Mon, Jul 20th 2020 09:50 am
New York State United Teachers and the American Federation of Teachers have demanded school districts follow school reopening guidance issued by the governor and state Department of Health that mandates social distancing, reduced occupancy and the use of masks, among other safety measures.
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Fri, Jul 17th 2020 05:10 pm
In a letter to the U.S. coronavirus testing czar, Congressman Brian Higgins is seeking answers to new indications that supplies needed to test for coronavirus are being redirected outside of the Western New York area.
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Fri, Jul 17th 2020 04:30 pm
Gov. Andrew Cuomo, in a Friday conference call, reiterated his stance on limiting bar service.
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Fri, Jul 17th 2020 11:20 am
With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic spreading fast in many states across the country, Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday launched the national "Mask Up America" education and awareness campaign to urge all Americans to wear a mask while in public to help stop the spread of the virus.
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Fri, Jul 17th 2020 11:05 am
New York Attorney General Letitia James announced the state is again renewing, for the fourth time, an order to halt the collection of medical and student debt owed to the state of New York that has been specifically referred to the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) for collection for an additional 30-day period.
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Fri, Jul 17th 2020 11:00 am
The "Tourism Task Force to Reopen Buffalo," under the guidance of Visit Buffalo Niagara President and CEO Patrick Kaler, has created a communitywide customer confidence program designed to reassure meeting, group and sporting event customers that "Buffalo is determined to do what it takes to remain competitive as the tourism industry begins its recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic."
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Fri, Jul 17th 2020 11:00 am
Congressman Brian Higgins, D-NY-26, announced the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee passed the fiscal year 2021 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill, which included report language requested by Higgins related to essential traveler exceptions at the northern border.
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Fri, Jul 17th 2020 10:45 am
The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) has released the "Safe Stay Guest Checklist" for guests on how to travel safely while also creating a standardized safety experience nationwide. This checklist is part of AHLA's "Safe Stay" guidelines, an industrywide, enhanced set of health and safety protocols designed to provide a safe and clean environment for all hotel guests and employees.
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Fri, Jul 17th 2020 10:25 am
The New York State Department of Health and State Office for the Aging announced a five-point plan to help long-term-care residents and their families access services through the Office of the State Long Term Care Ombudsman Program, provide additional resources to residents and families appealing involuntary discharges, expand the ombudsman volunteer program, "reimagine" a multiagency workgroup to enhance services, and provide up to $1 million in funding for long term care facilities to purchase tablets, webcams, headphones or other accessories to help residents stay connected with family and LTCOP during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond.
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Fri, Jul 17th 2020 09:55 am
In a conference call Thursday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said New Yorkers are "outraged" at bar and restaurant establishments where people are gathering together and not abiding by safety measures designed to limit the spread of the coronavirus. He said it is "a question of public health, and New Yorkers paid a dear price for COVID and they are equally upset with these violations."
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Thu, Jul 16th 2020 07:10 pm
Consistent with New York state guidelines for phase four low-risk indoor arts and entertainment venues, the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center will reopen Saturday, July 18. The Heritage Center has adopted new policies to help contain the spread of COVID-19 while allowing visitors into the space once again.
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Thu, Jul 16th 2020 02:25 pm
Gov. Andrew Cuomo, on a conference call on Thursday, announced new regulations for bars and restaurants to ensure they are complying with state social distancing and face covering orders.
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Thu, Jul 16th 2020 12:25 pm
Residents at the Schoellkopf Health Center are able to receive visitors for the first time since mid-March.
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Thu, Jul 16th 2020 09:40 am
The New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) on Wednesday announced more than $100 million in additional emergency food assistance for New Yorkers adversely affected by the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. About 700,000 low-income individuals and families enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will receive the maximum allowable benefit for July to help them avoid food insecurity.
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Thu, Jul 16th 2020 09:40 am
In mid-March, human service agencies were among the many facilities that New York required to close their doors to prevent people from gathering and thereby stem the spread of the coronavirus. While they have continued to serve people with disabilities by phone, email and the internet, now that the state has entered phase four, the Buffalo offices of Western New York Independent Living have reopened on a limited basis, observing strict rules for everyone's safety:
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Wed, Jul 15th 2020 03:35 pm
Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday announced the special enrollment period for uninsured New Yorkers will be extended for another 30 days, through Aug. 15, as the state continues to provide supportive services during the COVID-19 public health crisis. New Yorkers can apply for coverage through NY State of Health, New York State's health insurance marketplace, or directly through insurers.
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Wed, Jul 15th 2020 03:25 pm
The Global Surgical and Medical Support Group (GSMSG) sends U.S.-trained physicians to conflict zones to treat patients in places like Iraq and Syria and provide medical care and training when local health care systems are overwhelmed.
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Wed, Jul 15th 2020 02:50 pm
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Wed, Jul 15th 2020 02:50 pm
In late August, University at Buffalo students, faculty and staff will return to campus for the start of the 2020-21 academic year. The global COVID-19 pandemic has made planning for this annual ritual more important than ever.
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Wed, Jul 15th 2020 10:15 am
The Empire State Association of Assisted Living (ESAAL) has been leading New York assisted living communities in advocating for outdoor visitation, and is pleased the Department of Health has finally allowed indoor and outdoor visitation across the state.
