Liz Moran of Earth Justice was the moderator of the recent rally at the State Capitol for the Stop Fossil Fuels in Buildings lobby day. She provides an update on the All Electric Buildings Act and the effort to ban gas starting in new buildings. She also discusses gas stove replacement. With WOOC's Mark Dunlea.

Today's audio daily news update.

On Feb. 2, three local Congressional representatives voted for a bill "denouncing the horrors of socialism." House Resolution Nine is deeply ridiculous legislation. It was a show vote in a country with many socialist policies, such as the collective funding of the military for national defense. The bill passed 328-to-86, with Democrat Pat Ryan and Republicans Elise Stefanik voting for the resolution, and Democrat Paul Tonko voting against. The resolution only said, "This concurrent resolution denounces socialism and opposes the implementation of socialist policies in the United States." It has little chance of passing the Senate nor being signed by President Joe Biden.

New @CookPolitical: our initial 2024 House race ratings, w/ 20 Toss Ups. Biggest upside for Dems? 18 GOP members in Biden-won districts. For Republicans? Potential new gerrymanders in NC & OH. Full analysis: https://t.co/wFZUpEZZpy pic.twitter.com/AFWLtWPr2s

— Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) February 2, 2023

The Cook Political Report forecasts a toss-up election for Republican Marc Molinaro in the 19th Congressional District in 2024. The same group says that Pat Ryan’s 18th district leans to the Democrat. Molinaro defeated Democrat Josh Riley in last fall's election, where Republicans picked up a few seats in New York. With a presidential election in 2024, turnout is likely to be higher in Molinaro and Ryan's next elections.

Larry Rulison reports in the Times Union that the Department of Environmental Conservation is investigating an oil spill Feb. 2 at the Norlite aggregate plant and incinerator in Cohoes in Albany County. A DEC spill response team investigated the incident and blamed equipment failure on a waste oil tank located in the facility's equipment building for the leak of 200 gallons of waste oil onto the ground. They said there were no air quality impacts from the spill. Norlite makes aggregate from shale that is used in road and construction projects, and has a history of violations with DEC in Cohoes. Norlite has been accused of emitting illegal emissions and dangerous silica dust into the air that has caused health problems for neighboring residents. Read the full story in the Times Union.

Today's daily news audio update.

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

Patricia Doxsey is reporting for the Daily Freeman in a ruling issued February 2, Ulster County Judge Bryan Rounds dismissed the second-degree murder charges filed against State Trooper Christopher Baldner for the December 2020 death of 11-year-old Monica Goods. In the 23-page ruling, Rounds found the evidence presented failed to support charges that Baldner acted with “depraved indifference to human life” when he twice collided with a vehicle driven by the Brooklyn girl’s father, Tristin Goods, on the New York State Thruway. Baldner was engaged in a high-speed pursuit at the time and his actions caused the Goods vehicle to flip and led to the death of the girl. A second-degree manslaughter charge and three counts of second-degree reckless endangerment filed against Baldner, 43, still stand. The state Attorney General’s Office, which is prosecuting the case, has said Baldner pursued Goods at speeds of up to 130 miles an hour and that within two minutes of the onset of the chase Baldner intentionally twice rammed Goods’ vehicle. Baldner is also facing three counts of second-degree reckless endangerment resulting from a 2019 incident when Baldner allegedly used a pit maneuver on another vehicle, causing it to hit a guardrail. Authorities have said that Baldner then rammed the stopped vehicle. In his ruling, Rounds also reduced other reckless endangerment charges, saying that like the murder charge, the evidence did not support the prosecution’s claim the trooper acted with “depraved indifference to human life.” In his decision, Rounds did have harsh words for the trooper’s actions, saying his “compliance with the professional standards of the New York State Police is rationally presumed to be deficient” and that his demeanor during the initial traffic stop “might be charitably described as vulgar.” He called his actions during the Sept. 6, 2019 incident “arrogant.” Baldner’s attorney, John Ingrassia, could not be immediately reached for comment. The AG’s Office said it is reviewing the judge’s ruling. Read the Rounds decision in the Daily Freeman.

