ConMed appoints new independent board chair

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ConMed Corp. (NYSE: CNMD), a surgical-device maker originally based in the greater Utica region, recently announced that it had appointed LaVerne Council to succeed Martha Goldberg Aronson as the new independent chair of its board of directors, effective May 21. Council brings extensive experience as a global operations and information technology executive that has been […]

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Oswego Health Medical Practice adopts advanced test to predict esophageal cancer risk

Health Care, Subscriber Only, Technology

OSWEGO — TissueCypher is a laboratory test that can help predict the risk of developing esophageal cancer in patients diagnosed with Barrett’s esophagus (BE). The Center for Gastroenterology & Metabolic Diseases of Oswego Health Medical Practice is now offering access to this AI-driven precision medicine test, per a June 30 announcement. Offering this test is

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OSWEGO — TissueCypher is a laboratory test that can help predict the risk of developing esophageal cancer in patients diagnosed with Barrett’s esophagus (BE).

The Center for Gastroenterology & Metabolic Diseases of Oswego Health Medical Practice is now offering access to this AI-driven precision medicine test, per a June 30 announcement.

Offering this test is a “major step forward in the Center’s commitment to bringing the latest, evidence-based diagnostic tools to the community,” Oswego Health contends.

BE is the only known precursor to esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), one of the fastest-growing cancers in the U.S. Fortunately, BE can be effectively treated to prevent progression to EAC if the patient is identified as having elevated risk, Oswego Health stated.

That’s where TissueCypher comes in: the test evaluates a patient’s tissue biopsy at the cellular and molecular level to provide a personalized five-year probability of progression to high-grade dysplasia (HGD) or esophageal cancer.

No new procedures are needed to run the test — biopsies just need to be sent to Castle Biosciences, the company that developed the TissueCypher test, Oswego Health said.

“Early intervention can be lifesaving, and TissueCypher helps us provide a more accurate picture of an individual’s cancer risk,” Dr. Mohammad Fahad Ali, chief of gastroenterology & hepatology and director of endoscopy at the Center for Gastroenterology & Metabolic Diseases, said.

Dr. Ali spearheaded the initiative to make this test available to the community, Oswego Health noted.

TissueCypher represents a significant improvement over traditional risk assessment methods, which often misclassify patients, per the announcement. The test provides a risk classification: low, intermediate, or high; a risk score on a scale of 0–10; and a 5-year individualized risk of progression to HGD or EAC.

Oswego Health encourages those experiencing chronic acid reflux or who have a family history of BE or esophageal cancer to speak with their health-care provider about screening.

Lockheed wins $78M contract modification for undersea warfare combat systems

Manufacturing & Engineering, Subscriber Only, Technology

SALINA — Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE: LMT) has been awarded a $78.4 million modification to a previously awarded contract to exercise the option and provide funding for fiscal 2025 Hypervisor Technology Zero AN/SQQ-89A(V)15 surface ship undersea warfare combat systems and spares in support of the continued AN/SQQ-89A(V)15 development, integration, manufacture, production, and testing. Work will

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OPINION: One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s Impact on 2026 Midterm Elections

Opinion, Subscriber Only

Following the U.S. House and Senate completing their work on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act — enacting much of President Donald Trump’s legislative agenda as he signed it into law on July 4 — Democrats are now shifting their posture toward the 2026 Congressional midterms. They are seeking to reclaim the House and Senate

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Not a single Democrat in the House or Senate voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which makes the 2017 Trump tax cuts permanent, expands tax relief with no income taxes on tips or overtime, cuts income taxes for seniors collecting Social Security, includes 100 percent expensing for factories and agriculture to encourage domestic production, [and many other positive provisions]. The law also provides $170 billion of border and immigration-enforcement provisions, including $46 billion to finish the border wall, $45 billion for new immigration detention centers that can deal with 116,000 detainees, knocks 1.4 million illegal aliens off Medicaid and food stamps, provides 10,000 new Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, [and more].

For President Trump it was his biggest legislative win ever, and will give his administration and Congress some breathing room on the debt ceiling, which was increased by $5 trillion, taking that off the list of “must-pass” bills that will come up again in the next couple years. The remaining bills will include appropriations, whether in the form of individual appropriations bills, an omnibus bill, or another continuing resolution. These are leverage points that will cause President Trump and Republican leaders in Congress to sit down with Democrats to craft presumably stopgap deals to kick the can ahead.

