Poll: New Yorkers On The Fence About Cuomo
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60% approve the Democrat’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic and about half (51%) do not believe Cuomo should resign.
App NEWS
PA’s House Speaker Tests Positive For COVID-19
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While some of his Republican colleagues have said otherwise, the speaker is touting mask-wearing and vaccinations as “important to reducing the spread of the virus.”
Health
COVID-19 Hospitalizations Drop in New York, While Vaccinations Climb
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In recent days, the state’s COVID-19 indicators have shifted downward, with a decline in the statewide positivity rate compared to numbers seen in March.
App NEWS
Veterans Administration Halts One-Shot Vaccine Clinics
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The Finger Lakes VA system administered nearly 1,000 J&J vaccines. That included pop-up clinics in Rochester for veterans at risk of homelessness.
Food and Farms
COVID Vaccine Pop-up Sites Come To New York Farms
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Some farm workers are hesitant to get the vaccine because they are wary of interacting with the government.
Food and Farms
New York Restaurants And Bars Seek Extended Alcohol To-Go Rule
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Restaurants, financially devastated by months-long indoor dining bans to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, say the rule helped some of them turn enough profit to keep from closing.
Government
New York Extends Curfew For Bars And Restaurants To Midnight
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“At same time, we caution New Yorkers. Don’t get cocky. The disease is still very much with us.”
Government
New FEMA Program Helps With COVID-Related Funeral Expenses
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The assistance covers things like transportation, transfer of remains, a casket or urn, clergy or officiant services, ceremony arrangement, burial plot or cremation, and headstone markers.
Education
Colleges, Universities Adjust To New Graduation Guidelines
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“You have to respect what’s happening with COVID, and make sure not only the students are safe but the family and friends that would come on to campus.”
Health
What Experts Know About Rare Blood Clots And Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine In PA
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Risk of dying from the virus is 2,000 times greater than the risk of vaccine complications
Government
Following Federal Guidance, New York Pauses Johnson And Johnson Vaccine
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“We do have enough Pfizer and we do have enough Moderna to keep our schedule.”
Relief Act Means ‘A Good Night’s Sleep’ For Food Industry, Says New York Restaurateur
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Chef Amanda Cohen, owner of Dirt Candy in New York City, says the coronavirus relief package’s $28.6 billion for independent and small-chain restaurants means many in the industry can stay afloat.
Government
New York State Faces Big Drop In One-Shot Vaccine Supply
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In the Finger Lakes region, 97% of vaccine doses received have been administered, according to the state.
App NEWS
Essential Caregivers Back Federal Bill That Guarantees Access To Nursing Home Residents
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“The nursing home allowed her to die. I had no idea my mother was being neglected. They lie to you. You call on the phone every day, you’re FaceTiming and they’re telling you she’s fine, she’s great.”
Government
Excluded Workers Fund Doesn’t Require Prior Approval From Comptroller’s Office, DiNapoli Says
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The new fund is designed to offer relief to undocumented immigrants who, during the pandemic, didn’t have access to unemployment and other benefits, like federal stimulus checks.
Trenton Home For This Year’s Bisons, As Jays Return To Buffalo
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Buffalo’s ballpark underwent several capital projects and adjustments – paid for by the Jays organization – to help it meet Major League Baseball facility standards.
Health
Is It Allergies Or COVID-19?
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“Now, do I go take a COVID test every time I get symptomatic with my allergies? What do I do?”
New York Governor Comments On Allegation He Gave Priority COVID-19 Testing To Family
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Cuomo did not deny the allegations, saying that people who visited him during the early days of the pandemic received testing.
covid
After Months Of Waiting, PA Grocery Worker Celebrates Her Vaccination
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The 1B group, estimated at just under one million people, includes postal workers, manufacturing laborers, and others considered essential workers who risk contracting the virus at their job.
Education
As Vaccine Eligibility Expands To 16 And Up, Officials Hope College Students Will Get The Shot
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“We want to get past this and the only way to get past this is to get folks, you know, vaccinated.”
Food and Farms
PA Restaurants Expand Service While Grappling With COVID-19 Case Increase
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Looser restrictions are complicated by a rise in cases fueled in part by more infectious variants.
Government
Controversial Legal Protections for Nursing Homes, Hospitals Now In Cuomo’s Hands
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The law, approved nearly a year ago, essentially made it harder to sue those providers.
App NEWS
New York Lowers Vaccine Age Eligibility to 50, Launches New Distribution Program
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Cuomo’s office is encouraging faith-based institutions to partner with medical providers to launch local vaccination clinics.
