Michael Nardacci, Albany

ALBANY COUNTY — A score of Capital Region BOCES Career and Technical Education students earned medals at the regional SkillsUSA competition on March 16 in Schenectady and Scotia. 
The six first-place winners and many of the other medal winners will advance to the state SkillsUSA competition in Syracuse next month.

ALBANY COUNTY — The University at Albany is among the state campuses to receive funds to expand and upgrade its child-care center.

SCHOHARIE — Plans are finalized for the 2022 Spring Antiques in Schoharie, to be held at the Quality Inn, 160 Holiday Way in Schoharie on April 2 and 3. 

Fifteen Capital Region colleges have received or will be receiving nearly $150 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan, Congressman Paul Tonko’s office announced.

“We never had a high-five moment and said it’s over,” said Governor Kathy Hochul of COVID-19. “We’re in a new phase; we’ve been adapting to the circumstance and reopening in a way that I still believe should continue.”

Frank D. Coon was known for his strong work ethic and equally strong love of his family.

“He was an excellent husband. Everybody wanted him,” said Verlane Coon, his wife of 63 years. “He was a worker. He didn’t have hobbies. He didn’t go fishing. He worked.”

Mr. Coon died on Thursday, March 3, 2022. He was 80.

Both the state’s health commissioner and governor on Monday emphasized two main courses of action in dealing with the latest Omicron sub-lineage: People should get vaccinated, including booster shots, and people should immediately be tested for COVID-19 so they can be treated to stem the spread.

The two companies producing a messenger RNA vaccine against COVID-19 — Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech — have asked the Food and Drug Administration for emergency authorization for a second booster shot.

Albany County’s redistricting process is being overseen by an independent commission meant to ensure that districts are changed according to values that line up with fair representation for residents as opposed to political advantage for legislators.