Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan

The Ulster County executive has announced the next phase of an initiative that began in March as a community fund and local food distribution effort to support residents impacted by COVID-19.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo recently announced the formation of Regional Vaccination Hubs to help facilitate COVID-19 vaccinations once Phase 2 of the state's plan begins in early 2021. Regional task forces are part of the process. WAMC’s Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Allison Dunne spoke with a few county leaders who are on the Mid-Hudson region’s task force.

Congress has reached a deal on a $900 billion coronavirus relief package. It does not contain direct aid for state and local governments. For the New York State Association of Counties and county executives in the state, that’s a problem.

The Ulster County executive has announced the formation of a county Vaccine Distribution Coalition.

Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan announced that access to county buildings will be limited and more staffing will be remote as COVID-19 cases escalate.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo Thursday added COVID-19 micro-clusters in three Hudson Valley counties. Earlier in the day, four county leaders and their health commissioners held a briefing to implore the public not to get casual about the virus, especially with the holidays around the corner.

The Ulster County executive held a rare weekend call with county and local leaders on Saturday. Democrat Pat Ryan says it’s time to collaborate even further to let residents know how important it is to stop the spread of COVID-19 as a second wave emerges.

As the number of COVID-19 cases rises nationally and in New York, counties in the Hudson Valley are also seeing their numbers increase. One leader says his county is at the beginning of a second wave, while another is hopeful as a drug company with offices in his county is developing a COVID-19 vaccine.

A housing project in Ulster County, New York is moving forward with the selection of a development team and release of preliminary designs. Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan talked about the project during his COVID-19 briefing Thursday.

With large turnouts for early voting in parts of New York, a county executive in the Hudson Valley wants polling site hours expanded and sites added.

A restorative justice program in Ulster County is being expanded to young adults. The county executive and district attorney say the new initiative builds upon the success of the county’s restorative justice program.

In New York, the Ulster County executive delivered his budget address Thursday. He has a number of projects on the list to develop what he calls a people-centered economy.

With so many K-12 school districts set to open after Labor Day, some county executives are trying to help figure out the childcare conundrum. Dutchess County has come up with a childcare scholarship.

A coalition of environmental, public health and other groups is calling on the New York state Department of Health to implement a drug take-back law signed two years ago. The groups say the lack of safe disposal options for unwanted or expired pharmaceutical drugs not only contributes to the drug abuse epidemic and accidental poisonings at home, but also to water pollution.

The Ulster County executive has declared a public health emergency due to recent spikes in fentanyl-related deaths. The declaration came the day before county officials arrested a Kingston man on narcotics charges and recovered 10,000 bags of fentanyl and heroin.

In New York, the Ulster County executive has declared a public health emergency due to recent spikes in fentanyl-related deaths. Fentanyl is 50-times more potent than heroin.

A land deal in Ulster County will afford new recreational opportunities while protecting views and preserving wetlands. It’s one of Scenic Hudson’s larger acquisitions.

The House of Representatives recently passed the bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act. Two New York congressmen from the Hudson Valley are behind a number of the measures that were included.

Officials from the Biden for President campaign have tapped a group of New York veterans to launch an organizing group aimed at engaging the more than 830,000 veterans and their families in the state to support Joe Biden for President. A Hudson Valley county executive is one who helped with the launch.

Four county executives participated in a New York State Association of Counties video press conference Thursday to urge Congress to pass a coronavirus stimulus package with direct state and local aid. A House bill passed in May contains billions of dollars’ worth, but Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and President Trump reportedly agreed Thursday on a package with no such aid.

With the Mid-Hudson Region now in Phase Two of reopening from the coronavirus shutdown, local leaders have been rolling out phases of their economic recovery programs and hoping that businesses and others get back on their feet. Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan continues to push for direct federal aid to the state and local governments as he watches the county budget.

The Ulster County executive took part in a peaceful protest recently against George Floyd’s death and systemic racism. He was surprised to encounter a military-grade armored vehicle standing at the ready. Democrat Pat Ryan says he had used equipment like this in combat when deployed to Iraq, and he does not want to ever see his community turned into a war zone. Ryan spoke with WAMC’s Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Allison Dunne about this along with what kind of police reforms he wants to see locally.

Phase Two of reopening began Tuesday in the Mid-Hudson region of New York. Hair salon and restaurant managers are among those who have been prepping for the day, while a number of residents have been waiting to occupy a barbershop chair or outdoor table at their favorite restaurants.

The Ulster County executive delivered a COVID-19 update Tuesday, announcing a series of initiatives to meet a growing need heightened by the pandemic — housing.

Two county executives in New York’s Hudson Valley have delivered updates about nursing home COVID-19 testing. Dutchess County has completed testing at two facilities.

During his latest briefing, the Ulster County executive delivered what he called very good news about the COVID-19 pandemic. Plus, another testing site is opening in Kingston while a separate facility is offering antibody testing to first responders. Yet despite positive news in many areas, opioid overdoses have increased.

New York Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul joined the Ulster County executive Thursday afternoon for a small business town hall. They took questions as several small business owners wondered if they’ll ever be able to recover from the pandemic.

It has been some three weeks since schools across New York closed. In that time, it’s been a steep learning curve to carry on remotely. We get one view of how it’s been to run a school district during the COVID-19 pandemic from a superintendent in Ulster County.

There are plans to add a COVID-19 treatment bed facility in Ulster County, New York. County Executive Pat Ryan made the announcement during a Facebook Live Town Hall Tuesday with the superintendent of the Kingston City School District.

The Ulster County executive has a warning about capacity for COVID-19 patients in his county.