Regional

Veterans Miracle Center Executive Director for Community Relations Michelle Viola Straight told The Enterprise that it will lose around 90 percent of its dry-food donations, creating a massive hole for the not-for-profit as the need rises drastically. 

ALBANY COUNTY — About $80,000 of the nearly $32 million Albany County received in federal pandemic funds, through the American Rescue Plan Act, will be used to upgrade transmission of the county legislature’s meetings.

Legislators voted unanimously on Dec. 16 to spend $150,000 for the upgrades.

ALBANY COUNTY — Parking will be free on New Year’s Day at Thacher State Park and Five Rivers Environmental Education Center.

The Albany County Legislature has authorized an increase of the hotel occupancy tax rate from 6 percent to 6.5 percent as a way to fund tourism initiatives, with all GOP members opposed to the measure.