March 1st, 2022 Daily Headlines

Yesterday, the Tompkins County Health Department Suspended the county’s mask advisory. The CDC has reclassified Tompkins County as having “low” community levels of COVID-19. Tompkins County currently has 286 active cases of COVID-19 and 12 active hospitalizations. The change comes just one day after Governor Kathy Hochul announced an end to the state’s school mask mandate effective tomorrow. Masks are still required in select settings such as medical facilities, nursing homes, and public transit.

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The New York Working Families Party has endorsed State Assemblymember Anna Kelles, for re-election. The WFP has become a crucial part of the state Democratic coalition often giving their ballot line to democratic candidates. In a statement WFP Director Sochie Nnaemeka called Kelles a “Progressive Champion.” The WFP endorsed Kelles back in 2020 and in her campaign for the county legislature in 2017. 

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Protestors gathered at Cornell University over the weekend to protest the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation. According to the Ithaca Voice, protestors waved Ukrainian flags while playing the country’s national anthem. The protest, organized by Ukrainian students, called for an end to the invasion, and international support for Ukraine. The United States, and its European Allies have placed sanctions on Russia and the nations leaders including Vladimir Putin. The U.S. has also provided arms to Ukraine with the EU providing the nation with fighter jets. 

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On Sunday Governor Kathy Hochul signed an Executive Order barring New York State from doing business with or investing in Russian entities. According to ABC7, the governor said the state would review its finances and divest from companies headquartered in Russia, or sponsored by the Russian government. The governor noted that New York has the largest Ukrainian population in the United States.