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Today’s edition · Tues., Nov. 3

New York's unemployment system is down for 9 to 12 days; wildfire closes Rensselaer trails

Plus, a new wildfire has closed state forests and trails in eastern Rensselaer County.

The Daily Albany team2 stories24 sources6 min read

State ServicesTop story

New York's unemployment system is offline for 9 to 12 days while it's upgraded

9 to 12 daysthe expected wait before the upgraded system is fully online

The department says all online and phone-based are unavailable until then.

Sources: NNY360, Mid Hudson News, Westfair Communications

If you collect unemployment in New York, the state's system is down right now. The Department of Labor took its online and phone services offline at 5 p.m. Monday for an upgrade. Until it's back, you can't file a new claim, certify for weekly benefits, or access or update your account.

Payments will be delayed, but you'll get every benefit you're entitled to once you file or certify in the new system, called . Commissioner Roberta Reardon says your account will show whether a claim is pending or paid, and you can do it all from a smartphone.

  • Work search: still log three activities a week unless exempt
  • Missed Monday's 5 p.m. deadline? File or certify once it's back
  • Businesses: NYS-1 and NYS-45 filings aren't affected
  • Updates: the department will notify customers when it's back

Businesses get 24/7 access to make payments, update accounts and answer claim questions, the department says.

The upgrade replaces technology more than 50 years old

3
work search activities a week to stay eligible
5 million+
users of the unemployment system
50+ years
age of the technology customers relied on

Sources: NEWS10 ABC, Mid Hudson News

Rensselaer County

A new wildfire has closed state forests and trails in eastern Rensselaer County

If you hike the Taconic ridge, skip it for now. The state says land is burning again in eastern Rensselaer County, in the area where firefighters battled a wildfire last week. The says crews are addressing the active fire, and about a week ago a fire burned about 250 acres in Rensselaer County and western Massachusetts, WAMC reports.

Four state forests and trails are closed until further notice

Closed areaType
Berlin State ForestState forest
Taconic Ridge State ForestState forest
Taconic Crest TrailTrail
Mattison Hollow TrailTrail

Sources: NEWS10 ABC, WAMC Northeast Public Radio

A DEC spokesperson called the fire "nothing to worry about" and said the goal is to keep people off the trail. The DEC rated the whole state at moderate wildfire risk Monday, and much of New York is abnormally dry. If you're having a campfire, keep it small and make sure it's completely out before you leave.

  • Closed until further notice: Mattison Hollow to Berlin Mountain
  • See a wildfire? Call 911 and give the location
  • Unattended campfire on DEC land: 1-833-697-7264
  • Put out a campfire: pour water, stir coals, check it's cool

The DEC rated New York's wildfire risk moderate on Monday

Rating set by State DEC

Moderate

  • Be extremely careful with outdoor fires
  • Keep campfires inside fire rings or pits
  • Embers can smolder for days or weeks
  • Call 911 if you see a wildfire

Sources: WKTV, WAMC Northeast Public Radio

View as table
LevelIn effect
Low
ModerateNow
High
Very high
Extreme

News Notes

Schenectady

Schenectady's budget is still a work in progress. The Daily Gazette reports the city failed to break the tax cap and violated its charter budget deadline, after it called a special meeting for Monday to pass the budget. The Times Union says officials are expected to advocate for more state aid in the next state budget to help plug a $14 million-plus deficit. Times UnionThe Daily GazetteThe Daily Gazette

USPS jobs

The U.S. Postal Service is holding seven job fairs in November, including one today at the Worcester Post Office from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and one Fri., Nov. 6 at the Albany General Mail Facility, 30 Karner Road. Starting pay is $21.89 an hour for rural carrier associates, $21.21 for city carrier assistants and $21.44 for sales and services distribution associates. NEWS10 ABC

USPS starting pay runs from $21.21 to $21.89 an hour

Source: NEWS10 ABC

View as table
Value
Rural Carrier Associate$21.89
Sales and Services Assoc.$21.44
City Carrier Assistant$21.21

CDTA

will change numerous routes across the Capital Region starting Nov. 29. Up-to-date schedules and trip times are on the CDTA website. NEWS10 ABC

Holiday Market

Albany County's new Holiday Market is set for Sat., Dec. 5, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at MVP Arena and along South Pearl Street. It's free, with local vendors, live music and visits with Santa, and it celebrates five years of the Innovation Partnership between Albany County and MVP Health Care. B95.5

Sectionals

Bethlehem won its second straight Class A field hockey title, beating top-seeded Guilderland 1-0 in sudden-death overtime on Lauren Brodeur's goal. In Class B boys soccer, Colden Harrison's header gave Schuylerville a 1-0 win over Broadalbin-Perth. WNYT.comTimes UnionNEWS10 ABCTimes Union

Home

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The Buy

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Apparel

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More worth The Buy

Around New York

HEAP

Applications for the Home Energy Assistance Program opened Monday. It could provide up to $1,086 this winter to low- and middle-income households and older adults, depending on how you heat your home. Apply at ny.gov/HEAP; Newsday reports the cost of home heating oil is up nearly 70% from a year ago. NewsdayWKTVMid Hudson News

$1,086the most a household could get from HEAP this winter

Benefit amounts depend on income, household size, heating source and whether the household includes a vulnerable member.

