Economy
Upstate Tourism May See Summer Spike
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New York City, which normally is the number-one tourism destination in the state, is still viewed by many to be unsafe – opening up new opportunities for upstate.
Pennsylvania Joins The Growing List Of States Mandating Face Masks In Public
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Pennsylvania, Oregon and Kansas are among the latest states to require face coverings in public settings as COVID-19 cases surge in much of the country. Health officials say masks can slow the spread.
App NEWS
With COVID Compliance Slipping, Cuomo Postpones Indoor Dining In New York City
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Cuomo blames local governments, who are supposed to enforce rules at restaurants, bars, stores and other public places.
App NEWS
Services For Disabled New Yorkers Burdened By State Budget Cuts
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Created just two years ago, the centers coordinate services including therapies, behavioral health specialists, job placement and recreational opportunities for their clients.
App NEWS
Governor Cuomo Adds 8 More No Go States
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“The good news is, our house is doing very well. The bad news is the neighbor’s home is on fire.”
Researchers Uncover Links Between COVID-19 And Smoking, Vaping
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A researcher at the University of Rochester Medical Center, says his studies show people who smoke or vape nicotine have elevated levels of the receptors that allow the novel coronavirus to gain entry to the lungs.
Cuomo Calls For National Mask Order; New York Republicans Want Limits On Executive Orders
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“If other states have a high infection rate, probability is they’re going to wind up increasing the spread in New York.”
App NEWS
Cuomo: Malls Need Improved Air Filters Before They Can Reopen
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“We will make it mandatory that they have air filtration systems that can filter out the COVID virus.”
YMCA Summer Camps Can Reopen With Restrictions
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“We are more than happy to provide childcare. It’s complicated. It’s not easy. But it’s our mission.”
Will New York Schools Open In September? Cuomo Says It’s ‘Complicated’
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“We are preparing to open schools, we have plans to open schools, but (edit) I’ll be honest with you. It’s two months away. Anything can happen in two months.”
Government
New York Reported 5 COVID-19 Deaths Saturday, Cuomo Says
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Hospitalizations from the disease also dropped Saturday, bringing the total number of people requiring treatment for the disease down to 869.
App NEWS
New York Governor Seeks Legal Means To Enforce Quarantine On Out-of-State Travelers
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Governor Andrew Cuomo says New York is offering help to states like Texas and Arizona that are struggling with spiking COVID-19 infections.
App NEWS
COVID-19 Hospitalizations Reach New Low as New York Plans Quarantine Inspections
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New York has hit another milestone in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic: hospitalizations from the disease have now dipped below 1,000 for the first time in about three months, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Thursday.
New York Health Officials Release Travel Guidelines, While Some Question 14-Day Quarantines
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“It raises questions about interstate commerce and really the constitutionality of it.”
App NEWS
New York Cities Face “Temporary” Cuts In State Aid
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“They don’t know when the temporary period is going to end. Or whether they, down the road, may might be told they will never receive the aid”.
App NEWS
New York Business Owners Chafe At Uncertainty Over Mall Reopenings
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“We are ready to be back in business in a safe and effective manner and we’re just hoping that we can have the opportunity to do so, so that we can feed our families.”
Government
PA House Passes Bill Exempting Guns From Emergency Restrictions
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“I really don’t think there’s reason for the governor to have this power over guns. We are given the ability to keep and bear arms by the Constitution.”
New York City Could See 22,000 Public Employee Layoffs Because Of COVID-19
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Mayor Bill de Blasio warned that without aid from Albany and Washington, as well as concessions from labor groups, every department would face unprecedented job cuts
american homefront
After Treating COVID-19 Patients In New York, Reservists Return To Rising Cases At Home
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“If we really didn’t feel like there was much we could do for that patient, we would move on, and that’s sort of the idea of disaster management, do the best you can for the greatest amount of people,”
What Parents Can Learn From Child Care Centers That Stayed Open During Lockdowns
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The Y, and New York City’s Department of Education, have been caring for tens of thousands of children during the pandemic. Neither has had reports of coronavirus clusters or outbreaks.
Featured in Category
WATCH: NY, NJ, And CT Quarantine Visitors From COVID-Stricken States
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People traveling to New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut from states with high infection rates of the coronavirus, like Florida and Texas, will be required to quarantine themselves for 14 days.
App NEWS
Unemployment In Binghamton Tops 10%, Rate Doubles In Ithaca
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The unemployment rate nearly quadrupled in New York state’s metro areas in May compared to the same time last year, landing at 14.5% across the board, according to data released Tuesday by the state Department of Labor.
Education
As New York Reopens, State Offers $65 million To Child Care Providers
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$20 million will be available to help reopen and expand capacity for child care providers, and $45 million will be available to help pay for the cost of a newly opened classroom.
Economy
Report: Gyms, Malls, Movie Theaters Will Not Open As Part Of Phase 4
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Broome County Executive Jason Garnar tweeted the Southern Tier region had been cleared to begin Phase 4 Friday. But he did not indicate what businesses would be opening.
App NEWS
In Reversal, New York Threatens Quarantine On Visitors From Other States
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The governor has talked about the possibility of imposing a 14 day quarantine for those who travel from the 20 plus other states
App NEWS
“Nightmare Scenario” Confronts Binghamton, Other New York Cities
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There’s a growing movement in the state Legislature to raise taxes on the wealthy to help balance the state’s budget and to help cities out.
coping
Getting Lost in “The Great Pause”: Grief and Loss in the Coronavirus Pandemic
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We’re experiencing the coronavirus outbreak as one, yet we all have different coping styles. Are you focused on logistics? Struggling to stay motivated in a strangely isolated world? Are you unable to concentrate? Or confused about your sudden jumble of new roles?
