Government
Cuomo Continues Attacks On White House For Its COVID-19 Leadership
|
For the second day in a row, Cuomo fumed President Donald Trump is giving up, and as a result, 160,000 more Americans could die of the disease by February.
App NEWS
For First Time Since June, New York Reports Over 1,000 COVID-19 Hospitalizations
|
Hospitalizations were up to 1,023 on Thursday, according to data released by Gov. Andrew Cuomo Friday. Exactly one month ago Friday, hospitalizations were at 490 in New York.
App NEWS
While New York Fights To Control COVID-19; Cuomo Claims Trump Surrendered
|
“They could have controlled the virus, we are still controlling the virus, look at the numbers going up all across the nation, we are still controlling the virus, they believed you can’t control the virus, they capitulated, they surrendered.”
Government
New York Could Replace Out-Of-State Quarantines With Targeted Tests
|
“There’s new testing technology, there are rapid tests, is there a better, smarter way to handle a quarantine? None of this has been done before, so we’re figuring it out as it goes.”
App NEWS
Nursing Homes Relied On Lawns And Patios For Visits. What Will Happen This Winter?
|
“There’s the excitement of seeing her, and then the 30 minutes goes faster than you could ever imagine, and then when they wheel her away, it’s very tough.”
Arts & Culture
Pandemic Prompts Salvation Army To Start Holiday Fundraiser Early
|
“It’s definitely a perfect storm with the increased need, stores starting to close, and the donations potentially being fewer, which is why we’re really extending this campaign.”
App NEWS
PA Health Officials Warn Against False Vaccine Claims Made By Two State Lawmakers
|
Both President Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden have pointed to a COVID-19 vaccine as key to ending the pandemic.
App NEWS
Pennsylvania Qualifies for New York’s Quarantine List, But Travel Can Continue
|
New York will not restrict travel from Pennsylvania because of the number of people who go back and forth for business each day.
Government
LGBTQ People Go Undocumented In New York State’s COVID-19 Health Data
|
New York state recently changed health forms to better reflect transgender and non-binary people, but, public health experts say the change fails to capture the full picture.
Government
Cuomo: Vaccine Plan Leaves Lots Of Blanks
|
Also unanswered, said Cuomo, is how the vaccine will be funded, and whether states will be reimbursed for costs.
Government
Cuomo Parses Pandemic Stats
|
“We have flare-ups because in this state we have a microscope, and the other states don’t have a microscope. If you don’t have a microscope, you don’t see a lot of things.”
App NEWS
New York’s Vaccine Plan Prioritizes Essential Workers, High-Risk People
|
“This is a larger operational undertaking, I would argue, than anything we have done during COVID to date. And we need the federal government to be a competent partner with this state and every state.”
Government
County Leaders Say New York State’s Failing To Help With Pandemic
|
“Seven months in now, our local health departments are short-staffed. We’re working overtime, and we’re being folded into this newest initiative without any proper support, any funding or any guidance.”
App NEWS
When A Vaccine Comes, Cuomo Says The Nation Will Need A Clear Inoculation Plan
|
The governors want to know about funding to help pay for mass vaccinations, and how a vaccine supply chain would function.
Government
Families Of Nursing Home Residents Want More Access
|
“I was not only unable to see her, not even technologically through a digital device, the nursing home, when I called, was nonresponsive,”
Economy
Governor Points To PA’s Hemp Industry In Making Pitch For Legal Recreational Weed
|
“We need the economic growth. We need the revenue and we need the restorative justice that the legalization of adult-use cannabis will provide.”
Education
After Surge In Coronavirus Cases, Syracuse University Pauses Student Activities
|
Syracuse University officials said late Tuesday that the number of students who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last day has risen to 45. Most are associated with a off-campus parties that occurred last week.
Education
Cuomo Orders Some School Closures, Possible Ban On Religious Gatherings
|
Cuomo said he’s taking the steps because he does not want the hot spots to spread to the rest of the state.
Education
During Pandemic, Some Pennsylvanians Say Vouchers Can Boost Learning
|
Pennsylvania school-choice advocates are pushing hard for a measure that would send federal coronavirus relief money directly to families to put towards private school tuition, tutoring, or other educational expenses.
App NEWS
NYC To Close Businesses In Parts Of Brooklyn And Queens As Virus Takes Hold Again
|
Facing an increase in coronavirus infections in certain neighborhoods, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Sunday that he would close all nonessential businesses, public and private schools.
App NEWS
PA Governor Begins Enforcement Of New Restaurant Dine-In Rules
|
“Restaurant self-certification is just one tool in the toolbox we can use to increase customer competence, protect ourselves, and grow our businesses.”
Government
New York State Ramps Up Enforcement in COVID-19 Clusters
|
The statewide infection rate, including the 20 hotspot zip codes, was 1.1% Saturday, Cuomo said. There were 14 new deaths and, after several days of increases, total hospitalizations dropped to 618, according to state data.
Government
Smartphone App Warns Of Contact With COVID Carriers
|
“The COVID-Alert New York does not track your location, your movement or use GPS. It does not collect or store any personal information. It is completely anonymous.”
Government
New York Governor Acts To Contain COVID-19 Clusters
|
“These are embers that are starting to catch fire in dry grass. Send all the firefighting equipment and personnel to those embers, and stamp out the embers right away.”
App NEWS
Cuomo: Pause On Evictions Extended Through 2020
|
“I want people to have fundamental stability in their lives. Nobody’s going to be evicted because of housing.”
Government
Cuomo Takes Steps To Control COVID-19 Clusters
|
Some of the zip codes coincide with areas that have large Orthodox Jewish populations, and some of those communities have been cited in the past for holding large gatherings, like weddings, in violation of COVID-19 social distancing restrictions.
Health
Latest COVID-19 Numbers In New York State “Relatively Flat”
|
The numbers released on Sunday (looking at Saturday’s testing) show the Finger Lakes with a .7% infection rate, up slightly from the .4% of the previous two days.
Government
Governor Says New York Will Independently Review COVID-19 Vaccine
|
The state will set up a review committee, made up of scientific and health experts, to check that any coronavirus vaccine approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration is indeed safe.
Health
COVID-19 Saliva Test Developed At SUNY Upstate Approved By FDA
|
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration Wednesday approved a saliva test for COVID-19 developed by SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, which means the test can now be used nationwide.
Economy
Unemployment Dips Below 10% For Most Metro Areas in NY
|
The unemployment rate in most of the state’s metro areas in New York dipped below 10% in August for the first time since March.
Government
Several States Added To New York’s COVID Travel Advisory
|
Of the 83,997 test results reported to New York state on Monday, 754, or 0.89 percent, were positive.
Crime and Justice
Protesters Report Menstrual Changes After Tear Gas Exposure
|
In fact, there is scant research on the potential effects of tear gas exposure and reproductive health in general.
App NEWS
Pandemic Spreads From Church To Chemung County Jail
|
“I think when we get complacent in society after a period of time, we, you know, forget about the value of the little things that we need to do, like wearing a mask.”
It’s The Start Of The Fall Season For High School ‘Low-Risk’ Sports
|
“All kids will be getting screened with their temperature check and they will fill out a five- or six-part questionnaire.”
App NEWS
COVID-19 Tanked Hotels. Workers Of Color Feel The Biggest Squeeze
|
“I don’t even know what that’s like, having to actually go fill out an application to try to get another job, and fit in somewhere,” said Swain. “Starting over, like that’s just so crazy.”
Government
Revised Assisted Care Policy Could Reunite Many New York Families
|
“It’s depressing because you know that the families and the residents are lonely.”
Pennsylvania Officials Stand By Pandemic Response After Judge Rules Against Orders
|
The governor and health secretary want residents to guard against the virus as a federal judge calls stay-at-home and business closure orders — since lifted — unconstitutional.
No Permanent Solution In Sight For New York State’s Huge Budget Deficit
|
The governor has temporarily held back 20% in aid payments to schools, local governments and others, under emergency powers granted to him by the State Legislature.
New York Lowers Coronavirus Threshold For Nursing Home Visits
|
New York will begin allowing visitors to see loved ones at nursing homes that have been coronavirus-free for 14 days, down from 28 days under previous rules.
Education
Teachers Union Calls School Aid Cuts ‘Unconstitutional’ in Lawsuit Against Cuomo
|
NEW YORK NOW – The state’s largest teachers union filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the state Division of Budget over more than $5 billion in state spending that’s expected to be withheld from school districts as the state grapples with an unprecedented budget crisis.
Government
PA Governor Renews Calls For Election Code Changes, Criticizes Republicans Over Pandemic Response
|
The governor wants the deadline to send out vote-by-mail applications moved up, among other things.
Cuomo: Halloween Trick-Or-Treating Left To Parents
|
“If you want to go knock on your neighbor’s door, God bless you and I’m not going to tell you not to. If you want to go for a walk with your child through the neighborhood, I’m not going to tell you, you can’t take your child to the neighborhood. I’m not going to do that.”
App NEWS
PA Providers: Huge Budget Cuts Could Hurt People With Mental Illness
|
Eight years ago, the state slashed $84 million targeted toward these programs and many services were eliminated. Now, advocates fear they could be on the chopping block again.
