Government
Hochul says awarding campaign donor $600M+ for COVID test kits was a necessary expenditure
|
“I was not aware that this was a company that had been supportive of me. I don’t keep track of that.”
Government
Governor releases New York’s Fall coronavirus plan
|
“We don’t currently, based on today’s numbers, anticipate the need for masks in classrooms, but I’m going to reserve the right to return to this policy.”
Government
Zeldin accuses Governor of stalling probe into controversial COVID-19 policies
|
“Kathy Hochul is dragging her feet because of politics, and because there’s an election coming up on Nov. 8.”
Government
New Yorkers who contract COVID can now call free treatment hotline
|
Health care professionals staffing the phones can then prescribe oral antiviral medicine or give callers a referral.
Government
Senate Majority Leader Schumer tests positive for COVID-19
|
The New York Democrat will follow federal health guidelines and quarantine this week while working remotely.
App NEWS
Amtrak restores passenger train service from New York to Toronto
|
Passengers will must meet Canada’s strict and complicated rules for crossing the border.
App NEWS
Working parents seek relief from COVID-19 quarantine rules for daycare
|
I’m putting off things like going to the dentist because I’ve just been out from work so much already. I know a lot of families have it even worse than I do.”
App NEWS
New York health commissioner: Coronavirus ‘doesn’t get tired’
|
“I can only speculate that people are tired of this, I’m tired of it, but the virus, unfortunately, doesn’t get tired.”
Health
Spring brings a renewed question: Is it allergies or COVID-19?
|
While some symptoms like sinus or upper respiratory issues can be the same with allergies and COVID-19, there are also some distinct differences.
Government
New York governor provides eligibility details for 2nd COVID-19 booster shots
|
“Providers statewide, including at the state’s mass vaccination sites, are ready to administer second booster doses for eligible New Yorkers.”
Education
Cornell study shines light on COVID-19 population shifts
|
More than half of New York’s counties lost population due to more people moving out than moving in since that last census.
Health
More than one in four registered nurse positions went vacant, recent survey reports
|
The need for doctors, nurses and other workers poses challenges for hospitals.
Education
As the COVID-19 pandemic drags on, the substitute teacher shortage in Pennsylvania gets worse
|
The challenge in finding instructors can be even greater for rural school districts.
Health
Diabetes cases, especially in children, up significantly since the pandemic began
|
“I’m a nurse and I didn’t see it. I didn’t see diabetes, because we don’t have it in our family and that’s what you automatically think.”
Government
Proposed PA budget would help nurses, provide mental health services
|
Advocates are hopeful to see needed funds during Gov. Tom Wolf’s final year in office.
App NEWS
Health board hears pleas for metrics behind school mask mandate
|
“If you vote yes and extend the emergency order and keep our kids in masks, you can go to bed at night considering yourselves child abusers.”
Government
New York health commissioner says no decision yet on ending school mask mandate
|
“There has been no decision made on a date on which the mask mandate in schools will end.”
Government
GOP wants new health commissioner to Review COVID-19 in nursing homes
|
“Those families never received an apology. No one’s ever been held accountable. They were told ‘who cares’ by the last governor.”
App NEWS
Governor Tom Wolf, PA Democrats outline a proposal for $1.7 billion in pandemic funds
|
The plan includes spending money on workers and a property tax subsidy for lower-income homeowners and renters.
App NEWS
New York’s mask mandate not expected to end anytime soon
|
“We’re not taking our foot off the gas when it comes to fighting the pandemic,.”
Government
Soldiers with New York’s National Guard train to become EMTs
|
“The graduates will be able to assist anywhere we need them in a medical capacity will be available starting in early February.”
Government
Republican budget chiefs want Pennsylvania’s plethora of pandemic-era cash used ‘judiciously’
|
The House and Senate’s top GOP budget negotiators say the state’s $7.76 billion in extra relief and tax money can’t be stretched too thin.
Crime and Justice
New York’s mask mandate is still in effect after another legal decision
|
The request will be reconsidered Friday by a panel of judges from the court, and could ultimately be reversed.
App NEWS
New York judge overturns governor’s mask mandate
|
The mandate “is a law that was promulgated and enacted unlawfully by an executive branch state agency, and therefore void and unenforceable.”
binghamton
New York families often unaware of child care assistance funds
|
A lot of state money hasn’t been spent, because many families don’t know it’s out there.