Sources: WKTV, Mid Hudson News

Early voting

Close to 2 million New Yorkers cast early ballots this year. That's a nearly 67% increase over 2022, the last time the state held midterm congressional elections and a race for governor. Auburn Citizen

Asked

Tap an answer to see how Albany answered.

Asked

How are you voting this year?

Be the first to answer.

Quoted

The truth will set you free. But not until it is finished with you.

— David Foster Wallace

Things to Do

Things to Do

Albany, NY

Tuesday, Nov. 3

See every Albany eventFeature your event

Asked

Tap an answer to see how Albany answered.

Asked

Will you head to Albany's new Holiday Market on Sat., Dec. 5?

Be the first to answer.

Today’s puzzles

A new puzzle in each one every morning, played right here.

All 13 games

Jobs

Jobs

Submit your Job listing

Do you know just the role for our readers? Advertise it on our Jobs board.

Around the Block

Around the Block

Powered by Nextdoor

Neighbors

Anyone know of someone renting a room.

“Im still trying to help a friend find a room he’s been temporarily staying with me since August and I’m only allowed guest for two weeks and that you can see it’s been almost too much. Fortunately, my housing manager has been kind however he has to find another place to go assisted living was going to help him, but…”

— A neighbor, Mansion Area

5 likes · 6 comments

View post

The Wrap

Halloween was barely in the rearview before the Capital Region's radios went full sleigh bells. Zoey 103.9 flipped to 24/7 Christmas music early Sunday morning, with B95.5 and 98.3 WTRY following soon after. According to RadioInsight.com, that makes Albany the first radio market this year with three all-Christmas music stations. Jingle away, we guess.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Albany County early voting wraps with 37,396 ballots cast, 3,917 on Saturday

Read yesterday’s edition

The Daily Albany teamAlbany’s daily newsletter

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Every source in this edition24 links · 14 outlets
  1. The Weather Channelweather.com
  2. NNY360nny360.com
  3. Mid Hudson Newsmidhudsonnews.com
  4. NEWS10 ABCnews10.com
  5. Westfair Communicationswestfaironline.com
  6. Times Uniontimesunion.com
  7. NEWS10 ABCnews10.com
  8. WAMC Northeast Public Radiowamc.org
  9. WKTVwktv.com
  10. Times Uniontimesunion.com
  11. The Daily Gazettedailygazette.com
  12. The Daily Gazettedailygazette.com
  13. NEWS10 ABCnews10.com
  14. NEWS10 ABCnews10.com
  15. B95.5b95.com
  16. WNYT.comwnyt.com
  17. Times Uniontimesunion.com
  18. NEWS10 ABCnews10.com
  19. Times Uniontimesunion.com
  20. Newsdaynewsday.com
  21. WKTVwktv.com
  22. Mid Hudson Newsmidhudsonnews.com
  23. Auburn Citizenauburnpub.com
  24. Albany events calendardailyalbanynews.com

Past issues

  1. Mon., Nov. 2Albany County early voting wraps with 37,396 ballots cast, 3,917 on Saturday
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Daily Albanyto me · Tues., Nov. 36:00 a.m.

New York's unemployment system is down for 9 to 12 days; wildfire closes Rensselaer trails

Plus, a new wildfire has closed state forests and trails in eastern Rensselaer County.

The TLDR

  1. Unemployment system is offline for 9 to 12 days during an upgrade
  2. A new wildfire closes forests and trails in Rensselaer County
  3. Schenectady's budget, CDTA route changes and a new Holiday Market
Read this edition

Around Albany

From NEWS10 ABC, The Daily Gazette and WRGB, gathered by TMI, 6AM City’s local news service.

More local news

  1. NEWS10 ABC2 hours ago

    Newcomers shine in UAlbany men’s basketball’s season-opening triumph over Rhode Island College

    A host of newcomers to the UAlbany men’s basketball team had impressive debuts in the Great Danes’ 74-67 win Monday night over Division III Rhode Island College to open up the 2026-27 campaign.

  2. NEWS10 ABC3 hours ago

    Averill Park holds off Schalmont to win Class A championship

    After conceding a goal in the opening two minutes of the Section 2 Class A championship game, the Averill Park boys soccer team responded with three unanswered goals to claim the crown with a 3-1 victory over Schalmont.

  3. NEWS10 ABC5 hours ago

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    DELMAR, NY (NEWS10) — With the Section 2 Class B boys soccer championship on the line, Schuylerville’s Colden Harrison connected on a header that found the back of the net to win the title game for the Black Horses 1-0 over Broadalbin-Perth. The contest began with the Black Horses controlling the play but could not

  4. The Daily Gazette5 hours ago

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  5. NEWS10 ABC6 hours ago

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    LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. (NEWS10) — The Siena women’s basketball team opened its 2026-27 campaign in emphatic fashion Monday night, knocking off Brown 82-71 at the UHY Center behind a pair of 20-point performances from Nicole Melious and Francesca Schiro. The Saints (1-0) secured their first season-opening victory since 2023-24 and their first opening-night win at home since

  6. NEWS10 ABC6 hours ago

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    LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Siena Women’s Basketball opened its 2026-27 campaign in emphatic fashion Monday night, knocking off Brown 82-71 at the UHY Center behind a pair of 20-point performances from Nicole Melious and Francesca Schiro. The Saints (1-0) secured their first season-opening victory since 2023-24 and their first opening-night win at home since 2022-23. Melious poured

    Also reported byWRGB