Albany Weekend Rundown: $675K in Back Wages, Two Teens Stabbed and a Newborn Vaccine Scare

Albany and the wider New York area faced a busy news cycle on Friday. State officials announced a major wage recovery for retail workers. Meanwhile, police investigated a stabbing that wounded two teens, and a hospital warned parents about newborn vaccines.

The New York State Department of Labor announced it recovered $674,526 in back wages for 7,577 employees of The TJX Companies. TJX owns T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods, Homesense and Sierra. The department investigated about 185 New York locations for spread of hours violations. Under state law, employers must pay an extra hour at minimum wage when a worker’s shift stretches beyond 10 hours from start to finish.

After that investigation, the department asked TJX to audit its New York stores from August 2020 through August 2023. The company agreed and paid the money owed, and individual payments reached as high as $4,686. Commissioner Roberta Reardon said the department treats wage recovery as “a commitment we take seriously.” Furthermore, officials say they have returned more than $130 million to nearly 125,000 workers since 2021. Employees who suspect unpaid wages can file a complaint on the department’s website.

On the same day, violence shook an Albany neighborhood. Police say the stabbing happened around 4 p.m. on Washington Avenue near Quail Street. Officers arrived and found a 14-year-old and an 18-year-old with stab wounds to their upper torsos. Medics treated both teens at the scene, and then they took them to Albany Medical Center. Fortunately, police say neither teen has life-threatening injuries.

Later reports indicate that officers made an arrest. According to one local outlet, Albany police detained a 17-year-old from Albany in connection with the stabbings. However, the reports reviewed do not describe a motive or the events leading up to the attack. Police have not released further details, so the investigation appears to continue.

Another story unfolded inside Albany Medical Center itself. The hospital now faces renewed scrutiny after the state Department of Health discovered a vaccine storage problem. An estimated 500 newborns received hepatitis B vaccine doses that sat below the manufacturer’s recommended temperature range. Officials found the problem during a review of temperature logs, which they conducted to prepare for a site visit.

Hospital leaders and state officials stress that the doses pose no health risk. Nevertheless, the vaccine may not give babies full protection against hepatitis B. Therefore, Albany Medical Center sent letters to affected parents and to their children’s doctors. A hospital spokesperson said the letter explains “a repeat dose may be needed” for full protection. The hospital also apologized and added new safeguards.

The state is not stopping at an apology. Health officials ordered the hospital to submit a policy that covers temperature monitoring, prompt reporting of temperature excursions, and tracking of vaccine movement. In addition, state regulators will oversee the hospital’s corrective steps. Families with questions about their child’s vaccination should contact Albany Medical Center directly.

The news hit parents hard. Hillary Lohr, for example, said her newborn daughter received the hepatitis B shot before leaving the hospital. Like many parents, she trusted the process, so the announcement left her worried and searching for answers. Doctors typically give the first dose within hours of birth, which explains why so many families are affected at once.

Together, these three stories show how quickly local news can touch daily life. Workers gained back pay they earned years ago, and families in one neighborhood are coping with violence. Meanwhile, hundreds of parents now need to schedule a second vaccination visit. Sojworldnews will update each story as officials release more information.