Melanie Lekocevic is reporting for Capital Region Independent Media residents of New York have until February 28 to submit comments on the State Education Department's regulation requiring school districts to retire Native American team names, mascots and imagery. The state Education Department on November 17 issued a memo banning these types of mascots, such as the Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk Indians, and threatened districts that fail to make the change with the loss of state funding. For Ravena-Coeymans, it could mean losing roughly $26 million in state aid. Districts that fail to comply would also see the removal of school officers. The state is giving residents until February 28 to submit their comments on the issue to the Board of Regents. The RCS district intends to change the team name and mascot as required by the state, Superintendent Brian Bailey said at the January meeting of the board of education. The district is planning to form a committee to address the issue after additional information is provided by the state. In 2001, the state voiced opposition to the use of Native American symbols or depictions as mascots. Some schools in New York complied over the ensuing years while others did nothing. Read more at TheUpStater [dot] com.

Eduardo Cuevas is reporting for the Poughkeepsie Journal the New York Civil Liberties Union this week sued in Albany County Supreme Court the state agency overseeing prisons to obtain records related to correction officers’ misconduct. The NYCLU filed its complaint against the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, or DOCCS which oversees the state’s 44 prisons, in an effort to obtain records delayed or rejected by officials through a Freedom of Information Law request. The case was filed more than two years after the NYCLU's original request under FOIL. That request was submitted several months after New York repealed a section of the state Civil Rights Law, which was being used to shield police disciplinary records from public view for decades. “It’s about the public’s basic right to know how law enforcement agencies have been doing the work of policing themselves,” NYCLU Supervising Attorney Bobby Hodgson said. “We know that there's been a lot of problems with accountability and with transparency around what even happens.” In October 2020, NYCLU requested 20 years of documents related to disciplinary records and misconduct filings, as well as complaints against prison staff. The request also included investigative reports, policies, trainings and collective bargaining agreements. DOCCS employs more than 16,000 officers who oversee more than 30,000 people incarcerated. Read more in the Poughkeepsie Journal.

Today's audio daily news update.

The Times Union reports on what was in the budget proposal Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Feb. 1. The governor said there would be no new taxes. PLAY OR DOWNLOAD EXCERPT OF HOCHUL SPEECH. The Times Union reports some specifics from the budget including a decrease in higher education spending from $8.1 billion last year to $7.5 billion this year, with tuition increases at SUNY and CUNY schools. But K-12 school aid would increase by $3.1 billion, a 10 percent increase. Every school district would get at least a three percent increase in financial aid. Hochul's budget proposal also ties the state’s minimum wage (currently $14.20 an hour upstate) to inflation. Her budget proposal would also give judges more discretion to set bail by removing a “least restrictive” standard they must apply for certain offenses. Read the full story in the Times Union.

Mid-Hudson News reports that Congressperson Pat Ryan went on the floor of the House of Representatives on Feb. 1 to call for the CEO of Central Hudson to resign. PLAY OR DOWNLOAD EXCERPT OF RYAN'S SPEECH ON THE HOUSE FLOOR. Ryan also listed several other specific examples of people facing giant, irregular bills from Central Hudson. The company is currently under investigation for its billing practices. Central Hudson spokesperson Joe Jenkins wrote in response to Ryan’s remarks saying the utility, “continues to apologize for the unfortunate impacts that implementation of the new system has had on our customers and key stakeholders. Our number one priority has been and remains resolution of issues with the system, and we continue to make progress. We continue to make enhancements to resolve any remaining issues.” Jenkins also said said Central Hudson wants to meet with Ryan and, “is working to ensure that customers who received bills requiring an adjustment have been made whole. We are 100 percent committed to rebuilding relationships with Congressman Ryan and all our stakeholders and to resolving any remaining issues with the system expeditiously.” Read more about this story at Mid-Hudson News.