First Case Of COVID’s Brazilian Variant Found In New York State
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The P.1 variant has been designated a “variant of concern,” which means there is evidence of an increase in transmissibility, more severe disease and the potential for reduced effectiveness of treatments or vaccines.
App NEWS
Pharmacies Can Now Vaccinate New Yorkers With Co-Morbidities
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Pharmacies were previously only able to vaccinate New Yorkers over the age of 60 and teachers.
Education
Gillibrand Pushing For More School Funds In Next COVID Relief Bill
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She said the proposed $3.6 billion would dramatically increase currently allocated funds for wraparound services. And she believes those are more sorely needed because of the pandemic.
App NEWS
Essential, Unemployed, Overstretched: How The COVID Economy Crashed On Women
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As the coronavirus pandemic turns one, researchers have found women have lost decades of economic progress, but some have also found a new voice in advocating for better family and work policies.
Uncategorized
New York State Relaxes More COVID Restrictions
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“We know the vaccine is the weapon that defeats this invisible enemy and we are getting more shots in arms than ever before.”
Arts & Culture
Couples Navigate New York’s Rules For Weddings
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New York now allows the resumption of weddings. But wedding planners have a list of COVID-19 safety measures to follow.
Education
New York’s Medical Schools See Spike In Applications
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“I think what has really sparked the imagination and the spirit is really seeing the possibility and the power of being a healthcare professional.”
App NEWS
Appointments Open For State-Run Mass Vaccination Sites In Corning And Oneonta
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The mass vaccination sites are an addition to those already in operation across New York, including in Johnson City.
As Planting Season Nears, Farm Workers Want Vaccines Now
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Hundreds of migrant workers have already started coming to the region for seasonal farm jobs. As they work in fields, barns and greenhouses, there is a chance of spreading the coronavirus.
App NEWS
Stimulus Package Brings Some Relief To New Yorkers With Disabilities
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The newest relief package includes$350 billion dollars in aid to states to fund home and community-based services.
Canada Behind Other Countries On Vaccination Efforts
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Across Quebec, 648,663 people had been vaccinated against COVID-19 as of Friday. In Quebec, residents aged 75 or greater have been able to make a vaccination appointment since last week.
New York’s ‘Vaccine Czar’ Called County Officials To Assess Their Loyalty To Cuomo
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Larry Schwartz, a longtime aide to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, called local officials in New York to gauge their loyalty to the governor. Some local officials viewed it as a threat to cut off vaccine.
App NEWS
New Law Guarantees New Yorkers Paid Time Off For COVID-19 Vaccine
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New York has, so far, administered 6.2 million COVID-19 vaccine doses, with about 10% of the state now fully vaccinated.
New York State Ends Quarantine Requirement On Domestic Travel Starting April 1
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While no longer required, the New York State Department of Health still recommends quarantine after domestic travel as an added precaution.
Doctor Who Diagnosed New York’s First Confirmed COVID-19 Case Reflects 1 Year Later
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For four months last year, Dr. Angela Chen only saw her child through a window. A year into the global pandemic, the view is a different, but it’s impossible to forget the memories of last spring.
Government
New York Expands Vaccine Eligibility to Include Ages 60+
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“The supply is increasing, and if the supply is increasing we can increase our distribution levels.”
App NEWS
Corning, Oneonta To Get State-Run Mass Vaccination Sites
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Gov. Cuomo announced 10 new sites across the state on Monday.
Restaurant Capacity Increased To 75% Outside Of NYC, Starting March 19
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The data have shown that restaurants can operate safely and in accordance with strict health protocols at 75% capacity. New York City restaurant capacity will remain at 35% capacity.
Arts & Culture
Putting Wastewater To Use, Penn State Researchers Track COVID-19 Trends
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“Over time, we can get what we think is a pretty good trend estimate for what’s going on.”
State Officials Altered Count Of New York’s Nursing Home Deaths
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State officials insisted Thursday that the edits were made because of concerns about accuracy, not to protect Cuomo’s reputation.
Government
New York Legislature to Revoke Governor’s Special Pandemic Powers
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The action comes as Cuomo is embroiled in scandals over his nursing home policies during the coronavirus and allegations that he sexually harassed former staffers.
Government
PA Mass Vaccination Sites Ready To Open, With Or Without Vaccines
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State officials say there’s a need to ensure equitable COVID-19 vaccine distribution.
The Movie Industry Holds Its Breath As New York Reopens Theaters
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Movie theaters in New York City are reopening after nearly a year. And the decisions has consequences for the entire globaly output of Hollywood.