Government
A Ruling Could Come This Week In Standoff Between Wolf And PA Legislature
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The fate of the governor’s emergency declaration hangs in the balance
App NEWS
ARCHIVE: Governor Cuomo’s Daily Coronavirus Briefings
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“I’m going to finish the daily briefings on Friday, and then we’ll do briefings as necessary, and I’m sure they will often be necessary.”
Education
New York Education Officials Gather Input For Reopening Guidelines
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Stakeholders are being asked to share what they’ve experienced during the pandemic shutdowns and how can the state improve and take proper precautions in the fall.
App NEWS
Not Every PA Democrat In Legislature Happy With Governor’s Handling Of Coronavirus Emergency
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“I don’t have confidence in his numbers and some of his people.”
Reed, Scalise Seek Probe Of Cuomo’s Nursing Home COVID Policies
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“It’s not a coincidence that this is primarily an argument put forth by Republicans. That is a factual statement.”
Economy
Business Owners, Elected Officials Want New York’s Malls Reopened
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“It’s business critical at this point. We’ve been shut down for three months and we have zero revenue, still having many of the obligations that we had before.”
New York Looks To Protect Personal Information Gathered Through Contact Tracing
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“Ever since this era, our system has been trying to make up for this huge breach in public health trust. Trust is core to our ability to counter the COVID epidemic in the United States.”
App NEWS
Gillibrand Requests $50-Billion For ‘Unprecedented Child Care Crisis’
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“There’s just not enough availability for every kid that wants to be in day care to be in day care in most states today.”
U.S. Open Tennis Will Start On Time
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The event will begin on Aug. 31 without fans because of the continued spread of the coronavirus. Australian tennis star Nicholas Kyrgios calls the move “selfish.”
Economy
New York State Disburses Additional Food Aid For 4th Straight Month
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Hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers will be getting more money than usual to help with groceries this month.
App NEWS
More Harm Than Good? Reporter’s Family Struggles With Nursing Home Visitation Rules
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Do the benefits of a ban on nursing home visits to protect residents from COVID-19 outweigh the risks of isolation?
Health
The Red Cross Testing Donor Blood For COVID-19 Antibodies
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“We know that individuals and public health organizations are actively seeking more information in general about COVID-19, and we feel fortunate to be able to help in this way during the pandemic.”
Government
Governor Asks PA Supreme Court For Immediate Ruling On Emergency Powers Dispute
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Responding to legislature’s lawsuit, Wolf asks high court to use “King’s Bench” jurisdiction
New York Governor Threatens Loss Of Liquor Licenses
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“Young people can engage in sports. Two spectators per child. So that’s another step towards return to normalcy.”
New York Professor On Misinformation And How Not To Be Part Of The Problem
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“We need to be critical, even for things we can see with our own eyes. We need to relearn not to trust everything
While Governor Okays Pools/Playgrounds, Park Departments Struggle To Reopen
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“It’s not just turning the valve on and filling the pool. There’s a lot of behind the logistics behind the scenes that happen and people don’t understand.”
Health
Novel Coronavirus Vaccine Trial Underway Upstate
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Rochester General Hospital is testing a possible vaccine against the novel coronavirus, but, it could still be months before there are any definitive results.
App NEWS
Five Regions Of New York Cleared For Phase 3 Reopening
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“Everybody wants to swim, I understand. Everybody doesn’t want to see a spike in COVID again, so use your judgment. Sometimes yes is not the right answer.”
Health
Pennsylvania Releases Data On COVID-19 Deaths Among Latinos
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Counties vary in approach to tracking the virus’s impact on ethnic groups
Government
Governor Pledges To Take PA Legislature To Court Over Effort To End Coronavirus Emergency Order
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“Nothing changes. Essentially, the resolution that was passed last evening is meaningless.”
airlines
Taking Steps In The Age Of COVID-19 To Keep Airline Passengers Safe
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“We’re rolling out the initiatives that we have today, showing how the airport is committed to a clean, sterile, sanitized safe environment.”
Government
PA Legislature Passes Resolution To Revoke Governor’s Coronavirus Emergency Order
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Action sets up a likely court fight over whether governor can veto the move
After Lockdown And Unrest, New York City Begins Reopening During Pandemic
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As many as 400,000 workers are expected to leave their homes and return to their jobs as the national epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic begins easing stay-at-home restrictions.
Government
Churches Now Allowed Up To 25% Capacity For Services, Funerals
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“People need to have those doors opened and have their faith fulfilled and to be nourished.”
Education
Upstate High Schools Make Graduation Plans. Governor Allows Ceremonies For Up To 150 people
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“It really is the best situation, I guess, that we can have. It’s a tough one. It’s really not what we want, but we’ll make the best of it.”
Uncategorized
De Blasio Promises Cuts To NYPD, Ends NYC Curfew
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The call to end the curfew comes a day earlier than previously planned. De Blasio noted that most protesters had been peaceful, and admitted that the NYPD had sometimes overstepped its duty.
App NEWS
As Finger Lakes Reopen, Oldest Residents Still At High Risk
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As the Finger Lakes region moves through the phases of reopening its economy, people who work with the region’s oldest residents say they still need to take extra precautions.
App NEWS
New York Governor Counters President’s ‘Photo Op,’ Cites Bible Passages
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“Here in New York, we actually read the Bible. ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God’.”
App NEWS
Outdoor Dining Reopens Today In Upstate Regions
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“The No. 1 contributor to New York state sales tax are bars and restaurants, so it will help the economy, it’ll help local businesses and it’ll help (our) finances as well.”
Episodes
Coronavirus Precautions And Protests Create Problems But Fail To Disrupt PA’s Primary Election
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The challenge now: Counting nearly 2 million mail-in ballots. Final results may take a week to tabulate
Government
Cuomo: Mass Protests Could Lead To New Coronavirus Outbreak
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“People lost their jobs, people wiped out their savings, and now, mass gatherings with thousands of people in close proximity? What sense does this make?”
