Today's daily news update.

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

Harrison Gereau is reporting for News10 Albany in the United States, energy costs account for between 5 and 22 percent of a family's after-tax income, with the poorest Americans paying the highest of that range. To better understand the impact of energy costs relative to location and consumption habits, the personal finance website WalletHub compared the monthly energy bills in 50 states and the District of Columbia. New York was ranked 41st overall for total energy costs, with an average monthly bill of $441, according to the study. The state ranks near-dead last, coming in at number 50, in both motor fuel consumption and electricity consumption per consumer. The price of gas, on the other hand, was the eighth highest in the country. Near the top of the list was the state of Massachusetts, which ranked fifth overall, behind Connecticut, North Dakota, Alaska and Wyoming. The study found that consumers in the Bay State spend, on average, $577 per month on energy bills. Vermont came in seventh. Its residents spend around $571 a month in energy costs. The state made the top 10 for monthly natural gas costs, which racked up a price tag of $91. Read more at News10 [dot] com.

Ariél Zangla is reporting for the Daily Freeman Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan said he has changed the line of succession for his office to establish the public trust and to make sure there is a clear separation between government and politics. Ryan said he amended the line of succession on July 1, placing Deputy County Executive Johanna Contreras at the top of the list to succeed him if, for any reason, he could not fulfill the duties of his office. In line behind Contreras on the amended list is Deputy County Executive Christopher Kelly, followed by county Director of Economic Development Tim Weidemann. The previous line of succession started with Deputy County Executive Marc Rider. Rider recently expressed an interest in securing the Democratic endorsement in the race for county executive if Ryan is successful in his Congressional bid. Ryan said, "...I wanted to make sure that no one who’s expressed interest in pursuing the office, were it to be open, would be in that line of succession so that the public could have confidence that the one and only goal of county government is to serve the residents of the county and that there’s no other agenda.” County Comptroller March Gallagher and former state Sen. Jen Metzger have also expressed an interest in serving as county executive should Ryan be elected to Congress. Ryan is running in a special election on August 23, against Republican Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro for the 19th Congressional District seat vacated by Democrat Antonio Delgado. The winner of that race will serve through the end of the year. Should Ryan win that election, a second special election would be held in late December to fill the remainder of Ryan’s term as county executive, which expires December 31, 2023. Win or lose in August, Ryan will run again in November to represent the newly drawn 18th Congressional District. Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.

Ted Remsnyder is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media that a group of Hudson residents will soon receive a $500 payment every month as the newest participants in the Hudson UP program. The universal basic income lottery to constitute the newest program cohort opened June 22, and when it closes on September 22, 53 city residents will be randomly selected to receive $500 per month for the next five years. The program started in 2020 with 25 residents and expanded to 50 recipients in 2021. After the third group is complete, the number of participants will reach 128. The program is funded by The Spark of Hudson Foundation. Hudson Mayor Kamal Johnson is a supporter of the initiative and also serves with the Mayors for a Guaranteed Income network, a group of 30 mayors nationwide studying data and initiatives on universal basic income programs. Johnson said Spark of Hudson first reached out to him two and a half years ago. “... The first cohort was a joint initiative between the city and Spark. So myself and [former presidential primary and gubernatorial candidate] Andrew Yang got on a call and did a town hall for the residents about the educational component of the program. So now we’re here two and half years later in our third cohort. So we’re pushing to get as many residents as we can get registered,” the mayor said. Greater Hudson Promise Neighborhood administers the Hudson UP program. Greater Hudson Executive Director Joan Hunt said people can enter as long as they meet three criteria — they live in the city of Hudson, they are over the age of 18 by September 30, and make under the median annual income of $39,346 per year. Johnson is encouraging all eligible city residents to sign up for the lottery as there’s no downside to entering. “It’s like literally winning the lottery,” he said. The lottery application is available at HudsonUP [dot] org. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Today's daily news update.

Andrea Macko reports for Porcupine Soup that New York's Department of Health has shut down the former Acra Manor Hotel a year after it was sold to a New Jersey-based non-profit organization. “Acra Manor Resort is currently not permitted to be occupied because it has a failing wastewater disposal system,” the Department of Health said in a statement. “Sewage from the facility’s onsite wastewater treatment system was observed on the ground several times in 2021.” A Jewish organization that holds a 501c3 tax status, Tiferes Chaim, Inc. of Lakewood, NJ purchased the 16.5-acre property and resort on Old Route 23 in 2021 for $1,960,000. At the time of the purchase the new owners said they would make it a summer camp. The new owners did not respond to Porcupine Soup's request for comment. “Before the facility will be permitted to be occupied, the owner would need to have a new wastewater disposal system designed, approved, apply for a State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit from DEC allowing the discharge of treated wastewater, and construct/install the new disposal system,” the DOH said. Read more about this story in Porcupine Soup.