Economy
‘Worst Year Ever’ For Upstate Hotels, Some Down 60-70%
|
“It is very stressful. It’s been six months now that we haven’t had the revenue in the stream. It’s been a difficult time.”
New York’s Largest Teachers Union Threatens Lawsuit Over State Funding Cuts
|
“Instead of a frivolous lawsuit, NYSUT should turn its attention to Washington and work with us to get the assistance New York’s children deserve.”
App NEWS
After COVID-19 Uptick On Oswego Campus, SUNY Chancellor Says There’s ‘No Cause For Alarm’
|
“We want to keep students here and operating. If there has to be some mitigation efforts taken, we will keep students here as much as we can. But, we all have to remain vigilant.”
Food and Farms
Indoor Dining Can Resume in New York City on Sept. 30, Cuomo Says
|
Thousands of restaurants in the five boroughs have three weeks to prepare their establishments to comply with the state’s guidance for reopening.
App NEWS
Cuomo: Donald Trump Caused the COVID Outbreak in New York
|
The war of words between Gov. Andrew Cuomo and President Donald Trump escalated again Monday, with both accusing the other of attempting to destroy the economic viability of New York City, and the state, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
SUNY Chancellor Calls New COVID-19 Testing A ‘Game Changer’
|
“I think that technology has really helped us. It’s an inexpensive technology. It’s a student-friendly and a faculty-friendly technology.”
Economy
New York Farms Prepare For Fall Activities With New Precautions
|
“We’ve been planning this all for a while, so the regulations were about what we thought they were gonna be.”
New York State Marks COVID-19 Milestone
|
New York State marked a milestone of progress in fighting coronavirus infections on Monday, with a full month of fewer than 1% of virus tests coming back positive.
App NEWS
PA Child Care Advocates Fear New State Policy Will Break The Industry
|
It’s the latest stress the industry has faced since COVID-19 turned the child care sector upside down in March.
Health
Poll Finds New Yorkers Bracing For A COVID Resurgence This Fall
|
Over half say they are wary of eating indoors at a restaurant, having a drink at bar, watching a movie in a theater, working out at the gym, or going bowling.
App NEWS
Efforts Underway To Recruit Poll Workers
|
“Young people can help our elections and make some extra money by becoming poll workers and relieve the pressure on our older poll workers.”
Education
New York Teachers Seek Mask Mandate For Classrooms
|
Masks are strongly recommended at all other times, including in the classroom, but they are not mandatory once the student is sitting down at a socially distanced desk.
Health
New York State Health Officials Approve Saliva Diagnostic Test To Track COVID-19
|
“Now, we cannot just know what’s going on, we can help better pinpoint the virus, address the virus, contain the virus.”
Government
Governor Extends Pennsylvania’s Disaster Proclamation
|
For the next 90 days, public rules on masks and social distancing, as well as relaxed rules on unemployment insurance and professional certification will remain in place.
Could More SUNY Schools Close Due To COVID-19?
|
“So you wanted a party. OK, now you have to go to remote learning, which means you basically stay in the dorm. It’s a function of discipline and compliance.”
Education
SUNY Geneseo Suspends Student Organizations For Violating COVID-19 protocols
|
The three organizations suspended include the Theta Chi and Zeta Beta Xi fraternities and the Sigma Delta Tau sorority.
Arts & Culture
Despite Pain Of Canceled New York State Fair, Allure Continues In New Ways
|
“We had a great fair planned, a really great fair. Great music. Changing things up again programmatically, we were doing everything we could to keep drawing numbers.”
Crime and Justice
Police And Prison Guards Demand Compliance, Making Matters Worse For Pennsylvanians With Serious Mental Illness
|
Use of force reports from Bucks County jail offer a glimpse into a criminal justice system unequipped to deal with people who may be having a crisis.
With Fans Forbidden Due To COVID-19, A Noticeably Quiet U.S. Open Kicks Off In Queens
|
Tennis players are navigating the eerie stillness of a Grand Slam event known for its lively crowds. Last year’s U.S. Open set an attendance record, drawing more than 737,800 fans over two weeks.
Government
COVID-19 Hospitalizations, Intubations Drop To New Lows In New York
|
“Our ability to keep this deadly virus in check will be determined by what each of us does each day and by the capacity of local governments to enforce state guidance.”
Crime and Justice
Education Advocates Consider Court Action Against 20% Cut In State Aid
|
“That constitutional right doesn’t go on hold because there are financial constraints, because the state is having financial difficulties. This is a constitutional right.”
App NEWS
Coronavirus Vaccine Researchers Recruiting People Of Color For Tests. It’s Not Easy.
|
As researchers work to test a potential novel coronavirus vaccine on a diverse set of study participants, they’re also being confronted by a history of distrust between communities of color and medical researchers.
Health
Scientists Explain Where Ticks Are Most Likely To Attach To People
|
“Almost 16% of ticks that attach to the human are in the thigh area, and the waist, stomach and groin area are the next ones.”
App NEWS
PA Governor And GOP Lawmakers At Odds Over Election Code Changes
|
“We’re all trying to figure out, ‘How can the counties have the responsibility for making sure the count is accurate and as timely as possible?”
App NEWS
New York Sets COVID-19 Case Threshold for Closing Colleges
|
Colleges in New York will be required to return to remote learning for at least two weeks if either 100 cases of COVID-19 are diagnosed, or 5% of that institution’s population tests positive, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Thursday.
App NEWS
New York Schools Increasingly Worried Over Deep State Budget Cuts
|
“I will be a catastrophe. Many school districts depend just about totally on state aid to get their programs running.”
Despite Governor’s Decision, Fall Season For High School Sports Uncertain
|
New York State is expected to make additional announcements about high risk winter sports like basketball, hockey, wrestling and cheerleading in the coming months.
App NEWS
Amid Back-To-School Season, PA Governor Touts Coronavirus Procedures, Family Services
|
“We want children to be in situations where they’re safe and supervised by trusted adults.”
New York’s Governor Condemns New CDC Guidelines
|
Shame on the people in the CDC. These will be indefensible actions in the light of history.”
Economy
Without Child Care Bailout, Workforce Could Lose Women
|
White House counselor Kellyanne Conway announced she was stepping down from her position to look after her family. Working families across the country are figuring out how to provide care for their children with remote and hybrid schooling this year.
Health
Infections Expert Concerned With FDA Authorization Of Convalescent Plasma To Treat COVID-19
|
“When is the optimal time to treat them? And what’s the dose that they should receive? And how many doses should they receive or how many days should they be treated? What are some nuances of patients that could benefit from a standard course of therapy?”
Pennsylvania Governor Calls For State To Legalize Marijuana, Citing Pandemic
|
Gov. Tom Wolf calls for some of the revenue from marijuana sales to go toward “repairing the harm done to crime victims and communities as a result of marijuana criminalization.”
Musicians Urge Governor To Allow Live, Ticketed, Advertised Music Play Again
|
Under state guidelines released last week, ticketed live music is not permitted inside bars, restaurants and clubs.
New State Law Allows New York Voters To Request Absentee Ballots For November
|
Voters can begin requesting absentee ballots right away from their local elections boards, citing the reason that they fear risks of contracting the coronavirus or any other contagious illness.
Education
Syracuse University Suspends 23 Students After Large Campus Gathering
|
“Make no mistake, there was not a single student who gathered on the Quad [Wednesday] night who did not know and understand that it was wrong to do so.”
Cuomo Warns Coronavirus Is Far From Over
|
The New York Governor predicted that the flu season will put an added strain on the overburdened disease-testing system in the state and could lead to a further slowdown for obtaining timely results of coronavirus tests.
New York Teachers Union ‘Prepared To Strike’ If Safety Demands Are Not Met
|
The president of the city’s United Federation of Teachers called for testing every student and staff member before the start of school, set for Sept. 10.
Government
Bipartisan Coalition Pushes New Probe Into Nursing Home Deaths
|
Republicans in the state Legislature are hoping that support from a handful of Democrats on a bill to establish an independent probe into the state’s handling of nursing homes during the COVID-19 crisis will garner momentum for the measure.
App NEWS
Ahead Of 2020 Election, New York Scrambles For Solutions
|
In a rush to find answers, lawmakers and election officials alike are proposing a number of changes.
Government
A Decades-Old Law Shielding The Wolf Administration From Scrutiny Of Its Coronavirus Response
|
Officials are routinely citing the law to deny public records requests, but legal experts say the state can be more transparent — if it wants.
App NEWS
Cuomo Book On COVID-19 Response Out In October
|
Cuomo’s “American Crisis” will be released Oct. 13, three weeks before Election Day, when Trump is expected to face Democratic nominee Joe Biden.
App NEWS
New York Gyms Get The Green Light To Reopen, But Not Movie Theaters
|
“It is congregate, it’s one ventilation system, you’re seated there for a long period of time. Even if you are at 50% capacity, with one seat between the two of you, two seats between the two of you, this is a risky situation.”
Education
New Study Says Pennsylvania’s Child Care Industry Needs Millions More To Survive
|
“If the pandemic was over today, and our economy was back to where it was pre-pandemic, we would probably be in a pretty good place. I think the concern really comes in when we look at the future.”
