JANUARY 27– 4:15 PM EST– YOUR LOCAL EPIDEMIOLOGIST ON COMMUNITY IN CRISIS

Posted on January 27, 2026 by John Bailey

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Community and crisis

What can we do?

Katelyn Jetelina

Jan 26

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Today, you may be expecting the weekly YLE Dose on all the health issues filling the world and what it means to you. The flu, the U.S. pulling out of the WHO, or any of the other things that are important, but they feel minuscule after this weekend.

I will get back on track soon, but I just needed to take a minute. Because I don’t know about you, but my weekend was full of really hard juxtapositions:

“Mom, can you make me pancakes?” Breaking news: a second person, a 37-year-old man, killed by ICE.

Pile into the car for the girls’ dentist appointment. I checked my phone again—an ICU nurse, a friend of a friend, killed while helping another woman on the street.

Back in the dentist chair, my daughter whispered, “I don’t want a cavity filled. Can you hold my hand?” Another alert came through: videos appear to contradict federal accounts.

We left the dentist and headed out to sell Girl Scout cookies. “Mom, can we listen to Taylor Swift?” Another check of my phone: a photo of Liam’s school cubby. Five-year-old Liam was taken by ICE days earlier. His principal shared the image. Twenty other students from his school were missing, too.

“Mom,” my daughter asked, watching my face, “why are you crying?”

Then we are supposed to just go back to work on Monday? Moving straight into the usual rhythm feels strange and almost inappropriate, like talking about the weather while the ground is shaking. The news and social media are overwhelming, but what feels hard for me to name is the dissonance: how life keeps moving forward even when it feels like it should stop. And for others, it’s the opposite: being stuck at home because of the winter storms, scrolling, absorbing every emotion with nowhere to put it down, unable to move at all.

At its core, our country’s values are being tested in real time—safety, integrity, justice, empathy, resilience, civic duty—and the strain is visible everywhere. The divide feels so wide it can seem unfixable. This rhythm, this mental load, is heavy and exhausting, filled with extraordinary grief, fear, anger, frustration, and helplessness.

So I want to say something plainly, because it doesn’t seem to be said out loud often enough: This is not how a healthy society is supposed to feel. And I’m feeling really sad about it.

What can we do?

If we have to keep this society running (and we do), then we must decide what kind of society we are running. That happens through choices and actions.

I keep looking to Minneapolis for inspiration, because beams of hope continue to break through the cracks:

Even amid a humanitarian crisis, my girlfriend (ten blocks from where Alex was killed) helped start an underground medical support unit for families in need.
Even as churches asking for supplies are being targeted, and friends delivering groceries are harassed, people are still finding ways to move resources. A local sex shop quietly became a donation center.
Even with trust between enforcement and communities nearly nonexistent, Minnesota National Guard members began sharing donuts and coffee as a demonstration of safety and security.
50,000 neighbors showed up peacefully for families by marching and using their voices. Other neighborhoods are gathering in the streets to sing. Vigils are planned so grief doesn’t have to be carried alone.

Although many of us aren’t physically in Minneapolis, we can show up in the same vein: purposefully, filled with social support, and importantly, with agency to protect our humanity, wellbeing, values, and society:

Take care of your mental health. Do not keep watching the videos of the victims. As my friend and gun violence expert, Megan Ranney, said, we have so much literature in gun violence research showing that media exposure results in numbness, nightmares, anxiety, and all the symptoms of PTSD.
Surround yourself with community. Tonight, there’s a national, online virtual, nonpartisan mom event. If you’re a mom, I hope to see you there. I’m hosting a few girlfriends at my house so we can watch together.
Donate where it matters:
1. Stand with Minnesota: a resource hub connecting you with mutual aid funds, legal support, food assistance, rent help, and volunteer opportunities
2. MPLS Mutual Aid LinkTree: Central hub for Minneapolis-based mutual aid efforts, like food distribution, support groups, and local collaboration links
3. MN NOICE: Statewide directory of organizations that support immigrants and refugees
4. Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota
5. Community Aid Network (CANMN), which organizes weekly free food distributions across the Twin Cities and supports volunteer participation
Call your representatives. Here are some tips.