In the meantime, despite all the action in Congress and what remains ahead, not much has changed with the generic Congressional ballot for 2026, with Democrats only leading by 2.3 percentage points, 45 percent to 42.7 percent, according to the latest average compiled by RealClearPolling.com.

Usually a reliable proxy for which direction the country is headed in, the average of generic Congressional ballot polls all predicted the winner of the 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022 midterm elections.

In 2002, the Real Clear Politics average of the last batch of polls taken had Republicans winning the popular vote 47.7 percent to 46 percent, and sure enough Republicans won the popular vote for the House of Representatives, except that it was by an even greater margin than forecast, 49.6 percent to 45 percent.

In 2006, the average of polls had Democrats leading the generic Congressional ballot 52.1 percent to 40.6 percent, although that overstated the outcome a bit, with Democrats winning the House popular vote 52 percent to 44 percent.

In 2010, the average of polls had Republicans leading 50.7 percent to 41.3 percent, also overstated a bit, with the outcome being 51.6 percent to 44.8 percent.

In 2014, the average of polls had Republicans ahead, 45.6 percent to 43.2 percent, and Republicans won by 51.4 percent to 45.7 percent.

In 2018, the average of polls had Democrats ahead, 49.7 percent to 42.4 percent, and Democrats won by a margin of 53.3 percent to 44.9 percent.

And in 2022, the average of polls had Republicans ahead 48 percent to 45.5 percent, and Republicans won 50.6 percent to 47.8 percent.

In midterm elections dating back to 1906 through 2022, the party that occupied the White House lost seats in the House 27 out of 30 times, or 90 percent of the time, and in years with losses those averaged 34 seats. It was only overcome in 1934, 1998 and 2002, with the Great Depression, Monica Lewinsky and the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks acting as exigent events.

The general rule favoring the opposition in midterms is all James Madison’s constitutional scheme of periodic elections, explicitly designed to frustrate the ability of majorities to get things done. But midterms are generally a turnout affair, where the opposition party, being out of power, simply has more of a motivation to vote, and so they tend to do relatively better, picking up seats, but not always majorities.

So, that’s the advantage wielded generally by the opposition power during Congressional midterms, which might make Democrats’ current narrow margin in the generic ballot somewhat worrisome. On average, Trump still has his highest approval of his entire political career at 46.5 percent — higher than in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 — while public approval of Democrats generally has been cratering.

Expect Republicans to emphasize their advantage on issues like illegal immigration, the border, and social issues including the participation of biological males in female sports.

Inflation, still the top issue among voters, continues its three-year decline and so if anything could look good for Trump and Republicans, provided incomes and wages continuing outpacing any consumer price increases. Other economic headwinds might come in the form of higher unemployment, a slowdown, or even a recession, while labor shortages might mitigate any downturn.

There are also exigent factors that can arise and impact how the midterms go. Stay tuned.

Robert Romano is the executive director of Americans for Limited Government, a conservative 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization that says it is dedicated to restoring constitutionally limited government, allowing individuals to pursue life, liberty, and happiness.

OPINION: America’s worsening image should be a concern

Opinion, Subscriber Only

America’s image in much of the world is getting worse, according to a recent survey by the Pew Research Center. That should be a concern for Americans. Our image affects our effectiveness as a world leader and our ability to advance our national interests. The survey, conducted this year, found that people in other countries

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The survey, conducted this year, found that people in other countries were almost evenly split in whether they had positive or negative views of the United States. However, the percentage with a negative view of America has grown in most nations in the survey.

From the end of World War II until early in the 21st Century and beyond, the U.S. was the undisputed world leader by most measures. We helped create and lead the institutions of the postwar international order, which produced a sustained period of peace and prosperity. Certainly, there were times when our policies were unpopular or misguided. For the most part, however, we could think of America as a model that much of the world admired, especially our allies.

