MidHudson News is reporting that Governor Kathy Hochul, on August 8, signed legislation sponsored by state Senator Michelle Hinchey, a Democrat from Saugerties, to help low-to-moderate income seniors cover the costs of emergency home repairs through the Residential Emergency Services to Offer Home Repairs to the Elderly, or RESTORE, program. Two companion bills were also signed to expand property tax relief for seniors and first-time homebuyers. The RESTORE program is available statewide. It helps seniors remain living independently and safely in their homes by funding needed structural, electrical, plumbing, and heating repairs, accessibility modifications, and appliance replacements. Hinchey’s bill, supported by the Rural Housing Coalition, improves the RESTORE program by increasing the maximum cost allowed per project to $20,000 and extending the construction deadline for projects to 60 days. The other pieces of legislation signed by the Governor this week include bills to expand tax relief for New York homeowners. Read the full story at MidHudsonNews [dot] com.

Roger Hannigan Gilson is reporting for the Times Union that a man fell to his death in Durham after being pulled over by a state trooper late on August 8. Christopher Stanton, 40, a resident of Hunter, was found lying at the bottom of a ravine after running from the traffic stop. Stanton was operating his pickup truck when a trooper pulled him over at the intersection of County Route 67 and O'Hara Road in Durham just after 11:30 p.m. for a vehicle and traffic violation, according to State Police. Stanton ran from his vehicle into the woods on the west side of the road. The trooper followed and eventually found Stanton at the bottom of a steep rock embankment. State Police spokesperson Trooper Steven Nevel said the chase was "very brief. ...[Stanton] ran into the wood line and that was it." The trooper heard moaning and was able to locate the man. Stanton was conscious after the fall and during his rescue, talking to troopers and EMS personnel, according to Nevel. The trooper administered first aid until Greenville EMS, Greene County Paramedics, and the Sheriff's Office arrived and transported him to Albany Medical Center via helicopter, where he was pronounced dead from his injuries. Read more at Times Union [dot] com.

Andrea Macko is reporting for Porcupine Soup that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is continuing its investigation into an alum spill on August 7, at the Catskill village water treatment facility in Coxsackie. The spill resulted in a fish kill in the nearby Potic Creek. According to the DEC, approximately 1,500 gallons of aluminum salts, or alum, leaked from a broken pipe. That leak has since been repaired. DEC Fisheries employees were at the creek Aug. 8, removing fish and assessing the situation. The flow of the creek is at a trickle and the sediment left by the alum has not moved, the agency stated. Potic Creek is not a public drinking water source, and the DEC emphasized there is no public health threat from the spill. “The facility is currently cleaning up impacted water from its settling ponds and lagoons to ensure that it is not discharged and there are no further impacts to the creek,” the DEC stated. “In the meantime, alum does not bioaccumulate, so other wildlife that may feed on the dead fish are not impacted.” The DEC’s investigation is ongoing. Read the full story at porcupinesoup [dot] com.

Today's daily news update.

Ted Remsnyder reports for Columbia-Greene Media that the town of Copake is continuing its lawsuit against the New York State Office of Renewable Energy Siting regulations, as a large solar energy projects is proposed for the town. Copake is the lead petitioner for a group of 11 towns and conservation organizations appealing a previous court ruling allowing the regulations. Almost everyone agrees that the planet is warming, and that renewable energy is better for the environment than fossil fuels, which often come with payments to countries that harbor terrorists or have a history of human rights violations. But many communities are reluctant to host large renewable energy projects in their backyards. Here, the Copake lawsuits seeks to nullify the state Siting Office’s regulations and require the state agency to launch a new rule-making process that takes other factors into account. “Our clients respectfully disagree with the lower court’s ruling,” said the lawsuit's attorney Ben Wisniewski. “We believe the appellate court on a fresh review will agree that ORES failed to take a hard look at its regulations and how they can adversely impact the environment. We also believe the appellate court will acknowledge that ORES failed to issue any relevant standards for when it can waive local law, thereby violating the powers of local government.” The appeal was filed Aug. 2, a day after the Hecate Energy company provided a revised application to the state for the proposed Shepherd’s Run project, a 60-megawatt solar farm that would be built on a 220-acre parcel on Route 23 and Route 7 in Copake and Craryville if approved. The suit alleges that the the Siting Office’s regulations were written by a consulting firm, Tetra Tech, which is paid by New York State for design and siting services on renewable energy projects. The story only quotes those opposed to the state's regulations who are also opposed to renewable energy projects in their backyards. It does not quote anyone from the state, nor any renewable energy advocates. Read more about this story at HudsonValley360.com.

Steve Hughes reports for the Times Union that on Aug. 8 the Albany County Legislature voted for a law requiring gun stores in the county to hang signs warning about how firearms in homes lead to an increased chance of suicide and domestic violence. All 27 Democrats voted for the Albany County Commitment to a Safe Society bill, and all eight Republicans voted against. “This is a commonsense measure at the county level to address gun violence, and if this warning sign prevents just one suicide, accidental death, or domestic violence death it will be worth it,” Legislator Dustin Reidy said in a statement. Albany County Executive Dan McCoy would not say whether he would sign the bill into law. Republicans did not offer amendments to the bill in committee, but did at the last moment before the vote, though that amendment, stressing that illegal guns were more dangerous, failed to pass. Read more about this story in the Times Union.