The fact that so many are still choosing care means this doesn’t have to be permanent.

Sending love, solidarity, and steadiness to all of you.

Love, YLE

Your Local Epidemiologist (YLE) is founded and operated by Dr. Katelyn Jetelina, MPH PhD—an epidemiologist, wife, and mom of two little girls. YLE reaches more than 425,000 people in over 132 countries with one goal: “Translate” the ever-evolving public health science so that people will be well-equipped to make evidence-based decisions. This newsletter is free to everyone, thanks to the generous support of fellow YLE community members. To support the effort, subscribe or upgrade below:

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JANUARY 27–3:45 PM EST– BIG CHILL BEGINS AT MIDNIGHT. ARCTIC DOME OVER WHITE PLAINS WILL LOWER TEMPS TO -8 TO -5 DEGREES BELOW ZERO

Posted on January 27, 2026 by John Bailey

FROM THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS:

Another round of arctic air has arrived and will be with us through the weekend.

In particular, the National Weather Service has issued a Cold Weather Advisory from Midnight tonight through 10 AM on Wednesday morning with sub-zero wind chills as cold as -5 to -8 expected overnight tonight.

We urge you not to be outside over the coming days for long periods of time if you can avoid it.

The Dept. of Public Safety additionally advises to be aware that there may be black ice on the roads and ice on the sidewalks.

The City of White Plains offers the following resources for residents who need a respite from the cold or are experiencing power/heating issues:

White Plains Public Library – 100 Martine Ave, Hours: Mon-Thurs 10 AM – 9 PM, Fri 10 AM – 6 PM, Sat 10 AM – 5 PM, Sun 1 – 5 PM

White Plains Community Center – 65 Mitchell Place, Hours: Mon-Fri, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM

JANUARY 27– 2:45 PM– NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED INCREASES 3RD STRAIGHT MONTH IN HUDSON VALLEY

Posted on January 27, 2026 by John Bailey

Hudson Valley Region:

The December 2025 unemployment rate for the Hudson Valley Region is 3.2 percent. That is down from 3.4 percent in November 2025 and up from 3.0 percent in December 2024.

In December 2025, there were 39,600 unemployed in the region, down from 42,000 in November 2025 and up 36,700 in December 2024. Year-over-year in December 2025, labor force increased by 28,600 or 2.4 percent, to 1,237,900.

The Hudson Valley Region’s December 2025 unemployment rate (3.2 percent) is tied with the Long Island Region for the lowest rate among the 10 labor market regions in New York State.

Hudson Valley 3.2 percent
Long Island 3.2 percent
Capital Region 3.3 percent
Finger Lakes 3.7 percent
Central New York 3.8 percent
Southern Tier 4.0 percent
Mohawk Valley 4.1 percent
Western New York 4.1 percent
North Country 4.5 percent
New York City 5.4 percent

In December 2025, the lowest unemployment rate within the region (2.8 percent) was recorded in Putnam County.

Putnam County 2.8 percent
Rockland County 3.0 percent
Westchester County 3.1 percent
Dutchess County 3.2 percent
Ulster County 3.5 percent
Orange County 3.6 percent
Sullivan County 3.6 percent

JANUARY 26– NEW! 12 NOON WHITE PLAINS DPW TRAFFIC SNOW REMOVAL REPORT FROM THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS

Posted on January 26, 2026 by John Bailey

GOOD AFTERNOON WHITE PLAINS RESIDENTS.

YESTERDAY’S STORM BROUGHT US 14-15 INCHES OF SNOW!

OUR AMAZING DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS CREWS WILL CONTINUE THEIR SNOW REMOVAL OPERATIONS THIS WEEK.

