The Mask Mandate Is Over For Students In New York State

Today is the first day that school students don’t have to wear covid masks in New York State.  "Now it's up to the individual parents or the counties or the boroughs,” said Governor Kathy Hochul. “We're going to leave it up to local control. So we've done our part, but we're going to keep an eye on this. I want people to know we're going to continue pushing vaccinations and tests and make sure that we get this down to zero someday." 

 

Anniversary Of A Local Troopers Death:

It was 16 years ago, that State Trooper Andrew Sperr was shot and killed by bank robbers in Big Flats.  Trooper Sperr was fired upon as he approached the subjects' vehicle. Trooper Sperr returned gunfire,  hitting both suspects before they left in a second vehicle, staged there for their getaway.  Sperr was shot multiple times and was on the ground when the fatal round struck him under his belt and vest.

 

SOTU Reaction From Elected/Political Officials:

Governor Kathy Hochul: New Yorkers have seen firsthand the benefits of the accomplishments of the President, including vaccinating 200 million Americans, spurring the fastest job growth in history, cutting child poverty, and infrastructure funding.  From senator Kirsten Gillibrand: I look forward to working with the president to continue to rebuild our economy and to deliver on his vision to make and manufacture more goods in America; to make those jobs well-paying, family-supporting jobs.  Congressman Tom Reed: We need solutions that unleash the power of the American people, not the power of our government. We cannot spend tax dollars to get out of the inflation trap. That will only compound the problem.  Steuben County Legislator Paul Van Caeseele: The real State of the Union is we have a president who inherited a divided nation and instead of trying to heal the country, he has worked to divide it even further.  Steuben County Democratic Chair Shawn Hogan: Republicans want to portray the President as some type of ineffective leader and weak. It is simply not true and does nothing to further the best interests of our Nation.

 

Republicans Might Have A Primary In The Governors Race

Congressman Lee Zeldin is now the designated Republican candidate to run for New York State governor.  Zeldin got 85 percent of the vote yesterday at the state GOP convention.  However, not only does Westchester County Republican Rob Astorino want a primary against Zeldin, Andrew Guiliani and Harry Wilson want to primary Zeldin too.