Food and Farms
Caravans Gather Across New York To Support Undocumented, Essential Workers
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“We’re asking for access to child care for food chain workers, financial relief for undocumented workers and health and safety regulations for all workers on the job, especially farmworkers.”
Education
‘No Question’: PA Governor Says Schools Will Reopen In The Fall
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Most of western Pa. moves to green phase of coronavirus reopening plan next week.
Government
Assembly Ready To ‘Respond’ To Major Cuts From Cuomo, Speaker Says
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“None of us can fathom 20% cuts to education. Those are cuts that I don’t think we’ve ever imagined, we’ve ever seen, in recent times.”
In Self-Isolation, New York Doctor Deepens His Connection To Family
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To protect his wife and four children, Dr. Roberto Vargas, who processes COVID-19 tests in Rochester, N.Y., is staying in their basement. “What carries me through is this family,” he tells them.
App NEWS
PA House Passes Resolution To Limit Governor’s Coronavirus Emergency Declaration
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Senate still needs to act, but resolution faces almost certain disapproval by governor
Love At First Quarantine: After A Single Date, New York Couple Hunkers Down
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New Yorkers Gali Beeri and Joshua Boliver met at a dance class in March as the city was about to lock down. The near-strangers took a leap of faith and are riding out quarantine in Joshua’s apartment.
De Blasio Expects New York City To Head Back To Work Next Month
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The epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S. has spent weeks under strict restrictions. But the mayor says up to 400,000 people will likely return to their jobs soon — with some conditions.
Reckoning With The Dead: Journalist Goes Inside New York COVID-19 Disaster Morgue
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Time magazine reporter W.J. Hennigan embedded with workers responsible for caring for the bodies of some 20,000 New Yorkers who have died from COVID-19. “It’s a haunting thing,” he says.
Government
New York State Legislature To Vote On COVID-19 Bills
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State lawmakers returned to session this week, with plans to vote on bills aimed at helping New Yorkers cope with all of the changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
App NEWS
Poll Finds New Yorkers Okay With Phased Reopening
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The poll finds Governor Andrew Cuomo’s 66% approval rating is still among the highest during his 9 years in office.
Health
After Hospital Discharge, COVID-19 Recovery Continues At Home
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Patients can have persistent physical, cognitive and psychological disability after their discharge.
alcoholism
Virtual Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings Provide People In Recovery A Reprieve
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Since the New York state PAUSE order went into effect in March, Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and other support groups have transitioned to virtual meetings.
Education
New York Universities Start To Address Fall Semesters
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Binghamton University’s president said that students will return to campus this fall as well, but more details are forthcoming.
coronavirus
‘Not Camera Shy’: PA Businesses Make Video Pitches For Emergency Aid
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“This is going to be our new normal when the government allows us to come back. So, I am giving it a go.”
In New York City, 2 Million Residents Face Food Insecurity, Officials Say
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“Before the coronavirus, we thought somewhere around a million people were food insecure and needed food,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said. Now, 1 in 4 New Yorkers may be going hungry.
Government
New York Allows Small Religious Gatherings, With Restrictions
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“The wearing of masks, the cleaning regimen that would have to happen before or after, the airing out of the space, the need to manage things like doorways or bathrooms or places of contact.”
App NEWS
Hair Stylists, Nail Salons Plan Reopening With No Guidance From New York State
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“If I’m not making money, if I can’t sustain rent on 2,400 square feet, plus utilities, then it’s no longer a benefit for me to keep the business as it was running.”
Education
Playbook For Reopening PA Schools: Face Shields, Staggered Schedules, Temp Checks
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Scientifically, there’s no clear consensus yet on the effectiveness of school closures in stopping the spread of COVID-19.
Proposal Would Limit New York Governor’s Emergency Powers, Increase Oversight
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“It doesn’t prevent the decisions. It solely requires reports. Once the reports are made, those things are subject to review.”
App NEWS
Veto Won’t Stop PA Real Estate Offices From Reopening
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After rejecting bill to reopen real estate industry, Wolf issues guidelines to accomplish the same goal
Crime and Justice
Lawsuit Says PA’s Failing Special Needs Kids During Coronavirus School Closures
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“The families claim “online learning is wholly inadequate to meet the needs of nonverbal and partially verbal children with autism who rely upon…in-person instruction.”
Pennsylvania Health Secretary Defends ‘Universal’ Nursing Home Testing Plan
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Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine responded to critics who say there are holes in the state’s plan to test all residents and staff at nursing homes: “The plan is an evolution.”
Health
COVID-19 Presents New Challenges For Folks With Hearing Loss
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‘I wish everybody would have a clear mask, because as a person that needs to read lips, I’m afraid to go anywhere,’”
App NEWS
Explainer: The Debate Over Letting PA’s Real Estate Industry Get Back To Work
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Pa. is only state in nation where real estate is on hold during coronavirus
App NEWS
Business Owners Express Confusion, Frustration About PA’s Waiver Process
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PA business owners share stories of evolving, sometimes contradictory, guidance from state
Economy
PA Extends Benefits Window For Unemployment Compensation
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The state’s unemployment benefits agency continues to deal with “an avalanche of claims.”
Government
New York Churches Don’t Want To Be Among The Last To Reopen
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“We are going to have to put strict limits in terms of capacity in every church, and all sorts of restrictions.”
New York Mom Describes Son’s Battle With Pediatric Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome
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At least 150 children in the U.S. are now believed to have contracted a new illness thought to be connected to COVID-19.
Economy
Child Care Centers In PA: Bellwether For How Tricky It Will Be To Fully Reopen Economy
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“Going out there and saying ‘support your local economy’ is going to make you look bad if at the same time you are saying ‘put your kids in danger.’”
Remembering Georgianna Glose, A New York Nun And Activist
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Georgianna Glose, a nun in Brooklyn, N.Y., who blew the whistle on sexual abuse in the Catholic Church died from COVID-19 complications. She was 73.
