By Marina Villenueve
Anyone who gets vaccinated at select state-run vaccination sites in New York next week will receive a lottery scratch ticket with prizes potentially worth millions, as Gov. Andrew Cuomo tries to boost slowing vaccination rates.
The pilot program will offer prizes from $20 up to $5 million and run from Monday, May 24 to Friday, May 28 at 10 state-run sites, Cuomo said Thursday.
“It's a situation where everyone wins,” Cuomo said at a press conference in Buffalo.
The governor said there's a one in nine chance of winning a scratch ticket prize in New York, which is joining other states, including Ohio, with similar lottery incentives. Only residents 18 and older are eligible, according to a press release.
New York also plans to set up pop-up vaccination sites at seven airports across the state for U.S. residents, including airport workers.
New York has fully vaccinated about 43% of its 20 million residents, above the national average of 37.8%.
Still, Cuomo said the pace of vaccinations has slowed: New York has recorded an average of 123,806 daily shots in arms over the past 14 days. That's down 43% from 216,040 as of April 12.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences is adding new rules for movies to qualify for Best Picture.
The second season of 'And Just Like That' kicked off amid mixed reviews.
The Paley Center in New York is holding an immersive exhibit to celebrate the 25th anniversary of 'Will & Grace.' Cheddar News took a peek at the exhibit to mark the anniversary and celebrate Pride month.
Owin Pierson, LGBTQ+ activist and mental health advocate, joined Cheddar News which Pride brands and products to purchase that support the LGBTQ+ movement ahead of celebrations this weekend and as anti-LTBGQ+ backlash is on the rise.
San Francisco put up the largest pink triangle on the city's Twin Peaks viewpoint ahead of its Pride celebration this weekend.
Kesha and producer Dr. Luke have settled a legal dispute from nearly a decade ago. Kesha had accused Dr. Luke of sexual assault and he countersued her for defamation.
Randy Wicker, a pioneer in the movement for LGBTQ+ rights and who's serving as the grand marshal for New York City's Pride parade, sat down with Cheddar News to reflect on his years of activism and why he's doing it.
Police officers in South Carolina made sure that a birthday party for one little girl with cerebral palsy was extra special.
A rare Maurice Sendak picture story, originally a pamphlet for a 1970 museum fundraiser, will be coming out in book form next year.
National test scores fell significantly for 13-year-old students, which is being attributed to the pandemic.
