The New York State Senate finally got back to work Friday, with the Democrats doing a deal with the devil in the same way the Republicans did last month, according to The Register-Star. They gave Pedro Espada Jr. the majority leader role, even though both parties should not want anything to do with the corrupt Senator.... Jim Folz, commissioner of Public Works in Hudson and director of grounds and buildings at Columbia Greene Community College who served on the Claverack Comprehensive Plan Committee has announced he will run for a seat on the Claverack Town Board, according to The Register-Star. Folz has the Conservative Party endorsement, and is looking for the Republican line come July 17.... The village of Athens is seeking a loan to make a nearly $50,000 debt payment on water system improvements, according to The Daily Mail.

LIVE SATURDAY:

A Socialist Perspective on the Health Care Debate with Billy Wharton of the Socialist Party USA and Jonas Sjostedt, former member of thehttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif European Union Parliament for the Swedish Left Party, for a talk on our nation's health care crisis at 3 p.m. at Jason's Upstairs Bar, 521 Warren St., Hudson.

Forest Cotton kicks off his re-election campaign for the Greene County Legislature at 7 p.m. at Union Mills, 361 Main St. in Catskill.

Alexander Turnquist and Wires Under Tension celebrate the release of Turnquist's new album "As the twilight Crane Dreams in Color" at 8 p.m. at Carrie Haddad Photographs, 318 Warren St., in Hudson.