To Stay In Business, New York City Restaurants Spill Out Onto The Asphalt
|
Many of New York’s streets have come alive with fenced-in dining areas with tables and umbrellas and decorated with flower boxes and hanging plants.
Government
Cuomo Rails Against Federal COVID-19 Response at DNC
|
Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who’s risen to national fame in recent months through daily televised briefings on New York’s response to the coronavirus, delivered a speech to Democrats in Wisconsin Monday intended to both unite the party and condemn the federal government.
Amid USPS Slowdown, Two State Lawmakers Support Absentee Ballot Drop Off Boxes
|
“If in fact we brought the boxes to them, and they had the ability to vote right at senior centers, right at community centers, then I think that’s the recipe for success.”
Bowling Alleys Open Today At 50% Capacity
|
“This pandemic is far from over, but we’ve determined that institutions can reopen if they adhere to strict state guidance and take every precaution to keep visitors safe.”
App NEWS
Are Antigen Tests The Silver Bullet To PA‘s Coronavirus Testing Delays? Not So Fast.
|
Here’s everything you need to know about the different coronavirus tests and what they can — and can’t — tell you.
App NEWS
New York’s Governor Takes Steps To Reopen Bowling Alleys, Gyms
|
There is no set date for gyms to reopen, but the governor says rules will be released on how they can do so safely.
U.S.-Canada Border Closure Extended Another Month
|
“We know that those numbers are suffering, especially on the tourism side. We live in an area that’s built on tourism, so you hate to see it.”
App NEWS
New York Senator Calls For Emergency $25 Billion For U.S. Postal Service
|
“The president has appointed someone who really seems to be a political hack. His main claim to fame is that he contributed a lot of money to the president’s campaign. He has no postal experience.”
App NEWS
New York Gym Owners Want Specifics. Why Can’t They Reopen?
|
“We are willing to go by any guideline the governor is willing to tell us. The problem is there has been no communication. He has gone radio silent.”
Addiction
Inside Some PA Rehabs, ‘It’s Like COVID Doesn’t Exist’
|
When treatment facilities ignore coronavirus protocols, patients are forced to choose between recovery and safety.
Can West Point And Annapolis Offer A Road Map For Reopening Colleges?
|
Mandatory masks, strict discipline and rigorous testing have helped the academies, including West Point and Annapolis, welcome students back to campus. Can other schools learn from their example?
Government
Relatives Of Nursing Home Residents Speak Out At Hearing
|
“I would have pulled my mom out of that facility. She would be alive today, actually, had we actually been informed.”
Government
New York Adds 2 States To COVID-19 Travel Advisory; Removes 4 Others
|
The newly-added states are Hawaii and South Dakota. Alaska, New Mexico, Ohio and Rhode Island have been removed.
Upstate NY Poison Center Warns Of Serious Side Effects From Certain Hand Sanitizers
|
“You could go blind, you could go into a coma, you could have seizures. If anyone even thinks there’s a possibility they got into this product, they would want to call the poison center right away.”
Cuomo Recruits Kentucky’s Governor In Fight Against Trump’s Unemployment Payment
|
Kentucky is also the home state of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. McConnell earlier this year suggested that states that lost revenue due to the pandemic should declare bankruptcy.
binghamton
Cuomo: Over 100 New York School Districts Have Not Filed Reopening Plans
|
The school district plans must include procedures and protocols for instruction, health screenings, and social distancing measures.
App NEWS
PA Legislature’s Delays Could Prompt Election Chaos In November
|
“If they get too far into the weeds or attempt to drop in other fixes now, my fear is nothing will get done.”
Education
New York Schools Will Reopen In The Fall, Cuomo Says
|
Gov. Andrew Cuomo formally gave schools the green light to reopen on Friday, saying the coronavirus infection rate was low enough in New York for students to return to class in the coming weeks.
Government
Cuomo Calls Trump’s Executive Unemployment Boost ‘Laughable’
|
Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Sunday said a provision of the President’s measure that requires states to foot part of the bill was unworkable.
Business Group Names Governor, Legislature and Attorney General In Lawsuit
|
“The constitutions of the State of New York and the United States of America are not abandoned or thrown to the side during times of emergency. But that’s exactly what our government has done.”
Health
‘It’s Not Just Dying’: Doctors Warn About COVID’s Dangerous Complications
|
“You could have a clot that forms in the heart artery and leads to a heart attack, or you could have a blood clot that forms inside the heart itself that breaks off and leads to a stroke.”
App NEWS
Penn State To Play In Empty Stadium, But There’s A Plan Should The Rules Change
|
Athletic Director Sandy Barbour left open the possibility that the football team won’t play at all.
New York State Fitness Alliance Submits Plan, Tells Governor Gyms Can Open Safely
|
“We touch people’s lives every day. Every day, we love our jobs. But you’re not giving us a chance to help people where they need it the most.”
App NEWS
New York Landlords Expect Increased Evictions In Coming Months
|
“When we have people who don’t stay in touch with us, or we knock on the door and they refuse to answer, or they tell us to our face, ‘I’m not going to pay, do what you’re going to do,’ that’s when it gets frustrating.”
Government
Frustration Mounts As New York’s Gyms Remain Closed. How Risky Is It For Them To Reopen?
|
“We have been losing members without new members joining. Our expenses are piling up. Our revenue is nonexistent.”
PA Professor: Not Realistic To Expect A COVID-19 Vaccine In 2020
|
Dr. Paul Offit, who serves on the Food and Drug Administration’s vaccine advisory board, says he doesn’t think an effective vaccine that’s undergone adequate testing can be ready this year.
New York City Sets Up Quarantine Checkpoints For Travelers From COVID-19 Hot Spots
|
Checkpoints at major bridges, tunnels and other sites are meant to drive home the message that 14-day quarantine rules are mandatory for people returning from states with high infection rates.
Government
New York Rolls Back Legal Protections for Nursing Homes, Health Care Facilities
|
A series of legal protections granted during the COVID-19 pandemic to nursing homes and health care facilities as part of the state budget was partially rolled back on Monday.
Cuomo Comments About Coronavirus Testing Confuse School Leaders
|
“Districts must have a plan in place for testing related to symptomatic or exposed individuals, whether in school or through the local health department.”
Episodes
PA Election Officials Urge Swift Legislative Action On Voting Reforms
|
Changes to state law need to be effective by early September if counties are to implement them in time for the general election.
App NEWS
Gender X Policy In New York State To Change Health Data Reporting
|
“Would they let me be the gender that I am or the gender that I was assigned at birth? Because I have very strong views on that.”
Government
Lawmakers Question New York’s Health Commissioner On Nursing Home Policy
|
“It is unfortunate. It is sad. But it is true. 98% of nursing homes already had COVID in their nursing homes, and those are the facts.”
Economy
Tax Collections Rebound With Pent-Up Shopper Demand, But PA Still Faces Huge Budget Deficit
|
Pennsylvania’s finances received a welcome — but probably temporary — boost in July, with tax collections up 6.6% compared to the same time last year, according to figures released Monday by the state’s Independent Fiscal Office.
App NEWS
Governor Says New York Schools Must Convince Parents Their Students Will Be Safe
|
“I don’t care what any bureaucrat says,” said Cuomo. “If they don’t have a good plan for reopening, no kids are going to come and no teaches are going to come.”
Education
Schumer Calls On New York To Lobby For More School Money In Coronavirus Relief Bill
|
“Please, if you’re in central New York, some of you have kids that have moved away, some have parents that have moved away, call them and ask them to call their senator and say ‘this is needed everywhere.'”
App NEWS
‘I’d Be Nuts Not To Be Anxious’: PA College Administrators Prepare For Unpredictable Fall Semester
|
Coronavirus testing, online instruction, and the ability to turn on a dime are central to reopening plans
Education
Cuomo To Issue School Reopening Guidance This Week
|
“If you have the virus under control, reopen. If you don’t have the virus under control, then you can’t reopen,”
Education
Over 40 Leaders Join Finger Lakes Task Force To Safely Reopen Schools
|
“I appreciate the work that the Congress has done to date with the CARES Act proposals. But this current debate must create resources that support state education and educational equity.”
App NEWS
Minority-Owned Small Businesses Were Largely Shut Out Of PA’s First Coronavirus Loan Program
|
State officials are trying again, this time with a grant program targeted at the smallest and most vulnerable operations.
COVID Concerns Delay Weekend Series For Toronto (Buffalo) Blue Jays
|
Members of the Phillies roster were reported to test positive for COVID-19.
Government
Lack Of Guidance On Face Masks Leaves Doctors To Decide On Exemptions
|
“It’s really a person-by-person, case-by-case situation. Doctors know their patients. And if it’s a new person, doctors should take some time. Get to know them. It can be hard, but it’s important.”
Education
Space, Staffing Figure Into Plans For Reopening New York Schools
|
Classroom capacity ranges from about 19-21 students. But with social distancing, the capacity can drop to around 16 or 17 students.
Government
Cuomo Makes Last-Minute Plea To Congress For Federal Funds
|
The governor says the state faces a $14 billion deficit in the current fiscal year, and $16 billion next year, and without federal funds, he’ll have to slash schools, hospitals and local government aid by 20%.
