Defamation lawsuit in Lake George
Edward “Grant” Gentner, the former former treasurer of the Lake George Emergency Squad, who was at the center of a years-long, 29-count legal battle with the organization, has filed suit against the organization and the treasurer who succeeded him, the Post-Start is reporting this morning. The case against Gentner was dismissed earlier this year, and he is seeking $2 million in the new lawsuit.
Land with approved plans up for sale
“Land that's fully-approved for a large, mixed-use development has been put up for sale next to a stalled, $30 million hotel construction project in downtown Albany,” says the Albany Business Journal. The site on Broadway already has municipal approval for a mixed use, office-and-retail building, but went on the market for $6.25 million, the story says. Owned by Syracuse-based Pioneer Cos., the property sits next to the stalled construction of the $30 million Hyatt Place hotel.
GOP will participate in League of Women Voters debates
Saratoga Republicans had said they would not participate in the League of Women Voters candidate forums in October, but the league now says the GOP will participate, the Daily Gazette is reporting. The Saratoga league, hosts annual candidate forums and produces voter guides. They have announced forums running from Oct. 4 to Oct. 21. Republicans had complained that the LWV leaned too far to the left. Democrats will participate.
Healthcare shortage: Urgent care facilities limiting hours
Some Capital Region urgent care facilities are limiting operations while hospitals consider cuts in a response to a staffing shortages, the Daily Gazette is reporting. The cause is the burn-out rate for healthcare staff after 19 months of a pandemic and a new requirement that New York State healthcare staff be vaccinated. Those who chose not to be vaccinated have been sent on unpaid leave. The Hochul Administration has created a Department of Health operations center to work on acute staffing crises, and the administration says many staffers received last-minute vaccinations. Over 90% of staff at hospitals and other centers have been vaccinated, but that leaves about 45,000 people who are not vaccinated or have not yet gotten the vaccine, the story says.
In a similar story, the Adirondack Daily Enterprise reported that seven people left Adirondack Health over the vaccine requirement. Fewer than 30 employees across the provider’s facilities were unvaccinated, Adirondack Health Communications Director Matt Scollin told the paper.
Residents accidentally gassed
The New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision confirmed that they accidentally tear gassed residents near the closed Mount McGregor Correctional Facility in Moreau, the Times Union is reporting. The gas was used in a training exercise. People were asked to “shelter in place” for about two hours, the story says.