April 15th, 2022 Daily Headlines
The Tompkins County Health Department has issued COVID-19 precautions ahead of the holiday weekend. Residents are encouraged to wear high quality masks like KN-95s when around those who are ill, are not vaccinated, immunocompromised, at high risk of severe illness, or are on public transit. Residents are also urged to get tested if experiencing COVID symptoms and to stay up-to-date on their vaccinations. For more information visit the county website at Tompkinscountyny.gov/health
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Today New York state’s Code Blue Policy will come to an end. The policy mandates homeless people be offered housing either at an emergency shelter or in local hotels when temperatures drop below freezing. According to the Ithaca Voice, the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency has published a report detailing potential solutions to homelessness in the city. The report did mention the idea of clearing encampments of unhoused people, but suggested doing so would do little to confront the issue and merely move the homeless population from one location to another. Another proposal was to form an “encampment advocacy organization” which would be responsible for mediating disputes between those living in encampments and the city. The report said the agency could also provide encampments with handwashing stations, bathrooms, and waste removal.
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The New York State Liquor authority is offering clarification on the state’s legalization of alcohol to-go. According to WGRZ, delivery of alcohol is required to be part of a “substantial food order.” The authority offered a definition of “substantial food order” that would include sandwiches, soups, wings, and salads. The Liquor Authority is also clarifying that restaurants cannot offer bottles of wine or liquor. The alcohol must be offered in a sealed cup or container.
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Governor Kathy Hochul is defending the state’s decision to allocate $600 Million for a new stadium for the Buffalo Bills. According to NBC Sports, Hochul said the Bills had been contacted by other cities with offers to leave Western New York. Hochul specifically mentioned San Diego and Toronto as places the Bill’s could’ve moved if they hadn’t been granted a new stadium. San Diego’s previous team the Chargers moved to Los Angeles in 2017. In addition to the state’s $600 Million, Erie County will be paying $250 Million, with the Bills and the NFL paying $550 Million.