The Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office has identified the body found in the Cherry Plain State Park on Sunday as that of the 20-year-old Morgan Bates of Eagle Bridge. She has been missing since Tuesday. Her death is considered suspicious. More to come.
Rensselaer County
Masks Stay On for Schools, Off for Others
by Doug La Rocque
Speaking at the State Capitol on Wednesday, February 9, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul said she would let the mask mandate on businesses expire as planned on Thursday, February 10. These businesses could, if they wish, continue to require masks if that is what they are more comfortable with. She said she would extend the mask mandate for schools, shelters, jails, nursing homes, childcare centers and public transportation for now.
In her announcement, the Governor said she would re-evaluate masks in schools in March, when she has a chance to look at the metrics of COVID-19 (infection rates are now down 93% since the start of the year) and develop “some clear guidance” for schools as to how to deal with COVID-19 situations when the masks do come off. She also stated she “feels compelled” to continue to protect the most vulnerable of our population as an explanation as to why the mask mandate will continue in senior related facilities, child care centers and because of the “closeness” of people in mass transportation.
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Democrats Call for McLaughlin Resignation
On February 8, the Rensselaer County Minority Office filed a legislative resolution calling for Steve McLaughlin to resign from his position as Rensselaer County Executive.
In December, McLaughlin was indicted by a County grand jury with grand larceny and offering a false instrument for filing, allegedly stealing $5,000 from his campaign account in 2017 and paying a former female member of his NYS Assembly staff.
While McLaughlin continues to claim his innocence and his defense attorney Ben Hill is preparing a motion to dismiss the indictment for a lack of sufficient evidence, the State Attorney General’s Office told Rensselaer County Court Judge Jennifer Sober that the Attorney General’s case is ready for trial.
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Troy
19 Arrested In Latest County-Wide Welfare Fraud Sweep
By Doug La Rocque
Late last week Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Deputies, as well as State Police and other local law enforcement agencies, arrested 19 people who are alleged to have fraudulently accepted welfare benefits.
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Troy
Debate Over Green Light Bill Comes To Troy
By Amy L. Modesti
The debate over providing a New York State’s driver’s license to an illegal immigrant continued Wednesday, April 24 at the Rensselaer County Department of Motor Vehicles.
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Rensselaer County
Drug Take Back Day Around The County
County Executive Steve McLaughlin and Sheriff Pat Russo helped kick off Rensselaer County’s participation in the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 27, at the West Sand Lake Firehouse.
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Rensselaer County
County Operations Director Under Investigation
By Doug La Rocque
According to an article in Sunday’s Times Union newspaper, Rensselaer County Operations Director Rich Crist is under investigation by both the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and the NYS Attorney General’s Office.
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Eastern Rensselaer County
Dangerous Winds Wreak Havoc
Doug La Rocque
Wind gusts measured in many areas over 60 miles per hour and caused thousands in the eastern portion of Rensselaer County to go without power for a good portion of Monday, February 25.
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Republicans Endorse Candidates
Rensselaer County Republicans officially picked their candidates for countywide races this fall in a County Committee meeting on Monday, February 25.
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Seeking to Restore AIM Funding
Elected Officials from numerous towns and villages planned to gather along with Rensselaer County Excutive Steve McLaughlin on Thursday, February 21, to demand state lawmakers restore the cuts in the Aid and Incentives for Municipalities Funding (AIM) contained in Governor Cuomo’s budget proposal.
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