Health
Poison Center says keep at-home COVID tests away from kids
|
“If they were to take a taste of it accidentally, not a problem, could be a little bit irritating, but not a real big issue.
Economy
Upstate New York lags in pandemic economic recovery
|
Small metro areas in upstate New York like Ithaca and Utica are also still struggling to recover with Ithaca only recovering so far by roughly .3%.
Health
Holidays plus omicron result in largest blood shortage in a decade
|
“Blood donor turnout has really plummeted because of the variant that has affected this region and across the country.”
Health
Want to know where COVID-19 will spread? Ask people if they plan to follow guidelines, researchers say
|
A nationwide survey sheds light on how self-reporting can predict infection rates.
Government
New York announces new nursing home visitation rules
|
“Ideally, every visitor would be vaccinated and boosted, but we don’t have the authority to create that restriction.”
App NEWS
SUNY campuses to open COVID testing sites this week
|
Campuses across New York state will begin hosting free COVID testing for the general public this week.
App NEWS
Hochul ‘unwavering’ in students returning to school amid COVID-19 surge
|
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said she’s committed to seeing students return to school next week as planned, as state health officials are pushing for more children to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Education
Pandemic prompts cancellation of January high school Regents exams
|
“Once again, the January Regents exams cannot be safely, equitably and fairly administered across the state.”
Government
State health commissioner tests positive, as New York’s COVID-19 cases set record
|
“Of course she is vaccinated and boosted, so this would be a breakthrough case, but she is feeling fine.”
Government
Hochul: ‘rough ride’ ahead amid COVID-19 surge in New York
|
For New Yorkers experiencing so-called “COVID fatigue,” a sense of hopelessness as the pandemic wears on, there’s more bad news: there’s no end in sight.
Government
New York Governor defends her mask mandate
|
“We have to get a point of rational discussion about this, and it’s not about scoring political points or getting headlines to call out the governor on an issue.”
App NEWS
New York’s COVID-19 mask mandate draws blowback
|
“I’m going to monitor what’s going on in the various counties, but I’m not attempting to be heavy-handed.”
Government
As mask mandate goes into effect, many local governments say they can’t, or won’t, enforce it
|
“We don’t have the staff…they have Covid overload. We don’t want to send the sheriff’s out after anybody, we don’t want to send probation after anybody.”
App NEWS
Three more confirmed cases of the Omicron variant in New York state; all three are from NYC
|
“We knew the Omicron variant was coming and we expect to see more cases. But let me be clear: We are not defenseless.”
Government
Governor: New York’s first omicron case is ‘not cause for alarm’
|
“I’m not prepared to shut down schools or the economy at this time. That would be considered an overreaction.”
Government
COVID-19 pandemic enters race for New York governor
|
“Sadly, New York has been making the same mistakes over and over again on COVID.”
Crime and Justice
PA supreme court temporarily reinstates school mask mandate
|
The court will hear arguments Dec. 8 in order to make a final decision.
Government
New York Governor watching Omicron Variant but holding off on new mandates
|
Hochul predicts a surge in the infection rate over the next few days.
Health
Experts warn about high COVID-19 transmission through winter
|
“So we know people are not wearing masks, and we know people are gathering and we know people are in close quarters.”
Government
COVID-19 killed at least 40 military veterans at VA nursing homes in Pa.
|
Newly-public data shows outbreaks among staff and residents throughout the pandemic.
Government
PCR COVID test to be eliminated for crossing U.S.-Canada border
|
The big issue for the Northern Border is the expensive and time-consuming requirement for a PCR COVID-19 test for Americans or Canadians to enter Canada.
Economy
Excluded Workers Fund provided relief…for people who actually received funds
|
“It was just such a stressful day-to-day struggle to figure out how how to make it through the week and how to put food on the table.”
Government
U.S., Canada agree to restart NEXUS applications
|
“There has never been a problem at the United States and Canadian border. We are deeply dependent on each other for our economic viability.”
App NEWS
New York expands booster shots as virus rate rises
|
Much of the rest of upstate New York has a positivity rate of 5% or more, higher than it was in the fall of 2020.
Government
New York’s mass vaccination sites now administering vaccines to 5-to-11 year olds
|
“I’m directing our state mass vaccination sites to open their doors to the youngest and most recently eligible New Yorkers.”
App NEWS
New York asks Biden Administration for $1B in additional rent relief funds
|
New York is one of just a handful of states that have exhausted the rent relief funding allocated to them by the federal government.
