Maryam Ahmad

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.

The Trump administration announced on Dec. 3 that all asylum applications and all immigration applications for individuals from 19 countries had been suspended, pending further security vetting. The decision left many immigrants and asylum applicants in the Capital Region afraid and uncertain of their future.

Albany Mayor-elect Dorcey Applyrs announced Thursday Interim Police Chief Brendan Cox will serve as the permanent Albany Police Department Chief during her administration.

The Red Cross in Eastern New York responded to more than 700 emergences in the region in 2025, including a fatal home fire on Western Ave. in Albany last week that killed two people and displaced 13 others. Local volunteers also responded to disasters across the country, including the typhoon in Alaska last month and the devastating floods in Texas in July. WAMC’s Maryam Ahmad spoke to the regional Red Cross’ CEO Kevin Coffey about the local and national efforts from Red Cross volunteers in 2025, and how families should prepare for the holidays and the winter weather.

The Massry School of Business at the University at Albany is introducing a new Master's program, designed to equip students with tools to use AI for innovation and organizational growth. WAMC spoke to the Massry Endowed Chair and Professor Dr. Sanjay Goel, about the goals of the program and how AI is transforming business education.

Amidst a food insecurity crisis and federal cuts to SNAP benefits during the government shutdown, the Schenectady Food Council is calling on Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature to make funding SNAP benefits and emergency food assistance a priority in the upcoming legislative session.

While the second Trump administration has had an aggressive stance on immigration from its earliest days, this week marked a clear escalation. On Dec. 3, all asylum applications for nationals from 19 different countries were suspended until further review, a move that followed a series of new restrictions on immigration. Upstate New York communities weren’t insulated from any of these policies.

At high schools across New York, some students aren’t just graduating with diplomas – they are graduating with professional licenses, like at Albany High School's Next Gen barbershop.

On a brisk Monday morning, National Guard members and veterans from the Capital Region loaded Christmas trees on to a FedEx truck at Ellms Tree Farm in Ballston Spa. The trees are bound for military bases across the country and overseas as part of the Trees for Troops program.