New York State of Politics listens to Paul Rodriguez the Republican and Conservative Party candidate for New York state comptroller. He wants to unseat Tom DiNapoli, a Democrat from Long Island, who has held the position for 14 years. That might be tough, asNew York's Common Retirement Fund’s investment return for the past fiscal year was 9.51 percent. Rodriguez attacked DiNapoli for sometimes taking political issues into account when making investment decisions. “Frankly, I believe that it’s irresponsible and unethical for any public official to use the value of the pension fund, and the power that comes with that pension fund to push whatever personal, political agenda they have,” Rodriguez said. “Primarily, the reason for that is that politics and public opinion changes with time.” For instance, Rodriguez would have kept New York's investment with the Russian regime headed by the brutal dictator Vladimir Putin. “What [Putin] did was simply prohibit [foreign] investors from selling their shares on the Russian market,” he said. “As a result of that, we now have about half a billion dollars at the state level and probably another $300 million at the city level, that virtually has no value on our books because we can’t sell it..... [The job] shouldn’t be about virtue signal political leanings. It should be about doing what’s best in terms of prudence and in terms of ethics." Rodriguez worked on Wall Street and has been a financial advisor to affluent individuals and business owners, and is now, “a nonprofit development professional at a major New York City religious institution," according to Ballotpedia. Voting in the general election this year takes place Oct. 29 through Nov. 8. Read more about this story at New York State of Politics.

Syracuse.com reports that newly published photos show alleged White House documents from the administration of Donald Trump in a toilet, including one with local Rep. Elise Stefanik’s name on it. The New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman released two photos Aug. 8 of documents in a toilet, touting her forthcoming book. Haberman previously reported that the White House staff had found dumped documents clogging toilets during the Trump administration. Trump has denied flushing documents, and a spokesperson did so again after the two photos were published. Stefanik, though, has been mum on the issue so far. Trump's Florida estate was searched by the FBI on the same day the toilet photos were released. Read more about this story at Syracuse.com.

Today's daily news update.

Click above to download or play today's "Better Weather." Produced by Joe Demanso of the Catskill Makers Syndicate.

The Berkshire Eagle is reporting that the city of Pittsfield, Mass. on Aug. 8 implemented mandatory water restrictions that will last from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., every day. The water restriction plan, according to a news release from the city, is part of its Stage 2 Drought Management Plan. It will help ensure an adequate supply of water for fire protection and emergency response services. "Over the last month, we have identified a steep trend in the water level at the Cleveland Reservoir, and together with scarce significant rain we have made the decision to establish a Drought Watch," said Ricardo Morales, commissioner of the Pittsfield Department of Public Services and Utilities. While the water restrictions are in effect limited activities include the use of water out of doors, such as watering lawns and gardens, washing vehicles, and filling swimming pools. However, these activities will be allowed during the off-peak hours and on alternating days. Even-numbered addresses may water on even days of the month, while odd-number addresses may water on odd days of the month. The restrictions will be enforced by the Department of Public Services and Utilities. Violators will be fined. The first violation will result in a written warning; a $50 fine will be issued for a second violation; and a $300 fine will result for subsequent violations. "With these measures in place, the main goal is to slow the decline and ensure adequate water supply," Morales said. Read more in The Berkshire Eagle.

Ted Remsnyder is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media Cairo town officials are moving forward with heating and air conditioning upgrades at Cairo Town Hall. The town board voted unanimously on August 1, to enter into a contract with the Barton and Loguidice engineering firm, agreeing to pay them $43,000 for the design phase of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning project and a maximum of $21,100 for the bidding and construction phases of the work. The engineering firm has determined that the building's existing HVAC equipment is in fair condition, but past its useful life. “The existing systems are not energy-efficient and it is recommended that they be replaced with a new, more energy-efficient system,” according Barton and Loguidice's report. The firm recommended the installation of a pair of new variable air volume rooftop air handling units, a new split system variable air volume air handler in the building’s mechanical room, variable air volume boxes with hot water heating coils, new duct work distribution and a high efficiency condensing boiler system using propane. The cost of the project is expected to be $335,000. The town will pay for the renovation work with American Rescue Plan Act funding. Cairo Town Supervisor Jason Watts said the building will remain open while the HVAC repairs are underway. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Sam Rizzo is reporting for News10 [dot] com Filli’s Deli and Bakery is poised to open a third location in Columbia County. According to a post on Filli’s Facebook page, the new location will be at Tilden Plaza in New Lebanon. “We recently purchased Tilden Plaza in New Lebanon and we are excited to bring life back to this historic building,” according to the post. “This location will be a full-service affordable everyday market.” The new location will include a full deli, a butcher, a Jersey bakery, fresh produce, dairy products, and a frozen and grocery section. An opening date has not been announced yet. Filli’s has two other locations in Columbia County. In Valatie, at 3019 Main Street, and in Claverack, at 6 Park Street. Read the full story at News10 [dot] com.