App NEWS
Broome County sees spike in COVID-19 cases
|
County officials attributed the rise in cases to residents socializing over Halloween weekend.
Education
New York governor offers public college scholarship drawing for vaccinated kids
|
“We will be selecting 50 names of children who will be receiving a full ride to a SUNY or CUNY institution.”
App NEWS
COVID-19 fueled the nursing shortage but also inspired a new generation of nurses
|
While the stresses of the pandemic led some nurses to quit or retire, others are getting ready to step in.
Health
Canadians visiting the US must get tested to return home
|
Just like foreign travelers, Canadians will need to show a negative COVID-19 test at the border to re-enter their country.
App NEWS
Steuben County adopts ‘Test to Stay’ policies in schools
|
The measure would allow students to take a rapid test every day for a week, rather than quarantine, after potential exposure to COVID.
Education
Quarantining students is an educational nightmare. Is it still worth it?
|
“We’re all just trying to get through a global pandemic. But definitely, they need some [additional] instruction when they get back.”
Education
Vaccine Mandate for Schools Not Needed, Hochul Says, But Still on the Table
|
“I want to empower parents and schools to do the right things first but if we’re not seeing adequate compliance…I will have no choice.”
App NEWS
Poll: We’re Not Where We Thought We’d Be In The Pandemic By Now
|
“This is something that’s with us every single day. It affects our relationships, it affects our behavior, and it will continue to for quite some time.”
Education
Inside A PA Middle School Where Everyone Wears Masks, And It’s Not Really An Issue
|
Educators say there’s a clear choice: Limit the spread of the virus, or risk going back to online and hybrid learning.
Government
New York Governor Apologizes To The Relatives Of Nursing Home Residents Killed By COVID
|
“I apologized for the pain that those poor families had to endure. It was a very emotional meeting.”
App NEWS
Judge Says Health Care Workers Likely to Win Lawsuit Over Religious Exemptions to the COVID Vaccine
|
The decision only allows health care workers to request religious exemptions to the mandate, for the time being.
App NEWS
Not Last Year’s Toilet Paper Shortage, But Supply Chain Troubles Hit Grocery Stores
|
A combined shortage of labor, material, and transportation has made it difficult for stores like Tops and Wegmans to keep many items in stock.
Health
‘Breakthrough’ COVID-19 Hospitalizations Are On The Rise In PA
|
As immunity wanes, more vaccinated people in Pa. are getting sick with the virus.
App NEWS
Amid Staffing Shortages, Any Loss Of Healthcare Workers Can Have An Impact
|
“People are tired, and we’ve seen a significant resurgence here. There’s a significant demand in our emergency rooms, in our COVID unit, in our ICU, and so, we need all hands on deck.”
Crime and Justice
New York’s Already Low Prison Vaccinations Plateau Through The Summer
|
“Prisons are a hotbed of infectious disease transmission they have been for since they’ve been designed and utilized.”
Economy
Labor Crisis In Veterinary Medicine Leaves Pets At Risk
|
A shortage of veterinarians in New York State is making it difficult for people to find care for their pets.
Education
As The Pandemic Continues, Hospitalization Rates Become Key Indicator
|
“I think the decision has been made not to eliminate it, that we’re going to accept it.”
App NEWS
Hochul: Hospitals Should Seek State’s Aid To Staff Urgent Care Centers
|
All of the state’s hospitals are required to have an emergency staffing plan in place to make up for shortages, and the Governor questioned whether those plans were deployed.
Health
As COVID-19 Rages, PA Hospitals Tell Ambulance Crews They Don’t Want People In Crisis
|
COVID-19 is adding stress to Pennsylvania’s underfunded behavioral health care system.
Government
Governor Prepares For Fall Out From Court Challenges To Vaccine Mandate
|
The governor estimates that hundreds of hospitals workers have been laid off or suspended for refusing the vaccine.
App NEWS
PA Sets Aside $655 Million In Federal Pandemic Relief Money For Child Care Programs
|
Licensed child care providers can now apply for one-time grants to help them retain and recruit personnel and cover operational costs.
App NEWS
Hospitals And Nursing Homes Report Higher Vaccination Rates; Hundreds Fired
|
“We provided them with access to resources and really talked to those individuals one-on-one to reassure them.”
binghamton
New York Hospitals Prepare For Loss Of Unvaccinated Health Care Workers
|
“I’m hoping we can manage through that and not have a tremendous number of people in any one department who are missing.”