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Wed, Jul 15th 2020 09:40 am
The New York State Department of Labor on Tuesday announced that, so far this year, nearly 2,600 businesses have joined the state's shared work program, which allows companies to avoid layoffs by connecting workers with partial unemployment benefits. In total, these companies have leveraged the program to retain or rehire nearly 45,500 New Yorkers — the majority of them during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Wed, Jul 15th 2020 09:35 am
Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday announced an emergency rental assistance program that will help keep low-income families throughout New York in their homes. The program, which is designed to reach those individuals and families with the greatest need, will provide direct aid for tenants who lost income due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Tue, Jul 14th 2020 06:10 pm
Congressman Brian Higgins, D-NY-26, who serves as co-chair of the Congressional Northern Border Caucus and the U.S. Canada Inter-parliamentary Group, released the following statement in response to published reports of a bilateral agreement between the U.S. and Canada extending crossing restrictions along the northern border:
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Tue, Jul 14th 2020 06:05 pm
Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday announced four additional states meet the metrics to qualify for the travel advisory requiring individuals who have traveled to New York from those states, all of which have significant community spread, to quarantine for 14 days. The newly added states are Minnesota, New Mexico, Ohio and Wisconsin. Delaware has been removed.
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Tue, Jul 14th 2020 06:05 pm
New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie announced a series of joint legislative hearings to be convened over the coming weeks. The hearings will examine how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted New York with specific focuses on higher education, residential health care facilities, hospitals, the primary elections, workers, veterans and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). Each of the hearings will be livestreamed on the Senate and Assembly websites.
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Mon, Jul 13th 2020 05:00 pm
The Erie County Department of Health is reporting a noticeable increase in the percentage of newly confirmed COVID-19 cases among the 20-29-year-old and 30-39-year-old age groups.
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Mon, Jul 13th 2020 04:40 pm
Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday announced new, data-driven guidance for reopening schools in New York. Schools in a region can reopen if that region is in phase four of reopening, and if its daily infection rate remains below 5% or lower using a 14-day average since "PAUSE" was lifted.
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Mon, Jul 13th 2020 04:30 pm
Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday announced a travel enforcement operation will commence Tuesday at airports across the state to help ensure travelers are following the state's quarantine restrictions and to help contain the rates of COVID-19 transmission in New York. As part of the enforcement operation, enforcement teams will be stationed at airports statewide to meet arriving aircrafts at gates and greet disembarking passengers to request proof of completion of the State Department of Health traveler form, which is being distributed to passengers by airlines prior to, and upon boarding or disembarking flights to New York.
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Mon, Jul 13th 2020 03:05 pm
Gov. Andrew Cuomo, in partnership with the New York State Department of Transportation, Department of Motor Vehicles, the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee, State Police and the Thruway Authority, on Monday reminded motorists of the importance of moving over for highway workers, first responders and others who assist with motor vehicle crashes and roadside incidents.
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Mon, Jul 13th 2020 02:45 pm
On Friday, the U.S. Small Business Administration announced the conclusion and success of the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Advance program, which provided U.S. small businesses, nonprofits and agricultural businesses a total of $20 billion in emergency funding. In order to assist the greatest number of small businesses, the EIDL Advance provided $1,000 per employee up to a maximum of $10,000.
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Mon, Jul 13th 2020 11:45 am
Coronavirus stats for July 13
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Fri, Jul 10th 2020 12:15 pm
Cuomo: Wear a mask!
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Thu, Jul 9th 2020 10:55 am
Canisius College is making plans to welcome students back to campus for the fall semester. The college is proceeding with all necessary planning and safety measures for students to return to classrooms and residence halls beginning Aug. 31.
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Wed, Jul 8th 2020 05:45 pm
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority entered into a strategic partnership with the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) to advance the combined goals of improved indoor air quality and environmental sustainability.
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Wed, Jul 8th 2020 05:45 pm
Health and safety of students, families, educators and other school staff, and equitable access to a high-quality education must be the top priorities in reopening schools.
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Wed, Jul 8th 2020 03:10 pm
Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday announced New York will decide whether schools will reopen in the fall during the first week of August. The state is now consulting with stakeholders on guidance, which will be finalized on July 13. Plans to reopen schools are due July 31.
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Wed, Jul 8th 2020 12:10 pm
It has been nearly four months since New York-based assisted-living communities closed to outside visitors and temporarily suspended in-community services like hair salons. As New York continues its phased reopenings, which now allow for outdoor dining, hair and nail services, assisted living residents are being forced to leave their communities to visit loved ones, and to receive services such as hair appointments - two freedoms typically allowed in assisted living communities, which provide a more independent model of long-term care.
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Wed, Jul 8th 2020 11:55 am
The U.S. Small Business Administration Atlantic Region's Paycheck Protection Program loan data for New York congressional districts 23 through 27 highlights the success of unprecedented federal relief to New York's small businesses. Approximately $38.35 billion in initial approved amounts came through many of SBA PPP-participating lenders to 323,903 small businesses and nonprofits across the Empire State.
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Tue, Jul 7th 2020 05:15 pm
The Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum will reopen for the 2020 season on Wednesday, July 8. The museum was forced to keep its doors shut due to COVID-19 restrictions, but received permission to open as part of phase four of "New York Forward" reopening guidelines.
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Tue, Jul 7th 2020 05:15 pm
Congressman Brian Higgins announced federal funding to the Niagara County Department of Emergency Services and Ellicott Creek Fire Co. to prevent, prepare for and respond to COVID-19.
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