But things have shifted in recent years. When I meet with people from around the world, I find that they still care about the U.S. and are interested in what we think, but they are less likely to look to us as an example. The Pew Survey, which included 24 countries in all parts of the world, confirms that. The share of the population with a negative view of the U.S. has risen in almost every country. The number who view us positively has declined.

Our worst rating is in Sweden, where four in five people have a negative view. Elsewhere in Europe, including in France, Germany and Spain, over 60 percent have negative views of the U.S. The biggest shift from positive to negative in the past year came from our neighbors, Mexico and Canada. Our highest approval, 83 percent, is in Israel. Only in Israel, Nigeria and Turkey have views of the U.S. improved.

It’s concerning that majorities in 12 of the surveyed nations see China as the world’s leading economic power, compared to only eight nations for the U.S. We have the world’s largest economy, as measured by gross domestic product, but our economic image doesn’t reflect that reality. This comes at a time when China is pushing its state-controlled economy as a better model for the world than our free-market system. The same holds true for views of American democracy. According to the survey, people are split on whether democracy is working well in the U.S. In many countries, including some European allies, majorities say it is functioning poorly.

Clearly, views of the U.S. reflect views of President Donald Trump. According to the survey, conservatives are now more likely than liberals to view the U.S. positively. But majorities lack confidence in Trump’s ability to handle world affairs, especially climate change and the Russia-Ukraine war. (It’s too early to say how bombing Iranian nuclear sites [and negotiating a ceasefire between Israel and Iran}will affect America’s image in the long run).

Trump would no doubt argue that it doesn’t matter if people in other countries view the United States positively. He would say it’s more important that they respect us, and that he can make deals that favor the U.S. He has a point: Foreign affairs aren’t a popularity contest, and our leaders need to look out for America’s interests.

But most of us believe the United States should be a force for good in the world. We are the wealthiest and most powerful nation in history, and with that comes responsibility. Our 250-year experiment with democracy has inspired countless countries. It’s important that we live up to our national ideals and our professed belief in freedom, democracy and human rights. Surveys that find our image getting worse should be a warning.

Lee Hamilton, 94, is a senior advisor for the Indiana University (IU) Center on Representative Government, distinguished scholar at the IU Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies, and professor of practice at the IU O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Hamilton, a Democrat, was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for 34 years (1965-1999), representing a district in south-central Indiana.

VIEWPOINT: Community Bank, Credit Union Strategies for Building Brand Reputation

Business Mentors, Banks & Credit Unions, Subscriber Only

Reputation is the cornerstone of trust in community banking, and it is essential for local banks and credit unions to maintain a positive, pristine reputation in their local communities. Here are a few ways to accomplish this critical goal: 1. Prioritize transparency and communication: Maintaining open communication with your community is vitally important, as it

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1. Prioritize transparency and communication: Maintaining open communication with your community is vitally important, as it helps to establish and maintain credibility, trust, and engagement. These days, there are many ways to communicate with your members and customers, as well as the community at large. These channels include emailed newsletters, e-blasts, an active social-media presence, and even the occasional in-person community meeting (beyond the annual member or shareholder meeting).

2. Enhance the user experience: Look to offer personalized services to increase customer and member satisfaction and loyalty. One of our clients offers an online-giving platform that enables customers to give to their favorite charity. Customers can support their favorite cause by rounding up purchases made with their debit card. They can also donate to their favorite charity with one-time or recurring donations deducted as they specify from their account.

3. Train your staff/colleagues: It’s important to provide catered financial advice and remember customer or member names, birthdays, and preferences. When problems and complaints inevitably arise, make sure all employees are prepared to offer swift and empathetic resolution. Have documented systems and processes in place to handle such matters and elevate them, if necessary. A full and friendly resolution of a customer or member problem often strengthens the relationship and turns frustration into loyalty complete with positive word-of-mouth, social posts, and reviews.

4. Embrace digital transformation: Today, community financial institutions can ill-afford to ignore modern technology. Make sure you are offering user-friendly online and mobile-banking platforms to meet your customers’ or members’ evolving expectations. Also, with personal identity theft and data breaches on the rise, make sure to employ the latest robust security protocols to protect consumer data. Finally, educating your customers or members on fraud prevention is a win-win for all concerned.

5. Showcase community involvement in your marketing: As you participate in the community through charitable events, sponsorships, and staff participation in local organizations and events, make sure to highlight the stories of how your institution is positively impacting the community. Be the bank or credit union that “shows up” for the community. And then don’t be reticent about trumpeting these success stories through your social media, press releases, and website.

As with all marketing initiatives, consistency goes a long way in customer/member loyalty and community engagement. Your efforts and actions should be fully aligned with your brand and organizational growth goals. Then audit your campaigns regularly across all channels — in-branch, website, social media, digital media, and traditional advertising — to ensure the brand is represented clearly and consistently.

It’s also important to establish clear systems to gather and act upon customer, member, and community partner feedback. This will demonstrate responsiveness and a commitment to ongoing improvement, while also serving as a valuable feedback loop of how your messaging and activities are being received.

Localized marketing and trust-building are essential to strengthening relationships and maintaining strong community ties. In these challenging times, focus on enhancing your current strategies to create a foundation of community engagement and trust for the long-term.

Steve Johnson is a managing partner at Riger Marketing Communications in Binghamton. Contact him at sdjohnson@riger.com.

Ask Rusty: Can I Switch to a Taxi Driver Job Without Hurting my Social Security?

Business Mentors, Employee Benefits & Human Resources, Insurance & Financial Services, Subscriber Only

Dear Rusty: I I opted to draw my Social Security (SS) retirement benefit early and work part time. The company I work for has decided to pull me from field work due to my age and health. Although they are great keeping me at 20 hours per week running for parts and doing office work,

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Dear Rusty: I I opted to draw my Social Security (SS) retirement benefit early and work part time. The company I work for has decided to pull me from field work due to my age and health. Although they are great keeping me at 20 hours per week running for parts and doing office work, I’m not sure how much longer it will last. I’m thinking of taking a taxi driving job to keep my income enough to live on. The way it would work, I would lease the cab for some amount of dollars per day, set my own hours to work, and collect anywhere from $1.40 to $4.00 per mile, depending on what type of fare. My question is: how does the Social Security Administration (SSA) look at that type of employment? Would I be held to the 15 – 45 hours a month standard? I could never come close to making the $1,200 to $1,300 a month I need by working so little. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Signed: Seeking Advice

Dear Seeking Advice: If you go ahead with your plan to lease a taxicab instead of continuing your current employment, you would, in effect, be considered “self-employed” and would submit your income tax return to the IRS accordingly. The SSA would get your earnings information as reported to the IRS, and it would be your net earnings from self-employment (after deducting all your business expenses) that is reported to the SSA by IRS. There is, however, a special rule which would apply to you in your first calendar year of self-employment while collecting early SS benefits.

Since, in your first year, some of your earnings would be as a part-time employee paying SS FICA payroll taxes, the SSA would first look at your earnings as an employee to see if you exceeded the annual earnings limit ($23,400 for 2025). Then, upon starting your self-employment, the SSA would look at the hours you spent performing “substantial gainful activity” (e.g., driving your taxi) each month and, if you spent more than 45 hours per month in that capacity, you would not be considered “retired,” and thus, not eligible for Social Security in any month you exceeded that amount of hours. If you earned less than the annual limit in total (both as an employee and while self-employed), you would get benefits for all months of the year. But if you earn more than the annual limit, you will get no benefits for any month you exceeded 45 hours as a self-employed person. Again, this only applies during the first calendar year of self-employment — in the following year, only your net earnings from self-employment would count toward the annual earnings limit.

In effect, the SSA would use the hours-worked standard to see if you are truly retired or actually working. If the latter scenario, it would withhold SS monthly benefits for any month in which you exceed 45 hours working while self-employed (up to and including December of your first calendar year of self-employment), and only if your total income (as an employee and while self-employed) exceeds the annual limit.

So, if your goal is to net $1,200-$1,300 per month as a self-employed taxi driver, that would be well within the limits of the annual earnings test ($23,400 for 2025 but changes yearly). But there may, or may not, be a reduction in your Social Security benefits during your first year of self-employment, depending on when you start as self-employed. Note that the SSA will ask about your work plans when you apply, and if you expect to stay under the annual limit (working part time in both capacities), you should get full SS benefits. Just be careful to stay under the annual earnings limit for those collecting early Social Security benefits. FYI, earnings from before your SS benefits started don’t count toward the earning limit.