Government
Facing Health Care Workforce Shortage, New York Governor Preps Emergency Plan
|
The state has issued guidance that would prevent unvaccinated health care workers who are fired to collect unemployment.
Government
Governor Pleads With Healthcare Workers To Get Vaccinated Before New York’s Deadline
|
“It does not have to happen, my friends, it does not have to happen. What is looming for Monday is completely avoidable and there are no excuses.”
Government
New York’s Controversial Health Commissioner Resigns
|
“I think I made very clear on my first day in office that I’ll be looking to build a new team. There will be other changes forthcoming.”
Economy
Comptroller Seeks Alternatives To Pay Down New York’s Unemployment Fund Deficit
|
The pandemic caused an unprecedented number of temporary and permanent job losses, with over 4.7 million New Yorkers collecting benefits.
Government
Lt. Governor On New York Health Commissioner: “Stay Tuned”
|
There have been calls for Howard Zucker’s removal over decisions he made during the COVID-19 pandemic, like decisions related to nursing homes.
Education
Survey Finds Most Parents Find In-Person Learning Best, But Want Options
|
60 percent of parents also revealed they’d prefer having remote learning as an available option, full or part time.
App NEWS
As Cases Rise, Broome County Struggles To Find Staff For Contact Tracing
|
“A lot of our staff is out doing their regulatory jobs, that need to happen, and it leaves us less infrastructure for doing the case investigation.”
Crime and Justice
Governor Doesn’t See A Religious Exemption To Vaccination As A Legitimate Excuse
|
“If you’re watching the national news, the scariest announcements coming out every morning are the number of children contracting Covid.”
App NEWS
Many Unemployment Benefits Ended Amid Ongoing Labor Shortage
|
“There’s clearly something going on in households where people still feel they can get by.”
Government
In PA, Vaccines Prevent COVID-19 Among Most Folks Who Are Innoculated
|
Data suggests during that time, only a six percent chance existed that a person who was vaccinated fell ill with COVID-19 in Pennsylvania.
App NEWS
New York May Allow Some Religious Exemptions To The COVID Vaccine, Judge Says
|
“We believe this step will result in a flurry of attempts to circumvent the well-reasoned vaccination requirement.”
Government
New York Governor Warns Of Health Care Staffing Shortage, Hospital Bed Capacity
|
“The biggest challenge for our hospitals is not…the beds. Just like last year, it’s staffing. Staffing is now what we need.”
Government
New York Lawmakers Extend Pause on Evictions, With Exceptions
|
“Now, the landlord gets to have a hearing. I think that goes a long way, and the landlord has a say in court now.”
Government
Two Decades After 9/11, Have PA Lawmakers Forgotten How To Unite During Tragedies?
|
Now, we’re in a partisan era in which, for example, some lawmakers argued against public health measures during a pandemic.
Government
Governor Plans Booster Shot Distribution, Considers More Mandates
|
In First COVID-19 Briefing, Hochul Talks Vaccines
App NEWS
Broome County Officials Warn Of Potential Healthcare Staff Shortages
|
“It’s going to be very, very difficult to provide the same level of healthcare if we are, all of a sudden, starting to see people walk off the job and leave the healthcare industry.”
Uncategorized
Vestal Central Schools Prepare For In-Person Learning
|
“You have to be at a point where you have plans in place where you can adjust accordingly, and still maintain an education for our students.”
Government
How New York Lawmakers Would Have to Fix the Eviction Moratorium
|
“I am in talks with the Senate Majority Leader and Assembly Speaker to call a special session to address the impending eviction crisis.”
Government
New York Lawmakers React To Discrepancy In COVID-19 Death Toll
|
The new COVID-19 death toll numbers of about 55,400 people is in line with the death certificate data provided to the CDC.
Antigen tests
Home COVID Tests Are Not Perfect, Health Officials Remind Residents
|
“The PCR testing is the gold standard, it is the most sensitive and accurate to run to determine the results. The antigen testing is a little bit less reliable.”
Arts & Culture
Opening Weekend Attracts Smaller Crowds To The New York State Fair
|
The past few days averaged below 40,000 visitors compared to record numbers in 2019.
Arts & Culture
Experts Offer Tips On Staying COVID-Safe At The New York State Fair
|
“You can transmit to other people. The odds are you’re going to do fine if you’re vaccinated and infected, but the person you infect may not do fine.”
App NEWS
Nursing Homes And The New Vaccine Requirement
|
“I’m sure we stand to lose some staff, and we’d hate to see that happen.”
