Abby Hoover is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media stay-at-home orders have been in place for nearly three weeks and the city of Hudson is starting to feel the pinch. City Treasurer Heather Campbell said approximately 20 percent of the city's revenue, including parking, lodging tax, mortgage tax, building permits and use of fund balance are all expected to be affected by the ongoing COVID-19 emergency. The city's March 18 state of emergency temporarily suspended alternate side parking as well as the use of parking meters citywide, with the exception of the South Front Street lot across from the Amtrak Station. In February, parking meter revenues fell by 43 percent, from $10,500 in 2019 to $6,000 in 2020. Parking meter revenue fell to $6,500 for the month, a 48 percent decline. Parking ticket revenue continued to decline in March to $19,000, a 33 percent loss. If the stay-at-home order remains in effect through April and May, the city will take a bigger hit. Short-term rentals are standing empty, which impacts the lodging tax. While some building permits are being issued, on-site crews are smaller and nonessential construction is on hold. Campbell said property taxes, sales tax and state revenue sharing will likely be negatively impacted by the emergency, as well. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Nick Reisman is reporting for State of Politics just about all New York voters on June 23 will be able to receive an absentee ballot. Governor Andrew Cuomo’s administration will move through an executive order to expand the reasons for accessing one. Cuomo made the announcement April 8, as elections commissioners in the state and lawmakers pushed to have the absentee ballot criteria expanded. The order is expected to expand the qualification criteria to include anyone who could contract coronavirus as a reason for receiving a ballot. Assemblymember Jeff Dinowitz backed the move. “...As June 23 rapidly approaches, I hope that local Boards of Election quickly start to prepare and make clear what they need to successfully operate all primary and special elections for Congress, the New York State Legislature, political party positions, and any special elections. Nobody should be denied participation in our electoral process due to fear about personal or public health as a result of the coronavirus,” the Bronx Democrat said. Read the full story at NewYorkStateofPolitics [dot] com.

Denis Slattery is reporting for the New York Daily News state Sen. Michael Gianaris is asking Gov. Andrew Cuomo to cancel rent for tenants and businesses whose finances have been affected by the coronavirus crisis. The Queens Democrat sent a letter to the governor April 8. The governor has already suspended evictions for 90 days during the statewide stay-at-home order, but advocates and tenants say more needs to be done to prevent a flood of evictions once the crisis resolves. Gianaris proposed legislation two weeks ago that would allow “any residential tenant or small business commercial tenant in the state that has lost income or has been forced to close their place of business” to have their rent suspended for 90 days. The measure would mean that renters or businesses would not owe anything during the three-month freeze, even when it is over. It would also mandate forgiveness of mortgage payments by landlords who face “financial hardship” as a result of the rent cancellations. Read the full story in the New York Daily News.

Eric Anderson is reporting for the Times Union the number of new unemployment claims topped 6.6 million for the second week in a row, the U.S. Labor Department reported April 9. The filings reflect activity for the week ending April 4. In New York state, more than 345,000 claims were filed, down from 367,000 the week before. During the past three weeks, 800,000 new claims were filed statewide. Nationally, that figure is more than 16 million during the past three weeks. Restaurants, retail shops, schools and colleges, and theaters and other venues have largely closed down, with only essential businesses continuing to operate, as government officials urge consumers to stay home and practice social distancing. Airlines and Amtrak have cut service, with fewer planes and shorter trains operating. Regional highways are seeing lighter traffic, even during rush hours. Read the full story in the Times Union.