Diane Valden reports in the Columbia Paper that an Albany man, Siddharth Dubey, 32, was charged with making a 2021 bomb threat to the Chatham Library. State Police arrested Dubey on June 22 for making a terroristic threat and first degree false reporting, both class D felonies. The library, the nearby Chatham Middle School and school bus garage were evacuated after the August 9, 2021 bomb threat. The story does not indicate why Dubey made the threat, but he was arraigned in Claverack Court before Justice Michael Brandon and released on his own recognizance to reappear in Ghent Court on July 11. Read more about this story in the Columbia Paper.

Nick Reisman reports for New York State of Politics that progressive Democrat groups Empire State Indivisible and Rockland United endorsed state Sen. Alessandra Biaggi's campaign against incumbent Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, in the new 17th Congressional District primary election Aug. 23. "I am honored to be endorsed by Empire State Indivisible and Rockland United -- two progressive organizations that champion working people across the district and New York," Biaggi said in a statement. "For years, these grassroots groups have helped support and elect progressive candidates - knocking on doors, making calls, and mobilizing voters. Empire State Indivisible and Rockland United understand that with so much at risk, we can no longer afford the status quo. This grassroots support is how I will win no matter how much is spent against me." Biaggi was also the choice recently of the New York Progressive Action Network and Progressive Change Campaign Committee, who prefer her to Maloney, who is also the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chair. In the Republican primary for the 17th Congressional District, Shoshana David, Charles Falciglia, William Faulkner, Michael Lawler, and Jack Schrepel are all on the ballot Aug. 23. Read more about this story at New York State of Politics.

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

Today's daily news update.

Natasha Vaughn-Holdridge is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media the Columbia County Board of Supervisors has announced a $500,000 initiative to aid small businesses. The board launched Columbia Forward, designed to strengthen the business community as it emerges from the pandemic and encourage local economic development activities. Under Columbia Forward, the Columbia Economic Development Corporation and the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce will partner to implement and manage a three-year, $450,000 program intended to assist county-based small business and local economic development committees, Columbia County Board of Supervisors Chair Matt Murell said. The county will give the CEDC an additional $50,000 in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act to support a new small business grant program to which the corporation has committed $500,000 in new loan funds. Loans up to $25,000 will be made available to credit-eligible borrowers. There are approximately 1,750 businesses in Columbia County, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, with more than 78 percent employing 10 or fewer people. The program will target these small businesses disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, including businesses in the travel, tourism, and hospitality industries, Murell said. The program will also focus on Main Street retail, small manufacturing, and service businesses. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Vaughn Golden is reporting for WSKG-TV after a New York appellate court invalidated the lines for the state Assembly districts last month, a lower court is now moving forward with drawing new boundaries in preparation for the 2024 elections. However, the judge overseeing the matter has not decided on an exact process for doing so. In an order last week, Judge Laurence Love directed the attorneys who brought the original case challenging the Assembly lines to submit briefs on how to proceed. Aaron Foldenauer, an attorney for one of the petitioners, said one option available is to engage the services of a special master, as was done when the maps for congressional and state Senate districts were redrawn earlier this year. “Or there are other options to the court and we’ll be going through that in detail with the court in the next month or two,” Foldenauer said. In the same order, the judge cited a section of law suggesting the court may consider trying to revive the state’s Independent Redistricting Commission. To that, Foldenauer said, “... I do see a lot of practical problems as far as trying to get the IRC together again. I’m not even sure that the commission can be forced to reconvene or to work.” The judge is asking the attorneys to submit briefs on the issue by August 8. How the process will move forward from there is unclear. Read more at wskg [dot] org.

Liz Montgomery is reporting for Porcupine Soup Greene County Solid Waste Management will hold its annual household hazardous waste collection event on July 9, this year at the Windham Highway Facility at 83 County Route 21, also known as Mitchell Hollow Road. A second event is being planned for Athens in the fall. County residents are being directed to come to the site during the time period specified based on the first letter of their last name. The time periods are as follows: A to F, from 8 to 9 a.m.; G to K, 9 to 10 a.m.; L to P, 10 to 11 a.m.; Q to U, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.; and V through Z, 12 to 1 p.m. Participants are urged to separate and package the hazardous waste to prevent leakage during transportation. The county also asks that there be only one occupant per vehicle — and no children or pets — while transporting hazardous waste. Documentation of Greene County residency, such as a driver's license or utility bill, will be required. This event is for household hazardous waste only. Commercial or agricultural waste will not be accepted. Details are available at 518-943-4600 or solidwaste [at] discovergreene.com. The county is also reminding residents that beginning July 12, the Coxsackie Transfer Station will be temporarily relocated to 370 Mansion Street in Coxsackie while the existing transfer station is renovated. Only bagged garbage and recyclable paper, cardboard, cans and glass, will be accepted. Read the full story at porcupinesoup [dot] com.

