Today's audio daily news update.

Tiffany Greenwaldt-Simon reports for Columbia-Greene Media the Greene County Mental Health Center is the latest local organization experiencing staffing issues. Greene County Mental Health Center Director Jason Fredenberg told the Greene County Legislature’s Health Services Committee on Dec. 6 that, “We were short-staffed for a while, we enjoyed several months of actually being fully staffed for a few months.... It was really nice, but we are once again short-staffed.” Fredenberg said that 10 people are currently waiting to be assigned to a doctor at the center, and 50 adults and 13 children are need their first intake appointment. Greene County Administrator Shaun Groden said they are working on ways to lure more help here. Groden said, “One of the items on the table is the elevation of the grade levels for these licensed clinical physicians to move up a step and try to get more people, because it’s not like we’re getting bad applicants, we’re getting no applicants.” Read more about this story at HudsonValley360.com.

Mid-Hudson News reports that the Dutchess County Legislature voted themselves large raises, adopting the $601 million 2024 county budget by a vote of 15-9 on Dec. 7. Members of the Conservative Party objected to the 68 percent pay raises put forth by Republicans days after the last election, at the farthest point from the next election. County Executive-Elect Sue Serino, a Republican, claims she is against the pay hikes, but won't take office in time to veto the budget that includes the large pay raises passed by her fellow Republicans. Read more about this story at Mid-Hudson News.

Raymond Pignone reports for Columbia-Greene Media that Hudson's Public Square is getting $500,000 for renovations from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Rep. Marc Molinaro made the announcement at his Leeds office, saying, “The Public Square is a beacon for the Hudson community, but unfortunately has been in a state of disrepair for decades.... I was proud to help advocate for repairs so this park can reach its full potential and be fully enjoyed by residents and families in Hudson.” The Public Square is where folks in Hudson gather to start parades, protest issues, and shop at a farmer's market. The funds will be used to repair the park’s cracked foundation, sidewalks, and benches, and improve the lighting. Dorothy Heyl, who co-chairs Friends of Public Square, said, “Friends of Public Square is grateful to Rep. Molinaro for supporting the grant from New York State Parks.... The grant will serve as a springboard for a comprehensive restoration of the Public Square, which will include a new fountain in addition to the basic improvements it covers.” Read more about this story at HudsonValley360.com.

Today's daily news audio update.

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

Tiffany Greenwaldt-Simon reports for Columbia-Greene Media that the Catskill Town Board voted on Dec. 5 to settle with Walmart over a tax dispute. Walmart wanted to lower their real estate tax assessment, and in the settlement the town agreed, reducing the assessed value of the Catskill store from $10.5 million to $8.8 million in 2024. The vote to settle was 3-to-2, with Dawn Scannapieco and Paul Vosburgh, Jr. voting against the settlement. Scannapieco said, “I feel like big businesses like Walmart receive so many breaks as it is, and a lot of small businesses could benefit more.... The revenue needs to be made up somewhere, and it’s going to be our hardworking citizens that have to make it up.” The story does not say just how much less the Walmart tax bill will now be. Catskill Town Assessor Audrey Higbee said, “It’s a pattern for them to file every three years against small towns.... It’s an opportunity for them to reduce their property values.” Read more about this story at HudsonValley360.com.

Tiffany Greenwaldt-Simon reports for Columbia-Greene Media that citizens in Athens can go solar now that the Village of Athens is partnering with Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Solstice Solar on a community solar farm. The company has six solar farms that serve Central Hudson customers in the area. Residents participating in the program use energy generated by the solar farms to lower electric bills, as much as a 10 percent decrease in electricity bills. Village Trustee Josh Lipsman said, “It’s a win-win-win situation.... It’s good for the environment, and good for residents because they get a 10 percent reduction in their energy bill, and a sign on bonus.” The program also gets Athens closer to a clean energy community designation from New York State's Energy Research and Development Authority. Only so many Athens residents can fit in the program, so anyone interested should contact the village soon. Lipsman said, “It’s not limited to the number of people, but the kilowatt capacity of the farm.” Read more about this story at HudsonValley360.com.

Paul Kirby reports for the Daily Freeman that Rep. Marc Molinaro and state Assemblyperson Chris Tague are complaining about a shortage of milk cartons. Molinaro, a Republican who represents the 19th Congressional District, said, “supply chain problems at one of the two major manufacturers of milk cartons in the United States.... has caused schools, hospitals, nursing homes, and other institutions in Upstate New York to forgo serving milk.” Molinaro wrote to the Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, asking him to use “any means at his disposal to swiftly provide relief and prevent a disruption like this from happening again.” Molinaro also said, “We saw how disruptive the baby formula shortage was.... If this supply chain disruption persists, it’s going to cause real harm for young people and local farmers.” Tague, a Republican who represents Greene and Schoharie counties, said, “There are obvious solutions like opting for recyclable plastic bottles or dispensers and cups, but the anti-milk Democrats aren’t even attempting to implement these options. How we handle this shortage will set a precedent for the availability of milk in schools, and right now, it is not going in the right direction.” No Democrats have come out against milk. Read more about this story in the Daily Freeman.