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Sarah Trafton is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media for the second time in less than a week, residents are learning of a spike in drug overdoses locally, this time in Greene County, according to Greener Pathways Program Director Carl Quinn. An overdose spike alert was issued for Columbia County April 6, followed by a similar alert for Greene County the following day. Greene County reported six overdoses, three of which occurred in one day. Six non-fatal overdoses were reported in Columbia County since April 1, with four happening over the weekend, Quinn said. And Rensselaer County Public Health Director Mary Fran Wachunas also said there have been eight overdoses there in the last two weeks. “We normally have two to three overdoses a month in each of our counties,” Quinn said. The incidents were linked to heroin. “Some required multiple doses of Narcan,” Quinn said. “It’s probably a tainted batch strongly laced with fentanyl.” In Columbia County, the overdoses occurred in the Chatham, Ghent and Philmont areas, but the Greene County cases were more widespread. Quinn said the ODs are linked to the COVID-19 public health crisis. “We’re hearing the drug supply is limited, which would be a good thing,” he said. “Drug dealers are not able to be in transit. The supply has been interrupted. People may not be using their same reputable person they had been using in the past.” The loss of traditional, face-to-face group support meetings is a significant factor, as well. Greener Pathways has been engaged in outreach in northern Columbia County this week, as well as in Catskill. Quinn is hoping to set up locations in Cairo and on the mountaintop, as well. The state’s mental-health hotline is 1-844-863-9314. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

MidHudsonNews [dot] com is reporting Jet Blue Airways has announced it will suspend flights from New York Stewart International Airport in Newburgh and Westchester County Airport in White Plains effective April 15. All flights will be canceled through June 10. Jet Blue service at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York will continue. The airline industry has been hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic with many flights that are normally full going out all but empty. U.S. Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney last week flew from Westchester County Airport to Washington, DC and he was one of only three passengers on board the flight. Read the full story at MidHudsonNews [dot] com.

This is the Catskills and Hudson Valley Coronavirus report for Thursday, April 9, from Lissa Harris of The River and Roger Hannigan Gilson of The Other Hudson Valley, and read by Tom Roe of WGXC. Go to therivernewsroom.com or theotherhudsonvalley.com for more information.

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Sarah Trafton is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media Greene County’s fifth flycar joined the system April 6, amidst the ongoing coronavirus emergency. The paramedic vehicle is used to prepare patients for transport before an ambulance arrives. The addition of this particular vehicle was a matter hotly debated in the Greene County Legislature in 2019. At the time, Catskill representatives Michael Bulich and Matthew Luvera opposed the decision because they disagreed with the county footing the bill instead of the individual towns. Catskill has its own Advanced Life Support ambulance system. The flycar was added into the budget before the spending plan was approved in November. “The most important asset is not the truck, but our highly trained and skilled paramedics led by Chief Steve Brucato,” Greene County EMS Paramedics President Mark Evans said in a statement. “Our medics are among the highest trained in the region; only the flight medics have more training.” Evans also commended the paramedics for continuing to work and provide life-saving care to residents during the pandemic. The new truck, "Medic 8,” is based at the Prattsville Firehouse. The vehicle is a 2020 Chevrolet Tahoe, which costs $45,000 equipped with lights, siren and striping, as well as an additional $50,000 in equipment. The truck carries a cardiac monitor and defibrillator, and airway and intubation kit, IV kit, CPR machine and drug bag with a significant number of emergency drugs. The total cost of the new flyer is $403,000. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Larry Rulison is reporting for the Times Union the cable television company Spectrum is hiring 200 new customer service representatives for its new mobile phone unit. The reps would work out of the company's regional headquarters in Rotterdam, spaced apart to adhere with current social distancing protocols. The company is taking the action as many companies have laid off or placed workers on furlough. Spectrum plans to conduct the candidate interviews remotely. The jobs are paying $16.50 an hour to start. "Now more than ever, our essential workforce continues to provide the critical task of helping customers stay connected during this very challenging time," Spectrum spokeswoman Lara Pritchard said. "People are out of work, and we have jobs available, that will help us to continue to deliver and support the communities we serve." Spectrum, part of Charter Communications, added nearly 1 million new mobile phone lines in 2019 after getting into the mobile phone business. Pritchard said those hired to fill the jobs in Rotterdam will be treated safely even though they must come into the office at a time when many are staying safe by working from home. Read the full story in the Times Union.