App NEWS
SUNY Educational Opportunity Centers Expand Free Workforce Training
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While COVID-19 has greatly affected the economy, it was already in flux before the pandemic hit.
Education
PA School Employees Will Be Offered Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Next Week
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Under this latest plan, educators and staff will not be moved into Phase 1a, which would make them eligible for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.
During Pandemic, Drug Overdose Deaths Surge Among Black New Yorkers
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Black Americans with addiction face “pervasive and continuing systemic racism” and often struggle to gain access to treatments that prevent fatal overdoses.
Government
New York Begins Administering Johnson & Johnson Vaccine At Mass Vaccination Sites
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Over three million people have received the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine in New York, according to the state, which is now administering more than 100,000 shots per day.
App NEWS
Legislature Agrees to Strip Cuomo of Emergency Pandemic Powers
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“These temporary emergency powers were granted as New York was devastated by a virus we knew nothing about. Now it is time for our government to return to regular order.”
App NEWS
PA Bars And Restaurants Can Apply For New State Grants Starting This Month
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Restaurant and bar owners have pressured state lawmakers for months to give their struggling businesses more help.
Food Pantry Workers Welcome New York’s Extension Of Their Vaccine Eligibility
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“It will help protect our most vulnerable clients who rely on the staff and volunteers to provide them with nutritious food and critical services.”
Education
‘We’re Talking About Generational Loss:’ How PA’s Education Department Is Sizing Up Post-Pandemic Life
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Currently, about 30 percent of Pennsylvania’s K-12 schools, which serve half the total student population, are learning entirely remotely.
Government
In Year One Of COVID, Governor Cuomo’s Political Fortunes Rise, Fall
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After one year of pandemic, over 38,000 New Yorkers have died of the virus so far and more than one and a half million were sickened.
Government
Republicans Question New York’s COVID-19 Policy At Group Homes
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The policy at group homes has been to require those facilities to admit residents discharged from the hospital regardless of their COVID-19 status.
Government
House Lawmakers Grill Health Department Leaders Over PA’s Coronavirus Vaccine Rollout
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“We had time to prepare for this and that’s why everybody’s frustrated. It didn’t have to be this chaotic and it didn’t have to be this unorganized.”
Government
Assembly Dems Plan Votes Next Week On Nursing Home Reforms
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Legislation making it easier to visit nursing homes is expected to get an Assembly vote next week as part of a package of reforms targeting the industry.
Crime and Justice
Cuomo Aides Combat Scandal On Two Fronts
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Gov. Andrew Cuomo and his staff were in damage control mode Thursday as they faced two scandals
Government
Face-To-Face Nursing Home Visits Bring Relief To Caregivers
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Caregivers react to a update of state restrictions that will allow visitations in long-term care facilities.
App NEWS
Poll Documents Cuomo’s Turn Of Fortune
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Cuomo’s job approval ratings, which were high in the summer and fall of 2020, have now dropped back to pre-pandemic levels, with 49% saying that he’s doing a good job in office.
App NEWS
Veterans Administration Vaccinates 6,000 Patients In 14 New York Counties
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“By and large, the veterans are coming through and saying this is much easier, a much simpler process and very well organized.”
Government
Cuomo: New Rules for Nursing Home Visits Begin Friday
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Visitors to nursing homes will continue to be banned in counties where the virus rate is 10% or higher, or in any facility where someone has contracted COVID-19 within the past 14 days.
Government
State Senate Approves Package of Bills Related to Nursing Homes
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“The tragic situation in our nursing homes remains a heartbreaking reminder of the toll this pandemic has taken and has made it clear that real reforms are needed.”
binghamton
Assembly Democrats Agree to Take Action Against Cuomo Admin Over Nursing Homes
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“I do think there’s a consensus of the members that they want to take some action. We’re still trying to come to a place where all the members are comfortable, and I don’t know if we’re there yet.”
Government
‘Don’t Hold Back Any Doses’: How A Conference Call With The PA Health Department Led To Vaccine Delays
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Health systems believed they were following state orders when they used vaccines that were supposed to be set aside for people awaiting their second doses.
Health
What To Know If You Get COVID Inoculation And A Mammogram
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Experts are urging women to separate their routine annual mammogram and any scheduled COVID-19 vaccination by several weeks.
Education
PA Dems Push School Infrastructure As A Priority In Next Federal Stimulus
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“For generations, our teachers, guidance counselors, nurses, students, and school staff have been sent into buildings where they can get brain damage because of chipped paint, or cancer because of asbestos.”
App NEWS
New York’s Health Departments Can Now Determine Spacing Of Student Desks
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“If you change the six-foot rule and it was only three feet with distancing, or four feet, we could bring back more in-person learning, because of the physical space.”