Health
‘Born Protected’: The Benefits Of Getting Vaccinated While Pregnant
|
“When mom gets the vaccine, she develops antibodies that do cross the placenta and provide a degree of protection to the newborn.”
Government
New York’s Vaccine Mandate Raises Questions For Healthcare Workers
|
“We literally created a vaccine within a year, and that’s like unheard of. The fact that it’s new, played a role in me not wanting to get the vaccine.”
Education
Wolf Administration Offers Free COVID-19 Testing For PA Schools
|
“It’s clear that everyone wants to keep kids in the classroom and keep extra curricular activities going.”
App NEWS
New York Will Require All Health Care Workers to be Vaccinated
|
The new requirement applies to all health care workers in New York, regardless of employer.
App NEWS
New Businesses Surge Amid Pandemic Recovery
|
As of July 23, 2021, 1,242 new business certificates were filed with the Onondaga County Clerk this year. That’s over two times as many as this time last year.
Education
With No State Guidance, New York Schools Roll Out Reopening Plans
|
Syracuse will require masks regardless of vaccination status and require proof of vaccination for all employees or regular testing.
App NEWS
COVID Transmission “High” In Broome, Chenango And Delaware Counties
|
“At the current rate, things have the potential to get out of control. And the last thing anybody wants to see is another shutdown.”
Education
PA Governor Promotes Vaccinations For Some State Employees, But Nixes A School Mask Mandate
|
Nine states, including New York, have implemented new mandates aimed at curbing the spread of the more contagious variant indoors.
Finger Lakes Campaign Hopes To Increase Vaccine Confidence
|
To better understand the concerns of Black, Hispanic and rural residents, the group conducted a series of interviews and focus groups.
Health
Canada Opens Border To Non-Essential Travelers, But It’s Complicated
|
While Canada has taken a major step in reopening its border, the U.S. has not yet offered the same welcome to Canadian travelers.
Health
PA Trying Fairs, Texts And Door-Knocking To Raise Vaccination Rate. Success Is Slow Coming.
|
Nearly 64% of Pennsylvania adults are fully vaccinated, a small increase compared to July
App NEWS
‘A Complete Surprise’: State Health Department Has No Reopening Guidance For New York Schools
|
“There is an urgent need for timely advice and supervision flowing from the State Department of Health to local and school officials.”
Arts & Culture
Despite An Increase In COVID Cases, New York’s Fair Will Open As Planned
|
The fair reserves its right to pivot, if increasing numbers force new regulations to avoid spread of the coronavirus.
Government
Cuomo: New York Needs Stronger Vaccination Policy
|
“I wore a mask for year, it’s not the biggest deal in the world. I could get this delta variant, and I could spread the delta variant. So, better safe than sorry, I’m going to wear a mask.”
Economy
Short Handed Employers Hesitant Over Vaccine Mandates
|
“They want to have safety in their workforce, they want to provide a safe environment for their customers, but they also want to be adequately staffed.”
Government
Fully Vaccinated Americans Can Cross Canadian border Starting In August
|
Children younger than 12 will be allowed to enter Canada with their parents or guardians if they follow public health guidelines.
Economy
Visitors Return To Theme Parks By The Thousands, But Finding Good Help Is Hard
|
“The market certainly is much tighter than it has been in the past. There’s no doubt about it.”
App NEWS
PA May See The Nation’s Strongest Post-Pandemic Sales Tax Boost
|
Forecasters predict Pennsylvania will rake in nearly 15 percent more this year than last. That would be the largest increase of any state.
Education
SUNY Can’t Mandate COVID Vaccines Until They’re Fully Approved By FDA
|
SUNY is pushing vaccine awareness campaigns and encouraging students and faculty to use vaccine clinics on campus.
Government
Governor Defends, Explains New York’s Undercount Of COVID Deaths
|
The AP finds that other states, including Pennsylvania, report death numbers that mirror the CDC numbers, and count all cases where COVID is either the cause of death or a contributing factor.
Health
Common Ground Health Report Reveals Racism At Center Of Public Health Crisis
|
Black people in the Finger Lakes region face stark health disparities as a result of racism and the way it manifests, a problem magnified by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Energy
Within A Few Years, Renewable Energy In New York Could Hit 50%
|
New York state aims to have 70% of electricity used, coming from renewable resources by 2030.
