Marcy Forti, Knox

Freedom isn’t a favor to be granted to deserving human beings; it’s a right.

In the 102nd Assembly District, Republican Chris Tague is defending his seat against Betsy Kraat, a Democrat.

To present a balanced spending plan for 2021, Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy’s budget relies on tapping the county’s $60 million rainy-day fund for $3 million, reallocating $5 million that would have otherwise been appropriated toward paying off county debt, and $5 million in salaries and benefits savings from 72 employees who each accepted a $15,000 early-separation payout.

On Wednesday, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that state aid would be withheld from schools that remain open in so-called “red zones,” where the coronavirus is prevalent, and, further, that municipalities in those red zones that are not enforcing closures will also have state aid withheld.

While Governor Andrew Cuomo is still being criticized for large numbers of nursing-home deaths during the height of the pandemic in New York, an association of long-term care facilities is pushing for less restrictive regulations for testing and for visitors.

ALBANY COUNTY — Seniors are invited to listen to phone-in presentations and discussions on aging well provided by Community Caregivers.

Talks are every Tuesday to Nov. 10, from 1 to 2 p.m. No access code is required to call the free conference line at 518-992-6661.

Here are the dates and topics:

 ALBANY COUNTY — Cornell Cooperative Extension is offering a virtual program to strengthen families — for youth between the ages of 11 and 18 and their parents or caregivers.

Empire State Digital is a new state program to help small businesses increase their online presence through e-commerce enablers, including Shopify, Square, Clearbanc, and Etsy.

Jacob Crawford, Albany County’s new Democratic chairman, said of Randy Bashwinger, the new county GOP chairman, “He’s interested in taking his brand of politics to the suburban towns in the county to try to win some of those races. I would look forward to the competition. I think the Trump style of politics is not what the suburban voters of Albany County are interested in or are looking for, and I look forward to taking the competition up to him in the Hilltowns.”