Here are some Syracuse news stories and announcements you may have missed over the weekend:

 

Mayfest lineup announced

Rapper Vic Mensa and the electronic music group Cheat Codes will headline the upcoming Mayfest concert in Walnut Park on April 28, University Union announced on Friday. Mayfest will begin at 1 p.m.

Mensa, a Chicago rapper who released his extended play “There’s Alot Going On” in June 2016, has collaborated with both Chance The Rapper and Kanye West. Cheat Codes, an electronic DJ trio from Los Angeles, are known for their single “Sex” from 2016.

There’s also a “special guest” at Mayfest who has not yet been identified. Mayfest will precede that night’s Block Party concert, which will feature rapper Travis Scott.

 

State to help pay for Onondaga County Water Authority-Metropolitan Water Board merger

New York state Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) on Thursday announced that the state will give $3.7 million to the Onondaga County Water Authority to help it pay for its merger with the Metropolitan Water Board, which was completed last year, according to Syracuse.com.

The funds for the county’s merger are coming out of Cuomo’s Municipal Restructuring Fund. The funding for the water services merger represents a continued push from Cuomo for government consolidation across the state.

Cuomo’s announcement came the day after a contentious and fierce debate between local politicians over a proposed merger between the city of Syracuse and Onondaga County governments. Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner and Onondaga County Comptroller Robert Antonacci debated James Walsh, a former congressman, and William Byrne, chairman of the board of Byrne Dairy — members of the citizens group Consensus. In a report released earlier this year, Consensus recommended a merger to unify city and county services and consolidate the two governments.

Unlike Consensus’ proposed government merger, the water authority and water board merger was less controversial, according to Syracuse.com. Onondaga County Legislature Chairman Ryan McMahon, who’s opposed Consensus’ proposed merger, has voiced his support for the water services merger, according to Syracuse.com.

 

Protest to release tax return

Protesters hit the streets of Syracuse on Saturday demanding President Donald Trump to release his tax returns.

Several hundred people showed up outside the James M. Hanley Federal Building in downtown Syracuse in a protest Saturday morning, according to Syracuse.com.

Similar demonstrations, called the Tax March, were scheduled in close to 150 cities across the country. The nationwide protest was organized to call for Trump to release his tax returns — something which he has refused to do— ahead of the April 18 deadline to file tax returns.

David Cay Johnston, a former lecturer at Syracuse University’s College of Law, in March revealed Trump’s tax return form from 2005 that shows Trump earned more than $150 million in income and paid about $36 million in income tax that year.

 

New master’s degree in data science

Syracuse University’s School of Information Studies unveiled a new master’s program in applied data science in conjunction with the Martin J. Whitman School of Management, the university announced on Thursday.

The degree is designed to enhance one’s analytical and technical skills useful in analyzing datasets and for individuals with a strong background or a strong interest in data science applications, according to a SU News release. The program is offered both on campus and online and is expected to complete under two years.

“We have seen job opportunities for professionals with experience analyzing big data accelerate at high rates over the past three years, and we anticipate this demand to continue on its upward trajectory as data-driven roles within businesses continue to grow,” said Donald Harter, associate dean of graduate programs for Whitman, in the release.

Published on April 16, 2017 at 9:39 pm

news@dailyorange.com