‘She Wasn’t Alone,’ A Doctor Reflects On New York City’s Coronavirus Peak
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A pediatric cardiologist working at a hospital in the Bronx reflects on treating adults after part of the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore Medical Center was converted to an adult COVID-19 unit.
New York Extends Stay At Home Order, Allows Some Areas To Begin Reopening
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Gov. Andrew Cuomo is extending the state’s stay at home order to May 28. Some areas of the state have been given the green light to enter Phase One of reopening beginning Friday.
Government
New York Eyes Memorial Day Opening for State Beaches
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Beaches will be monitored for density, and will be limited to half their usual capacity. Parking will be limited and entrances will be monitored to ensure that too many people aren’t coming in.
Crime and Justice
New York Offers Text, Chat Assistance For Domestic Violence Victims
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“That can help them find safe shelter, talk about their safety options, and really connect them to the services they need, during this time and even after this time.”
App NEWS
PA’s Largest Nurses’ Union Accuses Hospitals Of Misinforming State Officials
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The union says health systems are sitting on stockpiles of N95 respirators, leaving nurses without needed protection, as some hospitals restart elective procedures.
App NEWS
Clash Over Reopening Economy Simmers Below The Surface In Rural PA COVID Hotspot
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“There’s a lot of people who think nothing will happen to them, and keep getting together, keep having parties.”
App NEWS
As The Southern Tier Reopens, Some Local Officials Want More State Guidance
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Local officials were mixed about the state’s messaging as the Southern Tier Region reopened Friday.
In PA, Trump To Say Pandemic Shows Merit Of ‘America First’ Mantra
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President Trump is traveling to a medical supply distributor, where he will make the case that the coronavirus pandemic shows the danger in having supply chains spread around the world.
How COVID-19 is changing June 9 school district votes
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“The challenge has been that school districts don’t have a list of all qualified voters within a school district, so identifying those individuals has been challenging.”
Cornell Leads Statewide Effort To Provide Protective Face Masks For Inmates
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“The folks that are incarcerated in the prisons in our region are potentially a huge source of contagion.”
App NEWS
Coronavirus Delays Conservation Efforts In Pennsylvania
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“The whole spring season is basically lost.”
App NEWS
Is Your PA County Planning To Move To ‘Yellow’ On Its Own? Here’s The Latest
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We breakdown the issue in eight counties and the latest developments.
App NEWS
NY Hospitals Prioritize COVID-19 Testing For Kids With Certain Symptoms
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Health officials advise parents to seek immediate care if a child has trouble breathing, severe abdominal pain, a change in skin color, rash, fever, or racing heart.
App NEWS
Why Did A Hair And Beauty Products Company Receive A ‘Life-Sustaining’ Waiver?
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How this business qualified for a waiver is unclear from just the information DCED posted on its website.
Economy
PA Company Switches From Sewing Football Jerseys To Face Masks. Workers Walked Out, Calling Plan Unsafe
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“It wasn’t about getting masks out to the public. It was about saving his company and making as much money as possible.”
App NEWS
What Does The Future Of Restaurants Look Like As PA Eases Guidelines?
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The repercussions have been devastating. Nearly 1,000 out of 26,000 restaurants operating in the state have permanently closed due to coronavirus.
New York Businesses Adapt; Long Island Oysterman Delivers Door To Door
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As sales to restaurant clients dried up, oyster farmer Peter Stein had to adapt or perish. Now, he’s delivering oysters directly to individual customers, doing about 20% of his usual business.
App NEWS
Three Regions in New York Cleared to Begin Reopening This Weekend
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Rochester, Ithaca, Binghamton, Elmira, and Utica, as well as the surrounding communities, will all be allowed to start the first phase of reopening this Friday.
Economy
New York Manufacturers Ready To Reopen Once “Pause” Is Lifted
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Many of these companies have already instituted a variety of protocols to keep workers safe.
Energy
Gas Prices Begin To Creep Back Up As Parts Of The Country
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GasBuddy on Monday reported that the national average price for a gallon of gas has increased 1.5 cents in a week to $1.75.
Economy
Oil And Gas Companies Asked, Then Received Changes To Fed Coronavirus Stimulus Program
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Help with refinancing debt could help shale companies in PA
App NEWS
PA Workers With Preexisting Health Conditions Fear A Return To Work
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They are particularly at risk of serious complications or death if they get the coronavirus, but if they refuse to work, they could lose their job and unemployment.
Economy
Crayons, Flowers, Taxidermy: PA Governor Releases List Of ‘Life-Sustaining’ Business Waivers
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The state issued 12,826 denials and 11,635 businesses were told that their request did not require an exemption.
App NEWS
PA Parents Struggle To ‘Do It All’ With Kids In Virtual School
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“I am hoping they come up with a vaccine. I will be first in line, because I want to get everybody out of the house.”
Wanted In New York: Thousands Of COVID-19 Contact Tracers
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Starting this month, health departments in New York are trying to hire thousands of workers to build up what could become one of the country’s largest contact tracing programs for the coronavirus.
Government
After Outbreak, Steuben Continues Mass Testing At Nursing Homes
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“If they test positive, we can get them isolated for the 14 days and hopefully reduce and stop the transmission of the virus within the nursing home.”
Mystery Inflammatory Syndrome In New York Kids Likely Linked To COVID-19
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Doctors in the U.S. and Europe are reporting a small wave of cases of what looks like a “shock syndrome” in young people. They have low blood pressure, inflamed hearts and other serious symptoms.
New York VA Featured In Inspector General Report On PPE Shortages
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“It’s baffling that the Veterans Health Administration does not have a strategy in place to address the shortages of PPE in New York.”
Energy
NYSEG Donates Additional $300,000 To Emergency Efforts
|
“What we tried to do today is recognize some of those other organizations that are really on the front lines every single day doing this type of work around food and food care.”
