With the 34-mile Adirondack Rail Trail now completed, the Adirondack Rail Trail Association is turning its attention to making the trail a more well-defined and integral part of the communities it skirts on its way from Lake Placid to Tupper Lake. The Times Union reports Brian Greene, vice chair of ARTA, likened it to an interstate system: “The highway has been completed, now we need the off-ramps,” he said. Those off ramps — which include clear signage and side routes into hamlets — will help riders mingle in shops, restaurants and attractions, giving a lift to local economies.

The New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection is providing consumers tips to navigate store return and refund policies. The National Retailer Foundation estimates that consumers will return $849.9 billion worth of merchandise this year, or 15.8 percent of retailers’ total projected annual sales. Consumers should be aware of laws that protect them so they can make informed decisions about holiday returns and understand what to look for when reviewing store policies.

Assemblyman Michael S. Cashman is settling into his new role in the state capitol ahead of the legislative session, and on Monday was appointed to chair the Task Force on New York-Canada Relations, a working group meant to foster close social and economic relations, reports the Adirondack Daily Enterprise.

The Atlantic City Expressway will stop accepting cash at its tolls on Sunday, Jan. 4, and drivers without an E-ZPass will be billed more than double the fare amount per trip. PhillyVoice.com reports the South Jersey Transportation Authority said the transition to all-electric payments will make it more convenient for drivers, and the increase for vehicles without a windshield-mounted transponder is due to the additional costs for image processing, billing, postage and collections, the authority said. The opportunity for public comment on the changes will close Tuesday. Tolls will increase by 3% to $6.30 per trip. For drivers without an E-ZPass, bills will include a 100% surcharge and $1 invoice fee for a total of $13.60 per trip.

While Marylanders are used to high costs of living, the end of 2025 is delivering a rare financial victory. For the first time in nearly half a decade, average gas prices across the Old Line State have dipped to levels not seen since 2020, providing a massive “holiday bonus” to commuters and families alike. As of December 29, 2025, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded in Maryland has dropped to $2.77, a significant 14-cent decrease from this time last year. Even more shocking for residents is the emergence of “price wars” in local metros, where some stations are undercutting the state average by nearly 40 cents.

On Christmas Eve, approximately 50 horses escaped their confines and had to be corralled in Kent County. The Kent County News reports, according to Kent County Sheriff Dennis Hickman, six sheriff’s deputies, including one off-duty, and one on overtime assignment and two Maryland State Troopers closed down roads from Vansant Corner to Locust Grove Road near Route 213 the night of Dec. 24. The agency did not identify the farm or owners, nor could they comment on how the equines came to be loose. The horses escaped approximately 4:30 p.m. and all were back safely around 7 p.m., Hickman said.

State officials announced West Virginia has secured $199 million in federal funding through the Rural Health Transformation Program. The funds will be used to modernize health care delivery, expanding access, address workforce shortages and assist rural facilities statewide, according to a news release from Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s Office. The news release said the funding is nearly double the guaranteed minimum. The funding will be distributed next year, marking the start of a five-year award period.

When someone is discharged from the hospital they usually go home, but what if that person has no home to go to? That can be a problem, especially if the patient requires additional home health care services, so the Huntington City Mission and Marshall Health have joined forces for a unique solution. City officials are now looking to create a space for discharged patient who are homeless in the form of a medical respite facility. Dr. Adam Franks, who heads the department of family and community health at Marshall University, outlined the problem. Franks said. “There are places that have medical respite housing in other states, but this is a new idea for West Virginia.” At these facilities, patients get the necessary health care after their hospital stay.

A disturbing domestic violence case is moving toward a Kanawha County grand jury. Jason Phillips was charged in the murder of his wife at their home on Allens Fork Road in Sissonville earlier this month. Joanna Phillips was found dead in the home after 911 received a call, allegedly from Jason Phillips stating he’d fatally shot his wife.The details of that call were the focus of Monday’s hearing. The information came from a sheriff’s detective over defense objections that his recollection of the 911 tape was hearsay. After hearing testimony, Magistrate Joe Shelton, who had granted the earlier release on his signature, determined there was probable cause Phillips committed the murder. Monday’s ruling sends the case to the Kanawha County Circuit Court and likely presentation of the case to a grand jury.

Deputies said a missing Kanawha County teenager has been located.Jax Deraimo, 16, was reported missing from the Cross Lanes area over the weekend, according to the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office. An update from deputies said the teen was found on Monday.