Maryam Ahmad

As ICE ramps up its crackdown, immigrants in New York state are facing an increasingly complicated immigration court system without sufficient access to legal representation.

Every Tuesday, Muslim seniors come together for lunch at the Islamic Center for the Capital District. The Albany County-sponsored lunch is thought to be the first and only halal congregate meal option in the state.

When Azra Haqqie joined the Times Union in 1991, she was the only Muslim staff member. After retiring in 2024, Haqqie left a legacy of 30 years spent spotlighting Muslim and other marginalized voices in the Capital Region.

Upholstery, denim, satin, and yarn. Nigerian-American designer Mo Rabiu pulls from an eclectic mix of material in her work. That skill proved useful again when she designed the suit Albany Mayor Dorcey Applyrs wore as she took the helm of New York’s diverse capital city.

The new year has brought changes to New York’s matrimonial law — changes designed to ensure more financial transparency in divorce proceedings. WAMC’s Maryam Ahmad spoke to Ryan McCall, principal attorney at law firm McCall, Sweeney & Silva, about how these changes will impact those going through the divorce process.

The three-part PBS documentary “The Great Muslim American Road Trip,” follows Mona Haydar and Sebastian Robins on a 3,000-mile journey along historic Route 66. During Muslim American Heritage Month, the Albany Institute of History & Art is screening the 2022 documentary this Sunday, Jan. 11, and will feature a live conversation with Executive Producer Jawaad Abdul Rahman.

On Dec. 3 four members of an Afghan family were taken by ICE, amid the Trump administration's crackdown on immigration. One month later, the Bakhtani family is speaking out.

Last December, Albany officials discovered a leak in the roof of the Swinburne Park ice rink – damage that has cost two skating seasons. Now, the rink has received $675,000 in state funding to help pay for necessary repairs. Future skating seasons could still be on ice. Still, the grant for the repairs came as part of a broader slate of funding that can make a difference at sites throughout the community.

For one young Capital Region resident, a passion for monarch butterflies has turned into a crowning achievement recognized by Albany County.

Thirty-four years after New York State first introduced Gold Star Mother license plates, Gold Star families are now also able to apply for license plates in honor of the soldiers in their families who lost their lives while serving.