Today's daily news audio update.

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

Andrea Macko reports for Porcupine Soup that Greene County’s Health Services Committee made a dire warning about emergency medical services, and commissioned a study to find a solution. The committee unanimously approved a resolution that said, in part, “The future of the EMS system as it currently stands is in jeopardy of collapsing due to rising costs and staffing issues.” The mountaintop towns in particular want a countywide ambulance service. The resolution also said, “Several town supervisors have reached out to the county and voiced their concerns regarding the rising costs and staffing issues." The town of Hunter says its emergency responder costs are up $250,000 this year. Making the problem worse, emergency calls are up in Greene County from 7,323 calls in 2020, to 8,672 times in 2022. The full legislature will vote on approving the resolution and and hiring an independent group to study the issue at its next regular meeting on December 20. Read more about this story in Porcupine Soup.

Rep. Marc Molinaro appeared on the television show "Capital Tonight" on Dec. 6 and spoke about what he wanted to hear at the Republican presidential debate that night. Here is a short excerpt of what Molinaro said. Click here to play or download the Molinaro excerpt..

News10 in Albany reports that the flu is now so prevalent in New York State that mask requirements for certain healthcare workers are now in effect. New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald announced that unvaccinated healthcare workers must now wear masks in hospitals, nursing homes, diagnostic and treatment centers, certified home health agencies, long-term home health care programs, AIDS home care programs, licensed home care service agencies, limited licensed home care service agencies, and hospices. This week flu cases are up flu cases are up 34 percent in New York. McDonald said, “We have now declared that flu is prevalent in New York State, which means health care personnel who are not vaccinated against the flu this season need to take extra precautions and wear a mask in health care facilities, as they are exposed to sick patients and come into close contact with those most vulnerable to the flu.... Everyone 6 months of age and older should get the flu shot as it is the best way to protect yourself and will lessen the symptoms if you do get sick. It’s not too late; get your flu shot today.” Read more about this story at News10 in Albany.

Today's audio daily news update.

Luke Parsnow reports for New York State of Politics that Josh Eisen announced on Dec. 5 that he will run for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand. Eisen is a Westchester County businessperson who unsuccessfully ran for New York's 17th Congressional District in 2020. Eisen said, "Kirsten Gillibrand has been there for many many years and I think it's time now for there to be a different approach to how we deal with business, regulation, and ultimately it's about how we think about communities and big government and I am from the camp of people who strongly believe that big government be always questioned." The Gillibrand campaign released a statement Dec. 5 complaining about “his long, troubling and well-documented history of stalking, harassment, misogyny and racism.” In 2016, Eisen was arrested in New York City and charged with stalking his ex-business partner's wife. Gillibrand used to live outside of Hudson, and represented the 19th Congressional District before moving to the Senate. Read more about this story at New York State of Politics.

Joshua Solomon reports for the Times Union that new Speaker of the House Mike Johnson helped Rep. Elise Stefanik raise $1 million during an event at a Manhattan steakhouse over the weekend. The money is going to Stefanik's efforts to get $100 million for Republicans running for Congress in New York next year. Republicans flipped several seats in the 2022 election, helping to give them a now four-seat majority. Johnson said, “I will be back in New York often to ensure we work to raise the funds necessary to protect and expand our House Republican majority.” Stefanik is expected to give the $100 million to the campaigns of New York House Republicans Anthony D’Esposito, Andrew R. Garbarino, Nick LaLota, Mike Lawler, Nicole Malliotakis, Marc Molinaro, Brandon Williams, Nick Langworthy, and Claudia Tenney. Molinaro represents the 19th Congressional District in the Hudson Valley, and flipped that seat from Democrats in 2022. Read more about this story in the Times Union.

Jared Gans at The Hill reports that Gov. Kathy Hochul has set a special election for former Rep. George Santos for Feb. 13. Hochul said, “As Governor, I have the solemn responsibility to call a special election to ensure the voters of Long Island and Queens once again have representation in Congress.... Members of Congress provide critical constituent services, serve as a link to federal agencies, and advocate on behalf of the constituents who sent them to Washington. I look forward working with the next representative for the 3rd Congressional District on the issues facing New Yorkers.” Santos is a Republican, and Republicans now control the House of Representatives by only four votes. Santos faces 23 felony charges including counts of wire fraud, identity theft, and campaign finance violations. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates the special election as a “toss-up” without candidates announced yet. Local political party bosses will choose the candidates. Read more about this story at The Hill.

Today's daily news audio update.

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