Appeals court says district maps need a do-over
An appeals court in Rochester decided Thursday that the Democrat-drawn Congressional redistricting maps were too-partisan and must be redrawn, the Times Union is reporting. The case now moves to the state’s highest court, the Court of Appeals, with a decision expected next week. The ruling does not affect the new state Senate and Assembly political boundaries.
Contract awarded for new Wadsworth Laboratory
A consortium of firms has won the initial $1.9 million contract to design the new Wadsworth Laboratory on the Harriman State Office Campus, a story in the Albany Business Journal says. The full budget for the public health laboratory is $750 million. Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the contract Thursday. The project had been delayed for years, the story says. The lab will bring together 800 workers spread across five locations in the Capital Region.
High speed internet in Washington County
Bringing high speed internet to the final homes that need it is expensive. That is no different in Washington County than it is in the Adirondacks, the Post-Star is reporting. Washington County Economic Development Director Laura Oswald told the county’s Agriculture, Planning, Tourism and Development Committee that it will take $10 million to bring high-speed internet service to as many as 1,500 households in the county, the story says. The cost for recent installations has run as high as $15,000, the story says, adding that Oswald believes some homes may never get the service.
New Fire Station draws police
Scotia Mayor Tom Gifford asked for police to come to a public forum discussing a new fire station after residents became a bit testy, a story in the Daily Gazette says. For good measure, the mayor has requested an officer for the next forum, too. A representative from the Hueber Breuer construction company took verbal abuse, especially over the price of the station, before the police were called, the story says.
SUNY faculty union wants masking through May
The SUNY system may go back to masks indoors through the end of the semester if the faculty union gets its way, a story earlier this week in the Times Union says. Union leadership pointed to infection rates that are rising sharply throughout the state, which is seeing higher infections in many counties, the story says. Individual SUNY campuses make their own decisions currently.
[Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs has returned to masks indoors. Read more here.]
SUNY ESC President
SUNY Empire State College’s new President Lisa Vollendorf is highlighted this morning in the Albany Business Journal’s Leaderboard feature, a rundown of new hires and promotions. SUNY ESC is based in Saratoga Springs.