Stay up-to-date on the companies, people and issues that impact businesses in Syracuse, Central New York and beyond.

VIEWPOINT: Community Banks, Credit Unions Need to Market Local, Build Trust
Community banks and credit unions hold a unique position in the financial-services marketplace. As vital members of their local communities, these organizations serve an essential role in fostering economic growth, giving them an inside track in building and maintaining trust with their customers and members. However, the financial landscape is rapidly evolving. With changing demographics […]

VIEWPOINT: From Burden to Breeze: Redefining Compliance with AI-Powered Solutions
Artificial intelligence and machine learning are steadily transforming the way businesses approach risk, regulation, and operational oversight. With an ever-evolving cyber ecosystem, compliance is regularly playing catch-up. Revelations regarding zero-day attacks, where no prior knowledge of the exploitation exists, promote additions and amendments to what defines a “secure environment.” New software and breakthroughs in industry

VIEWPOINT: Supreme Court Sets Legal Standard for Students Claiming Disability Discrimination
The Supreme Court recently issued a unanimous decision in A. J. T. v. Osseo Area Schools, Independent School Dist. No. 279 that changes the standard for students pursuing disability-discrimination claims against schools under Section 504. The case was initiated by the parents of a teenager with epilepsy that caused her to be unable to attend

Ask Rusty: Can My Husband Work Part Time and Collect SS?
Dear Rusty: I am writing to you on behalf of my husband. His intentions are to go part time as of Jan. 1, 2026, working 30 hours a week and take Social Security (SS) benefits as supplemental income. How can we determine what his SS benefit would be with him still working part time? He

VIEWPOINT: When the Map No Longer Matches the Terrain
Last year at the [XLoD Global – New York] conference, I spoke about how interconnectedness across markets, functions, and geographies challenges the illusion that risks could be managed in isolation. That view still holds true. But this year I want to go deeper. Because what’s emerging now is not just a more interconnected world

VIEWPOINT: The Failure of Raise the Age: A Gift to New York’s Gangs
Raising the age of criminal responsibility in New York state has created a nightmare scenario that opened statutory loopholes which prohibit law enforcement and prosecutors from doing their job. As a result of this reckless policy failure, youth violence in New York has skyrocketed while gangs recruit those under 18 to do their bidding knowing

Ask Rusty: Social Security Questions Asked Over Coffee
Dear Rusty: My coffee conversations among a group of friends have resulted in several questions about Social Security, including the following: 1. What happens to the Social Security account of someone who dies before retirement age? What happens to that money and where does it end up? 2. How does the decreased birth rate of

VIEWPOINT: Supreme Court Clarifies Standard in “Reverse Discrimination” Case under Title VII
The McDonnell Douglas standard, established in McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green, 411 U.S. 792 (1973), is a burden-shifting framework used to evaluate claims of employment discrimination. This standard applies to claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the New York State Human Rights Law (NYSHRL), and other related statutes. Under the

VIEWPOINT: Colleges Face Federal Requirement To Contact Students About Loan Debt
On May 5, 2025, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) released a “Request for Institutions to Provide Repayment Information to Former Students to Prevent Defaults” (GEN-25-19). Noting that “only 38 percent of Direct Loan and Department-held Federal Family Education Loan Program borrowers are in repayment and current on their student loans,” ED estimates that “almost

Ask Rusty: How do I apply for Social Security?
Dear Rusty: I just turned 65 years old in February 2025. I need to sign up for Social Security but don’t even know where to start. Signed: Seeking Assistance Dear Seeking Assistance: It’s fairly easy to sign up for your Social Security (SS) benefits, by either calling the Social Security Administration (SSA) at (800) 772-1213
Stay up-to-date on the companies, people and issues that impact businesses in Syracuse, Central New York and beyond.