The Daily Freeman is reporting the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation announced April 7, the spring turkey hunting season will begin May 1, and continue all month upstate, anywhere north of the Bronx/Westchester County line. DEC also announced the Youth Turkey Hunting Weekend will be held April 25 and 26 upstate, as well as in Suffolk County. The youth event is for young people ages 12 to 15. Stores that sell licenses and tags are now either closed, busy or on limited hours because of the COVID-19 pandemic, so DEC recommends purchasing needed licenses or tags online at the DEC website by April 10, for the youth turkey hunt and by April 16, for the regular season. The DEC advises that anyone participating in the events this season follow social distancing guidelines: hunt close to home; take day trips rather than staying at a hunting camp; avoid crowds at parking areas and high-traffic areas; only share a hunting blind with someone from your household; use separate vehicles if hunting with someone outside of your household; carry hand sanitizer and avoid touching your face; and wash mouth calls after handling. The DEC also recommends that anyone aged 70 or older, or with a compromised immune system postpone their trip. Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.

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George Silvarola is reporting for the Poughkeepsie Journal arrests are down in New York City and statewide alike. From March 18 through March 24, misdemeanor and felony arrests outside of New York City decreased 69 percent compared to the same period in 2019, according to the state Division of Criminal Justice Services. In New York City, the crime rate fell 43 percent during the same period. The trend has grown every week since late February. The drop in crime is helpful to first responders and to hospitals dealing with overcrowding, as the number of COVID-19 cases hit nearly 139,000 statewide as of April 7. "A byproduct of shutting everything down is you have fewer car accidents, [the] crime rate is way down, fewer trauma cases, so there is not a large non-COVID population in the hospitals," Gov. Andrew Cuomo said this week. Read the full story in the Poughkeepsie Journal.

Rebecca Carballo is reporting for the Times Union U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials said April 8, detainees considered vulnerable to the coronavirus will be released and may be placed in so-called alternative detention options. Those people older than 60 or are pregnant will be considered for release because those populations are more susceptible to the virus, according to Centers for Disease Control guidelines. As of March 30, 600 detainees nationally were identified as vulnerable and more than 160 have been released from ICE custody. ICE currently imprisons nearly 36,000 people nationwide. Immigrant advocates have been sounding the alarm for the release of detainees. The Albany-based nonprofit Prisoner’s Legal Services and other organizations filed an emergency petition in late March seeking the release of 23 people detained in the Buffalo Federal Detention Facility in Erie County. Petitioners allege the 23 are especially vulnerable to COVID-19 because of their age and underlying health conditions. Whether or not the two detainees currently held in the Rensselaer County Jail is up to ICE, Sheriff Patrick Russo said. “They’ll decide if they let them out. We just house them,” he said. Read the full story in the Times Union.

Nick Reisman is reporting for State of Politics state officials are moving toward expanding New York's requirements for absentee ballot access for the June 23 primary, as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Thousands of voters are expected at the polls in June to vote in primaries and special elections. Races will include the Democratic presidential primary, congressional and state legislative primaries, as well as special contest for a western New York House district seat, and for a state Senate seat in the central part of the state. “People are asking to be able to do absentee ballots because they’re afraid of getting sick or they’re in an at-risk group or they just don’t simply want to go to the polls on Election Day,” said Dustin Czarny, the co-chairman of the statewide association of elections commissioners. Czarny said the state needs to expand its absentee ballot criteria to include the pandemic. The state has strict guidelines that govern access to absentee ballots, and a change such as allowing voting by mail, would likely require a constitutional amendment. State Sen. Alessandra Biaggi, a Bronx Democrat is hopeful the Legislature will convene in some form in the near future — likely through remote voting — to pass a variety of coronavirus-related measures including an absentee ballot measure. Read the full story at newyorkstateofpolitics [dot] com.

Bill Williams is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media seven fire companies fought nine brush fires that burned simultaneously April 7, in Stuyvesant and Stockport, according to Stuyvesant Fire Chief Steven Montie. The fires began along the railroad tracks off of Route 9J at about 11:25 a.m. when a box train with bad brakes started to spark and set the brush on fire, Montie said. He said the nine fires were spread over seven miles and took more than two hours to extinguish. The state police assisted on the ground with traffic control and provided a helicopter to pinpoint the fire locations. All Amtrak trains were stopped while firefighters worked, and Route 9J was closed between County Route 26A and Sharptown Road. Responding fire companies included Stuyvesant, Stuyvesant Falls, Stockport, Stottville, Kinderhook, Niverville, and Valatie. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Today's daily news update.