Good morning, Albany.

Troy resident Michael Schnoop saved 8-year-old Amarys Lopez from the Hudson River during Labor Day weekend and was honored on Tuesday at a local ceremony (neighbors and officials praised his fast response).

Diesel prices in the Capital Region are nearing $6 a gallon as trucking companies face steep costs at the pump (one fill can cost about $1,200), and higher fuel expenses are expected to raise prices for delivered goods like food, clothing, and furniture.

Fronhofer Tool in Argyle partners with WSWHE BOCES and local colleges (as seen in employee Jadyn Fish’s career) to train workers without a four-year degree and support industries with precision machining, and owner Paul Fronhofer says the shop plays a key role in growing essential talent.

Junior Troy Serao has been chosen as a Newman Civic Fellow for 2026-2027 — this marks the third consecutive year a UAlbany student is celebrated for community impact.

He is recognized for his work with the Student Association and local volunteer efforts.

New York will offer one high school diploma starting with the 2027-28 school year as part of the NY Inspires plan.

Students will not have to pass a set of Regents exams (which will still measure their learning) but will be evaluated through classroom work and state tests.

UAlbany experts weighed in on AI risks yesterday after an Anthropic researcher warned that AI could have a more than 10 percent chance of catastrophic harm + faculty stressed that many unknown variables make it hard to quantify the threat.

The New York State Mesonet at UAlbany is testing a Finnish GPS-based system in partnership with Skyfora (pilot project) to track water vapor at NYC Micronet sites and give emergency managers earlier warnings of heavy rainfall.

The technique may help forecasters spot downpours before rain begins.

After the VA closed its Rotterdam clinic last month, about 1,600 veterans have been redirected to clinics in Clifton Park and Albany.

Lawmakers, including Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, say some veterans face long drives for basic care and expect a timely response from VA Secretary Doug Collins.

Gov. Hochul launched a statewide push to enroll 2.5M households in the Energy Affordability Program that expanded in January to lower bills by up to $500 a year.

The state will use digital ads, mail outreach, and in person events to help sign up households (including those on other aid).

New York state health officials launched a measles dashboard on Sept.

15 to track 57 confirmed cases statewide (six in New York City and 51 in other regions) and urged residents to update their MMR vaccinations.

UAlbany Women's Rowing team announced its fall 2026 schedule with four regattas.

The season opens Sunday, Sept. 27 at the Mohawk Fall Classic on the Mohawk River in Schenectady (local) and continues in Hartford on Oct. 4, Boston on Oct. 17 to Oct. 18, and Saratoga on Oct. 24.