Government
New York Senate Poised To Limit Governor’s Emergency Powers
|
The legislature gave Cuomo the powers nearly a year ago, in early March of 2020. But now, many say, it’s time to end them.
Arcades, Amusement Parks, Campgrounds Can Begin Reopening In March
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Arcades and other indoor family entertainment centers can open with 25% capacity starting March 26.
Government
Four New Mass Vaccination Sites to Open Upstate
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“This is a very big and aggressive effort to address vaccine hesitancy in the Black community.”
App NEWS
Governor Turns The Tables, Attacks Critic Of COVID Nursing Home Policies
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Governor Cuomo says he’s making his accusations against Assemblyman Kim because Kim attacked him first.
New York Sues Amazon Over COVID-19 Workplace Safety Failures
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New York Attorney General Letitia James said Amazon refused to obey coronavirus guidelines that would protect its warehouse employees from infection.
Clamor Grows, As Some New Yorkers Travel Hours For A Dose Of COVID Vaccine
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“What if they have some type of reaction while they’re in Binghamton or driving home, or if it’s a resident in our community who has no access to transportation?”
Health
There’s A Safe Way To Get A 2nd COVID Vaccine Dose Following A Rare Allergic Reaction
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True allergic reactions to vaccinations are extremely rare, but two New York women did experience this after receiving their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Allergists were able to safely administer their second vaccine doses by following a special procedure.
App NEWS
Schumer Unveils $25 Billion COVID-Relief Fund To Help Restaurants
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“Thousands of restaurants throughout New York state will close if we don’t get them some immediate relief.”
Government
Cuomo Concedes on Nursing Homes: ‘We Should Have Provided More Information Faster’
|
In a rare concession, Cuomo said the state was wrong to stonewall lawmakers and members of the media on that data, saying it created a void for disinformation and “conspiracy theories.”
Arts & Culture
Lunar New Year Brings Smiles And Hope Amid Hardships For New York’s Chinatown
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Chinatown has faced both a spike in anti-Asian violence during the pandemic and mounting economic challenges. One of those challenges is the smaller celebrations for the 15-day Lunar New Year festival which began last Friday and usually brings lots of visitors and revenue.
Economy
New York Expands List Of Late Closing Establishments
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“With the holiday surge now in our rear-view mirror, we must keep taking steps to further re-open the economy safely and responsibly.”
Featured in Category
Possible Cover-Up Of Nursing Home Deaths Provokes Calls For Probes Of Cuomo, Aides
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“Even just the appearance of being not being forthcoming with information is a liability in this case, and honestly I don’t understand why.”
Government
Forced To Compete For COVID-19 Vaccines, Some Older Pennsylvanians Struggle To Book Appointments
|
Social media networks and online research skills give some younger people an edge, even as older people overall face higher risk of hospitalization and death.
App NEWS
After New Revelations, Support For Ending Cuomo’s Emergency Powers Grows
|
“Crucial information should never be withheld from entities that are empowered to pursue oversight. This was always about getting the truth and allowing information to guide our response.”
App NEWS
New York Mayor Urges Albany To Tax Billionaires And Avoid Budget Cuts
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Mayor Bill de Blasio spent the better part of three hours on Thursday morning asking state lawmakers to empower localities to fight the pandemic and distribute vaccines, and raise taxes on ultra-wealthy New Yorkers.
Does New York’s Latino Community Distrust The COVID Vaccine?
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“If you look at the data, the whole issue of vaccine, equity… the vaccine isn’t at this point, really, getting to the most vulnerable in an equitable fashion.”
Government
In Partnership With Feds, New York Opens Vaccination Sites In Underserved Communities
|
“Everyone should take it when it’s their turn, because that’s how we get everyone back to work and see our families and friends safely together.”
Education
Gillibrand’s COVID-Relief Package Provides Over $100 Billion For Schools
|
The funds would allow schools to upgrade things like HVAC and ventilation systems. It would also offer funds to help expand access to reliable, high-speed broadband, in districts that can’t afford it.
Government
Problematic Pandemic Response At Nursing Homes Prompts Action By New York’s Senate
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“If there’s things need to be codified in law, mandated in law that actually secure people’s safety and well being, that’s what we want to do.”
Government
Another Boost In Vaccine Doses Headed For New York
|
Cuomo, who was on a call with the Biden administration Tuesday morning, said the federal government is planning to boost the state’s vaccine supply by 5% over the next three weeks.