Education
To Safely Reopen, School Boards Say More Money’s Needed
|
“Our school board members, really their heart is in opening up the school, but they know it’s going to cost a lot of extra money this year.”
Government
How The Pandemic Affects New York’s Census Count
|
The coronavirus pandemic couldn’t have come at a worse time for those involved in the 2020 Census. The pandemic wreaked havoc on plans for the every-ten-year population count.
Health
PA Health Secretary Denounces Transphobic Attacks: ‘Our Children Are Watching’
|
As the face of the state’s COVID-19 response, Health Secretary Rachel Levine has been the subject of numerous personal attacks.
Video Of Audience At Chainsmokers Concert Prompts New York To Investigate
|
The Safe & Sound fundraiser, held Saturday in Southampton, drew rebukes after video emerged showing audience members dancing close together. Gov. Andrew Cuomo tweeted, “I am appalled.”
Economy
Eastman Kodak: “One Of The Greatest 2nd Acts” In US Industrial History
|
Eastman Kodak will help produce components needed to manufacture generic pharmaceuticals with the help of a substantial federal loan.
App NEWS
Business Owners To PA’s Governor: Please Police Mask Requirement So We Don’t Have To
|
“If we did something as a business, the person would just up and leave and go somewhere else, because someone else is not going to enforce it.”
Government
Over 2/3rd Of States Now On New York’s Quarantine List
|
People traveling to New York from more than two-thirds of the country will now have to quarantine for at least two weeks upon entering the state, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Tuesday, after infection rates in three more states exceeded New York’s threshold.
Reed Pushes Child Care Grants Act, Hopes For Federal Stimulus Passage
|
“From my perspective, they’ll cobble together 218 votes in the House, and they will get 60 to 70 votes in the Senate, and this will be given to the President’s desk within the next week to 10 days.”
Governor Warns GOP’s Federal Stimulus Plan Would Harm New York State
|
“Mitch McConnell, Rand Paul are federal ‘bag men,’ to use a different expression. They’ve been taking New Yorkers’ money for years, putting it in a bag in Washington and bringing it home to their state.”
Calling All COVID survivors: The Red Cross Wants Your Plasma
|
“Someone who has recovered from coronavirus has antibodies in their blood that may be able to help someone else fight that infection.”
Blue Jays’ First Buffalo Opponent Bitten By COVID Outbreak
|
“The moment we left Canada, there was concern. We’ve got to follow the guidelines. It’s not gonna be easy.”
Why New York State Is Releasing So Few Inmates During The Pandemic
|
“There are men just like me in there. They should have been walking out with me. But instead they’ll probably die in prison.”
Coronavirus Hot Spots: Could New York And Pennsylvania See A COVID-19 Rebound?
|
As modelers look at national trends, they’re concerned about case jumps in areas that had previously managed largely to squelch the virus.
Government
Gillibrand Pushes For Federally Mandated Paid Leave, Sick Days
|
The bill would require upwards of three months of leave at 66 percent of a person’s salary.
App NEWS
Pediatricians Struggle During Pandemic; ‘We need help’
|
“The pediatric infrastructure, the people who care for your children are struggling to stay afloat, stay available, and we need help.”
Government
New York Offers Rent Relief To Low-Income Residents. Activists Call For Canceling Rent
|
The COVID Rent Relief Program provides a one-time rent subsidy, paid directly to landlords, based on the amount of income lost in the past four months.
Health
Disability Community Still Fighting For Independent Living
|
Here’s something you may not know: People with disabilities are not guaranteed the right to live in the community.
App NEWS
Four Months After The Shutdown, Thousands Await Unemployment Compensation
|
8 percent of claims needed to be reviewed manually.
‘Buffalo’ Blue Jays? Upstate Park A Possible Venue For Canadian Team
|
If the Blue Jays can’t find a major league park, Sahlen Field, home of their Triple-A affiliate, would be a likely site for home games.
New York Yankees ‘Play Ball!’ But For How Long? A Nervous 2020 Season Begins
|
Major League Baseball’s delayed and shortened regular season gets underway Thursday. There will be no fans in the stands and plenty of health and safety protections for the players and team officials.
2020 New York Legislative Session Winds Down; No Budget Resolution In Sight
|
“Democrats are not providing any oversight of the governor’s decisions throughout this pandemic. And that is a real problem that I think should concern all New Yorkers.”
Food and Farms
New York Farm Bureau: ‘No Farm Untouched By Pandemic’
|
65% of farmers in New York state say their business has been negatively or very negatively affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
App NEWS
Brindisi, Katko Hope Congress Can Reach Deal On Latest COVID-19 Relief Bill
|
In the spirit of bipartisanship, Rep. John Katko (R-Camillus) and Rep. Anthony Brindisi (D-Utica) got together for a virtual town hall on Facebook this week, the first time they’ve ever done such a joint meeting.
App NEWS
Using Emergency Powers, Governor Withheld Millions From PA County. Now It’s Suing
|
The lawsuit represents yet another test of Wolf’s emergency powers, which have been unsuccessfully challenged several times.
Health
Some Deafblind Residents Lose Services — And Socialization — During Pandemic
|
Virtually everybody has made sacrifices during the coronavirus pandemic. But, for some people who are deafblind, it meant almost entirely losing their connections to the outside world.
App NEWS
New York’s Quarantine List Grows To Nearly 2/3 of States
|
People traveling to New York from nearly two-thirds of the country will now have to undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine upon entering the state after Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Tuesday that 10 more states would be added to that list.
Uncategorized
Siena College Poll Measures Reach Of A Growing Opioid Epidemic
|
“Today we find that 59% of New Yorkers, that’s up from 54% two years ago, are touched by the opioid epidemic.”
Government
New York Attorney General Leads Lawsuit Against Trump’s New Health Care Rule
|
“Instead of expanding access to care, this White House is, once again, putting up barriers and exacerbating the fear and anxiety that already exists for these communities,”
Education
Special Olympics Athletes Switch To Virtual Competitions
|
The coronavirus pandemic has affected the Special Olympics athletes and competitions.
Government
In Debate Over The Limits Of Government Transparency During Emergencies, Wolf To Veto A Bill Passed Unanimously By PA Legislature
|
Bill sponsor, transparency advocates urge governor to reconsider
Economy
‘This Is For You’: New PA Grant Targets Minority Business Owners Hurt By Coronavirus Shutdown
|
“I would never have applied if they hadn’t come and talked to me about it. They emphasized to me: Why don’t you take advantage of some of the things that are out there for you?”
What To Do About Part-Time School? NYC Announces Free Child Care For 100,000 Students
|
The city aims to provide relief for working parents who either can’t afford to stay home or can’t find child care for the days that students aren’t in school.
New York City’s High Line Reopens In A Potential Boost To Local Business
|
Chelsea business owners hope the reopening of the popular elevated park will bring more foot traffic back to the neighborhood.
Government
With Eviction Moratorium About To Expire, Tenants Rights Advocates Worry A Housing Crisis Could Erupt
|
Tenants’ rights groups protested in the Bronx and on Zoom Wednesday over what they fear is a looming housing crisis, for tens of thousands of out of work New Yorkers struggling to pay rent.
Education
PA Governor Willing To Unplug School Reopening If COVID Surge Can’t Be Stopped
|
“This whole process we’ve had an array of choices and they’ve all been bad.”
App NEWS
Federal Funds For Reopening New York’s K-12 Schools Could Arrive Soon
|
“If we give the schools the dollars they need to make sure the kids are safe and the teachers are safe and the employees are safe, we can sort of have our cake and eat it too.”
New York’s Metropolitan Museum Of Art Will Open Its Doors Again In Late August
|
The country’s largest art museum will be open to the public five days a week starting at the end of August. It had been closed since March as New York City grappled with the coronavirus pandemic.
Featured in Category
Forest Schools: An Alternative To In-Classroom Or Remote Learning
|
The Walden Project is an example of an outdoor independent learning program that is a possible alternative for immunocompromised students or others who can’t or don’t want to return to a traditional classroom setting during the coronavirus pandemic.
Education
New York Researchers Work On Coronavirus Tests For Students Returning To College
|
“By testing a pool, if the pool is negative, everyone is clear. If the pool is positive, we break out the samples, we run them individually, so it’s like an individual test.”
Government
PA House Passes Constitutional Changes That Would Limit Governor’s Emergency Powers
|
The state Supreme Court earlier this month upheld the governor’s disaster emergency declaration, saying the legislature can’t terminate the declaration on its own.
App NEWS
New York’s List Of Quarantined States Grows Longer
|
Violators who don’t turn in the forms will face an automatic $2000 fine and may be called to a hearing before a judge to arrange a mandatory supervised quarantine.
App NEWS
Schumer: Federal Stimulus Proposal Would Give Billions To Schools, Colleges
|
“There are some strings. They have to use it for health and education, but we don’t say one size fits all.”
Government
July 15 Is New York’s New Tax Day
|
The bulk of New Yorkers, over 9 million, have already filed their taxes, but around 1.3 million have not and are expected to do so by Wednesday.