CURRENTLY, THEY HAVE FINISHED SALTING THE MAIN ROADS AND ARE CONTINUING TO SALT THE SECTIONS. SHOULD HAVE BEEN COMPLETED THIS MORNING.

DPW IS PREPARING TRUCKS FOR SNOW REMOVAL OPERATIONS TONIGHT IN THE DOWNTOWN STARTING WITH MAMARONECK AVE AT MAIN STREET AND WORKING THEIR WAY DOWN THE AVENUE. THE CITY’S PAYLOADER OPERATORS WILL BE REMOVING LARGE SNOWMOUNDS AT TRAFFIC ISLANDS AND NEAR TURNING LANES WHERE THEIR OUR SIGHT LINE ISSUES.

THIS AFTERNOON, DPW WILL BEGIN CLEARING SNOW FROM CROSSWALKS.

FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEK. DPW WILL CONTINUE ITS SNOW REMOVAL OPERATIONS THEN TRANSITION TO CLEARING PARKING LOTS WHERE SNOW WAS PILED UP FROM PLOWING.

GARBAGE OPERATIONS ARE PROCEDING ON THE NORMAL SCHEDULE.

YOU JUST CAN’T HOLD DPW DOWN!

(Editor’s Note: This is a breakthrough in communications initiated by the new Mayor Justin Brasch administration: timely in real time report on progress on clearing city roads of the largest snow storm I can remember. This morning the roads in the neighborhoods had preliminary clearing in place and by noon my neighborhood was done)

JANUARY 26—STOPPED! FINALLY 17 HOUR SNOW STORM DROPS 16 INCHES ON WHITE PLAINS DRIFTS AND LOTS OF SHOVELFULLS

Posted on January 26, 2026 by John Bailey

JANUARY 25– FLAKE-BY-FLAKE SNOW REPORT: THE BIG WHITE CONTINUES AT 5 INCHES AN HOUR APPROXIMATE PACE

Posted on January 25, 2026 by John Bailey

WPCNR WEATHER. jANUARY 25, 2026 4 P.M. UPDATED 10:40 P.M.

At the 10:40 PM hour, a fine rain is now falling, accumulation has essentially topped out in what has been one of most intense snowstorms afflicting White Plains in years.

More shoveling awaits us tomorrow morning. White Plains Schools are closed Monday.

After a second clearing of snow, it is clear the pace of the largest snowstorm to hit White Plains in two winters, by my recollection, that the powdery consistency of the white event aided by its organization and intensity of flake ordinance is continuing to replace snow already plowed, shoveled or snowblown away at the same speed as it is removed.

It took your shoveling reporter, John Bailey, another hour and 15 minutes to clear sidewalk and 90 foot driveway refilled with the windblown white .

My surprise was after completing shoveling in an hour 15 minutes, 1 hour later the drive was refilled again.

The rough total after two snow removals was 12 inches, and seeing another 2 inches have happily refilled the driveway. We are going to be close to 16 inches or more.

The growing problem, the DPW faces is the powdery drifting llightness of the snow. It does not pile or collect well. Walks residue has now piled to about 3 feet. And it has a tendence to collapse or create mini-avalanches.

If this stops by midnight the shovel jobs tomorrow will be another chore.

JANUARY 25– 4 P.M EST PLOWING PROGRESS STILL SNOWING AT 5 INCHES AN HOUR

Posted on January 25, 2026 by John Bailey

WPCNR THE LETTER TICKER

The town of Greenburgh has 131 miles of roads that we must plow. Crews have been working since 7 AM today and won’t stop until all the roads in town are passable and in good shape. We have 35 town snow vehicles/trucks on our roads. It could take about three hours for each of the trucks to complete their route before they come back and start over again.

If snow is coming down fast enough a road can look like it never was plowed minutes after the plow goes through. Plowing isn’t a one and done thing—it’s a constant loop. Snow falls, plows clear it, snow immediately covers the road again. When snowfall rates are high accumulation outpaces plowing. Add wind, drifting, and it looks untouched.

