Government
Fully Vaccinated Americans Can Cross Canadian border Starting In August
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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
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“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
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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
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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
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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
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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%
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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“The emergency is over. It will not be renewed.”
Health
New York’s COVID-19 Positivity Rate Falls Below .30%
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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
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“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
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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
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For some people, grief is complicated by attitudes about the virus among family and friends.
binghamton
Despite Border Closure, Thousand Islands’ Tourism Persists
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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
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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
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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
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
“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
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
“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.”
App NEWS
Restaurants Say They Need More Help to Survive the Pandemic
|
“It shouldn’t take lawsuits and court hearings for our struggling restaurants to be heard.”
Government
Contact Tracing Data Breach Exposed Personal Data For Over 72K Pennsylvanians
|
The state says it will not renew its contract with the agency after the incident.
Government
Cuomo Cautious Over Reopening NYC, Won’t Commit To Timeline For Reopening The Rest Of The State
|
The governor says New York City and the rest of the state could open up sooner than July.
Government
New York Legislature Ends Some Of Governor’s Pandemic Orders
|
Restaurant industry groups hailed the end of what they called a “burdensome mandate” that further harmed businesses financially devastated by the pandemic.
App NEWS
INTERVIEW: Undocumented Farmworkers Push Through Pandemic, Sickness and Job Loss
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“We’ve seen people who haven’t been able to work for an extended period of time.”
Government
Fully Vaccinated New Yorkers Can Unmask Outdoors; Vaccine Clinics Accept Walk-Ins Starting Thursday
|
“You don’t have to call; you don’t have to make an appointment.”
Health
Nonprofits Pick Up Slack In Vaccinating PA’s Communities Of Color
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Organizations meet new needs of people they have already built trust with.
Economy
New York Senate to Act On Pandemic Rules, Like ‘Cuomo Chips’ Requirement
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“It is time to begin removing certain restrictions and regulations that are no longer necessary, so we can safely reopen and rebuild our state’s economy,”
Arts & Culture
Governor: New York State Fair Will Happen This Summer
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“The fair will be open, mark it on your calendar, start to plan to buy tickets and vendors start to get ready.”
Government
New York Lawmakers Expected To Set New Staffing Requirements At Nursing Homes
|
“The pandemic has laid bare the risks to vulnerable nursing home residents that are inherent in a low staffing business model.”
Government
New York Will Resume Use Of The J&J Vaccine
|
“We have three proven vaccines at our disposal. I urge every New Yorker to take whichever one is available to them first.
Environment
Disposable Mask Pollution Concerns Environmentalists
|
Environmental experts urge people to cut the ear loops off their masks before throwing them in the trash. Sea turtles, birds, and other marine wildlife can become entangled in the loops.
Government
Supporters, Opponents Of HERO Act Await Action By Cuomo
|
The bill requires that the state health and labor departments design minimum standards for health and safety during outbreaks of airborne viruses and all infectious disease outbreaks.
Government
Pennsylvania’s Governor Gets First COVID-19 Vaccine Dose
|
All states were to have opened vaccine appointments to all adults this week, if they hadn’t already.
Food and Farms
Bar, Restaurant Owners Want Midnight Curfew Lifted
|
“Over and over, we’ve heard that we’re supposed to be following the facts and science. But as weeks turn into months, and months have now turned into over a year, we watched this administration change the rules without regard to either.”
Education
A Year Without Play: Parents And Experts Worry About Loss Of Social Skills During Pandemic
|
“School is not just a place where they learn academics. It’s how they learn to get along with other kids their same age — how to navigate and negotiate all that.”
Poll: New Yorkers On The Fence About Cuomo
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
“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
|
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
|
“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
|
“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
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
“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
|
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
|
“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
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
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+
|
“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
|
Gov. Cuomo announced 10 new sites across the state on Monday.
Restaurant Capacity Increased To 75% Outside Of NYC, Starting March 19
|
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
|
“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
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
“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
|
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
|
“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
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
“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
|
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
|
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
|
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
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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’
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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
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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
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“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
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“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
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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
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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
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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
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“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
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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
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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
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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%.