App NEWS
New Data Show COVID Killed Nearly 15,000 Nursing Home And Adult Care Residents In New York
|
The numbers confirm a report by State Attorney General Tish James, who said the state undercounted nursing home hospital deaths by 50%.
Government
Chronically Ill New Yorkers Can Sign Up At State Vaccination Sites On Valentine’s Day
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They include cancer, heart conditions, COPD, chronic kidney disease, Type 1 and 2 diabetes, moderate to severe asthma, and people with intellectual and development disabilities, organ transplant recipients, and people who are morbidly obese.
Health
COVID-19 Shakes Up The Fitness Industry, Perhaps For Good
|
“We used to have 10-17 people in a class and now we still struggle to get 6-8 people in each class.”
Ithaca Mirrors Nation’s Eviction Debate, But Coalition Wants To Change That
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“We say that the rent eats first. People are prioritizing paying rent over paying for food, or for medicine that they might need like an inhaler or insulin.”
Government
New Yorkers With Underlying Conditions Qualify For Vaccine Starting February 15th
|
Only county health departments will administer vaccines for those with underlying conditions, they won’t be available at several large state run sites.
Federal Aid Should Not Supplant State School Funding, Says Education Commissioner
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“We are opposed to a one-shot federal fund replacing needed state dollars for schools.”
App NEWS
New York Lawmakers Eye Another Rent Relief Program Before Budget Deadline
|
The December stimulus from Washington D.C. included about $1.3 billion in housing assistance for New York, with the bulk of the money left to the state to distribute.
App NEWS
Relatives Of Nursing Home Residents Killed By COVID Seek Accountability From New York State
|
The attorney general’s report, released on January 28, found that the health department was undercounting the number of nursing home residents who died by 50%.
App NEWS
Using Drones To Distribute COVID Test Kits
|
“This is the future that you’re seeing, in how packages are going to be delivered both business to business and have packages going from businesses to consumers.”
Government
New York Republicans Draft Subpoena On Nursing Homes, Urge Dems To Move Forward
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“You have to know where you went wrong in order to correct things.”
Economy
Closer Analysis Of December Finds 100% Of Net Jobs Lost Were Held By Women
|
The latest government figures show a net loss of 140,000 jobs in December. What may be surprising is that all those jobs were held by women, especially women of color.
App NEWS
Vaccine Acceptance Challenged By Long History Of Injustice, Conspiracy Theories
|
“We have to recognize the very long history of injustice and misuse that really sets the context for why community members feel the way that they do.”
Government
New York Democrats Block Attempt To Subpoena Health Commissioner Over Nursing Home Deaths
|
A state probe last week found that Zucker could have underreported these deaths by up to 50%.
Economy
As COVID-19 Raged On, State Sales Tax Collections Last Year Took A Dive
|
The steepest decline in sales tax collections happened during the peak of the pandemic, when sales tax collections dropped by about 27% statewide.
Government
Local Governments Will Decide if Restaurant Workers, Others Can Get the COVID-19 Vaccine
|
Governor Cuomo received word from the Biden administration that New York would receive an additional 5% of vaccine doses over the next three weeks.
Government
Winter Storm Prompts Delays, Closures At State-Run COVID-19 Vaccinations Sites
|
New Yorkers who have appointments at centers that closed because of the storm will receive new appointments by email or text.
Got The COVID Vaccine? Don’t Show Your Card Online, BBB Warns
|
“There’s a lot of ways that scammers can use this information.”
Government
In Vaccine Roll Out, Governor Says Trust Still An Issue Among Black New Yorkers
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“The declination rate among blacks in hospital settings where they are hospital workers, is much, much higher than it is among whites or Latinos or Asians.”
Government
Governor Allows Weddings Next Month, New York City Reopens Dining On Valentine’s Day
|
If you’re lucky enough to get engaged over a COVID-era dinner date, you’ll be able to get married as early as March 15.
App NEWS
Cuomo Deflects Blame From Attorney General’s Nursing Home Report
|
“I believe everybody did the best they could. I believe the state department of health, they gave their best guidance and made the best decisions on the facts that they had.”
Government
Data Shows Racial Gap in COVID-19 Vaccine in New York
|
The state will be launching a new advertising campaign targeted at communities of color with the intention of boosting vaccine recipients among those populations.
New Yorkers Lunge, Twist And Zumba Their Way Through The Pandemic Together
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The pandemic has left many Americans craving safe social interaction. For one group of New Yorkers, outdoor Zumba classes bring a little joy.
App NEWS
New York May Have Undercounted Nursing Home Deaths By 50%, State Attorney General Says
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“Clearly, some facilities were not prepared to handle outbreaks through early and effective training or staffing.”
