Archive » February 2021 » News

Hilltown internet coverage is expanding, but affordability is still a concern

by Noah Zweifel

Satellite internet is now available at some Hilltown addresses through the SpaceX program Starlink and, while the company indicates that greater coverage will be available before the end of the year, the price tag may prevent residents from taking advantage of the service.

State completes $45M in Capital Region paving projects

ALBANY COUNTY — Pavement restoration projects in the Capital Region resurfaced and restriped 127.3 miles on 30 state highways in Albany, Greene, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Warren, and Washington counties.  

Trees for Tribs is accepting applications

The Hudson Estuary Trees for Tribs Program, run by the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation, is accepting applications for spring streamside planting projects.

Albany Med opens Post-COVID Care Clinic for patients with lingering symptoms

ALBANY COUNTY — Patients who have recovered from the acute phase of COVID-19 but who are experiencing lingering symptoms can now be treated by a team of specialists at the Post-COVID Care Clinic at Albany Medical Center.

UAlbany gets $365K for cancer research

The University at Albany is receiving $365,766 to fund research on the effects of Vitamin K for breast cancer prevention. This award will be administered by the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

As infection rate dips below 4%, county allows high-risk sports

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

“As of today, following the science, scrimmages and games can start if the school has submitted everything they need to submit,”said Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy.

Guilderland‌ ‌and‌ ‌Pyramid‌ ‌seek to reverse ruling that halted company’s projects

by ‌Sean‌ ‌Mulkerrin‌ ‌

In its Jan. 25 appeal, Pyramid claimed the November 2020 lower court ruling that stopped construction of the company’s 222-unit apartment development on Rapp Road as well as a proposed Costco Wholesale store was not made based on arguments presented by either the plaintiff or the defendants. The judge in effect took it upon himself to amend the original petition, Pyramid argued in court papers, and then didn’t give the town or company time to respond, violating the state’s prohibition against “litigation by surprise.”

County eyeing Berne senior center for counseling services, but seniors have reservations

by Noah Zweifel

Karen Stark, who coordinates the Helderberg Senior Services lunch program, says she doesn’t want the town’s seniors “to be at any risk at all” from people who would seek counseling services.

Two more COVID-19 deaths in Albany County

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

The latest residents to succumb to the virus are  a woman in her eighties and a man in his nineties, bringing Albany County’s death toll to 332.

County resident in her 40s dies, bringing COVID-19 death toll to 330

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

As of Feb. 6, Albany County had administered 90 percent of its doses, according to the state’s vaccine dashboard, which now also tracks statewide demographic data.

Blacks not getting their fair share of vaccines

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

The governor’s office on Friday released numbers on three different groups eligible for COVID-19 vaccination — hospital workers, essential workers, and people 65 and older — which showed, in each group, Blacks were under-represented.

Nursing students learn and help in midst of pandemic

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

Nursing students at Maria College are “battle hardened” as they help during the pandemic, said the college’s president. Similarly, the president of Russell Sage College says his students are learning life lessons about serving the common good.

New Yorkers with comorbidities will be eligible for COVID vaccines on Feb. 15

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

Hospitals across the state have one more week, Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Friday, to vaccinate their workers then that allotment of vaccine doses will be shifted to vaccinate adults of any age with comorbidities. He also said that 94 percent of the people who die from COVID are people with comorbidities or other underlying conditions. 

Health commissioner says second doses cannot be used as first doses

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

New York City’s Mayor, Bill de Blasio, requested on Wednesday that the city be allowed to administer second COVID-19 vaccine doses as first doses.

On Thursday, the state’s health commissioner, Howard Zucker, denied that request, citing guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Albany County will not add more categories of essential workers to get vaccinated

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

Workers at the county’s board of elections had a recent outbreak of COVID-19 but aren’t eligible for vaccinations, Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy said on Thursday. McCoy went on to name a half-dozen county departments — the clerk’s office, human resources, finance, mental health, public works, and social services — where workers are not eligible for shots.

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