New York To Require Contact Info From Air Travelers From States That Must Quarantine
|
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo says the state is deploying teams to check for proof that travelers getting off flights have completed forms before leaving airports across the state.
New York Funeral Director: Pandemic Has Been A Wave That ‘Knocks You Over’
|
Fourth-generation funeral director Patrick Kearns and his brother-in-law Paul Kearns-Stanley are partners in a 120-year-old family funeral business. They describe their unrelenting work and worries.
New York City Has Its First Day In Months With No COVID-19 Deaths
|
Mayor Bill de Blasio calls on President Trump to invoke the Defense Production Act to speed up processing of coronavirus tests: “If you can’t get the results in real time, it doesn’t help you enough.”
App NEWS
Cuomo: Trump’s COVID-19 Response Makes Nixon Look ‘Innocent’
|
“Trump’s COVID scandal makes what Nixon did at Watergate look innocent. Nobody died in the Watergate scandal. Thousands of people are going to die in this COVID scandal.”
App NEWS
Cuomo Sets School Reopening Formula, Guidance Presented
|
Regions will be allowed to reopen schools if, by the first week of August, the infection rate remains below 5% using a 14-day average.
Education
PA Mask Mandate For Kids At Child Care Has Good Intentions. Can It Be Followed?
|
“We find the data is suggesting children should be wearing masks any time they are outside of their family’s home and can’t maintain a distance of 6 or more feet.”
Government
Democrats Renew Calls to ‘Cancel Rent’ Ahead of Potential Housing Crisis
|
Lawmakers announced legislation Friday that would cancel rent for all tenants in New York through the COVID-19 state of emergency, and 90 days thereafter.
App NEWS
New York Allows Limited Visitation At Nursing Homes
|
Given that the state claimed earlier this week that visitors were partly responsible for previously spreading the virus at those facilities, Health Commissioner Howard Zucker said they’re proceeding with caution.
App NEWS
Families Say Group Home Residents Suffer Because New York Failed To Act
|
Jerri Lynn Sparks says her 22-year-old son, Jared, and thousands of other New Yorkers with disabilities are suffering because the state has adopted “one-size-fits-all” coronavirus restrictions for group homes.
App NEWS
Health Insurers Request 11.5% Premium Increase, Blame COVID-19
|
“We’re in the middle of a health care crisis, right, but the overall impact on the health care system has been to reduce people using health care.”
Census Bureau Expands Early Door Knocking For Count To Pennsylvania
|
Despite the pandemic, Census Bureau officials say they’ve determined it’s safe enough for visits to unresponsive homes in parts of Connecticut, Indiana, Kansas, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington.
Economy
Schumer Pushes For More Small Business Help
|
“We just have to change the law to let folks like this get a second round and we will have many, many more small businesses surviving and even prospering in the next six months.”
Government
Pandemic Exposed Inequality In Access To Broadband, Officials Say
|
“If we’re going to get serious about bridging the urban-rural divide and making sure that schoolchildren are not left behind then we have to work together to do a few things.”
Government
Wolf Will Officially Veto GOP Effort To End Coronavirus Emergency
|
The state supreme court sided with Wolf in a ruling last week.
Economy
Cuomo Opens Malls Friday, Cancels County Fairs
|
“The federal government’s demands that schools reopen without concern for health, safety and equity are simply out of touch.”
App NEWS
Cuomo: Decision On Schools To Come In Early August
|
New York will decide if schools will reopen this fall in the first week of August, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday, and tasked districts across the state with coming up with plans in the event that they’re allowed to resume in-person learning.
New Yorkers Look To Suburbs And Beyond. Other City Dwellers May Be Next
|
Now that so many are working from home, more people are considering moving out of the city. The pandemic has sent enough New Yorkers to the exits to shake up the area’s housing market.
App NEWS
More Than A Third Of States Now On New York’s Quarantine List
|
Travelers from three more states will now be required to quarantine themselves for two weeks when they enter New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Tuesday.
Economy
Travel In Upstate New York On The Rise
|
“We are seeing a lot of day- and long-weekend trips to the Finger Lakes, Thousand Islands, Adirondacks, and the Lake George area. State parks remain popular as the tourists enjoy hiking and being out in nature.”
App NEWS
New York Health Officials Conclude Staff Probably Brought Coronavirus Into Nursing Homes
|
“The data shows that the nursing home residents got COVID from the staff and also presumably those who visited them.”
Certain Youth Sports Retake Their Fields With COVID Rules In Place
|
Those who are playing, though, will need to adhere to a series of “return to play” rules that require minimal physical contact on the field – no high fives and handshakes.
App NEWS
‘This Is A Really Tough One’: New York State Fair Canceled
|
“This year we’re going to have to cancel it. That makes me personally, very unhappy, but that is where we are.”
Health
Make Reservations, Plan Summer Trips Early
|
“You should really make reservations in advance to make sure you have a place to stay. And with the brand name hotels, they do have cleanliness policies updated.”
App NEWS
Gillibrand Pushes For More Local Government Aid During Pandemic
|
“People will now hear from governors, and county execs and their mayors and assembly and senators and realize they better get back to Washington and do their jobs.”
Education
Sidelined By Coronavirus, PA Med Students Found A Way To Help The Helpers
|
“We’re kind of stuck in a position where we kind of feel helpless. We feel like we should be doing something.”
Inside Seating? A Harlem Bar Owner Navigates COVID-19’s Changing Rules
|
67 Orange Street makes do with take-out and outdoor service while waiting for a decision on inside dining in NYC.
Economy
Upstate Tourism May See Summer Spike
|
New York City, which normally is the number-one tourism destination in the state, is still viewed by many to be unsafe – opening up new opportunities for upstate.
App NEWS
PA Supreme Court Sides With Governor In Dispute Over Emergency Powers
|
GOP legislature argued that it had the power to end Gov. Wolf’s coronavirus emergency declaration
Pennsylvania Joins The Growing List Of States Mandating Face Masks In Public
|
Pennsylvania, Oregon and Kansas are among the latest states to require face coverings in public settings as COVID-19 cases surge in much of the country. Health officials say masks can slow the spread.
App NEWS
With COVID Compliance Slipping, Cuomo Postpones Indoor Dining In New York City
|
Cuomo blames local governments, who are supposed to enforce rules at restaurants, bars, stores and other public places.
App NEWS
Services For Disabled New Yorkers Burdened By State Budget Cuts
|
Created just two years ago, the centers coordinate services including therapies, behavioral health specialists, job placement and recreational opportunities for their clients.
Government
The Dispute Over PA Governor’s Handling Of Coronavirus In Nursing Homes Explained
|
State Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine said the coronavirus typically enters nursing homes through workers who don’t have symptoms.
Protester Knocked Down By Buffalo Police Leaves The Hospital Nearly One Month Later
|
Martin Gugino suffered a fractured skull after being shoved backward by officers at a protest against police violence on June 4. The 75-year-old will continue his recovery at an undisclosed location.
App NEWS
Governor Cuomo Adds 8 More No Go States
|
“The good news is, our house is doing very well. The bad news is the neighbor’s home is on fire.”
Researchers Uncover Links Between COVID-19 And Smoking, Vaping
|
A researcher at the University of Rochester Medical Center, says his studies show people who smoke or vape nicotine have elevated levels of the receptors that allow the novel coronavirus to gain entry to the lungs.
Cuomo Calls For National Mask Order; New York Republicans Want Limits On Executive Orders
|
“If other states have a high infection rate, probability is they’re going to wind up increasing the spread in New York.”
App NEWS
Cuomo: Malls Need Improved Air Filters Before They Can Reopen
|
“We will make it mandatory that they have air filtration systems that can filter out the COVID virus.”
Crime and Justice
Republican Lawmakers Defend Shale Gas Industry; Grand Jury Says PA Failed To Protect Public From Fracking
|
Secretary of Environmental Resources and Energy panel said he was offended by AG’s characterization of natural gas industry
YMCA Summer Camps Can Reopen With Restrictions
|
“We are more than happy to provide childcare. It’s complicated. It’s not easy. But it’s our mission.”
Will New York Schools Open In September? Cuomo Says It’s ‘Complicated’
|
“We are preparing to open schools, we have plans to open schools, but (edit) I’ll be honest with you. It’s two months away. Anything can happen in two months.”
Government
New York Reported 5 COVID-19 Deaths Saturday, Cuomo Says
|
Hospitalizations from the disease also dropped Saturday, bringing the total number of people requiring treatment for the disease down to 869.
App NEWS
COVID-19 Hospitalizations Reach New Low as New York Plans Quarantine Inspections
|
New York has hit another milestone in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic: hospitalizations from the disease have now dipped below 1,000 for the first time in about three months, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Thursday.
Crime and Justice
PA Grand Jury Report On Fracking: State Failed To Protect Public Health
|
Grand jury makes proposals on regulation, oversight of fracking industry
New York Health Officials Release Travel Guidelines, While Some Question 14-Day Quarantines
|
“It raises questions about interstate commerce and really the constitutionality of it.”
App NEWS
New York Cities Face “Temporary” Cuts In State Aid
|
“They don’t know when the temporary period is going to end. Or whether they, down the road, may might be told they will never receive the aid”.
