Randy Gorbman

Monroe County Sheriff Todd Baxter says that 51 people have been released from the county jail, at the direction of the New York State Division of Parole.

Baxter says that none of them had flu-like symptoms and there are no COVID-19 cases in the jail.

New York will be moving its presidential primary due to the coronavirus pandemic. Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Saturday that the April 28 primary will move moved to June 23, when a number of other federal, state and local elections are being held.

He said it just makes sense when officials are trying to limit the spread of the virus.

“I don’t think it’s wise to be bringing a lot of people to one location to vote. A lot of people touching one door knob, a lot of people touching one pen, whatever you call the new device on the ballots,” Cuomo told reporters.

Both Wegmans and Tops have added some additional safety measures at their stores, or are in the process of doing that now.

Wegmans and Tops are both putting plexiglass shields on at front end registers and pharmacy counters because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wegmans says its shields were first tested at the Chili store and have now been rolled out the other 100  locations.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo sounded his most dire warning yet about the coronavirus pandemic Tuesday, saying the infection rate in New York is accelerating and the state could be as close as two weeks away from a crisis that sees 40,000 people in intensive care.

Such a surge would overwhelm hospitals, which now have just 3,000 intensive care unit beds statewide.

The rate of new infections, Cuomo said, is doubling about every three days. While officials once thought the peak in New York would come in early May, they now say it could come in two to three weeks.

An iconic Rochester company will help in the effort to get protective face masks in the hands of some local medical professionals who are trying to gather more equipment due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hickey Freeman Tailored Clothing (HFTC), a clothing manufacturer that has been around for more than 120 years in Rochester, has announced that it will begin production of face masks for the medical staff at Rochester General Hospital.

In response to area school closings due to the coronavirus, WXXI-TV will begin broadcasting a “Learn At Home” schedule in support of families, educators, and students.

This new schedule, posted at WXXI.org/tv/schedules, will air from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays beginning Monday, March 23^rd.  WXXI Kids 24/7 channel will remain the same with PBS KIDS favorites for the youngest viewers.

Wegmans and Tops are both making another shift in their hours, in the wake of the big run in recent days on various products as many customers try to stock up due to concerns about the coronavirus.

Wegmans recently stopped 24-hour operation at some stores, closing from Midnight to 6am. Now, Wegmans says it will have all stores open from 7am to 10pm. Wegmans says it needs the additional off-hours to help restock and clean the stores.

It also has limited purchases of some products, as other stores have also done.

The start of the shipping season on Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River will be delayed by at least 12 days. It’s due to the efforts to try and deal with the possibility of flooding along the lakeshore.

The Department of Homeland Security says New York residents will be cut off from 'trusted traveler' programs because of a state law that prevents immigration officials from accessing motor vehicle records.

DHS officials say the New York law endangers national security by preventing federal agents from getting access to motor vehicle and criminal records in the state.

New York officials said the decision was politically motivated.

State funds have been approved as part of a $300 million effort to expand tourism and economic efforts along the Erie Canal.

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday that the New York Power Authority Board of Trustees has authorized a five year plan for the Reimagine the Canals Initiative.

Cuomo talked about that in his recent State of the State message.  The Power Authority Board also approved $30 million for projects this year which include The Brockport.