NEW YORK — Newly minted state Health Department Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett committed to transparent collaboration with Gov. Kathleen C. Hochul and New Yorkers in her first state public address Thursday, hitting the ground running in fighting the newly identified omicron COVID-19 variant.

MALONE — The fourth annual Parade of Lights rolled down Main Street on Saturday night, drawing a crowd to the village.

MALONE — An annual sign of the season, the holiday gala welcomed families to Arsenal Green Saturday afternoon during the first weekend of December.

MALONE — New COVID-19 cases continue to increase in Franklin County, with over 300 active cases reported and more than 700 people currently in quarantine or isolation.

MALONE — Local lawmakers approved the renewal of the Franklin County Office for the Aging’s contracts between Franklin County Public Transportation and local adult centers ahead of their board meeting Thursday.

MALONE — For the second consecutive day COVID-19 cases within the county jumped by a substantial margin and there are now over 300 active cases in Franklin County.

MALONE — The Malone Town Council voted to accept the resignation of one of the town’s justices during a special meeting Thursday evening.

MALONE — A recent spike in COVID-19 cases has impacted hospitals in Franklin County and other local hospitals in the University of Vermont Health Network.

NEW YORK — Gov. Kathleen C. Hochul will not implement new statewide COVID-19 mandates after health officials Thursday confirmed five New Yorkers have contracted the omicron variant.

MALONE — Due to an increasingly high number of COVID-19 cases, a declaration of a State of Emergency within the jurisdiction of Franklin County went into effect Thursday morning during a county Board of Legislatures meeting.