Government
Cuomo: Zone Restrictions Lifted, New York City Restaurants Plan Coming
|
Residential gatherings will still be capped at 10 people, and certain restrictions on restaurants, like a capacity limit and 10 p.m. curfew, will also remain in effect statewide.
App NEWS
New York Will Receive Boost In Vaccine Supply, Governor Says
|
“Now, the states will know what they’re getting every week for the next three weeks, and we’re getting 16-17% more.”
App NEWS
Senate Republicans Propose COVID-19 Relief Package for New York Restaurants
|
“The state needs to step up and help us ensure that this industry is able to continue on and prosper. It is the lifeblood of New York state.”
Elective Surgeries Can Resume, State Unveils New Online COVID Vaccine Tracker
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Governor Cuomo said the big problem across New York now is that hospitals can’t seem to vaccinate its own workers.
Government
Senator Hints At Subpoenas If New York Doesn’t Supply Key Nursing Home Death Numbers
|
The Cuomo Administration issued a controversial order on March 25th 2020, that required nursing homes to allow hospitalized residents sick with COVID re-entry into the homes.
Some New Yorkers Face Shrinking Nest Eggs As They Care For Loved Ones During Pandemic
|
Many senior citizens entered their golden years with more debt than previous generations, and now they’re struggling financially as they try to provide care for an ailing relative during the pandemic.
Government
Cuomo Announces Effort To Strengthen Fairness And Equity In Vaccine Distribution
|
Polls have shown that vaccine skepticism is relatively high in Black communities.
App NEWS
New York Allows Resumption Of Riskier High School Sports
|
The state says local health officials should consider whether there has been a more transmissible variant of COVID-19 identified in the area, and local rates of COVID-19 transmission.
App NEWS
New York’s COVID-19 Hospitalization Rate Drops
|
“We just need to keep the arrows pointed down, but, never get cocky with COVID.”
Education
Want Kids Back In School? There’s A PAC For That
|
“I kept seeing these questions over and over: How do I run for school board? How do I help candidates run for school board?””
Employees Are Now The Biggest COVID Spreaders In Nursing Homes
|
State figures report up to half the staff in some areas of New York are refusing the vaccine. That might lead to mandated vaccinations.
Health
Three-Quarters Of New Yorkers Plan To Get COVID Vaccine
|
“New York, and America have more to do in terms of educating the people about the vaccine and doing a campaign to encourage New Yorkers and Americans to get the vaccine.”
Government
Cuomo Presents Tale of Two Budgets, Threatens to Sue Federal Gov’t Over Aid Request
|
Cuomo said if Biden and the Democratic-led Congress don’t come through with the full amount he’s seeking, he will commence litigation.
Government
Schumer, Gillibrand Optimistic New Congress Will Pass COVID-Relief For States, Cities
|
“We’re going to act swiftly and decisively to provide direct federal aid so state, county and local governments can save tens of thousands of vital public service jobs.”
Government
Cuomo Seeks More COVID-19 Vaccines Through Deal With Pfizer
|
“The federal administration essentially opened up a floodgate while cutting our supply — leading to confusion, frustration, and dashed hopes.”
Vaccine Sign-Up Confusion Continues, Appointments Booked Through April
|
The Governor’s disclaimer recommends people eligible for the vaccine directly contact their local pharmacies, doctors’ offices and hospitals.
Health
Rollout Of COVID-19 Vaccines In Rural PA Requires Flexibility And Trust From Communities
|
A Kaiser Family Foundation report released last week found rural residents are among the most hesitant about vaccines.
App NEWS
Vaccine Rollout Begins For 1B Category With A Long Waitlist
|
First responders, people 75 and older, educators, and grocery store workers can now begin to schedule their vaccine appointments. But the wait to get the shot could take a while.
Government
New York Lawmakers Complain Vaccine Rollout “Extremely Disappointing”
|
Republican state lawmakers were vocal in their criticisms, saying the Cuomo administration was unprepared.
Government
For Cuomo, COVID-19 Is A ‘War’ And New York Is Winning
|
“We are at war — a war that started last year when we were ambushed by the COVID virus, and a war that continues today,”
Government
After Slow Rollout, New York Will Offer Vaccines At More Sites
|
Gov. Andrew Cuomo, bowing to pressure from local governments, is agreeing to expand the state’s vaccination sites for front-line health care workers.
Democrats, Unions Seek Workplace Protections Against Infectious Diseases through NY HERO Act
|
“We saw in the first big wave here in New York that the people who bore the brunt, the sacrifice and health problems, were the people who had to go to work.”
