Stephen Thomas, SUNY Upstate Medical’s chief of Infectious Disease, has been appointed the lead principal investigator for the world-wide Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine trial. The SUNY medical school serves as one of the global third-phase vaccine trial locations.

His 8,171-vote lead over Michelle Hinchey suggests that GOP-backed Richard Amedure had a modicum of broader appeal with voters in the 46th State Senate District than the Democrat. And now that a Montgomery County court judge has ruled on lawsuits filed by each candidate over absentee ballots, the nearly 26,000 votes can be counted. Over half of the mail-in ballots were returned by people who will almost assuredly vote for Hinchey — but that still might not be enough to pull out a win.

The COVID-19 patient who died was a woman in her sixties, bringing the county’s COVID-19 death toll to 144.

A woman in her nineties with underlying health conditions died of the virus on Thursday. This brings the county’s COVID-19 death toll to 143.

New York’s micro-clusters, until now, had been in Brooklyn and Queens in New York City; in Orange and Rockland counties in the Mid-Hudson region; and in Broome, Steuben, and Chemung counties near the Pennsylvania border.

Project Growth participants earn money to repay the victims of their crimes while they build life skills combined with hands-on service projects, said William Connors who runs the program.

“It’s time to start doubling down on the preventative measures instead of loosening restrictions,” said Albany County Health Commissioner Elizabeth Whalen.

 As we urge our local highway departments to stay on top of the most efficient systems for distribution of salt, we note that each of us can make a difference in how we handle the ice and snow at our own homes or businesses.

With over 130,000 early and in-person ballots counted on Tuesday, Republican Richard Amedure maintains a 6.26-percent lead over Democrat Michelle Hinchey, 66,784 votes to 58,613, in the race for the 46th state Senate District, according to unofficial election results from the state Board of Elections.

ALBANY COUNTY — November is National Adoption Month, prompting Albany County Legislator Jeff Perlee, a Republican representing Altamont and part of the Hilltowns, to note the growing need for foster parents in Albany County, especially in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis.