The Empire State Youth Orchestra has a new musical director. It also has roots in and ongoing connections to Guilderland.

Artist and cookbook author Nava Atlas demonstrates vegan dishes that can be prepared and how to plan a holiday meal when there may be guests with dietary restrictions.

On Thursday, Albany County District Attorney David Soares announced that his office will decline to prosecute cases of simple marijuana possession.

ALBANY COUNTY — More than $372 million in assistance is available to help older adults and low- and middle-income New Yorkers heat their homes this winter. Local departments of social services began accepting applications for the Home Energy Assistance Program on Tuesday, November 13.

ALBANY COUNTY — Three organizations in Albany County are among 11 supportive housing projects for the homeless that will receive a total of $40 million in state funds, the governor announced on Monday:

In the face of lawsuits and money problems, Monolith Solar, and its new chief executive officer, are optimistic that they can get the company back on track by 2019.

This week, Daniel McCoy, the Albany County executive, signed into law an extension of the mortgage-recording tax.

ALBANY COUNTY — Democratic incumbent Assemblywoman Patricia A. Fahy bested her two rivals by a wide margin on Tuesday.

The blue wave that gave Democrats control of the State Senate did not lift all boats.

Republican George Amedore won a third term representing the 46th Senate District. He bested his Democratic opponent, Pat Courtney Strong, a newcomer to politics, with 55 percent of the vote.

Settlement money from the nation’s largest banks over misconduct that contributed to the housing crisis is being given to land banks across the state to revitalize communities with blighted or abandoned properties.