App NEWS
New York Business Owners Chafe At Uncertainty Over Mall Reopenings
|
“We are ready to be back in business in a safe and effective manner and we’re just hoping that we can have the opportunity to do so, so that we can feed our families.”
Government
PA House Passes Bill Exempting Guns From Emergency Restrictions
|
“I really don’t think there’s reason for the governor to have this power over guns. We are given the ability to keep and bear arms by the Constitution.”
New York City Could See 22,000 Public Employee Layoffs Because Of COVID-19
|
Mayor Bill de Blasio warned that without aid from Albany and Washington, as well as concessions from labor groups, every department would face unprecedented job cuts
american homefront
After Treating COVID-19 Patients In New York, Reservists Return To Rising Cases At Home
|
“If we really didn’t feel like there was much we could do for that patient, we would move on, and that’s sort of the idea of disaster management, do the best you can for the greatest amount of people,”
New York City Marathon Canceled Due To Coronavirus
|
The race, which is the world’s largest marathon, has attracted more than 50,000 runners and thousands of volunteers. Spectators line the route, which goes through all five boroughs of the city.
What Parents Can Learn From Child Care Centers That Stayed Open During Lockdowns
|
The Y, and New York City’s Department of Education, have been caring for tens of thousands of children during the pandemic. Neither has had reports of coronavirus clusters or outbreaks.
Featured in Category
WATCH: NY, NJ, And CT Quarantine Visitors From COVID-Stricken States
|
People traveling to New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut from states with high infection rates of the coronavirus, like Florida and Texas, will be required to quarantine themselves for 14 days.
App NEWS
Unemployment In Binghamton Tops 10%, Rate Doubles In Ithaca
|
The unemployment rate nearly quadrupled in New York state’s metro areas in May compared to the same time last year, landing at 14.5% across the board, according to data released Tuesday by the state Department of Labor.
Education
As New York Reopens, State Offers $65 million To Child Care Providers
|
$20 million will be available to help reopen and expand capacity for child care providers, and $45 million will be available to help pay for the cost of a newly opened classroom.
Economy
Report: Gyms, Malls, Movie Theaters Will Not Open As Part Of Phase 4
|
Broome County Executive Jason Garnar tweeted the Southern Tier region had been cleared to begin Phase 4 Friday. But he did not indicate what businesses would be opening.
App NEWS
In Reversal, New York Threatens Quarantine On Visitors From Other States
|
The governor has talked about the possibility of imposing a 14 day quarantine for those who travel from the 20 plus other states
Government
A Ruling Could Come This Week In Standoff Between Wolf And PA Legislature
|
The fate of the governor’s emergency declaration hangs in the balance
Community Leaders Criticize Binghamton Mayor For Moving Juneteenth Celebration Behind Closed Doors
|
“If you’re going to give a speech, it should be given to my 13 year old. The ones that deserve it and the ones that need it.”
Education
New York Education Officials Gather Input For Reopening Guidelines
|
Stakeholders are being asked to share what they’ve experienced during the pandemic shutdowns and how can the state improve and take proper precautions in the fall.
App NEWS
Not Every PA Democrat In Legislature Happy With Governor’s Handling Of Coronavirus Emergency
|
“I don’t have confidence in his numbers and some of his people.”
Reed, Scalise Seek Probe Of Cuomo’s Nursing Home COVID Policies
|
“It’s not a coincidence that this is primarily an argument put forth by Republicans. That is a factual statement.”
Economy
Business Owners, Elected Officials Want New York’s Malls Reopened
|
“It’s business critical at this point. We’ve been shut down for three months and we have zero revenue, still having many of the obligations that we had before.”
New York Looks To Protect Personal Information Gathered Through Contact Tracing
|
“Ever since this era, our system has been trying to make up for this huge breach in public health trust. Trust is core to our ability to counter the COVID epidemic in the United States.”
App NEWS
Gillibrand Requests $50-Billion For ‘Unprecedented Child Care Crisis’
|
“There’s just not enough availability for every kid that wants to be in day care to be in day care in most states today.”
U.S. Open Tennis Will Start On Time
|
The event will begin on Aug. 31 without fans because of the continued spread of the coronavirus. Australian tennis star Nicholas Kyrgios calls the move “selfish.”
Economy
New York State Disburses Additional Food Aid For 4th Straight Month
|
Hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers will be getting more money than usual to help with groceries this month.
App NEWS
More Harm Than Good? Reporter’s Family Struggles With Nursing Home Visitation Rules
|
Do the benefits of a ban on nursing home visits to protect residents from COVID-19 outweigh the risks of isolation?
Health
The Red Cross Testing Donor Blood For COVID-19 Antibodies
|
“We know that individuals and public health organizations are actively seeking more information in general about COVID-19, and we feel fortunate to be able to help in this way during the pandemic.”
At Protests, Street Medics Take COVID-19 Precautions
|
“Our primary goal is keeping people safe, whether that be making sure they’re wearing masks, or if someone falls and gets hurt, or any number of different kinds of ailments.”
App NEWS
COVID-19 Leads To Sharp Drop In Sales Tax Revenue
|
New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said that sales tax revenue for local governments fell by more than 32% in May compared to the same month a year ago.
Government
Governor Asks PA Supreme Court For Immediate Ruling On Emergency Powers Dispute
|
Responding to legislature’s lawsuit, Wolf asks high court to use “King’s Bench” jurisdiction
New York Governor Threatens Loss Of Liquor Licenses
|
“Young people can engage in sports. Two spectators per child. So that’s another step towards return to normalcy.”
New York Professor On Misinformation And How Not To Be Part Of The Problem
|
“We need to be critical, even for things we can see with our own eyes. We need to relearn not to trust everything
While Governor Okays Pools/Playgrounds, Park Departments Struggle To Reopen
|
“It’s not just turning the valve on and filling the pool. There’s a lot of behind the logistics behind the scenes that happen and people don’t understand.”
Health
Novel Coronavirus Vaccine Trial Underway Upstate
|
Rochester General Hospital is testing a possible vaccine against the novel coronavirus, but, it could still be months before there are any definitive results.
App NEWS
Five Regions Of New York Cleared For Phase 3 Reopening
|
“Everybody wants to swim, I understand. Everybody doesn’t want to see a spike in COVID again, so use your judgment. Sometimes yes is not the right answer.”
Health
Pennsylvania Releases Data On COVID-19 Deaths Among Latinos
|
Counties vary in approach to tracking the virus’s impact on ethnic groups
Government
Coronavirus Keeps Cooling Centers Closed Across Upstate New York
|
As we move further into summer, authorities in New York face tough choices about whether to open cooling centers. They’re balancing the risk of health problems from the heat against the risk of spreading COVID-19.
App NEWS
Oneida Nation Casinos Reopen With New Health Measures
|
“The machine itself will tell you when and if it has been sanitized since it last was played and at what time.”
Government
Governor Pledges To Take PA Legislature To Court Over Effort To End Coronavirus Emergency Order
|
“Nothing changes. Essentially, the resolution that was passed last evening is meaningless.”
airlines
Taking Steps In The Age Of COVID-19 To Keep Airline Passengers Safe
|
“We’re rolling out the initiatives that we have today, showing how the airport is committed to a clean, sterile, sanitized safe environment.”
Government
PA Legislature Passes Resolution To Revoke Governor’s Coronavirus Emergency Order
|
Action sets up a likely court fight over whether governor can veto the move
App NEWS
Advocates For Binghamton Northside Grocery Store Hope New Funds Ensure Long-Term Viability
|
“Not being a chain gives us the opportunity to really listen to the community, put in the grocery store what they want in the grocery store.”
Health
Tick Testing Program Reopens Amid Long, Above-Average Tick Season
|
“Just a confluence of events, like warm weather, we have been indoors for like three months. And suddenly, we get great weather and ready to go out. I think it’s a combination of events that will expose us to the ticks.”
After Lockdown And Unrest, New York City Begins Reopening During Pandemic
|
As many as 400,000 workers are expected to leave their homes and return to their jobs as the national epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic begins easing stay-at-home restrictions.
Government
Churches Now Allowed Up To 25% Capacity For Services, Funerals
|
“People need to have those doors opened and have their faith fulfilled and to be nourished.”
Education
Upstate High Schools Make Graduation Plans. Governor Allows Ceremonies For Up To 150 people
|
“It really is the best situation, I guess, that we can have. It’s a tough one. It’s really not what we want, but we’ll make the best of it.”
App NEWS
PA Senate Democrats Look To Address Disparate Impacts Of Coronavirus On African Americans
|
Hearing points to structural inequity, unequal treatment as causes of COVID-19’s exacting toll
Uncategorized
De Blasio Promises Cuts To NYPD, Ends NYC Curfew
|
The call to end the curfew comes a day earlier than previously planned. De Blasio noted that most protesters had been peaceful, and admitted that the NYPD had sometimes overstepped its duty.
App NEWS
As Finger Lakes Reopen, Oldest Residents Still At High Risk
|
As the Finger Lakes region moves through the phases of reopening its economy, people who work with the region’s oldest residents say they still need to take extra precautions.
