Local News for May 26, 2023

State Health Department Ending COVID-19 Vaccination Mandate For Healthcare Workers

New York State is ending its COVID-19 vaccination mandate for healthcare workers. The state health department made the announcement on Wednesday. Officials say the mandate is no longer necessary because of the drop in cases of the virus and rise in vaccinations. The mandate faced several lawsuits. The regulation change has to be approved by the state’s health council. Until then the health department says healthcare facilities should continue their own vaccination policies.

Bill Establishing Freight Train Registry Passes State Senate 

A bill that would establish a public registry for freight train information was approved by the State Senate on Tuesday. It was introduced by Senator Lea Webb. The registry would provide detail about public inspections, audits and other information. It needs to be approved by the Assembly before it can move forward. Webb represents the 52nd state senate district. It includes Binghamton, Cortland, and Ithaca. 

Cornell Students Build And Donate A Canoe to Members of the Onondaga Nation

Cornell students donated a canoe to members of the Onondaga Nation in early May. The students built the wooden canoe as a class project. The Onondaga people are part of the Haudenosaunee, or Iroquois, Confederacy. Their territory is south of Syracuse. Hickory Edwards and his daughter EllieRose were given the canoe in a ceremony at Cass Park in Ithaca. They’re members of the Onondaga Turtle Clan. The Cornell Chronicle reports they’ll us it this summer to canoe 150-miles from Seneca Lake to the Mohawk River.