WLGR/WVNR Local News

The first case of the South African coronavirus variant has been discovered in a New York state resident, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Sunday. The sequencing was conducted at Opentrons Labworks Inc’s Pandemic Response Lab, a New York City-based commercial lab, and verified at the Wadsworth Center in Albany. The mutated version of the virus, originally identified in South Africa, was first found in the United States last month. Scientists believe it is more easily spread than other virus strains.

State Police in Greenwich arrested 56-year-old Paul Qua of Johnsonville, for Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 4th degree (C felony), Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 5th degree (D felony), 3 counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 7th degree (A misdemeanor), and Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs.

State Police stopped Qua for a traffic infraction as he traveled on State Route 40 in the town of Easton Wednesday afternoon. When the Trooper approached the vehicle, they could smell the odor of marijuana coming from the interior. A probable cause search of the vehicle was conducted, and state police located a bag behind the driver’s seat containing approximately 1.4 grams of cocaine, 26 grams of psilocybin mushrooms, and 19 grams of concentrated cannabis. Inside the bag police also located a quantity of MDMA tablets, paper strips with LSD, and THC gummies.

During the investigation, the Trooper observed signs that Qua maybe impaired by drugs. Qua was administered the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests, which he failed, and was placed in custody.

The YMCA of Muncie is launching its annual fundraising campaign on February 24, via Zoom, to help ensure everyone in the community has access to vital community programs and resources – especially during these challenging times This year, the YMCA of Muncie hopes to raise $215,000, which will support early childhood education, outdoor education, chronic disease prevention and safety around water programming.

Warren County Health Services reported 10 new Warren County resident COVID-19 cases as of Sunday morning, along with 20 additional recoveries.
Five (5) Warren County residents are hospitalized, one fewer than Saturday. Two (2) were discharged and one (1) was admitted Saturday. Four (4) are moderately ill, one (1) is critically ill.
Two (2) are moderately ill but not hospitalized

A public forum intended to give residents an opportunity to ask questions about the city’s proposed police reform plan was cut short on Thursday evening after several individuals disrupted the meeting with racial slurs. The Post Star reports
The Zoom videoconference meeting had just gotten underway when the individuals began unmuting their microphones and making racist comments, and they filled the public chat room, included as part of the meeting, with typed-out racist comments, including the N-word.

Albany County is having issues when it comes to the COVID-19 vaccine supply. WNYT reports the county had to cancel their vaccine clinic at the Times Union Center Thursday because of weather-related shipping delays. As of 10:30 Thursday morning, the Health Department was still waiting on a first and second dose shipment, which equates to around 1,300 vaccines. They had been told as late as Wednesday that the vaccine doses were arriving on time

Warren County Health Services reported five (5) new Warren County resident COVID-19 cases as of Wednesday morning, along with seven (7) additional recoveries.
The last day with a daily new case number as low was December 12, when there were three (3) cases reported.
Five (5) Warren County residents are hospitalized, one (1) more than Tuesday. All five (5) are moderately ill, and one (1) other is moderately ill outside of the hospital.

Air travel out of Albany International Airport saw a significant increase over the weekend compared to previous weeks, likely reflecting travel of families during the winter school break. From Thursday through Sunday, the Albany airport counted just over 7,400 passengers departing the region, up from 4,400 departing passengers during the previous Thursday-Sunday weekend, or a 68 percent increase from one weekend to the next.

State Police stopped a car on I-87 in the town of Catskill for a vehicle and traffic violation. While interviewing the driver, probable cause to search the vehicle and the occupants was established. The driver, Aaron P. Zwanziger, 23, of Albany, NY, was found to be in possession of a glass smoking device containing cocaine.
The passenger of the vehicle, Austin R. Daniel, 34, of Albany, NY, was found to be in possession of approximately 18 grams of crack cocaine, 3.6 grams of cocaine, 4 decks of heroin, and 141 strips of suboxone.

In the Town of Granville and the North Granville Water District, there will be a NYS mandated Fire Sprinkler Inspection at the Slate Valley Center for Rehabilitation on Wednesday, February 17, 2021 beginning at 8:00 AM – the last test was not completed and needed to be rescheduled. While the town expects little to no effect on the water system, it is possible there may be a disruption in the pressure in the system during and after the test which may lead to some discoloration of the water. If that occurs, leave the water running for a short time until it clears up.