With widespread vaccinations against COVID-19 on the horizon, one state lawmaker is anticipating that some may alter or counterfeit inoculation records, and has drafted legislation to make that a crime. Sen. Anna Kaplan introduced bill S.4516 on Feb. 5 which prohibits medical and non-medical professionals from creating dishonest and counterfeited […]
Policy
New testing lab, new case tracker aimed at keeping SUNY campuses open this spring
With in-person classes now in full-swing, SUNY has continued to ramp up its practices in preventing the spread of COVID-19. SUNY Upstate Medical University is building a new lab at the University at Buffalo to increase capacity and speed up analysis of the saliva test developed by SUNY researchers and […]
Yankee stadium hosting mass vaccination site in the Bronx
Opening day at the Stadium in the Bronx came early this year. The mass vaccination site at Yankee Stadium is now open, providing up to 15,000 appointments for Bronx residents in an area that is grappling with the highest COVID-19 positivity rate in the five boroughs. According to news reports, […]
Legislation would reduce punishment for prostitutes, encouraging services and support
A new bill would decriminalize people in prostitution in New York, expunge past convictions and help prostitutes exit the sex trade. At the same time, the proposed law holds pimps, traffickers, brothel owners and illicit massage parlor owners accountable, strengthens anti-trafficking laws, and imposes a fine for solicitation and sex […]
Restaurant owners say small changes can help them survive the winter
As the U.S. coronavirus death toll passes 400,000, suffering New York restaurants are finally receiving the support they’ve needed from Governor Andrew Cuomo and Senate Republicans with advocacy from New York State Restaurant Association. New York’s restaurants were struggling prior to the onset of winter. But now, during the coldest […]
SUNY athletes may get a chance to compete this spring
With the spring semester now under way, Division-III college athletes may have an opportunity to get back on the field. SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras this week gave the go-ahead for the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) to come up with a plan for baseball, track and field, […]
Budget includes plans for new Cannabis Management Office and THC taxes
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced his proposal to legalize cannabis for adult recreational use as well as a plan for the creation of the regulatory Office of Cannabis Management during his annual State of the State address. The new department will have the responsibility of overseeing New York’s adult-use recreational program […]
With new testing rules and no spring break, SUNY campuses prepare to reopen
Even though classes have already begun online, the 64 campuses in the State University system are preparing to reopen this Monday, February 1, for the spring 2021 semester with new precautions in place to protect professors, students and staff. As seen in the fall semester, the spread of COVID-19 forced […]