Food and Farms
In The Age Of COVID-19, Farmers Markets Are All Business
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“A good farmers market is like a weekly fair or festival. People are wanting that back, but it won’t be the same.”
Health
Keeping Dentistry Safe For Patients And Staff During Pandemic
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“In a dental office, if the appropriate precautions are not taken, the virus and aerosols can stay lingering in the air for hours at a time.”
App NEWS
From Conference Calls To Zoom, Local Governments Employ Range Of Technologies For Public Meetings
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Digital divide remains a major challenge in some parts of Pennsylvania
In Deal With New York Attorney General, Zoom To Crack Down on Zoombombing,
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Zoom has agreed to launch a new internal data security program and will take other steps to combat hacker disruptions, a practice that has become known as Zoombombing.
App NEWS
Hoping To Reopen Soon, New York Businesses Draw Up Plans
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“They are all feeling very ready to get back to work. Most of them are in the process of trying to develop plans to get there.”
New York Students To Get Graduation Pomp At Drive-In Theater
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One high school in New York has found a way to have safe and memorable graduation: hold it at a drive-in movie theater.
App NEWS
PA Governor Says Workers Should Refuse To Work If They Don’t Feel Safe
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The governor says the state cannot widely enforce its worker safety order.
App NEWS
Schools Have Moved Classes Online, But Not All Students Have Joined Them
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The Steelton-Highspire School District says it’s reaching between 73 and 79 percent of its high-schoolers with online instruction.
App NEWS
PA Liquor Stores Will Reopen For Limited In-Person Sales In ‘Yellow Counties’
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The stores will be limited to no more than 25 people, including employees, in a store at any one time.
Economy
PA Governor Wants A Civilian Corps To Fight Coronavirus, Provide Jobs
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Governor Wolf said he didn’t know how many people would be hired or when the corps would be formed, but that he wants it to be a big deal.
New York Comedy Clubs Closed, So Comics Have To Improvise
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Live audiences help comics get exposure and work out new material. Colin Quinn says virtual platforms don’t replicate “the tension” of being in front of a room full of strangers.
Set Builder: ‘It’s New York City … Eventually, Events Have to Come Back’
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Maxwell Kirsner built sets for big events. Then he, his fiancée and their coworkers were laid off. Kirsner says he’s optimistic the city will make it back, but he’s worried how long that will take.
App NEWS
139 Coronavirus Cases At Upstate Farm; Health Officials Say More Cases Likely
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State health officials started testing nearly 200 seasonal workers at the giant hydroponic greenhouse last weekend because of concerns it might be a COVID hotspot.
App NEWS
Pandemic’s Economic Shutdown Continues To Plague New York Farmers
|
Farmers argue that if we keep breaking the food chain, there will be a lot of farms that aren’t going to survive this.
App NEWS
New York Reopens Car Dealer Showrooms, With Restrictions
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Visits to any dealership will be by appointment only, and a number of safety precautions will be monitored to keep dealers and buyers safe.
Economy
Senators Examine PA’s Reopening Plan And What Lies Ahead
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“Is this the new normal in terms of what we’re going to do in terms of shutting down the economy?”
Government
GOP Lawmaker Compares PA Governor’s Handling Of COVID-19 Crisis To Nazis, USSR
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Kevin Boyle, the ranking Democrat on the committee, immediately interrupted him, calling on committee Chairman Garth Everett to cut Rep. Chris Dush off.
In A Recount, COVID-19 Death Toll At New York Nursing Homes Grows
|
State Attorney General Tish James is investigating reports from families who say the nursing homes kept them in the dark about the condition of their relatives who had COVID-19.
Schumer, Gillibrand Want To Federalize Medical Supply Chain, Increase Production
|
Democrats backing the bill say the White House has not fully utilized the power of the federal government, which has left hospitals and health care workers shorted in many places.
Health
For Some People, Trauma Symptoms Won’t Surface Until After The Pandemic
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Licensed marriage and family therapist Tonya Girard on why some people might not feel the full effects of the crisis until months after it ends.
Health
Inside A Contact Tracing Team That’s Containing The Spread Of COVID-19
|
The people who track coronavirus exposures and try to prevent the virus’s spread are called Contact Tracers. Their work is taking on a new urgency.
Government
Brindisi: Tax increases And Layoffs Possible If Local Government Don’t Get Federal Aid
|
“Without aid from Washington, we’re going to see higher taxes on the local level, and cuts in services as well as laying off teachers, cops, firefighters.”
Economy
Warehouse Workers Warn Their Safety Concerns Are Ignored
|
The state in mid-April ordered all essential employers to provide protections, but some workers say they’ve seen little change.
Economy
Governor Giving Guidance To Counties, Businesses Reopening In PA’s ‘Yellow’ Regions
|
The entire state is in the red status until Friday.
Governor Outlines Rules For New York’s Return To Work
|
“You’d rather have a controlled start, so that you don’t have to stop. You reopen too fast, then you have to stop.”
App NEWS
New York Delays School Budget Votes Until June 9, Village Elections Moved To September
|
At this point, the state is allowing both in-person and absentee ballots for those village and special district elections.
App NEWS
Supermarkets Temporarily Limit Some Meat Purchases
|
The coronavirus pandemic has also closed some meatpacking plants, although PresidentTrump last week ordered large meat processors remain open.
Economy
Smile! For Many, Finding A Job During A Pandemic Involves Video Interviews
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“I think in the aftermath of COVID-19, and hopefully it happens sooner than we think, virtual job fairs are going to become the rule and not the exception.”
App NEWS
Upstate Businesses Ready To Reopen Once New York Gives The Okay
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Local businesses are coming up with plans for restarting, but how and when they go into effect are still an unknown.
Health
Nurses Left Vulnerable To COVID-19: ‘We’re Not Martyrs Sacrificing Our Lives’
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At least 9,000 front-line nurses and other medical workers have contracted COVID-19.
