Good morning, Albany.

Mookie Wilson has opened Mookie Wilson's Legacy BBQ, a Southern-style barbecue restaurant, in the historic War Room building downtown, turning his family's catering business into its first brick-and-mortar location + offering South Carolina recipes to the Capital Region.

Market 32 and Price Chopper will sell a Thanksgiving Feast for 10 for under $40 from Nov.

1 through Thanksgiving Day when purchased with a registered AdvantEdge Rewards card + tax. Fully cooked takeout meals can be ordered Nov. 3–Nov. 16 for pickup Nov. 24–26 + supplies are limited.

More than 100 high school students gathered Thursday morning at Capital Region BOCES for the fifth annual Elevating Student Voices program to discuss rising reports of racism and train as DEI facilitators.

Organizers plan two more student sessions at BOCES on Dec. 4 and March 12, and a youth summit at Proctors Theatre on April 28.

Albany Medical Center says some babies may need another Hep B dose after certain vaccine vials were stored briefly below the manufacturer’s recommended temperature range; affected families have been notified and parents should contact the hospital with questions.

UAlbany sociology professor Samantha Friedman is leading a two-year, $452,409 NIH-funded study to link 1940s mortgage-disinvestment grades to longevity for people born 1930–1940 in New York City, with students digitizing 1940 and 1950 census maps now and analysis planned in year two.

Albany Med notified parents that some newborns received potentially faulty Hepatitis B vaccines and is asking families to bring infants back for re-vaccination; hospital officials said the doses do not pose a health threat.

Flu season is starting about six weeks early, with cases up 19% and hospitalizations up 17% statewide and activity already widespread in the Capital Region.

State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald urges vaccination (it takes two weeks for full protection) and asks sick people to stay home; the state launched a respiratory dashboard (flu, COVID-19, RSV).

UAlbany's Drive the Lane with UAlbany Hoops returns for the 2026-27 season and will air Mondays starting Monday, Nov.

2 (5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.) live at City Line Bar and Grill on Western Ave and on 104.5 The Team, with each episode posted the next day on Spotify, Amazon Music, and Apple Music.