New York GOP Lawmakers Push Back Harder On Cuomo’s Emergency Pandemic Powers
|
“It would be one thing if he was making split-second decisions about procurement (of medical supplies), but I think we have moved well beyond the time when that resolution was necessary.”
County Leaders Seek Governor’s Cooperation As They Carry Out Vaccination Plans
|
They said Cuomo and the state health department are not providing data that they need and are leaving them out of key meetings.
Bills’ Parking Lot Becomes Massive COVID Testing Site
|
“You pull up. We verify who you are. You roll down your window. We swab you. Just a little nasal swab, not invasive. We then take that specimen with the requisition and we send it to our laboratory.”
Economy
New Paid Leave Law Could Help New York Slow Spread Of COVID-19
|
“This is really a very important step forward in fighting COVID and in fighting any other kind of illness.’
Government
With Holidays Over, COVID-19 Vaccination Effort Expected To Ramp Up
|
“Our hospitals and health care systems continue to be significantly challenged.”
More Contagious Strain Of COVID-19 Found In New York State
|
The governor said the man, in his 60s, works in a jewelry store, N. Fox Jewelers, in Saratoga Springs and that three other employees have also tested positive for the virus.
Health
Holiday Traffic At Syracuse Airport Down Significantly
|
“It’s nowhere near where we were last year at this time. We’re sitting roughly about 70% off where we were in 2019.”
Cuomo Won’t Get Vaccine Until His Group’s Turn In Black, Hispanic, Poor Communities
|
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said testing for COVID-19 was more readily available in richer, whiter communities in the state. He added: “This can’t happen again, and it can’t happen with this vaccine.”
Government
If They Don’t Act Faster, Cuomo Threatens To Cut Off Hospitals From Vaccination Program
|
Cuomo says the underperforming hospitals will face sanctions, including a fine of up to $100,000 if they don’t use up all of the vaccine they have in store by the end of the week.
In New York, Waiting For A COVID-19 Test Is A Business Opportunity
|
A business that traditionally provided line standers for Broadway shows and other events, now serves people who don’t want to wait hours outside a health clinic.
App NEWS
COVID-19 Impacts Steuben County Jail
|
During the week of Christmas, four staff members and 21 inmates at the Steuben County Jail tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
Economy
Despite Virus Spike, Governor Says 2021 Could Bring Reopenings
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“2021 is going to be literally what we make of it. We’re coming out of probably the most traumatic year that we’ve had in decades.”
Crime and Justice
Statewide Ban On Prison Visitation In Effect
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There are currently 3,914 COVID-19 cases among inmates, parolees, and corrections officers at state prisons, while 2,156 people have recovered.
Multiple Coronavirus Cases After Republican Christmas Party In New York
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A video featuring unmasked attendees went viral last week on Twitter. On Wednesday, three individuals who were at the party were reported to have tested positive for the coronavirus.
Coronavirus Cancels NYC’s New Year Celebration
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The virus interfering with end-of-year parties across the country. Even the traditional Times Square ball drop in New York City at midnight will be closed to the public and seen virtually.
Government
In 2020, The Pandemic Was The Only Story
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“There will be a New Year, I can’t say that it won’t be worse, because now, I don’t know.”
New York Employers Could Mandate COVID-19 Vaccine, According To Updated Federal Guidelines
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“I don’t think an anti-vaxxer would have a good claim if they were fired for refusing to take a vaccine.”
Prison Visitations Suspended Statewide As COVID Cases Surge
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“We recognize that visitation is a vital part of family reunification and therefore, we will resume it when safe to do so.
Education
Socially-Distant Holidays Tough On Kids
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While adults can make a distinction that changes in tradition are for the greater good, kids don’t have that level of cognitive awareness.
Government
Cuomo Hopes Virus Spike Is An Aberration
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New York state’s positivity rate for the coronavirus jumped to 8.3%, according to the latest numbers released Monday by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Cuomo To Extend Eviction Protections For Tenants Through New Year
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ALBANY, NY (WCNY) – Tenants in New York will be granted another reprieve in the new year, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday, with an extension of an executive order that prevents landlords from evicting tenants who’ve faced financial hardship both during and before the COVID-19 pandemic. The extension, however, may be moot: Democrats in the state Legislature are considering a special session next week to codify and expand a moratorium on residential evictions. Details on what the Legislature may pass haven’t been released, and legislation hadn’t been introduced as of Wednesday afternoon. But Democrats who control both the state Senate and Assembly have been hinting at an end-of-year return to Albany for weeks now. Some of the state’s current protections for tenants expire on Jan.
