Only one of the incidents occurred in Albany County: On Nov. 24, the day after Thanksgiving, a 68-year-old hunter with 20 years of hunting experience “unintentionally discharged one round from their firearm and struck their left foot,” the DEC reported. No violations were noted.

The Albany County Climate Resiliency Plan and Climate Action Plan for the Capital Region each establish guidelines for how to reduce emissions, with the county plan going a step further and focusing on protection from direct climate conditions like high heat and increased flooding.  

To help reach Governor Kathy Hochul’s goal of planting 25 million trees in New York by 2033, the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation announced its Buffer in a Bag program to provide free seedlings to be planted near bodies of water.

The pandemic has heightened food insecurity nationwide, said McCoy. Albany County, he said, has worked with United Way, the Food Bank of Northeastern Regional, and “nearly 60 food pantries and soup kitchens to get healthy food to families within our neighborhoods that need it most,” committing a quarter of a million dollars to the effort. Also, the county has provided $109 million in food-stamp benefits to 19,000 families county-wide, he said.

Reidy is running for the seat now held by Patricia Fahy, representing Albany, New Scotland, and parts of Guilderland. Fahy is running to replace longtime state Senator Neil Breslin, who is retiring from that post after more than a quarter century. 

Funding, up to $40,000, was available for conservation projects that would protect the natural resources of Albany County and beyond.

Tom Ellis, Albany

ALBANY COUNTY — Snow is expected to fall in Albany County on Monday night, continuing through Tuesday morning, tapering off in the afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.

The state’s Department of Environmental Conservation is, by Aug. 1, returning to plain paper rather than synthetic paper for sporting licenses and carcass tags.

Free Fishing Days in New York will take place on: Feb. 17 to 18 (Presidents’ Day Weekend), June 29 to 30, Sept. 28 (National Hunting and Fishing Day), and Nov. 11 (Veterans Day).

During these days, the fishing license requirement is waived for freshwater fishing on New York’s waters.