Energy
State Report: PA Extracted More Natural Gas Than Ever During Pandemic
|
Unconventional wells produced 7.1 trillion cubic feet of gas last year, even as national and regional natural gas prices dipped in response to the pandemic.
App NEWS
Senate Majority Leader Calls For Unilateral Opening Of Border With Canada
|
On Monday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that fully vaccinated Canadians returning to the country from the U.S. would no longer need to quarantine.
Government
After Contact Tracing Data Breach, PA Sidesteps Scrutiny On Proposed $34M Contract
|
The state’s Department of Health is working to hire a new company under an even pricier contract to take over its contact tracing program. The previous company was fired for a massive data breach.
Wall Street Bosses Want Their Workers Back. That’s Good For The King Of Falafel
|
Wall Street executives are pushing vaccinated workers to return to work, and that’s good news for vendors and other small businesses in New York that depend on workers from finance.
Government
COVID-Related Hospitalizations Drop To New Low In New York State
|
The 7-day average COVID-19 positivity rate for the Finger Lakes region is now down to .40%.
Government
PA Republicans Vote To Ban Vaccine Mandates At Schools And Limit Health Secretary’s Authority
|
An amendment to the Senate bill designed to prevent “vaccine passports” would prohibit the secretary from ordering mask wearing and other public health measures.
Government
Fiscal Watchdog Seeks COVID-19 Data From State Health Department
|
They seek a detailed list of data about the deaths of New Yorkers from COVID-19, including those tracked by the date, county and ZIP code, as well as confirmed cases of coronavirus by age group, race, and ethnicity.
App NEWS
Governor Cuomo’s Emergency Pandemic Powers End Today
|
“The emergency is over. It will not be renewed.”
Health
New York’s COVID-19 Positivity Rate Falls Below .30%
|
The infection rate for the Finger Lakes region is .54%. That is the second highest rate in the state, behind the North Country, but the positivity rate for all regions of the state is well below 1%.
App NEWS
Ready For A Post-Pandemic life? Your Dog May Be Dreading It
|
Experts warn that separation anxiety is a real possibility for pets who got used to having their people around all the time. There is a type of training that helps, but it requires time and patience.
Environment
What Researchers Are Learning About Air Pollution And The Pandemic Shutdown
|
“The pandemic made it clear that traffic is an important source of pollutants for the air that we breathe. But the fact that we have this data will allow us to understand those interactions better.”
Government
With COVID-19 Waning, Cuomo Retains Emergency Powers
|
Not everyone can immediately go back to normal. Unvaccinated New Yorkers still need to wear masks in public and practice safe social distancing.
Uncategorized
Lifting COVID Restrictions Opens The Upstate Economy
|
The good news is that the local economy is improving and more tourists are coming to town. The bad news is there is a shortage of workers to staff businesses and serve those tourists.
Government
Governor Cuomo Celebrates COVID-19 Milestone By Lifting More Mandates
|
New York is still in the process of reopening from the months-long mandatory lock downs, and Governor Cuomo says there are still dangerous variants of the virus that are spreading in other parts of the world.
App NEWS
Cuomo: New York State Fair To Open At 100% Capacity This Summer
|
In May, the governor announced the fair would be open at 50% capacity, but with record low infection rates and an almost 70% vaccination rate, Cuomo said it’s time to open the gates all the way.
Government
Cuomo Says New York One Step Closer to Vaccination Milestone
|
Rates in some low-income urban and rural areas are as low as 38.8%. The governor says local governments need to focus on those areas and give it “one more push.”
Government
New York In Tie For The Lowest COVID-19 Infection Rate In The U.S.
|
“New York’s COVID-19 numbers continue to hit record lows and New Yorkers are ready to return to normal.”
Economy
New State Grant Program To Help Struggling Small Businesses In New York
|
“Business owners have seen their work and their dreams just disappear. I don’t know how many thousands of businesses have closed permanently, but it’s thousands, and that’s just a tragedy.”
App NEWS
Despite ‘A Little Bit Of Anxiety,’ PA Officials Say Most Activities Are Safe For Young, Unvaccinated Kids
|
Acting State Human Services Secretary Meg Snead said parents ultimately have to make their own decisions about what’s safe.
App NEWS
Astorino: Parents, School Administrators Should ‘Show Civil Disobedience’ on Masks
|
“We need school districts and superintendents to marry civil disobedience with common sense. And that is no masks for the rest of the year.”
App NEWS
Study Finds Increased Risk Of Serious Stroke Among People Who Recently Suffered COVID-19
|
Young people and those with no COVID-19 symptoms are among those at risk.
