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. 

On Nov. 22, two weeks after the start of Jennings Creek wildfire at Sterling Forest State Park on the New York border with New Jersey, the governor announced the fire was fully contained.

Farmers can apply for funds to invest in infrastructure, equipment, and the adoption of “state-of-the-art practices,” the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets says.

The student body at SUNY schools is becoming more diverse. For the first time, enrollment of white students in the SUNY system came in below the 50-percent mark, and is at 49.1 percent this year, down from 59.6 percent a decade ago.

Joseph Slichko wants to highlight the work of both students and staff at the Capital Region BOCES Career and Technical Education Center – Albany Center.

He started work on Nov. 18 as the center’s new principal.

The state has an “action plan” meant to protect species under threat.

The state is encouraging residents in affected counties, particularly those dependent on private groundwater wells, to conserve water whenever possible during the coming weeks.

Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy announced on Friday that he and the Albany County Legislature had approved “an intermunicipal agreement to create the Albany County Healthcare Consortium.” But this is just the first step needed for six municipalities and three school districts that are considering being part of the consortium if, indeed, the costs turn out to be lower. McCoy is pictured here at Voorheesville’s Ruck March on Nov. 10.