App NEWS
Votes On School Budgets Take Place Amidst Uncertainty
|
“The word is uncertainty. We don’t know what’s going to happen and it’s very tough for our school districts to budget.”
App NEWS
Outdoor Dining Reopens Today In Upstate Regions
|
“The No. 1 contributor to New York state sales tax are bars and restaurants, so it will help the economy, it’ll help local businesses and it’ll help (our) finances as well.”
Episodes
Coronavirus Precautions And Protests Create Problems But Fail To Disrupt PA’s Primary Election
|
The challenge now: Counting nearly 2 million mail-in ballots. Final results may take a week to tabulate
Government
Cuomo: Mass Protests Could Lead To New Coronavirus Outbreak
|
“People lost their jobs, people wiped out their savings, and now, mass gatherings with thousands of people in close proximity? What sense does this make?”
Food and Farms
Caravans Gather Across New York To Support Undocumented, Essential Workers
|
“We’re asking for access to child care for food chain workers, financial relief for undocumented workers and health and safety regulations for all workers on the job, especially farmworkers.”
Education
‘No Question’: PA Governor Says Schools Will Reopen In The Fall
|
Most of western Pa. moves to green phase of coronavirus reopening plan next week.
Government
Assembly Ready To ‘Respond’ To Major Cuts From Cuomo, Speaker Says
|
“None of us can fathom 20% cuts to education. Those are cuts that I don’t think we’ve ever imagined, we’ve ever seen, in recent times.”
In Self-Isolation, New York Doctor Deepens His Connection To Family
|
To protect his wife and four children, Dr. Roberto Vargas, who processes COVID-19 tests in Rochester, N.Y., is staying in their basement. “What carries me through is this family,” he tells them.
App NEWS
PA House Passes Resolution To Limit Governor’s Coronavirus Emergency Declaration
|
Senate still needs to act, but resolution faces almost certain disapproval by governor
Love At First Quarantine: After A Single Date, New York Couple Hunkers Down
|
New Yorkers Gali Beeri and Joshua Boliver met at a dance class in March as the city was about to lock down. The near-strangers took a leap of faith and are riding out quarantine in Joshua’s apartment.
De Blasio Expects New York City To Head Back To Work Next Month
|
The epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S. has spent weeks under strict restrictions. But the mayor says up to 400,000 people will likely return to their jobs soon — with some conditions.
Reckoning With The Dead: Journalist Goes Inside New York COVID-19 Disaster Morgue
|
Time magazine reporter W.J. Hennigan embedded with workers responsible for caring for the bodies of some 20,000 New Yorkers who have died from COVID-19. “It’s a haunting thing,” he says.
Government
New York State Legislature To Vote On COVID-19 Bills
|
State lawmakers returned to session this week, with plans to vote on bills aimed at helping New Yorkers cope with all of the changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
App NEWS
Poll Finds New Yorkers Okay With Phased Reopening
|
The poll finds Governor Andrew Cuomo’s 66% approval rating is still among the highest during his 9 years in office.
Health
After Hospital Discharge, COVID-19 Recovery Continues At Home
|
Patients can have persistent physical, cognitive and psychological disability after their discharge.
alcoholism
Virtual Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings Provide People In Recovery A Reprieve
|
Since the New York state PAUSE order went into effect in March, Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and other support groups have transitioned to virtual meetings.
Education
New York Universities Start To Address Fall Semesters
|
Binghamton University’s president said that students will return to campus this fall as well, but more details are forthcoming.
coronavirus
‘Not Camera Shy’: PA Businesses Make Video Pitches For Emergency Aid
|
“This is going to be our new normal when the government allows us to come back. So, I am giving it a go.”
In New York City, 2 Million Residents Face Food Insecurity, Officials Say
|
“Before the coronavirus, we thought somewhere around a million people were food insecure and needed food,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said. Now, 1 in 4 New Yorkers may be going hungry.
Government
New York Allows Small Religious Gatherings, With Restrictions
|
“The wearing of masks, the cleaning regimen that would have to happen before or after, the airing out of the space, the need to manage things like doorways or bathrooms or places of contact.”
App NEWS
Hair Stylists, Nail Salons Plan Reopening With No Guidance From New York State
|
“If I’m not making money, if I can’t sustain rent on 2,400 square feet, plus utilities, then it’s no longer a benefit for me to keep the business as it was running.”
Education
Playbook For Reopening PA Schools: Face Shields, Staggered Schedules, Temp Checks
|
Scientifically, there’s no clear consensus yet on the effectiveness of school closures in stopping the spread of COVID-19.
Proposal Would Limit New York Governor’s Emergency Powers, Increase Oversight
|
“It doesn’t prevent the decisions. It solely requires reports. Once the reports are made, those things are subject to review.”
Crime and Justice
Lawsuit Says PA’s Failing Special Needs Kids During Coronavirus School Closures
|
“The families claim “online learning is wholly inadequate to meet the needs of nonverbal and partially verbal children with autism who rely upon…in-person instruction.”
Pennsylvania Health Secretary Defends ‘Universal’ Nursing Home Testing Plan
|
Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine responded to critics who say there are holes in the state’s plan to test all residents and staff at nursing homes: “The plan is an evolution.”
Health
COVID-19 Presents New Challenges For Folks With Hearing Loss
|
‘I wish everybody would have a clear mask, because as a person that needs to read lips, I’m afraid to go anywhere,’”
App NEWS
Explainer: The Debate Over Letting PA’s Real Estate Industry Get Back To Work
|
Pa. is only state in nation where real estate is on hold during coronavirus
App NEWS
Business Owners Express Confusion, Frustration About PA’s Waiver Process
|
PA business owners share stories of evolving, sometimes contradictory, guidance from state
Economy
PA Extends Benefits Window For Unemployment Compensation
|
The state’s unemployment benefits agency continues to deal with “an avalanche of claims.”
Government
New York Churches Don’t Want To Be Among The Last To Reopen
|
“We are going to have to put strict limits in terms of capacity in every church, and all sorts of restrictions.”
New York Mom Describes Son’s Battle With Pediatric Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome
|
At least 150 children in the U.S. are now believed to have contracted a new illness thought to be connected to COVID-19.
Economy
Child Care Centers In PA: Bellwether For How Tricky It Will Be To Fully Reopen Economy
|
“Going out there and saying ‘support your local economy’ is going to make you look bad if at the same time you are saying ‘put your kids in danger.’”
Remembering Georgianna Glose, A New York Nun And Activist
|
Georgianna Glose, a nun in Brooklyn, N.Y., who blew the whistle on sexual abuse in the Catholic Church died from COVID-19 complications. She was 73.
‘She Wasn’t Alone,’ A Doctor Reflects On New York City’s Coronavirus Peak
|
A pediatric cardiologist working at a hospital in the Bronx reflects on treating adults after part of the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore Medical Center was converted to an adult COVID-19 unit.
New York Extends Stay At Home Order, Allows Some Areas To Begin Reopening
|
Gov. Andrew Cuomo is extending the state’s stay at home order to May 28. Some areas of the state have been given the green light to enter Phase One of reopening beginning Friday.
Government
New York Eyes Memorial Day Opening for State Beaches
|
Beaches will be monitored for density, and will be limited to half their usual capacity. Parking will be limited and entrances will be monitored to ensure that too many people aren’t coming in.
Crime and Justice
New York Offers Text, Chat Assistance For Domestic Violence Victims
|
“That can help them find safe shelter, talk about their safety options, and really connect them to the services they need, during this time and even after this time.”
App NEWS
PA’s Largest Nurses’ Union Accuses Hospitals Of Misinforming State Officials
|
The union says health systems are sitting on stockpiles of N95 respirators, leaving nurses without needed protection, as some hospitals restart elective procedures.
App NEWS
Clash Over Reopening Economy Simmers Below The Surface In Rural PA COVID Hotspot
|
“There’s a lot of people who think nothing will happen to them, and keep getting together, keep having parties.”
App NEWS
As The Southern Tier Reopens, Some Local Officials Want More State Guidance
|
Local officials were mixed about the state’s messaging as the Southern Tier Region reopened Friday.
In PA, Trump To Say Pandemic Shows Merit Of ‘America First’ Mantra
|
President Trump is traveling to a medical supply distributor, where he will make the case that the coronavirus pandemic shows the danger in having supply chains spread around the world.
How COVID-19 is changing June 9 school district votes
|
“The challenge has been that school districts don’t have a list of all qualified voters within a school district, so identifying those individuals has been challenging.”
Cornell Leads Statewide Effort To Provide Protective Face Masks For Inmates
|
“The folks that are incarcerated in the prisons in our region are potentially a huge source of contagion.”
App NEWS
Coronavirus Delays Conservation Efforts In Pennsylvania
|
“The whole spring season is basically lost.”
App NEWS
Is Your PA County Planning To Move To ‘Yellow’ On Its Own? Here’s The Latest
|
We breakdown the issue in eight counties and the latest developments.
App NEWS
NY Hospitals Prioritize COVID-19 Testing For Kids With Certain Symptoms
|
Health officials advise parents to seek immediate care if a child has trouble breathing, severe abdominal pain, a change in skin color, rash, fever, or racing heart.