App NEWS
PA Counties Could Be Overwhelmed By Mail-In Ballots, Election Directors Warn
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Election chiefs call on state officials to allow processing to start earlier, clarify which polling places can open.
Education
Schools In New York Will Remain Closed Through June
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“We’re going to have the schools closed for the rest of the year. We’re going to continue the distance learning programs.”
August New York State Regents Exams Canceled
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Students who failed Regents tests during the school year normally would have the opportunity to take them again in August.
App NEWS
GOP Congressman Wants Financial Aid For County Governments In Next Stimulus Bill
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Congressman John Katko and North Country Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-Schuylerville) were appointed to the White House task force for reopening the economy.
App NEWS
Gillibrand Says Next Federal Stimulus Bill Should Prioritize People With Disabilities
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Supporters say the public health emergency from COVID-19 has exposed a “pre-existing scarcity” of medical treatment, and available resources for those with disabilities.
Government
PA Auditor General To Audit Business Waiver Process
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Move comes as a Senate committee approves a motion to issues subpoenas to obtain more information on how Wolf administration responded to businesses seeking to remain open during coronavirus closure
Economy
PA Senate Committee Votes To Subpoena Wolf Administration Over Business Waivers
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Republicans in legislature want details on how state handled business requests to remain open during coronavirus closures
Economy
PA’s Horse Racing Industry Hopes To Reopen Before Money For Care Runs Out
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“We’re deemed essential on the backside, but not on the revenue side.”
App NEWS
PA Governor Talks Food Supply, Meat Processing With AG Secretary
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Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf is sending a message about the food supply: there’s plenty of food and the state is adjusting to get it to people.
Government
What Pennsylvania Golfers Can Expect When Courses Reopen
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“We lost hundreds of thousands of operational dollars – every course did. Not profit dollars.””
Governor Accepts Recommendations Of COVID-19 Maternity Task Force
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The COVID-19 Maternity Task Force has issued its recommendations to support pregnant mothers and their newborns during the pandemic.
New York Considers One-Year Break From Incentive Requirements For New Employers
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“The state is considering a deferral for all companies that have job creation requirements as part of economic development packages.”
Finger Lakes Cheesemaker Buys Excess Milk, Donates Dairy Products To Food Banks
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“That’s awful, awful, heart breaking when you watch your milk go down the drain when it’s a perfectly good, sellable product,”
Hospital Ship USNS Comfort Scheduled To Sail From New York
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The iconic vessel was intended to provide overflow capacity to the New York metropolitan area but ultimately wasn’t needed as badly as first feared.
Government
Even With The State’s Okay, Some Hospitals Won’t Resume Elective Surgeries For Weeks
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“With all health care, your condition dictates the speed of care provided, and that will still be the case as we look to reschedule.”
Economy
Coronavirus Unemployment Benefits Are High, Putting Workers And Employers At Odds
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“I believe that they are scared. If you listen to a lot of what’s going on [on the news], it’s a lot of overkill, on the fear factor.”
Reed: 4th Federal Stimulus Phase Must Include Protected Local Government Aid
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Congressman Tom Reed wants that deal to include provisions that ensure local governments get needed aid with no interference by the state.
Blue Angels And Thunderbirds Salute New York Coronavirus Responders With Flyover
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The joint demonstration between the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels and the Air Force’s Thunderbirds will begin early Tuesday afternoon over New York City, Newark and Trenton, N.J., and Philadelphia.
Food and Farms
New York State Will Coordinate New Markets For Dairy Farmers
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“It’s very frustrating. We have excess milk but we can’t get it to people who are in need at this time.”
Government
Erie Canal Summer Recreation Up In The Air
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Repairing the locks, which allow boats to travel from one neck of the waterway to another, was deemed nonessential work.
Government
Broome, Other Upstate Counties Get Drive-Through Coronavirus Testing Sites
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New York Governor Andrew Cuomo says the state is opening new drive-through coronavirus testing sites in five upstate counties.
Environment
New York’s Plastic Bag Ban Effectively On Hold
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“The science just does not back up shifting to plastic bags. But everyone is trying to make the best of a really difficult situation.”
App NEWS
Without Federal Help, New York Officials Say State Budget Cuts Coming
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The state’s economy could lose a staggering $243 billion, or 14% of the state’s gross domestic product, over the course of the pandemic and the economic recovery.
Energy
The Struggling Coal Industry Hammered Further By Coronavirus
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‘Everything that can go wrong, has gone wrong’
App NEWS
Lawsuit Seeks To Extend Mailed Ballot Return In PA By One Week
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Voters who request absentee and mail-in ballots before the May 26 deadline might receive them at different times due to “factors outside their control.”
App NEWS
House Republicans Push To Reopen More PA Businesses
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“It’s another Monday, and it’s another end-the-shutdown bill.”
Economy
COVID-19’s Economic Blow To Rural PA Far Outstrips The Pandemic. But Reopening Won’t Be Easy
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“I’m one to look at the half-full glass … but now I’m looking at which customers of ours are going to survive.”
App NEWS
Rural PA Leaders Fear Influx Of Infected People, Lack Of A Voice In Reopening Decisions
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“Nobody has communicated with us. They just do what they want to do and we have to live with it.”
Amazon Warehouse Safety ‘Inadequate,’ Says New York Attorney General
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Amazon may have violated federal health and safety standards as well as New York’s whistleblower law, the New York attorney general’s office wrote to Amazon in a letter obtained by NPR.
Study Commences On Planned 80-Mile Southern Tier Trail
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“As we begin to rethink and restart the economy, projects like this can really help transform communities in a very positive way.”
Government
Cuomo: Report Predicts $61-Billion State Deficit Over 4 Years
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The governor has said he might cut funding to schools, hospitals and local governments by 20%, but he said Friday no decision has been made.
