Regional

ALBANY COUNTY — This week, the state announced $10.5 million has been awarded through the federal State Homeland Security Program to increase the preparedness and response capabilities of 80 cities, towns, villages, and counties statewide.

Albany County is receiving a total of $344,396 in three different categories:

Rabbit Goody, a textile historian and scholar who owns Thistle Hill Weavers, will speak to the Sharon Historical Society on April 13 at 7 p.m.

The state has released new online training for mental-health professionals who work with first responders such as 911 dispatchers, law enforcement, emergency medical technicians and firefighters.

Albany County will help school districts cover a portion of the cost during the first year.

GUILDERLAND — Madewell, a national chain that sells denim clothes and accessories, will open its first store in the Capital Region in Stuyvesant Plaza later this year.

Madewell will fill the former site of The Book House, which relocated to its original home within Stuyvesant Plaza, located between Sur La Table and Athleta.

In February, Republican Marc Molinaro announced he would leave the Trump administration to run for the seat. A former Dutchess County executive, Congressman, and 2024 gubernatorial candidate, Molinaro has served as administrator of the Federal Transit Administration under Trump — and is endorsed by Tague.

Bear hunters had a record-breaking season, the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation announced this week.

Since the state started keeping track in 1955, the 1,759 black bears killed this season is second only to the toll in 2003.

A total of 450 Capital Region BOCES Career and Technical Education students competed in the regional SkillsUSA competition on March 18; forty-five won medals and will now compete in the state competition in Syracuse next month. Winners of that event will advance to the national competition in June.

The state has released a roadmap to deal with harmful algal blooms, known as HAB.

The 11-page report says that HABs in freshwater consist of cyanobacteria, which are also referred to as blue-green algae.