Paul Kirby reports in the Daily Freeman that State senator Michelle Hinchey's bill that would require utilities to end estimated billing practices has made its way to the Senate floor. Central Hudson has been using estimated bill practices recently, and has received thousands of complaints and investigations because of their billing problems. The bill got out of the Energy & Telecommunications Committee on Jan. 31. Hinchey says the legislation is the only way to guarantee the end of estimated bill practice done by utilities, including Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp. She said, “My goal coming into this session is to get my legislation to ban estimated billing passed early, and with its advancement from the Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee this week, we’re on track to do just that.... I’m proud that we’ve built strong momentum in support of my bill, including from the PSC (Public Service Commission), which has officially adopted my bill as part of their recommendations to Central Hudson in light of their investigation. At the end of the day, ending predatory billing practices by utility companies and putting more money back into the pockets of New Yorkers is an issue we can all agree on.“ Hinchey represents the 41st Senate district, representing Greene and Columbia counties, and northern Dutchess and Ulster counties. Central Hudson has previously warned that could cause increased rates for consumers, saying that, “a transition to monthly meter reading for all customers will require revisions to Central Hudson’s tariff. Subsequent to Commission action, the company will file tariff amendments in compliance with the outcomes of an order in this proceeding.”

Today's daily news audio update.

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

Michael Mahar is reporting for ABC-News10 the U.S. Department of Labor has announced its Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA issued citations at three Amazon warehouses across the country, one of them located in Castleton, Rensselaer County. The company has been accused of failing to keep its workers safe. OSHA delivered hazard alert letters at each location and has proposed almost $47,000 in penalties for the violations found at the Castleton facility. The two other locations, in Aurora, Colorado, and Nampa, Idaho, were also fined. OSHA investigators allege that Amazon exposed their warehouse workers to a high risk of low back injuries and other musculoskeletal disorders. Workers were deemed at risk based on how frequently employees must lift packages and other items; the heavy weight of the items handled by workers; the awkwardly twisting, bending and extending movements needed to lift items; and the long hours required to complete assigned tasks. “Amazon’s operating methods are creating hazardous work conditions and processes, leading to serious worker injuries,” explained the Assistant Secretary for OSHA, Doug Parker. “They need to take these injuries seriously and implement a company-wide strategy to protect their employees from these well-known and preventable hazards.” Read the full story at News10 [dot] com.

Janet Gramza is reporting for The Buffalo News a federal judge in New York has refused to lift an injunction barring the state from issuing retail cannabis licenses in Western New York and four other regions statewide. U.S. District Judge Gary Sharpe ruled on January 30, upholding his November 11 injunction against the state’s conditional dispensary program after a Michigan company complained it was discriminatory. The decision means the injunction will continue to stop the state from issuing dispensary licenses to applicants in the Finger Lakes, Central New York, Western New York, Mid-Hudson and Brooklyn regions. Sharpe issued the injunction last fall after Michigan-based Variscite NY One challenged the state Office of Cannabis Management’s rule to give preference for dispensary licenses to state residents who had been convicted of a cannabis crime. Variscite is 51 percent owned by a person with a cannabis conviction in Michigan and no real connection to New York. But the company alleges that the OCM’s rule violates a federal policy called the dormant commerce clause, which prevents states from passing legislation designed to bar imports or exports of legal goods to or from other states. Read the full story in The Buffalo News.

Clarence Fanto is reporting The Berkshire Eagle Tanglewood has announced the line-up for its 2023 season, which kicks off June 22. This year, the Boston Symphony Orchestra celebrates its 85th season in Lenox, Mass., with an eight-week schedule including music by 28 living composers and 48 musicians and artists making their debuts either with the orchestra or for the first time at its summer home. Led Zeppelin lead singer Robert Plant will make his Tanglewood debut alongside bluegrass-country singer and violinist Alison Krauss under the Koussevitzky Music Shed on July 2. They are touring the U.S. in support of their new release, "Raising The Roof. The schedule also features multiple appearances by celebrities John Williams, Yo-Yo Ma and James Taylor. The season also will see Anna Rakitina lead her final concert as BSO assistant conductor. The young musicians of the Tanglewood Music Center’s summer academy will perform in the Shed and Ozawa Hall and the music center’s orchestra, conducted by Susanna Mälkki, will be on stage for the traditional season-ending concert featuring Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. In addition to Plant and Krause, performances in the Popular Artist Series include NPR's popular quiz show, "Wait, Wait ... Don't Tell Me," The Steve Miller Band with Bruce Hornsby and The Noisemakers, and Train. Tickets go on sale March 9. Read the full story in The Berkshire Eagle.

On Feb. 1, Gov. Kathy Hochul unveiled her budget proposal.