Coronavirus: No in-person commencement at SU; more updates (Good Morning CNY for March 24)

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Photo of the Day

Isaac Budmen and Stephanie Keefe to give 360 face shields to Rep. Katko

Isaac Budmen and Stephanie Keefe, of Liverpool, produced 360 face shields using 3D printers in their basement. The shields will be used by healthcare workers testing people for the coronavirus. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.comDennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com

GOOD DEED SPREADS WORLDWIDE: Stephanie Keefe and Isaac Budmen operate Budmen Industries, a maker of custom 3D printers for architects, sculptors, industrial design groups and wineries. Last week, they began using 16 3D printers in their basement to make face shields for healthcare workers at a coronavirus testing clinic in Syracuse. Their efforts have spurred people worldwide to help, as more than 3,000 people around the globe have downloaded the template and instructions from the couple's website. “It’s been incredible how many people have shown up for this,” Budmen said. (Dennis Nett photo)

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No commencement at SU in May: Syracuse University announced Monday that the school will not hold an on-campus, in-person commencement this year due to concerns about the spread of the coronavirus. “I deeply regret this outcome,” SU Chancellor Kent Syverud said, adding that graduates would be surveyed for their input on alternative celebrations. Also, SU said it will prorate room and board for students who left campus early, and will give residential undergraduate students the option to “pass/fail” all their classes for the semester.

Onondaga County up to 53 confirmed cases: Onondaga County confirmed eight more coronavirus cases Monday, bringing infections to 53. The infections are spread over every adult age group and nearly every geographic area of the county, County Executive Ryan McMahon said.

Where did county buy ventilators? None of your business: Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon said the county acquired 60 ventilators to be on hand when desperately ill patients with COVID-19 need help breathing. Where did they come from? He’s not saying. The equipment is in short supply, and McMahon does not want to invite more competition for fear it could drive up prices.

Rescue Mission lays off 285: The Rescue Mission, which operates Central New York’s largest homeless shelter, laid off 285 of its 385 employees Monday and is struggling to survive after being forced to close its thrift stores because of the coronavirus pandemic.

CNY company gives workers $2,000: As layoffs loom because of the coronavirus outbreak, Syracuse's Tessy Plastics is giving each of its 1,000 employees $2,000 to help cushion the financial blow. "The people who go from paycheck to paycheck, they’re terrified, and I just want them to have this just to calm them so they know they can get through this," Tessy President Roland Beck said.

County coronavirus fund raises $900K: A fund set up last week to help local non-profits get through the coronavirus pandemic has raised $600,000 in just five days. That brings the total in the new COVID-19 Community Support Fund to $900,000, said Peter Dunn, the president and CEO of the Central New York Community Foundation.

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Other trending news

Well, it seemed like a good idea: A plan by the owner of a Tipperary Hill beer store and bar to roll a mobile beer truck through the Syracuse-area’s coronavirus-shuttered neighborhoods has been squashed by the New York State Liquor Authority.

More than a dozen break-ins: New York state troopers are investigating 16 car larcenies from Friday night into Saturday in the towns of Spafford and Skaneateles.

Sports & Scores

The Orange takes on the Purple Eagles

Niagara coach Greg Paulus during a game against Syracuse on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, N.Y. Paulus is a Syracuse native and former point guard for Duke and quarterback for Syracuse in his last year of eligibility. (Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com)

ROOKIE HEAD COACH PAULUS HONORED: Niagara men’s basketball coach Greg Paulus, shown coaching the Purple Eagles against Syracuse in December, on Monday was named the winner of the Joe B. Hall Award, given to the best first-year head coach in the country. Paulus was a football and basketball star at Christian Brothers Academy, played point guard at Duke for four seasons and then quarterback at Syracuse for one as a graduate transfer. (Dennis Nett photo)

Elijah Hughes interview: Will he be back at SU? Elijah Hughes announced last week that he was entering the NBA Draft, a resolution that surprised nobody given his impactful 2019-20 Syracuse basketball season. And while he wants to receive feedback from NBA executives and has dreamed since childhood of playing in the NBA, Hughes is keeping his options open to return to the Orange next season.

“I think about home a lot”: Brandon Triche, the former Syracuse University and Jamesville-DeWitt guard who plays professional basketball in Turkey, is facing a dilemma he is unsure how to resolve.

In Brief

Why 3-star Massachusetts DL Terry Lockett chose Syracuse football (Subscriber exclusive)

Liverpool woman charged with DWI with 3-year-old in car

Obituaries: David J. Baichi was a Solvay police officer, Zoo Station bartender

NYSPHSAA cancels remaining winter sports championships

Theater shutdown postpones CNY show headed for debut in NYC

With bumpy season cut short, Syracuse women’s basketball expects quick turnaround

Today’s Obituaries

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