App NEWS
New York Governor Revises School Mask Policy: Yes Inside, No Outside
|
The announcement began a weekend of confusion and anxiety for school leaders, teachers and parents who said they would have to once again reconfigure classrooms and alter other protocols.
Government
Cuomo: Most COVID-19 Restrictions Will End Once Vaccination Rate Hits 70%
|
“We hit 70%, we will be back to life as normal, or as normalized as you can be post-COVID.”
Health
Historically Black Sorority Work To Eliminate COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy
|
“There’s still a segment of the population who are apprehensive, who are on the fence, and that’s why this event is going to be critical.”
App NEWS
COVID-19 Killed Their Brother. Misinformation About The Virus Divided Their Family
|
For some people, grief is complicated by attitudes about the virus among family and friends.
binghamton
Despite Border Closure, Thousand Islands’ Tourism Persists
|
SYRACUSE, NY (WRVO) – When Corey Fram looks out of his window at work he sees both the American and Canadian flags flying high. “It’s on my property in the United States, but we carry two flags here, a lot of places and that means something to us,” said Fram, the director of the Thousand Islands International Tourism Council. The US-Canadian border remains closed until June 21, when it will be readdressed. Fram said the lack of communication between the two countries throughout the pandemic has really hurt border towns within the Thousand Islands. “There just seems to be no international discussion between the United States on what easing these border restrictions are going to look like,” he said.
Government
New York Offers College Scholarships To Teens Who Are Vaccinated
|
Younger people were cleared for the COVID-19 vaccine later than older people, and they are getting vaccinated at much lower rates.
News
New York Campgrounds Poised For A Record Year
|
From state parks to independently owned, campgrounds across New York State are seeing record numbers of advance reservations.
Crime and Justice
New York Ethics Panel Refuses To Issue Subpoena In Case Involving Former Cuomo Aide
|
Members of the state’s ethics commission pressed Tuesday for a subpoena to look into a controversy over Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s hiring of a former aide as a “volunteer” COVID-19 vaccine czar.
Small Business Owners Are Scoring Dream Spots In The Most Cutthroat Market: Manhattan
|
There’s a silver lining to all those empty storefronts in New York City: Some business owners are snagging prime Manhattan locations ahead of the Great Reopening.
NYC Schools Chancellor Says Her Message To Parents Is Simple: Schools Are Safe
|
The largest U.S. school district will reopen this fall with no option for virtual classes. Chancellor Meisha Porter says 70,000 employees have already been vaccinated, “and we need our children back.”
Health
Pandemic Was A Sleep Thief; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Can Help
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The coronavirus pandemic has robbed many people of sleep. A specific behavior therapy that has a record of success may help those who are suffering from insomnia.
App NEWS
After Backlash, New York State Changes COVID-19 Child Care Guidance
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“Trying to get ten toddlers to keep a mask on is a feat that’s impossible. It’s very, very difficult. We can barely get them to keep their shoes on, let alone a mask on their face.”
Education
Bill Would Bar PA School Districts From Requiring COVID-19 Vaccinations
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“Our goal should be focused on getting the vaccine to those who want it, but not punish those who have made a personal choice.”
Food and Farms
Should To-Go Alcohol be Made Permanent in New York After COVID-19? Restaurants Say Yes
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78% of New Yorkers want the option, implemented during the pandemic, to be made permanent in New York.
Government
Governor Cuomo Offers More Incentives To Freshly Vaccinated New Yorkers
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Meanwhile, Republicans in the state legislature say they want lawmakers to rescind a new mask mandate imposed by Cuomo on young children at day care centers.
Government
New York Extends Expiration Date For COVID-19 Excelsior Pass
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Governor Cuomo also announced that more than 1 million Excelsior Passes have been issued since New York began the program in March.
Government
PA Nursing Homes, Hard Hit By Pandemic, Seek American Rescue Plan Funds
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Providers’ groups say many long term care homes are on the brink of closure.
App NEWS
Cuomo Defends Early Pandemic Preferential COVID-19 Testing for Family
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“I was running COVID response for this state, so I didn’t want to get COVID, and precautions were taken.”
Health Experts Focus More On ‘Long COVID’ And Potential Health Effects
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“My resting heart rate used to be in the upper 50s, low 60s. Just last night, I’m sitting around doing nothing, it’s 115.”
