Joseph Spector reports in the Poughkeepsie Journal that Gov. Kathy Hochul started a mask mandate in the state Dec. 13, to slow the rising death count from COVID-19. But even with rising cases counts, hospitalizations, and deaths, officials in Greene and Dutchess counties are ignoring the mask mandate, and picking and choosing which state regulations to follow. "I’m not going to engage in a political discussion about this. This is just too important," Hochul said. "This is about getting us through a pandemic so we can finally say to everybody: You no longer need to wear a mask. Period. That (COVID) vaccines will be so routine for everyone that you won’t think twice about it just like every other vaccination." But Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro will let more deaths happen in his county. "As we educate & inform residents to take the necessary mitigation steps to protect themselves & those they love, we will not escalate tension or conflict or further burden our local small biz by allocating resources we do not have to this impractical & unenforceable measure," he wrote Dec. 12 on Twitter. The mask mandate in New York is in place through at least Jan. 15, requiring masks in all indoor public places in New York unless businesses or venues implement a vaccine requirement for entry. Read more about this story in the Poughkeepsie Journal.