The reasoning, according to a letter addressed to the Albany County Redistricting Commission by county legislature leaders, was that by adding two majority-minority districts to the county’s existing five, the communities within them might have their collective voting power diminished.

ALBANY COUNTY — “One thing that we love in the United States of America is a great underdog story …,” says Republican Alicia Purdy. “This is why we go to movies like ‘Rocky’ … We want to see the little guy win.”

ALBANY COUNTY — “I’m a voice often for the voiceless,” said Democrat Patricia Fahy who is making her sixth run to represent the 109th District in the State Assembly.

The two candidates have starkly divergent views on gun policies, abortion, and environmental issues. 

Reported vaccine uptake among children ages 5 to 11 and teenagers ages 12 to 17 has slowed in recent months, according to a survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation, published on Sept. 30. Almost half of parents of kids ages 5 to 11 now report their child has gotten vaccinated.

The current 46th Senate District is represented by Democrat Michelle Hinchey who, as a of redistricting, will be replaced by either State Senator Neil D. Breslin, a Democrat who currently represents the 44th District, or her opponent from 2020, Rich M. Amedure Jr., a former State Trooper running on the Republican and Conservative lines. 

ALBANY COUNTY — The county is surveying residents on how to spend $29.6 million, a second round of federal funds to help with recovery from the ongoing pandemic.

BETHLEHEM — The Fisher Trail at Five Rivers Environmental Education Center was officially opened on Tuesday.

Most of the trail’s 0.66-mile length is constructed in compliance with accessibility guidelines from the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation for people with mobility disabilities.

Evusheld is the the only monoclonal antibody available, under emergency use authorization, for COVID-19 prevention for people who are immunocompromised or for people who can’t take the COVID-19 vaccine.

Albany County Executive Dan McCoy’s proposed budget is under the state-set levy limit for the 10th year in a row.