New York manufacturing index rises but remains in negative territory in April

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The Empire State Manufacturing Survey general business conditions index improved 12 points in April but remained below zero at -8.1, which indicates continued contraction in

Runway-improvement project begins at the Watertown airport

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HOUNSFIELD, N.Y. — Watertown International Airport on Monday said work is beginning on a project to improve the facility’s runway 10-28. The $3.8 million project

Goodwill store set to open in Ithaca

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ITHACA, N.Y. — Goodwill of the Finger Lakes will open its first retail location in Ithaca on April 25 at 9 a.m., following a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The 15,000-square-foot thrift store occupies the former Ollie’s Bargain Outlet location at 723 S. Meadow St., Goodwill of the Finger Lakes announced. “This strategic expansion has been a long

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State awards ESF funding for artificial-intelligence department

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) is among eight SUNY campuses awarded state funding to develop and advance artificial-intelligence

CenterState CEO to announce new name of expanded Tech Garden during upcoming annual meeting

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SYRACUSE — The business incubator that has been operating as the Tech Garden at 235 Harrison St. in Syracuse will have a new name once

Syracuse University chooses brand partner for upcoming campus hotel

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse University (SU) on Wednesday said it has selected Graduate by Hilton as the brand partner for its upcoming development of a

SUNY Poly raises record $260,000 on day of giving

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UTICA, N.Y. — SUNY Polytechnic Institute’s 2025 Day of Giving, held on March 27, was the most successful in the university’s history, the school announced.

MACNY to honor Indium global R&D director Liu as Innovator of the Year

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DeWITT, N.Y. — The woman who serves as director of global research and development (R&D) at Indium Corporation is the recipient of MACNY’s 2025 Innovator of the Year Award. Members of MACNY, The Manufacturers Association and community leaders will honor Yan Liu, Ph.D. at MACNY’s 112th annual Celebration of Manufacturing on May 22 at the

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DeWITT, N.Y. — The woman who serves as director of global research and development (R&D) at Indium Corporation is the recipient of MACNY’s 2025 Innovator of the Year Award.

Members of MACNY, The Manufacturers Association and community leaders will honor Yan Liu, Ph.D. at MACNY’s 112th annual Celebration of Manufacturing on May 22 at the SRC Arena & Events Center on the campus of Onondaga Community College in the town of Onondaga.

The Innovator of the Year Award recognizes people who “lead the way in innovation, driving advancements in their industry and reshaping the future,” according to a MACNY announcement.

“Dr. Yan Liu is a remarkable leader whose innovative spirit and dedication to advancing the manufacturing industry have made a lasting impact,” Randy Wolken, president & CEO of MACNY, said in the announcement. “Her work at Indium Corporation has shaped the future of electronics manufacturing and set new industry standards. We’re deeply honored to recognize her with the 2025 Innovator of the Year Award, celebrating her groundbreaking contributions and unwavering commitment to excellence.”

Based in Clinton in Oneida County, Indium Corp. describes itself as a materials refiner, smelter, manufacturer, and supplier to the global electronics, semiconductor, thin-film, and thermal-management markets.

“Dr. Yan Liu’s relentless pursuit of innovation has driven significant advancements in electronics manufacturing while strengthening Indium Corporation’s position as a leader in materials science,” Ross Berntson, president and CEO of Indium, added in the MACNY announcement. “Her leadership in developing next-generation materials and expanding global collaboration underscores our commitment to pushing the boundaries of technology. We are honored to see her recognized by MACNY for her outstanding contributions.”

About Liu

With more than two decades at Indium, Liu has been a “driving force” in solder materials and flux-technology innovations, “directly influencing the evolution of the electronics manufacturing industry.” Her leadership has led to the development of cutting-edge fluxes, solder pastes, and advanced materials, “setting new industry benchmarks.” MACNY contended.

DeWitt–based MACNY added that Liu has also played a big role in building and cultivating Indium’s global R&D team, guiding members in their mission to develop “world-class” materials.

Liu oversees R&D project management for both applied and fundamental research, “spearheading breakthrough technology developments.” As a key spokesperson for Indium Corporation’s technological advancements, MACNY said she bridges research, industry needs, and market opportunities — ensuring that R&D efforts align with corporate goals and customer demands.

Her leadership extends globally. In addition to directing Indium Corporation’s research & development center in Suzhou, China, she manages a group of chemists and metallurgists across North America and Asia, “fostering cross-functional collaboration to address complex technical challenges.”

Her tenure as manager of the R&D flux group “further solidified” her expertise in developing high-performance materials that “enhance manufacturing efficiency, reliability, and quality.”

Project to replace Townline Road bridge over Thruway starts

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DeWITT, N.Y. — Drivers who use Townline Road on their daily commute will need to get accustomed to taking a detour for the next few months. Crews have started work on a $7.5 million bridge-replacement project along Townline Road in the town of DeWitt in Onondaga County. The effort seeks to replace the bridge with

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DeWITT, N.Y. — Drivers who use Townline Road on their daily commute will need to get accustomed to taking a detour for the next few months.

Crews have started work on a $7.5 million bridge-replacement project along Townline Road in the town of DeWitt in Onondaga County.

The effort seeks to replace the bridge with a “modern structure,” the office of Gov. Kathy Hochul announced March 28. About 12,400 vehicles travel over the bridge per day.

The current bridge was built in 1953 and carries Townline Road over the New York State Thruway (I-90).

The Townline Road bridge is now closed to traffic for the duration of the project. A 3.8-mile signed detour is now in place.