‘We’ve Seen A Lot Of Brothers Die.’ New York Bus Operators Witness Loss Amid Pandemic
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As of this week, 83 workers with New York City’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority died from COVID-19. Two bus operators talk about the crushing loss they’ve witnessed in their field.
Government
State Won’t Say When It Will Release Names Of PA Businesses Granted Waivers
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State Sen. Doug Mastriano (R-Franklin), the sponsor of a longshot measure to revoke the governor’s emergency powers, said the waiver decisions seem random.
Health
Virtual Comfort: How Patients And Families Stay Connected In The Age Of Coronavirus
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“As soon as he saw her face on that iPad, you could see relief in him immediately. She said, ‘Sing with me, Bob’, and he started singing and I literally started crying right there.”
Government
At Virtual Town Hall, Gillibrand Agrees States, Cities Need More Federal Funds
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“I’ve talked to our mayors all across New York, and a lot of them are now deciding whether they’re going to lay off police officers and firefighters.”
‘I Hear The Agony’: Coronavirus Crisis Takes Toll On New York’s First Responders
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For weeks, paramedics and EMTs in New York City have been struggling to respond to a high number of 911 calls during the coronavirus pandemic. More first responders are getting sick themselves.
Pennsylvania Paramedic On Coronavirus: ‘We Don’t See An End In Sight’
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Paramedic David Goroff works in Lower Merion, Pennsylvania.
App NEWS
On 50th Anniversary Of Earth Day, Social Distancing Could Bring People Back To Nature
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“I think it is a good time to reflect on the power of nature, and where we were as a planet 50 years ago, and where we want to get.”
Government
Voices From PA’s Shutdown Protest-Turned Trump Rally
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Defying the governor’s shutdown order, and spurred on by far-right activists and Republican state lawmakers, hundreds of people gathered to demand that businesses reopen.
Food and Farms
Small Farms And Markets Rethink How To Get Local Food To Customers
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“One of the questions about markets is, will we be able to provide enough…safety measures for people to feel comfortable in those spaces?”
New York’s Governor Says President Promised Help With Coronavirus Testing
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Cuomo said at their White House meeting Trump committed to procure more testing supplies from China and other overseas manufacturers. He said they agreed the Navy ship Comfort could leave New York.
INTERVIEW: Lt. Governor Hochul Discusses Impact Of COVID-19 On Upstate
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Hochul spoke with WSKG’s Gabe Altieri as part of All Things Considered.
Son Laments ‘Preventable’ Tragedy Of New York Mother’s Death From Coronavirus
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Daryl Doeschner talks about his mother Annette Doeschner’s life and how he thinks her death was preventable.
Government
Cuomo: Elective Surgeries Can Start Again In Some Parts Of Upstate NY
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Cuomo also said elective outpatient surgeries will be allowed to resume in counties that do not have a significant number of people sick with the coronavirus.
Government
Different Regions Of New York Will Reopen Before Others, Cuomo Says
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“If a situation is radically different in one part of the state than another part of the state, take that into consideration.”
Education
CUOMO: New York Could Cut School Aid By 20%
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“They have a constitutional obligation to fulfill the needs of students, and they have not done that.”
App NEWS
Business Group Calls On New York Officials To Accelerate Upstate Reopening
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“We need to be, I think, taking a look at the data, and working with not only the health professionals, but also the business community.”
App NEWS
Essential Yet Marginalized, Migrant Farmworkers Face Healthcare Insecurities
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As essential workers, migrant farm laborers are continuing operations. However, they are also one of the most vulnerable populations if exposed to the virus.
Gillibrand: Hospitals To Get Federal Boost, But Farms And Local Gov’t Must Wait
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“I would just urge New Yorkers to keep being heard, making sure their concerns are being met.”
Anti-Quarantine Protest Draws Crowd, But PA Governor Keeps Stay-Home Plan
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Gov. Tom Wolf announced the business shutdowns would be extended until until May 8. They were due to lift on April 30. He did ease the limits a bit, including on the construction industry.
New York Starts ‘Aggressive’ Coronavirus Antibody Testing
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“Any plan to start to reopen the economy has to be based on data and testing, and we have to make sure our antibody and diagnostic testing is up to the scale we need.”
Government
Health Care Workers Show Up At ‘Reopen PA’ Protest; Urge Folks To Stay Home
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Main rally marked by Trump flags, open-carry firearms, anti-vaxxers and plenty of anger at Gov. Tom Wolf
Government
Some New Yorkers Could Soon Undergo Elective Surgeries
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“We’re at a point where some of the upstate hospitals have significant financial burdens because they are not doing the elective surgeries.”
Discharging COVID-19 Patients To New York Nursing Homes Called A ‘Recipe For Disaster’
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New York and New Jersey want nursing homes to accept recovering hospital patients, regardless of their COVID-19 status, to free up space in hospitals. What’s to keep the virus from spreading?
COVID-19 Adds Another Uncertainty To New York’s Spring Growing Season
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Farmer Dennis Brawdy said this year is stranger than most because major customers are closed.
Food and Farms
New York Farm Bureau Hopeful USDA Emergency Aid Will Provide Relief For Farmers
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“It’s an important support to make sure we have a viable food system and that farmers can still farm.”
Health
How A Hospital Chaplain Comforts COVID-19 Patients And Their Families
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“Why do we need a pandemic to be this supportive to each other? Maybe we can carry some of this kindness going forward.”
allergy
Spring Has Some Wondering Whether It’s Allergies Or The Coronavirus?
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The allergy season starts taking off right about now, and many of the symptoms of seasonal allergies are the same as COVID-19:
App NEWS
Governor Says It’s Time To Talk About Reopening PA’s Economy, But Offers No Timeline
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PA POST – Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf says it’s time to start talking about reopening the state’s economy, but during a Friday afternoon news conference, he avoided providing dates for when he will lift restrictions on Pennsylvania residents and businesses. “Unfortunately, we cannot flip a switch and reopen the commonwealth,” Wolf said. “There isn’t going to be one big day. We need to make smart, data-driven decisions, and we can’t be impulsive. We can’t be emotional.”
