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County legislature conducted at a distance

Tuesday night, Minority Leader Frank Mauriello with Chairman Andrew Joyce, Majority Leader Dennis Feeney, and Deputy Minority Leader Paul Burgdorf were the only Albany County legislators in chambers for a special meeting. Other legislators participated from home on their computers to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus.

Guilderland school teachers reach out to students in corona parade

Learning continues in the midst of a pandemic

by Sean Mulkerrin

Teachers and administrators had very little time to prepare for the weeks-long closings of their schools but have been pleasantly surprised with how teaching online has gone so far. 

R’ville Dem chair challenges Greenberg’s petition for State Senate

by Noah Zweifel

In the midst of the pandemic, Governor Andrew Cuomo softened election requirements; candidates now need to collect only 30 percent of the statutory threshold. Michelle Hinchey, a Democratic candidate for the state Senate’s 46th District, is challenging the petition her Democratic opponent for the nomination, Gary Greenberg, had submitted. Greenberg suggested that the challenge is emblematic of insider-versus-outsider politics.

Mary Jo LaPosta

Local hospitals increase capacity to prepare for COVID-19 patient surge

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

“There are still people that feel we are overreacting,” said Steven Hanks, chief clinical officer of St. Peter’s Health Partners. “We are in support of the governor’s increase of at least 50 percent.”

Elizabeth Whalen

Albany County says locations won’t be mapped

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

ALBANY COUNTY — In the midst of his press conference on Tuesday morning, Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy got a text saying that two more COVID-19 patients had been hospitalized: both are men, aged 44 and 68.

“Take this serious, folks. Please,” he said.

Funerals in the time of coronavirus: no church services, no hugging, and remote arrangements

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

“The work of cemeteries is considered an essential business,” said funeral director John Gulino. “The graves will be dug; people will be buried. It’s not going to get like Italy.”

Berne widow seeks online education while expecting a third child

by Noah Zweifel

After her husband’s suicide last year, Berne resident Jennifer Williams’s life has transformed as she signals optimism and strength for her two young children while pregnant with a third. She hopes her story will inspire others to remain strong in the face of devastating adversity. 

‘Reassurance, routines, and regulation’ critical for children in isolation, expert says

by Noah Zweifel

Area schools are closed leaving kids without structure and without an opportunity to socialize in traditional ways — potentially for months. Psychiatrist Jessica Griffin, who is an associate professor of psychiatry and pediatrics at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, speaks about potential impacts of social distancing on children and how those impacts can be mitigated.

Sheriff says wing of jails ready to shelter the homeless

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

Someone at the City Mission has contracted the coronavirus disease. The county’s health department is working with support from the county’s Department of Social Services to see that people who are homeless or in shelters can be quarantined and not put others at risk. And the sheriff is ready to open a homeless shelter in a wing of the county’s jail.

NY attorney general calls for automatic absentee voting

On Saturday, New York’s attorney general, Letitia James, called on the State of New York to take steps to ensure eligible New York voters can take part in the scheduled April 28 Democratic presidential primary, as well as a handful of additional special elections around the state on that date, without risking the spread of the coronavi

On county-wide EMS: ‘It certainly hasn’t been forgotten’ 

by Sean Mulkerrin

“It’s kind of a multi-faceted, multi-level project,” said New Scotland Supervisor Douglas LaGrange of putting together a county-wide EMS program.

Attorney general orders Craigslist to remove posts of fake cures

On Friday, New York’s attorney general, Letitia James, sent a letter to counsel for Craigslist.com, calling on the company to immediately remove posts that attempt to “unlawfully and fraudulently” profit off consumers’ fears around the coronavirus dise

$24M VW settlement to pay for electric buses

The state’s Department of Environmental Conservation and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority announced this week that more than $24 million is now available to replace diesel-powered transit buses with new all-electric transit buses.

County exec calls for more protective gear, praises M. N. Bird  for making masks

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

Gun sales have skyrocketed, Albany Sheriff Craig Apple says, urging, “Don’t go out and shoot a gun for the first time in the midst of this crisis.”

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