Here Are Four Ways 2020 Will Shape PA Politics Moving Forward
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PHILADELPHIA, PA (WITF) – It’s not easy to recognize important historical moments while they’re happening. But 2020 has been a year marked by disaster and debacle. It has featured a deadly global pandemic, a reckoning over racism in the wake of several Black Americans killed by police, and a tense, litigious election. Looking back, historians, political insiders, and on-the-ground organizers agree that the last 12 months or so will leave an indelible impression. “I don’t know a historian right now who isn’t still kind of in shock,” said Timothy Lombardo, a Philadelphia-born historian of conservative politics.
Government
Here’s What PA Hospital Heads Say About Masks, Business Closures And New Health Measures
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There is “universal support” overall, but some disagreement on specifics.
Government
Cuomo Says Shutdown Can Be Avoided if Behaviors Change
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Hospitalization rates are steadily rising. More than 6000 New Yorkers are in the hospital with COVID-19, and more than 1000 are in intensive care.
Education
‘We Knew It Was Inevitable’: PA Child Care Centers Wrestle With COVID Surge
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Child care centers in Pennsylvania are facing a dark winter. With coronavirus cases surging, and government relief aid far reduced from the early days of the pandemic, providers are struggling as they navigate how to stay afloat financially while keeping the children they serve and their staffs safe.
Economy
Cuomo Warns of Total Shutdown if Virus Rate is Not Controlled
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“If we do not change the trajectory, we could very well be headed to shutdown, and shutdown is something to worry about.”
Government
New York’s First COVID-19 Vaccine Given To NYC Nurse
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“I know how horrific it was. It was a modern day battlefield. What you do, showing up every day, you really are heroes.”
Education
COVID-19 Delays High-Risk High School Sports, Cancels Winter State Championships
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“Hopefully we will get to a place where the numbers go down and we can find a way to offer these opportunities for our student athletes and community.”
App NEWS
WATCH: Governor’s Friday COVID Briefing At 11:30 A.M. On WSKG Radio
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Governor Cuomo Updates New Yorkers on the State’s COVID-19 Response and Makes an Announcement
Food and Farms
Indoor Dining Banned In NYC, But Cuomo Adds Home Gatherings Are The Biggest Virus Spreaders
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Governor Andrew Cuomo unveiled details of what he calls the “winter plan” for limiting the spread of COVID-19 in New York State.
Food and Farms
Amid COVID-19 Resurgence, PA Governor Halts Indoor Dining And Limits Gatherings
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The new public health measures come as COVID-19 cases near all-time highs and hospital intensive care units are nearing capacity.
App NEWS
If Congress Does Not Approve Relief Package, Cuomo Predicts Dire Consequences
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“I believe we’re going to have to raise taxes at the end of the day, in any event, but the question is, how much in taxes?”
App NEWS
Cuomo: Vaccines Could Arrive As Early As This Weekend
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Cuomo says undocumented immigrants who receive a vaccine will not have to release any personal data that might trigger deportation.
App NEWS
Some Workers Don’t Want The COVID-19 Vaccine, But Employers Could Mandate It
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U.S. employers will be able to require their employees to get a COVID-19 vaccine unless the employee has reasonable medical or religious objections.
App NEWS
New PA Data Shows How Pandemic Gave A Boost To Cyber Charter Schools
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While public schools in urban and suburban counties have lost students, schools in more rural counties have largely tread water.
Food and Farms
New York Restaurants Say Governor’s New Rules Will Permanently Close More Doors
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Restaurant owners are finding Governor Andrew Cuomo’s new criteria difficult to decipher, and worry it will mean more eateries will soon be out of business.
App NEWS
New Restrictions On Indoor Dining Likely Next Week, Cuomo Says
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“Overwhelming the hospital system means people die on a gurney in a hallway, and the life you could’ve saved you can’t save because you don’t have the staff, you don’t have the doctors, you don’t have the nurses.”
App NEWS
Barbers, Salons In Orange Zones Petition New York State To Reopen
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“Nobody’s giving us any direction. We don’t have the unemployment thing in place, we don’t have the other supports that were in place the last time they shut us down, they’re just like, ‘You gotta close.’ ”
App NEWS
State Senate Dems Offer $4 Billion Pandemic Relief Plan
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“We know that we can’t depend upon the federal government, given the fact that we’ve been waiting for them to respond to this crisis for months now.”
Government
Cuomo Calls Latest Federal Relief Plan by Dems A Downpayment On What’s Owed
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“It doesn’t come near to the need. It would be a short term bill until March. I would urge them to get this first down payment bill before they leave.”