“The Thruway Authority is committed to investing in its aging infrastructure and enhancing the safety and reliability of the Thruway system,” Frank Hoare, executive director of the New York State Thruway Authority, said in the announcement. “Our Capital Program is focused on modernizing our transportation system and maintaining some of the lowest and most affordable toll rates in the nation.”

Tioga Construction Company, Inc., of Herkimer, is the project contractor, following a competitive bidding process. Construction is expected to wrap up this fall. The work is weather dependent and subject to change. Motorists are urged to be alert and follow the posted work-zone speed limits. Fines are doubled for speeding in a work zone.

Crews will replace the existing structure with a new bridge that includes increased vertical clearances for travelers along I-90. The clearance on the eastbound lanes will be increased from 14 feet, 3 inches to 16 feet, 7 inches, and the clearance on the westbound lanes will be increased from 14 feet, 9 inches to 17 feet, 3 inches to mitigate bridge strikes caused by over-height vehicles and enhance safety for Thruway Authority employees and motorists, the announcement noted.

Additional safety upgrades will include full-depth pavement reconstruction of the approaches on Townline Road over I-90; reconstruction of the shoulders of I-90 under the bridge; a new safety guiderail, as well as the installation of a snow fence to prevent blowing snow; along with a pedestrian sidewalk and several drainage structures along Townline Road.

Drivers may encounter traffic slowdowns or stoppages on the Thruway during construction. Variable message signs will advise motorists of the construction work and detour information.

To “further enhance” safety for workers in a work zone, Hochul signed legislation establishing a pilot program focused on automated work zone speed enforcement. The safety-enforcement program began in April 2023 and is in effect in various active construction zones on the Thruway. Work zones with speed-camera enforcement will have clear signage leading up to it, and drivers who violate the posted speed limit within the work zone will be fined.

A map indicating the detours in place for the project to replace the bridge along Townline Road that goes over Interstate 90. It’s expected the project will finish this fall.
IMAGE CREDIT: NEW YORK STATE

Detour details

The south side of Townline Road is closed at Factory Avenue. Eastbound traffic on Factory Avenue is detoured south to Military Circle. Northbound traffic on Townline Road is detoured west on Factory Avenue.

The north side of Townline Road is closed at Vincent Drive with northbound and southbound traffic detoured east on East Molloy Road. Eastbound and westbound traffic on East Molloy Road will not be affected by the detour.

Cornell names Kotlikoff its 15th president, removing interim tag

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ITHACA, N.Y. — The Cornell University board of trustees on March 21 voted to appoint Michael Kotlikoff as Cornell’s 15th president, effective immediately. Kotlikoff has served as the school’s interim president since July 2024, following the retirement of Martha Pollack. “Over the last eight months as interim president — and his 25 years on Cornell’s

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ITHACA, N.Y. — The Cornell University board of trustees on March 21 voted to appoint Michael Kotlikoff as Cornell’s 15th president, effective immediately.

Kotlikoff has served as the school’s interim president since July 2024, following the retirement of Martha Pollack.

“Over the last eight months as interim president — and his 25 years on Cornell’s faculty — Mike has demonstrated the leadership and vision that the university needs right now,” Kraig Kayser, chair of the Cornell University board of trustees, said in the school’s announcement. “His institutional knowledge, expertise and passion for our shared mission will continue to help him lead Cornell through a period of great uncertainty and provide much-needed continuity at a critical time.”

As interim president, Kotlikoff has sought to foster connection and dialogue on campus and to “highlight the unique attributes” of Cornell — including its history and its ethos, the Ivy League school noted.

“I’ve spent 25 wonderful years at Cornell, and serving this university is an honor and a privilege,” Kotlikoff said. “I’m committed to finishing my career here, leading an institution I love through these challenging times. As higher education across the U.S. navigates difficult political, financial and societal headwinds, I hope to guide Cornell in ways that reflect our core principles as an institution committed to doing ‘the greatest good.’”

Kotlikoff was Cornell’s longest-serving provost and served as chief budget officer in addition to chief academic officer, per the school’s announcement. As provost, he helped steward many large and complicated projects, such as the creation of the SC Johnson College of Business and the Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy; the Radical Collaboration initiative; the North Campus Residential Expansion; and the university’s COVID-19 response.

A professor of molecular physiology, Kotlikoff arrived at Cornell in 2000 to build a new department in biomedical sciences at the College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM). He also launched and led the university’s Mammalian Genomics Life Science Initiative. He was named dean of CVM in 2007, and he became university provost in 2015, Cornell said.

Previously, Kotlikoff was professor and chair of the department of animal biology at the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in 1973 and VMD (veterinary medical doctor) degree in 1981, with a Ph.D. from the University of California, Davis, in 1984.

By the time he was hired at Cornell in 2000, his research interests had expanded from studying ion channel proteins that control muscle excitability to using genetics to understand the fundamental processes that underlie and limit repair of the damaged mammalian heart.

Kotlikoff’s arrival opened new opportunities for studying mouse genetics at the university, Cornell said. His lab’s breakthroughs included developing optogenetic signaling molecules that can be expressed in mice to explore cell function, ways to use cell therapy to treat cardiac arrythmias in injured hearts, and an understanding of the limits of precursor cells in heart repair.

Kotlikoff has published 152 papers and his lab, which he closed in 2021, was continuously funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) since he began his research career. He has served in numerous roles at the NIH, including chairing the board of scientific counselors at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and serving on the NIH Council of Councils, Cornell said.

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