Maryam Ahmad

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.

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.