Today's daily news update.

Ted Remsnyder reports for Columbia-Greene Media about the different views of State Sen. Michelle Hinchey and Assemblyperson Chris Tague on the gun legislation passed last week in an extraordinary session of the state Legislature. Hinchey, a Democrat, voted for the bills, while Tague, a Republican, voted against the measures that came after the Supreme Court struck down the state's concealed carry law. “As the Supreme Court continues to send a strong message that they do not care about the future of our country, our children, and our communities, it is incumbent that New York picks up the pieces and leads during this time of failure and abdication at the federal level,” Hinchey said in a statement. “I am proud of the work we have done during this extraordinary session to protect people in all facets of life, including advancing common-sense safety measures on concealed carry, and, after generations of advocacy, taking landmark action to pass the Equal Rights Amendment, our first step toward enshrining the right to abortion access and establishing women and our LGBTQIA community as equal citizens in our State Constitution.” Tague had a different view. “It is incredibly disappointing that the majority has decided to respond to a Supreme Court ruling making our unconstitutional gun laws even more blatantly unconstitutional,” Tague said in a statement. “As well- intended as some of these proposals may be, it doesn’t take a lawyer from Harvard to be able to see that this bill won’t survive an ounce of legal scrutiny.” The new laws allow the state to regulate and standardize training for license applicants, and restricts the carrying of concealed weapons in sensitive locations, such as schools, government buildings, and mass transit sites. Private property owners must now expressly allow a person to possess a firearm, rifle, or shotgun on their property and the state now has oversight over background checks for firearms and regular checks on license holders for criminal convictions. Read more about this story at HudsonValley360.com.

Noah Zweifel reports in the Altamont Enterprise that voters in the East Berne Volunteer Fire Company district will vote July 12 on a $2.7 million bond to build a new fire station. Firefighters show off the hole in the slant ceiling as proof they need a new building. It came when a someone from another fire company backed a truck up in the station and its rear light went through the plaster. “Things are a little tight in here,” said Fire Chief Scott Duncan. Because the property the current fire station is at is also small, the company would put the new station at 792 Helderberg Trail, which they have already purchased. The new building could house all of the company's trucks, plus would be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, unlike the current space. “We had to stop [hosting] the board of elections because we can’t get handicapped people in here,” Duncan said. If the bond is approved in the southern Albany County town, the estimated tax impact would be less than $100 per year for an average homeowner, but Fire Commissioner Mary Alice Molgard said they, “don’t know for sure yet.” Voters can see the current building for themselves when they cast their votes there at the Main Street station on July 12 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Read more about this story in the Altamont Enterprise.

WRIP, the commercial rock radio station that broadcasts out of Windham, has moved their studio, the station announced on social media. On June 29, WRIP left their former studio at 134 South St., and moved to what they are calling the Broadcast House (formerly the Bentley house), at 265 South St. The station broadcasts on 97.9-FM in Windham and Hunter, 97.5-FM in Durham and Greenville, 103.7-FM in Catskill and Hudson, and 104.5-FM in Stamford and Delaware County. The station WRIP was founded in August 1999, broadcasting just to the mountaintop.

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

Dick Lindsay is reporting for The Berkshire Eagle a leading opponent of the planned PCB disposal site in Lee, Mass. wants the town's Board of Health to intervene in the matter. The Housatonic River Initiative has formally asked the three-person panel to hold a public hearing and then vote on whether to block the Upland Disposal Facility from being built in a former quarry just south of Woods Pond. That facility is now planned to be the burial location for roughly a million cubic yards of soil and sediment with relatively lower levels of PCB contamination."The Lee Board of Health has the right to assess if the dump is unhealthy to the town," HRI Executive Director Timothy Gray said. "It would terrible if the dump goes through, as it will come back to haunt us forever." The health board has indicated it may not have the power to prevent the landfill from being part of the Rest of River cleanup, as spelled out by the federal Environmental Protection Agency,. The chair has advised Gray that it may be unable to intervene. In early 2020 Lee and four other river communities approved a river cleanup deal with the EPA and GE that includes the installation of a lined, in-ground waste facility to accept some of the PCB-tainted sediment dredged from the river. But throughout the cleanup debate, residents have opposed putting a PCB landfill in Lee. Voters backed a non-binding resolution this year directing the town to pull out of the agreement that would allow sediments containing the probable carcinogen to be buried in an engineered landfill in a former quarry. The HRI has been fighting to stop the landfill since it was announced and the group is now appealing the current cleanup plan. Read the full story in The Berkshire Eagle.