Capital Region News

Albany, New York is making national headlines again - for all the wrong reasons.

More hats are in the ring for area mayoral contests - races in the the cities of Saratoga Springs and Albany are heating up...

Saratoga Springs City Supervisor Joanne Yepsen announced her candidacy for mayor on Monday. The Democrat says the Spa City needs “a mayor who has a proven track record of putting partisan politics aside to do what’s best for the city.” 

The 54-year old Yepsen, a member of the County Board of Supervisors, lost in a 2010 bid for the 43rd state Senate seat against then-Senator Roy MacDonald. 

Albany Medical Center is joining a multi-center trial, testing the eggs of the pig parasite whipworm as a potential treatment for Crohn’s disease. 

Crohn's is a severe and debilitating form of inflammatory bowel disease.   For the trial, Crohn’s patients will ingest 7500 microscopic parasite eggs in a tablespoonful of salt water (called TSO suspension) every two weeks for 12 weeks. Another group will be given a placebo. In people, this special form of the parasite egg survives only about two weeks and does not cause infection.

This weekend University at Albany Students will pitch in a neighborhood clean-up initiative.

On Sunday UAlbany students will be in the Pine Hills section of Albany to assist with the annual spring clean-up. Organizers say the event illustrates the cooperation between residents and the many students who live in the popular neighborhood.

The clean-up will be held from noon to 3 p.m., rain or shine, and will begin at the entrance to Albany's Ridgefield Park on Partridge Street, just below Myrtle Avenue.