Starting next week, Wolf said he plans to describe specific steps for lifting restrictions in Pennsylvania. Those steps will follow guidelines released by the Wolf administration on Friday that emphasize a data-driven approach to create quantifiable criteria and take into account conditions in different regions of the state.
Education
Special Education During Coronavirus: What Should Parents Tolerate, Demand?
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These days, Maegen Wagner is serving as her daughter’s therapist, aide, and teacher — while balancing her own responsibilities as an educator in a nearby school district.
Economy
PA’s Toilet Paper Manufacturers Flush With Demand
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To meet the demand, the plant has delayed upgrades and maintenance on its equipment, reduced the number of products it makes, and reassigned non-manufacturing employees to positions on the production line.
Special Olympics NY goes virtual for 50th anniversary
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“A lot of people say, ‘When are these Special Olympics?’ But Special Olympics is every day.”
App NEWS
POLL: Business Confidence Plummets In New York State
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“Still a majority, 57%, say right now the government of the state of New York should concentrate on public health and not on trying to reopen the economy.”
App NEWS
Spring Break Ends Monday, But The New York Legislature Has No Plan To Meet
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“Is the session effectively over? It’s up to the legislature, but I think it’s effectively over.”
Messages Of Hope, Gratitude And Safety Replace Ads In Times Square
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Well-known artists and designers are taking over billboards (donated gratis) to brighten the landscape in an emptier-than-usual Times Square. One work simply reads: “Hopefully no one will see this.”
New York Utilities See Increased Energy Consumption
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It’s a different story on the commercial side, with a lot of businesses around the state forced to close if they are considered non-essential.
Health
As You Shelter In Place, Don’t Forget About Your Car
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“I noticed as soon as I backed out of my driveway. The brakes were squealing and sounded like they were grinding.”
App NEWS
Prison Design Creates Ideal Environment For Coronavirus
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Connected vents and small cells help accelerate the virus’s spread, and puts inmates on edge
New York’s Governor Orders Public Mask Use To Curb COVID-19 Spread
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Cuomo has joined other states and said people in New York must wear masks in public when they can’t remain 6 feet apart, in order to protect the gains his state has made against the coronavirus.
Government
Pandemic Having Significant Effect On Census; New York has $880B at stake
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The U.S. census, that constitutionally mandated once-a-decade count of every resident, is still being conducted this year, but it’s not going according to plan.
Energy
After Two Nuclear Workers Test Positive, Energy Companies Require Social Distancing And Test For Symptoms
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Coronavirus cases at Limerick nuclear station raised concerns. Pa. plants say they’re working to prevent outbreaks during refueling outages.
App NEWS
PA Governor Plans To Veto GOP Bill To Reopen Businesses
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“Reopening businesses too early will only extend the length of the economic hardships created by the pandemic.”
Economy
When Can PA Return To Normal? Roadmap Emerges, Although Distance Uncertain
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The recent flattening of the state’s coronavirus case count must stay on course.
Economy
As Business Moves Online, IT Jobs More Essential Than Ever — For Now
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For almost every tactile experience in the pre-COVID-19 world, there is now an online analog.
App NEWS
COVID-19 Cases Increase At Hornell-Area Nursing Homes, State And Local Officials Respond
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As of Wednesday, 18 people have died of COVID-19 in Steuben County. Some at Hornell-area nursing homes.
Health
Coronavirus Challenges Caregivers And Their Alzheimer’s Patients
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“Every day it’s kind of like, it’s this new thing that’s out there, when it’s been going on for a month.”
App NEWS
PA Keeps Hospitals’ Coronavirus Emergency Plans Secret; Health Systems Seek Tax Relief, Financial Help
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The state Department of Health is not making hospital preparedness plans available or overseeing whether hospitals are following those plans.
Government
Bill Allowing For Remote Public Meetings, E-Notarization Headed To PA Governor
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For weeks, local government associations and municipal officials have urged the legislature to provide explicit confirmation that they can hold remote meetings.
Economy
Debate Over Restarting Construction Projects In Pennsylvania Explained
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“There’s no way I personally want to be responsible for one of our members dying from this or one of their family members.”
App NEWS
PA House Votes To Reopen More Businesses Closed By Coronavirus Restrictions
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The action comes nearly one month after Wolf ordered more than 100 types of “non-life-sustaining” businesses to close or face fines and other penalties.
Arts
‘Life Beaming Through Uncertainty And Fear’: PA Poets Create Community Amid Pandemic
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In April, poetry reigns. For some, it’s a month to flood social media feeds with poems or commit to a new writing practice.
Crime and Justice
Frontline Health Care Workers Seek Immunity From Malpractice During COVID-19
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“We [should] not have to worry about malpractice suits while trying to save people’s lives.”
New York City Reports 50 Educators Lost To Coronavirus
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Around the country, losses of educators are mounting. It’s unknown whether working in schools when they were open might have exposed staff to more danger than an average workplace.
Uncategorized
Reed: Governors Have Right To Keep States Closed
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“I will tell you, I believe the state has the authority to issue such a thing.”
FACT CHECK: Trump Doesn’t Have The Authority To Order New York To ‘Reopen’
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The president claimed “total” authority, per unnamed constitutional provisions. Experts remind him he is not a king, and cite Articles I, II, III; the 10th Amendment; and the Founding Fathers.
App NEWS
Saying This Is No Time For Politics, New York Governor Quits Growing Fight With President
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Cuomo compared the President’s briefings to a comedy skit, and said they are “infuriating” and “ignorant”, and that there is “no value” in watching them.
App NEWS
NY Senator Seward Discharged After COVID-19 Hospitalization
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Seward and his wife, Cindy, tested positive for the novel coronavirus in late March.
