Steck’s bill is now state law. The “Trapped at Work Act” in the Senate was sponsored by Rachel May, a Democrat from Syracuse. No longer can contract provisions force workers to repay training costs when they leave a job.

ALBANY COUNTY — A large, long-duration winter storm is expected to bring widespread heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain from the Southern Rockies into the Mid-South beginning Friday, spreading eastward to the Mid-Atlantic and New England this weekend, according to the National Weather Service.

The not-for-profit group under Anderson’s guidance has already passed its initial goal of raising $100,000 and on Jan. 14 he said, “We’re up to about $140,000 now.” Then, on Jan. 16, the state’s Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation announced that $190,000 had been awarded to the project.

“Unfortunately, it seems to be going into mammals, which is pretty concerning,” said Kevin Hynes of bird flu, but the current strain “does not seem to go into humans from causal contact,” he said.

ALBANY COUNTY — The pool on the former College of Saint Rose campus is now open for public use, Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy announced on Jan. 8.

Those wishing to use the pool have to register for classes or for open lap swimming.

When a business promotes itself as a “med spa” or as offering “med spa” services, it has to be licensed as a medical facility and licensed professionals must be performing the services.

On Jan. 7, the New York State Thruway Authority announced the launch of its Comprehensive Safety Action Plan, a system‑wide initiative to improve roadway and employee safety, strengthen emergency response and reduce serious injuries and fatalities across the 570-mile Thruway system.

As part of its Respiratory Surveillance Report, the state’s health department maps activity for each county statewide. In Albany County currently, as in the rest of the state, there are more than 40 cases of influenza per 100,000 of population. For COVID-19, Albany County has 20 to 39.9 cases per 100,000 of population. And for Respiratory Syncytial Virus, known as RSV Albany County currently has  0.01 to 7.09 cases per 100,000 of population.

Applications are now being accepted for $67.5 million in capital funding to help municipalities and nonprofit organizations construct, expand, and renovate public playgrounds for all abilities across New York state.

Governor Kathy Hochul said almost 1 percent of adolescents in the United States — “that’s 2 million” — have reported using kratom in the past year. In New York state alone, Hochul said, overdose of kratom was listed as the cause of death for 100 people.