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Gov. Kathy Hochul outlined an agenda for an economic comeback from the coronavirus pandemic and new government investments in health care, housing and renewable energy in her State of the State address Wednesday. She spoke before a limited, socially distanced audience in the Assembly chamber at the New York State Capitol in Albany amid the worst surge in coronavirus infections since the early days of the pandemic.

Four newly-elected Democrats on Saratoga Springs City Council are calling on the mayor to sign and send a letter to Saratoga County District Attorney Karen Heggen requesting a grand jury investigation into the death of Darryl Mount Jr. The Daily Gazette reports Mount died in 2014, following a chase with police in 2013. Mount spent nine months in a coma before he died. His family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city.

Clifton Park and Halfmoon will be handing outo COVID-19 at-home test kits to residents on January 6 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. or until supplies run out. WTEN reports for Clifton Park residents, kits will be distributed at the Clifton Park Senior Community Center on the Clifton Common. For Halfmoon residents, kits will be distributed at the Halfmoon Town Hall Complex at Halfmoon Town Hall Plaza.

Saratoga Springs needs more public safety dispatchers. WNYT reports a test is being offered this month for dispatchers. As of Monday, they had less than a third of the candidates they typically have. The civil service test to become a dispatcher is scheduled for January 22, but you have to sign up by next Monday, January 10.
The starting pay is just under $47,000.

DEC announces the start of the Colonel William F. Fox Memorial Saratoga Tree Nursery annual spring seedling sale, which is open to the public and runs until May 13. Each year, the nursery offers low-cost, New York-grown tree and shrub species for sale to encourage conservation plantings and foster the next generation of forests. There are more than 50 conifer and hardwood species available in bundles of 25 or more, plus several mixed species packets for those looking for a variety.

Saratoga’s recreation center was renamed Thursday in the honor of the former mayor who inherited a $6.5 million bond authorization to build the facility . The Daily Gazeete reports the center is now known as the Scott T. Johnson Recreation Center in honor of the three-term mayor who served from 2008 to 2013.

The Mechanicville man who was pulled from a burning home on Lake Avenue Wednesday evening has died. WNYT reports the victim is 67-year-old David Richards. Units arrived at the two-family home on Round Lake Avenue in Mechanicville around 8:40 p.m. A good Samaritan noticed heavy smoke coming from downstairs and called 911. The fire was put out in 10 minutes.

The number of urgent care visits at the Saratoga Hospital is up 50%. WNYT reports the hospital’s executive vice president says it’s being primarily driven by COVID testing. He says 70% of all urgent care patients want a COVID test. That number is up 85% in the last week. Also, the number of hospital beds available is going up, as more people get vaccinated and boosted.

State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball has annouonced that the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets’ Hemp Program Plan was approved by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Following the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, all states interested in administering a state hemp program were required to submit a hemp program plan to the USDA. The Plan allows the Department to continue to administer a hemp grower licensing program, starting in 2022. The Department is now accepting applications for the program, which will take effect on January 1, 2022

Governor Kathy Hochul has announced a year-over-year increase in available emergency home heating aid—with more than $90 million in federal funding available to help low- and middle-income New Yorkers avoid having their home heating disconnected or exhausting their heating source amid fuel price increases this winter. They’ll begin accepting applications starting Monday, January 3rd.