As 2017 comes to a close, The Daily Orange News staff took a look back at the fall semester and some of the section’s best enterprise stories. From an investigation into the strange demise of a pizzeria on Marshall Street to a breakdown of the money flowing into Syracuse’s mayoral race, here’s a list of the top 10 best news stories you should read before Dec. 31.

Inside the demise of M Street Pizza

Daily Orange File Photo

After years of reporting, The D.O. uncovered exactly what happened when M Street Pizza shut down in 2016. In the span of 24 hours, pizzeria employees had lost two weeks’ of pay, their jobs and a line of communication with David Jacobs, M Street Pizza’s primary owner and landlord.

1,264 miles: Kevin Treadway was on the brink of homelessness in central Florida. Now he’s starting his first day of classes at Syracuse University.

Ally Moreo | Senior Staff Photograpger

Kevin Treadway and his mother, Cathy Clark, traveled 1,264 miles before finally rounding a bend on Interstate 81 in upstate New York, watching the Carrier Dome roll into view. Stuck in central Florida with virtually no savings, on the brink of homelessness, the family raced to get Treadway north for school. The D.O. followed their journey.

29 years later: How Lockerbie has moved on from the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103

Courtesy of Lawrence Mason

It’s been nearly three decades since Pan Am Flight 103 exploded above this small town, killing 259 passengers, including 35 Syracuse University students, and 11 people on the ground. Reporting from a community that’s been defined by tragedy, The D.O. explored what it means to overcome grief, loss and destruction.

A Syracuse supermarket near a public housing complex is closing. Here’s why that’s worrying residents.

Molly Bolan | Contributing Photographer

The sudden shuttering of a supermarket on the city’s Near Westside, a traditionally low-income neighborhood, stirred anxiety among residents who feared the area could become one of Syracuse’s “food deserts” — an area without affordable, fresh food options within a reasonable walking distance. The D.O. spoke to community members about their concerns.

FIGHTING SPIRIT: Mayor Stephanie Miner reflects on her 8-year tenure, leading the city of Syracuse, fighting for the underdog

Codie Yan | Staff Photographer

Over the course of eight years, outgoing Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner has created an identity out of her government position. She’s sparred with powerful officials, including New York state Gov. Andrew Cuomo. But many of the people she’s disagreed with have come to respect her fight for the underdog.

Syracuse University’s academic drop deadline isn’t compliant with federal law, experts say. It will change next semester.

Kiran Ramsey | Senior Design Editor

An analysis by The D.O. found that Syracuse University’s academic drop deadline for classes was several weeks later in the semester than federal law said it should be. This spring semester, the deadline will come on Feb. 6, the same date as the financial drop deadline and five weeks earlier than the academic drop deadline has been in past semesters.

A look into the money behind the Syracuse mayoral race

Paul Schlesinger | Staff Photographer

The D.O. analyzed campaign contribution filings to detail how the Syracuse mayoral race candidates spent donations and where that money came from. Ben Walsh, for example, received thousands of dollars in donations from individuals connected to the Hayner Hoyt Corporation, which was hired to help redevelop the Hotel Syracuse — a project Walsh was heavily involved in while working for the city.

OUTSIDE THE LINES, TOP OF HER GAME

Josh Shub-Seltzer | Staff Photographer

Ben Walsh, the mayor-elect, launched a campaign focused on his nonpartisan candidacy. But he utilized deep, long standing connections to prominent Democrats, Republicans and Syracuse’s wealthy real estate developers to amass hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions. Juanita Perez Williams, meanwhile, campaigned this fall on the promise of empowering underrepresented, minority populations throughout the city. Read The D.O.’s profiles of the two politicians.

The Daily Orange interviewed more than 100 students about Uber and Lyft. Here’s what they had to say.

Ari Dinero | Staff Illustrator

Students told The D.O. early in the fall semester they were using ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft to get to class, avoid the South Campus bus, travel to the Great New York State Fair and go out drinking at bars and fraternities.

Concerns linger over Onondaga Lake land as county considers bike trail extension, toxin remediation efforts

Ari Dinero | Staff Illustrator

A county vote on the extension of a bike trail around the once extremely polluted Onondaga Lake coincided with an announced end to toxin remediation efforts there. The D.O. reported on why the Onondaga Nation still remains concerned about culturally significant sites near the water.

Published on December 27, 2017 at 12:59 am

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