App NEWS
Newly Vaccinated New Yorkers Can Earn Lottery Tickets
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The top prize is $5 million dollars, but the Governor says there are also lesser prizes, with a one in nine chance of winning.
App NEWS
Despite CDC Changes, Face Mask Rules Still In Effect at State Capitol
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Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Senate Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins are easing capacity limits in the Assembly and Senate chambers, but masks will still be required during session.
Education
Study Shows High Confidence In COVID-19 Vaccine At Syracuse University
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“I think there is an obvious desire to get back to normal, and get their youth and lives back that they so dearly miss.”
Government
Cuomo’s Set To Be Paid $5.12 Million For His Pandemic Memoir, Tax Returns Show
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Of the initial payment for his new book, nearly half was taken out in expenses and taxes, and the rest was donated to the United Way of New York and placed in a trust for his three daughters.
App NEWS
New York State Adopts CDC’s New Face Mask Rules
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The governor says it’s still OK to continue to wear a mask, if you feel more comfortable doing so.
Full Reopening Of US-Canada Border Urged For July
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Since March 2020, the border has been closed to all “non-essential” traffic, and the shutdown has been extended on a monthly basis since then. Currently, the closure remains in effect through Friday, May 21.
App NEWS
New York Keeps Its Mask Rules; Other COVID Rules Will Ease Wednesday
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Connecticut and Pennsylvania promptly lifted their outdoor mask mandates. New Jersey, and Massachusetts, like New York, are waiting a little longer.
Government
Pediatricians Say GOP Vaccination Proposal In PA Could Put Children, Newborns At Risk
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The law would require doctors to let parents set their children’s immunization schedules.
New York State Begins Pfizer Vaccinations For Younger Teens
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The Governor also announced that beaches and pools will operate with 6′ social distancing, with the goal to reopen them to 100% capacity by July 4.
Government
Over Half of New York Adults Are Fully Vaccinated
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“Even if a younger person tends to be less affected by COVID, they can transmit COVID just as easily as anyone. So, we have to change the mindset.”
Education
SUNY, CUNY To Require COVID Vaccinations
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“You go to a SUNY school, State University of New York, City University of New York, you must have a vaccine to come back in September. If you must have a vaccine, get it now, if you have to get it anyway.”
I Came Close To Dying: Wall Street’s Most Photographed Man Is Ready For Normalcy
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If 100% of a firm’s traders are fully vaccinated, they can start sending more to the stock exchange floor. They can eat lunch in their booths again. Masks will be optional in some parts of the floor.
Government
NYDOH Suffers Backlash At The Hands Of A Disability Advocacy Group
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“We really feel that our population of loved ones is just being completely disregarded.”
Government
As PA’s Primary Nears, Wolf Administration Campaigns Against Limits On Emergency Powers
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“Many of these disasters, while often short-lived, have long and complex recovery periods lasting weeks, months, and in some cases, years or decades.”
App NEWS
As HERO Act Is Signed Into Law, Supporters Celebrate Its Worker Protections
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“It is not a cost saving mechanism to put your employees and customers at risk of death.”
Government
Broadway To Reopen Sept. 14, New Rules for Baseball Games
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Fans who are unvaccinated will have to sit in a separate, socially distanced section with a maximum capacity of 33%.
Blue Jays Confirm Return To Buffalo For Home Games In Bisons’ Ballpark
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The Jays, unable to play in Toronto’s Rogers Centre and unsuccessful in attempts to use another major league ballpark, played a majority of their home games in Sahlen Field last summer.
Government
New York Lawmakers Move to Extend Eviction Moratorium Through August
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The legislation would apply to both residential and commercial tenants who file a hardship declaration form with their landlord.
Government
Facing Burnout And Worker Shortages, PA Nurses Say COVID-19 Shows Need For Staffing Ratios
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Union members called on House Health Committee Chair Kathy Rapp to consider their proposal.
App NEWS
Many COVID-19 Restrictions Could End Soon In New York
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The governor said everything can’t be reopened all at once — it’s not like flipping a “light switch,” he said — and some restrictions will remain for now.
App NEWS
SUNY Campuses Allow Fully Vaccinated Folks To Go Mask-Free Outdoors
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“As we set our sights on the fall semester and reopening our campuses, we hope to be able to lift many more COVID-related restrictions in the weeks and months to come.”
App NEWS
Emergency Powers Ballot Questions Set The Stage For A Balance-Of-Power Showdown In PA
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“This does not kneecap the governor such that the governor isn’t able to operate as an executive.”