The reality is that crews are working nonstop. Plows don’t stop the snow. They only remove what already is fallen.

PAUL FEINER
Greenburgh Town Supervisor

Stay informed. Sign up for email alerts about the Town of Greenburgh by clicking https://www.greenburghny.com/list.aspx There is a new “Public Hearings Alert” solely to notify you of all public hearings scheduled by the Greenburgh Town Board, Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals. Enter your email address and click on “Public Hearings Alert” on the list to get the public hearing alerts.

JANUARY 25– SNOW FLAKE-BY-FLAKE: THE BIG WHITE CONTINUES AT 5 INCHES AN HOUR AT 12:30 PM EST 1 P.M.:TEMP 18 DEGREES WIND 13 MPH GUSTING TO 26. DRIFTING ESCALATES

Posted on January 25, 2026 by John Bailey

WPCNR FLAKE-BY-FLAKE FLASH By John F. Bailey. January 25, 2026:

The Sunday snow started at 7 A.M. this morning and by 10:15 A.M had accumulated approximately 5 inches.

The is a skier’s dream: fluffy white power which when you swerve to a stop makes all the lady skiers take notice.

It took this official shoveler and snow blower pilot 1 hour and 20 minutes to clear my driveway of 5 inches of snow.

However, the snow is continuing it’s 5 inches an hour accumulation rate. One hour later the 5 inches of slow I cleared from my 90 foot driveway had been replaced.

At this rate the snow as beautiful as it is continues the pace of its original forecast by The Weather Channel of 16 inches.

I reckon it will take two more clearings with the snow blower to get the driveway clear.

I await the battery recharging which should be just about done.

It is a relentless 45 degree angle of fall continuing at this hour.

The temperature is 16 WPCNR SNOWY DEGREES, and the surface under the fallen snow is a wet slippery causing uncertain footing with steering the snowblower.

I warn you after an hour out in this Arctic cold, your fingers become numb in your gloves and your toes become numb even in your L.L. Bean snow boots.

I cross my fingers that this snow will not last until Monday evening.

I also suggest you clear it in three stages.

John Bailey reporting from my driveway in a Very White White Plains New York USA, where at 1 P.M. i have to advise you the wind has picked up, it is now 18 degrees with the wind at 13 miles hour gusting to 26 miles an hour enhancing the drifting effect and escalating the difficulty in clearing the “Great White” in an orderly manner that will last.

In fact this drivewat as of 11:15 was cleared to the blackgtop, now at 1:15 PM it is completed been replaced with new snow.

JANUARY25– WHITE PLAINS SCHOOLS CLOSED TOMORROW MONDAY

Posted on January 25, 2026 by John Bailey

JANUARY 24–SNOW ADVISORY FROM THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS

Posted on January 24, 2026 by John Bailey

This is a message from the City of White Plains.

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch for Sunday, January 25th through Monday, January 26th. Snow is expected to be heavy at times with significant accumulation.

The City’s Department of Public Works crews will be working through the storm to clear roads as quickly and completely as possible. Snow is expected to be heaviest from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM on Sunday, with high snowfall rates, causing near white-out conditions at times and significantly impacting road conditions. Please refrain from unnecessary travel during this storm.

In order to enable DPW to do their job it is vital that vehicles not be left parked on the street. As a courtesy, the City of White Plains is offering free parking to White Plains residents for vehicles registered to addresses within the City of White Plains in the Hamilton-Main Garage starting at 5:00 PM on Saturday, January 24th until Monday, January 26th at 10:30 AM. All other garages, lots and on street parking will remain subject to normal enforcement. There will be strict enforcement of the City’s ban on overnight on-street parking, as vehicles left on the street impair the City’s ability to clear snow, creating hazardous conditions and lengthening the storm’s impact.

Thank you for your cooperation and please stay safe.

Thank you, The City of White Plains