5K race. (WKTV)

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Featured events:

• World Premiere: A Festival of Psalms Choral Concert with Organist David Briggs (April 21)
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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Friday. See you all soon for another update!

— Nicole Fallon-Peek

About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.