To soften the blow of rising emergency medical service costs, New Scotland and a number of other municipalities that rely on the Albany County Sheriff’s EMS service lobbied for a special district that would move the expense from local budgets to the county one, but hit resistance from county officials. 

The local program will develop a new “jail re-entry” case-management model for people released from Albany County’s jail, particularly those with severe and pervasive mental illness.

“Mosquitoes, once a nuisance, are now a threat,” said Commissioner James McDonald. “I urge all New Yorkers to prevent mosquito bites by using insect repellents, wearing long-sleeved clothing and removing free-standing water near their homes. Fall is officially here, but mosquitoes will be around until we see multiple nights of below freezing temperatures.”

The New York State Union of Teachers convened experts and educators for a discussion about how phones and social media are influencing children’s lives both at home and at school as Governor Kathy Hochul, who kicked off the event, is fighting to ban phones in classrooms statewide. 

The number of overdose deaths in Albany County dropped at a similar rate that overdose deaths have decreased nationwide last year. However, unlike the national trend, which saw fewer deaths from fentanyl and other opiates, Albany County saw a higher density of fentanyl-involved deaths in 2023.

Sadako Sasaki, in 1955, folded a tiny origami crane using the red wrapper of a methotrexate medicine container, a treatment for her leukemia. That crane is now on display at the state museum.

The state is expanding its study on how non-lead ammunition for deer hunting can improve the survival of bald and golden eagles.

Hunters across New York are now eligible for a rebate up to $60 for the purchase of non-lead ammunition for use during the 2024-25 deer hunting seasons.

All three Guilderland projects came under the heading of recreation and outdoor infrastructure.

The Guilderland, Berne-Knox-Westerlo, Voorheesville, and Bethlehem school districts have released the income criteria for students to qualify this school year for free or re­duced-price lunches, breakfasts, and milk. All four dis­tricts have the same standard, based on family size and income.