App NEWS
Nursing Students Prepare For ‘Uncharted Area’ Upon Graduation
|
“Helping them see their families, making sure we’re scheduling times for Zoom and FaceTime meetings — that’s never been a part of our day.”
App NEWS
Why Did A Hair And Beauty Products Company Receive A ‘Life-Sustaining’ Waiver?
|
How this business qualified for a waiver is unclear from just the information DCED posted on its website.
Economy
PA Company Switches From Sewing Football Jerseys To Face Masks. Workers Walked Out, Calling Plan Unsafe
|
“It wasn’t about getting masks out to the public. It was about saving his company and making as much money as possible.”
App NEWS
What Does The Future Of Restaurants Look Like As PA Eases Guidelines?
|
The repercussions have been devastating. Nearly 1,000 out of 26,000 restaurants operating in the state have permanently closed due to coronavirus.
New York Businesses Adapt; Long Island Oysterman Delivers Door To Door
|
As sales to restaurant clients dried up, oyster farmer Peter Stein had to adapt or perish. Now, he’s delivering oysters directly to individual customers, doing about 20% of his usual business.
App NEWS
Three Regions in New York Cleared to Begin Reopening This Weekend
|
Rochester, Ithaca, Binghamton, Elmira, and Utica, as well as the surrounding communities, will all be allowed to start the first phase of reopening this Friday.
Economy
New York Manufacturers Ready To Reopen Once “Pause” Is Lifted
|
Many of these companies have already instituted a variety of protocols to keep workers safe.
Energy
Gas Prices Begin To Creep Back Up As Parts Of The Country
|
GasBuddy on Monday reported that the national average price for a gallon of gas has increased 1.5 cents in a week to $1.75.
Economy
Oil And Gas Companies Asked, Then Received Changes To Fed Coronavirus Stimulus Program
|
Help with refinancing debt could help shale companies in PA
App NEWS
PA Workers With Preexisting Health Conditions Fear A Return To Work
|
They are particularly at risk of serious complications or death if they get the coronavirus, but if they refuse to work, they could lose their job and unemployment.
Economy
Crayons, Flowers, Taxidermy: PA Governor Releases List Of ‘Life-Sustaining’ Business Waivers
|
The state issued 12,826 denials and 11,635 businesses were told that their request did not require an exemption.
App NEWS
PA Parents Struggle To ‘Do It All’ With Kids In Virtual School
|
“I am hoping they come up with a vaccine. I will be first in line, because I want to get everybody out of the house.”
Wanted In New York: Thousands Of COVID-19 Contact Tracers
|
Starting this month, health departments in New York are trying to hire thousands of workers to build up what could become one of the country’s largest contact tracing programs for the coronavirus.
Mystery Inflammatory Syndrome In New York Kids Likely Linked To COVID-19
|
Doctors in the U.S. and Europe are reporting a small wave of cases of what looks like a “shock syndrome” in young people. They have low blood pressure, inflamed hearts and other serious symptoms.
New York VA Featured In Inspector General Report On PPE Shortages
|
“It’s baffling that the Veterans Health Administration does not have a strategy in place to address the shortages of PPE in New York.”
Food and Farms
In The Age Of COVID-19, Farmers Markets Are All Business
|
“A good farmers market is like a weekly fair or festival. People are wanting that back, but it won’t be the same.”
Health
Keeping Dentistry Safe For Patients And Staff During Pandemic
|
“In a dental office, if the appropriate precautions are not taken, the virus and aerosols can stay lingering in the air for hours at a time.”
App NEWS
From Conference Calls To Zoom, Local Governments Employ Range Of Technologies For Public Meetings
|
Digital divide remains a major challenge in some parts of Pennsylvania
In Deal With New York Attorney General, Zoom To Crack Down on Zoombombing,
|
Zoom has agreed to launch a new internal data security program and will take other steps to combat hacker disruptions, a practice that has become known as Zoombombing.
App NEWS
Hoping To Reopen Soon, New York Businesses Draw Up Plans
|
“They are all feeling very ready to get back to work. Most of them are in the process of trying to develop plans to get there.”
New York Students To Get Graduation Pomp At Drive-In Theater
|
One high school in New York has found a way to have safe and memorable graduation: hold it at a drive-in movie theater.
App NEWS
PA Governor Says Workers Should Refuse To Work If They Don’t Feel Safe
|
The governor says the state cannot widely enforce its worker safety order.
App NEWS
Schools Have Moved Classes Online, But Not All Students Have Joined Them
|
The Steelton-Highspire School District says it’s reaching between 73 and 79 percent of its high-schoolers with online instruction.
App NEWS
PA Liquor Stores Will Reopen For Limited In-Person Sales In ‘Yellow Counties’
|
The stores will be limited to no more than 25 people, including employees, in a store at any one time.
Economy
PA Governor Wants A Civilian Corps To Fight Coronavirus, Provide Jobs
|
Governor Wolf said he didn’t know how many people would be hired or when the corps would be formed, but that he wants it to be a big deal.
New York Comedy Clubs Closed, So Comics Have To Improvise
|
Live audiences help comics get exposure and work out new material. Colin Quinn says virtual platforms don’t replicate “the tension” of being in front of a room full of strangers.
Set Builder: ‘It’s New York City … Eventually, Events Have to Come Back’
|
Maxwell Kirsner built sets for big events. Then he, his fiancée and their coworkers were laid off. Kirsner says he’s optimistic the city will make it back, but he’s worried how long that will take.
App NEWS
Voters In New York’s Presidential Primary Will Receive Absentee Ballot Forms
|
There will likely still be polling places open on June 23rd, but Governor Cuomo is strongly encouraging voters to use the mail- in option instead.
App NEWS
139 Coronavirus Cases At Upstate Farm; Health Officials Say More Cases Likely
|
State health officials started testing nearly 200 seasonal workers at the giant hydroponic greenhouse last weekend because of concerns it might be a COVID hotspot.
App NEWS
Pandemic’s Economic Shutdown Continues To Plague New York Farmers
|
Farmers argue that if we keep breaking the food chain, there will be a lot of farms that aren’t going to survive this.
App NEWS
New York Reopens Car Dealer Showrooms, With Restrictions
|
Visits to any dealership will be by appointment only, and a number of safety precautions will be monitored to keep dealers and buyers safe.
Economy
Senators Examine PA’s Reopening Plan And What Lies Ahead
|
“Is this the new normal in terms of what we’re going to do in terms of shutting down the economy?”
Government
GOP Lawmaker Compares PA Governor’s Handling Of COVID-19 Crisis To Nazis, USSR
|
Kevin Boyle, the ranking Democrat on the committee, immediately interrupted him, calling on committee Chairman Garth Everett to cut Rep. Chris Dush off.
In A Recount, COVID-19 Death Toll At New York Nursing Homes Grows
|
State Attorney General Tish James is investigating reports from families who say the nursing homes kept them in the dark about the condition of their relatives who had COVID-19.
Schumer, Gillibrand Want To Federalize Medical Supply Chain, Increase Production
|
Democrats backing the bill say the White House has not fully utilized the power of the federal government, which has left hospitals and health care workers shorted in many places.
Health
For Some People, Trauma Symptoms Won’t Surface Until After The Pandemic
|
Licensed marriage and family therapist Tonya Girard on why some people might not feel the full effects of the crisis until months after it ends.
Health
Inside A Contact Tracing Team That’s Containing The Spread Of COVID-19
|
The people who track coronavirus exposures and try to prevent the virus’s spread are called Contact Tracers. Their work is taking on a new urgency.
Government
Brindisi: Tax increases And Layoffs Possible If Local Government Don’t Get Federal Aid
|
“Without aid from Washington, we’re going to see higher taxes on the local level, and cuts in services as well as laying off teachers, cops, firefighters.”
Economy
Warehouse Workers Warn Their Safety Concerns Are Ignored
|
The state in mid-April ordered all essential employers to provide protections, but some workers say they’ve seen little change.
Economy
Governor Giving Guidance To Counties, Businesses Reopening In PA’s ‘Yellow’ Regions
|
The entire state is in the red status until Friday.
Governor Outlines Rules For New York’s Return To Work
|
“You’d rather have a controlled start, so that you don’t have to stop. You reopen too fast, then you have to stop.”
App NEWS
New York Delays School Budget Votes Until June 9, Village Elections Moved To September
|
At this point, the state is allowing both in-person and absentee ballots for those village and special district elections.
App NEWS
Supermarkets Temporarily Limit Some Meat Purchases
|
The coronavirus pandemic has also closed some meatpacking plants, although PresidentTrump last week ordered large meat processors remain open.
Economy
Smile! For Many, Finding A Job During A Pandemic Involves Video Interviews
|
“I think in the aftermath of COVID-19, and hopefully it happens sooner than we think, virtual job fairs are going to become the rule and not the exception.”
App NEWS
Upstate Businesses Ready To Reopen Once New York Gives The Okay
|
Local businesses are coming up with plans for restarting, but how and when they go into effect are still an unknown.
Health
Nurses Left Vulnerable To COVID-19: ‘We’re Not Martyrs Sacrificing Our Lives’
|
At least 9,000 front-line nurses and other medical workers have contracted COVID-19.