Today's daily news update.

Liz Montgomery reports in Porcupine Soup that the Village of Catskill’s water system leaked about 1,500 gallons of aluminum salts into the Potic Creek in Coxsackie on Aug. 7. The creek is not a source of human drinking water, though countless animals rely on the water. The Village of Catskill’s water supply comes from the Potic Reservoir on Schoharie Turnpike in Coxsackie, with the plant on Potic Creek Road. Aluminum salt, or alum, is used by water treatment plants to clarify drinking water. New York State's Department of Environmental Conservation is investigating the spill, working to stop the flow into the Potic Creek, and collecting dead fish. Read more about this story in Porcupine Soup.

Patricia R. Doxsey reports for the Daily Freeman that Republican Marc Molinaro vaguely claimed Aug. 5 that he would oppose efforts by Congress to pass anti-abortion legislation if he was elected to represent the 19th Congressional District. But he also said, during a debate with Democrat Pat Ryan put on by the newspaper, that he is pro-life and that the recent Supreme Court ruling made it an issue for the states, not Congress. “I don’t believe after the Supreme Court decision that the federal government or Congress has much of a role at all," Molinaro said. “The federal government’s role has been severely limited by the Supreme Court decision and therefore it is now an issue that returns to the state governments.... We may not agree that we like that, but that is the way in which this constitutional democracy works.” Molinaro did not say specifically how he would vote on a national measure to ban abortion that is expected if Republicans win control of Congress. Nor did he say how he would vote on a measure to protect abortion rights nationally, which is expected if Democrats retain control of Congress. Abortion services are widely popular, with voters in conservative Kansas voting last week to retain the medical procedure there. Most Republican politicians, such as Molinaro, oppose abortion, and after the Kansas vote are attempting to downplay their own opinions on the issue. Molinaro called for “thoughtful limitations” on when an abortion can take place and criticized Ryan’s support for late-term abortions, which Molinaro said, need to be “scaled to the necessity only.” Ryan disagreed. “I cannot tell you the number of times on the campaign trail across this district in the most rural and suburban parts of this district, people have literally broken into tears in response to fundamental rights being ripped away by your party and the far right Republican party that is increasing, looking at Kansas just a few days ago as an example, disconnected from reality on the ground,” Ryan said. “What I believe and what I believe the vast preponderance of Americans who believe in freedom and privacy as enshrined in our constitution believe is that government, especially a bunch of men, have no place in making those decisions.” Molinaro and Ryan are in a special election Aug. 13 through Aug. 23, to finish the final few weeks of Democrat Antonio Delgado's NY19 term. Other candidates are running at the same time to represent the new 19th District in Congress starting next year. The winner of the Ryan-Molinaro election won't vote on the abortion issue in the few weeks they will hold office, but if either win in their different general elections in November, they could. Read more about this story in the Daily Freeman.

The Poughkeepsie Journal reports that New York will no longer ban state prison inmates from reading a book about the 1971 Attica Correctional Facility uprising after the author filed a First Amendment lawsuit. But state officials said they will continue to censor a two-page map of Attica from the Pulitzer-prize winning book because of security reasons. Author Heather Ann Thompson, a historian and professor at the University of Michigan, sued New York’s prisons in March because her 2016 book “Blood in the Water: The Attica Uprising of 1971” was not allowed in prisons. The book is about a prison uprising to protest years of mistreatment, where 39 inmates and staff died. No law enforcement officers were put on trial for their role in the massacre, and inmates accused of crimes were granted pardons and amnesty. “People have a right to read, and people have a right to history,” Thompson said in a statement when the lawsuit was filed. “We also have a right to have our books read. It’s a shame we live in a country where we censor people and ideas.” The state attorney general’s office announced the policy change in a letter to a U.S. judge in Manhattan, but said only paperback copies of the book where the map can be removed will be allowed in prisons. And now if a correctional facility rejects a request for an order of the book, prison officials must send tell Thompson. Read more about this story in the Poughkeepsie Journal.

Today's daily news update.

Click above to download or play today's "Better Weather." Produced by Joe Demanso of the Catskill Makers Syndicate.

Maura Rosner is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media Athens village Mayor Amy Serrago said again August 3, the village Board of Trustees has no intention of leaving the Athens Community Center notwithstanding the town board’s desire to move out and find or build a new town hall. “We are trying to come up with outside funding for a full engineering study,” Serrago said. “... The village offices will stay in the Community Center building no matter if the town stays or goes.” The village board recently commissioned an air quality study of the Community Center and some work has been done to improve the environment inside the building. “It feels much better, much cleaner,” Serrago said. “The dehumidifiers in the basement are draining into the sump pump. However, the hallway ones we have to figure out a better drainage system for.” The village board’s next step toward rehabilitating the center is to give it a good scrubbing. Athens is seeking estimates for scraping and cleaning the walls, Serrago said. Once that work is completed, the village Department of Public Works can begin sealing and painting the walls, the mayor said. Village officials have also been advised to remove the carpet, seal the exterior gaps between the sidewalks and the edge of the center and to repair the gutters. A joint meeting of the village board and the town board will be held on August 17, at the firehouse. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.