Note, too, that your monthly Social Security benefit will be actuarially reduced according to how far in advance of your full retirement age (FRA) you claim SS. Whenever SS benefits are claimed prior to one’s FRA, those benefits are permanently reduced.

Russell Gloor is a national Social Security advisor at the AMAC Foundation, the nonprofit arm of the Association of Mature American Citizens (AMAC). The 2.4-million-member AMAC says it is a senior advocacy organization. Send your questions to: ssadvisor@amacfoundation.org.

Author’s note: This article is intended for information purposes only and does not represent legal or financial guidance. It presents the opinions and interpretations of the AMAC Foundation’s staff, trained, and accredited by the National Social Security Association (NSSA). The NSSA and the AMAC Foundation and its staff are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any other governmental entity.

Ask the Expert: Solving Your Workforce Challenges with Registered Apprenticeship

Ask the Expert

Finding skilled workers isn’t getting any easier. Whether you’re facing retirements, turnover, or a lack of qualified candidates, you’re not alone. Businesses across every industry

Madison County solar project gets final siting permit

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Energy, Environment & Sustainability, Featured, Law, Accounting & Taxes, Manufacturing & Engineering, Mohawk Valley, New York News, Technology

FENNER, N.Y. — A 140-megawatt solar array by Cypress Creek Renewables has received the go-ahead from the New York State Office of Renewable Energy Siting

CenterState CEO appoints CEO for ON-RAMP Syracuse workforce-development program

Employee Benefits & Human Resources, Education & Training, Manufacturing & Engineering, Nonprofits, Subscriber Only

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — CenterState CEO on Thursday announced the appointment of Carlene Lacey as the inaugural CEO of workforce program ON-RAMP Syracuse. ON-RAMP is short for One Network for Regional Advanced Manufacturing Projects. Lacey brings extensive expertise in leadership, workforce development, grant writing, and community engagement, “all critical to advancing ON-RAMP Syracuse’s mission,” CenterState CEO

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — CenterState CEO on Thursday announced the appointment of Carlene Lacey as the inaugural CEO of workforce program ON-RAMP Syracuse.

ON-RAMP is short for One Network for Regional Advanced Manufacturing Projects.

Lacey brings extensive expertise in leadership, workforce development, grant writing, and community engagement, “all critical to advancing ON-RAMP Syracuse’s mission,” CenterState CEO said in its announcement.

Lacey started her new role on Tuesday, July 8, and her appointment followed a national search. She most recently served as director of strategic workforce development, partnership and government for National Grid.

ON-RAMP Syracuse is a newly established workforce-innovation hub focused on addressing workforce skill gaps in the advanced manufacturing and construction industries in Central New York. Its mission is to create a skilled, talent pipeline for local employers while “ensuring equitable access to training and employment for historically underserved communities,” CenterState CEO said.

Gov. Kathy Hochul on March 28 announced the former Sears building at 1300 S. Salina St. in Syracuse was chosen for the first ON-RAMP workforce-development center.

As CEO, Lacey will focus on building a workforce development hub that ensures local residents — especially those from underserved communities — can access the job opportunities coming to Central New York. She will oversee day-to-day operations, lead fundraising efforts, and collaborate with staff, volunteers and industry partners to advance ON-RAMP’s mission and impact.

In her role, Lacey will establish a team to lead the nonprofit, create innovative collaborative programming, engage employers, and drive growth to create a “more inclusive, skilled workforce.”

“Dr. Lacey emerged as the top candidate from a highly competitive national search,” Ben Sio, interim president and CEO of CenterState CEO, said in the announcement. “As a Central New York native with deep roots in the community, she represents the tremendous talent already present in our region. In hiring her we were reminded what we already know – that we have plenty of the best and brightest leaders in the country right here in Central New York. Finding such incredible local talent is a metaphor for what ON-RAMP’s all about. Ensuring that people from this community have access to new jobs and opportunity is critically important to our collective success.”

Lacey holds a bachelor’s degree in human resource management from SUNY Empire State College, an MBA in human resource management, and a doctor of management degree from the University of Phoenix.

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