Today's daily news update.

The Times Union reports that May 29 is the deadline to register to vote in the June 23 federal and local primary elections. The election was moved from April 28 by executive order by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The voting includes the Democratic presidential primary. Anyone wanting to change parties is too late, but for folks who have a registration lapse, forms must be postmarked by May 29. Anyone can also register to vote online at the Department of Motor Vehicles website. Read more about this story in the Times Union.

Sarah Trafton is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media environmental watchdog groups in New York are requesting the state enforce its ban on single-use plastic bags as the state economy reopens. The ban went into effect March 1, but has been on hold until June 15 due to a lawsuit. In a letter to DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos, 122 organizations urged that enforcement be resumed and that the DEC take steps to inform supermarkets to stop prohibiting customers from using reusable bags and to restore the 5-cent surcharge for plastic and paper bags. “DEC continues to encourage New Yorkers to transition to reusable bags whenever and wherever they shop and to use common-sense precautions to keep their reusable bags clean,” the DEC said in a recent statement. “...Retailers across the state are complying. We have consistently said since the beginning of our outreach campaign that we will focus on education rather than enforcement.” Judith Enck, former EPA Regional Administrator and President of Beyond Plastics, is calling on the DEC to take a more active role. She lauded Seggos and his staff for their work on COVID-19-related issues, but said it is now time for the DEC to enforce existing environmental laws. Hannaford Supermarkets is one of the chains that brought back plastic bags and suspended the 5-cent bag charge for plastic and paper, spokesman Eric Bloom said. The company requires shoppers who bring reusable bags to pack their own groceries. Price Chopper brought back plastic bags in late March, Vice President Mona Golub said. Tops Markets also brought back plastic, citing sanitation concerns with reusable bags. Tops is not charging for plastic bags, but it is for paper. “[The misinformation] is unfortunate because there is no medical evidence linking coronavirus to reusable bags,” Enck said. “I recommend people wash their bags with hot water and soap and pack their own groceries to reduce any concerns..” Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

MidHudsonNews [dot] com is reporting the Olana Partnership has been awarded a $14,400 matching grant from the Environmental Protection Fund’s Park and Trail Partnership Grants program. The grant will fund the design of the trailhead for pedestrians entering Olana State Historic Site from the Hudson River Skywalk from State Route 23. North Road was constructed in 1869, and it served as Olana’s main entrance from the city of Hudson until the estate became a State Historic Site in 1966. Olana’s 2015 landscape design plan included establishing a trailhead, and the opening of the Hudson River Skywalk in 2019 made it the pedestrian entry point. The trailhead design will create a more visible and accessible entrance and it will also integrate the skywalk with Olana’s historic carriage road network. Read the full story at MidHudsonNews [dot] com.

Today's daily news.

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Nora Mishanec reports for Columbia-Greene Media that only 34 people showed up to be tested for COVID-19 May 27 in Hudson, even though Columbia County had 50 tests available. The walk-up tests at the former John L. Edwards School in Hudson from 10 a.m. to noon where only for essential workers, or people with symptoms, and it was only Columbia County's second such public testing. So far, seven percent of Columbia County residents have been tested for COVID-19, most in Albany and Ulster counties. The next testing in Columbia County is June 2 at John L. Edwards, with registration available on the Columbia County Health website. The state legislature got back underway May 27. Only nine Assemblymembers, and no one in the State Senate, voted against extending the Child Victims Act look-back window to August 2021. Another bill proposed would allow restaurants to continue alcohol takeout and delivery. Assembly Republicans are looking to limit a governor's sweeping authority and shift that power to local leaders when responding to future emergencies. The Assembly Minority May 27, announced a measure that would restore legislative checks and balances for emergency declarations lasting longer than 45 days, but Democrats control both chambers, so there is not much hope for the measure. Locally, both Greene County and Columbia County announced two more COVID-19 cases on May 27.

The Daily Freeman is reporting unemployment rates in the Mid-Hudson Valley and Catskills skyrocketed in April to between 11 and 15 percent, reflecting the impact of the economic slowdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The data was released by the New York Department of Labor May 27, six days after issuing a report indicating the region had tens of thousands fewer jobs in April 2020 than the year before. The unemployment rate last month in Greene County was 14.8 percent, compared to 4.4 percent in April 2019. In Columbia County the jobless rate was 10.9 percent, up from 3 percent a year earlier. In Ulster County the unemployment rate last month was 14.6 percent, compared to 3.3 percent one year ago; in Dutchess County, the jobless rate went from 3.2 percent in 2019 to 14.1 percent in April. Similar increases were reported in Orange, Sullivan and Delaware counties. Not one county in the state of New York had an unemployment rate below 10 percent last month, according to the report. The lowest rate was 10.1 percent in Tompkins County, near Ithaca, and the highest was 21.9 percent in Niagara County, in western New York. Statewide the unemployment rate last month was 15 percent, up from 3.6 percent in 2019. Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.

Nick Reisman is reporting for State of Politics according to a Siena College poll released May 27, 65 percent of New Yorkers surveyed believe a fast reopening of the state's economy that could spread COVID-19 is a bigger danger than moving too slowly to lessen restrictions and extending the economic slump. The poll also found Governor Andrew Cuomo's favorability ratings continue to be high, but voters have cooled a bit on his handling of the pandemic. Forty-eight percent gave him a negative rating for the state's handling of nursing homes during the crisis. The vast majority of participants support wearing a mask in public when six feet of social distancing cannot be maintained. And three out of four people polled expect there will be a similar outbreak in the fall. More than 20,000 people in the state have died since the coronavirus pandemic closed schools, non-essential businesses, kept millions at home and put millions out of work. Cuomo's favorability rating is currently at 66 percent, a decline from a record high of 77 percent in April. His job performance rating also fell from 71 percent to 63 percent. The poll of 796 registered voters was conducted from May 17 to May 21. Read the full story at nystateofpolitics [dot] com.

State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos May 27, reminded state residents to resist the urge to touch or pick up newborn fawns and other young wildlife. Human contact can carry unintended consequences harmful to the young animals people think they might be helping, Seggos said in a statement released by his office. "In an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19, New Yorkers are spending more time at home than normal and some are seeing more young birds and other wildlife as a result," Seggos said. "At this time of year, people are more likely to see a young rabbit or a recently fledged bird in their yard and mistakenly think it needs help to survive. I encourage you to enjoy encounters with wildlife from afar and avoid approaching or touching the animal. Remember, if you care, leave it there." In its statement, the DEC also reminded the public that young wild animals are not pets. Keeping wildlife in captivity is illegal and harmful to the animal. Anyone who observes any animal that appears to be sick or behaving abnormally is asked to contact their DEC regional wildlife office. Read the full press release at dec [dot] ny [dot] gov.

Today's daily news update.

Emilia Teasdale is reporting for The Columbia Paper the Chatham Town Board May 21 discussed activities at Crellin Park during its monthly meeting, conducted online via the Google meeting platform. Supervisor Donal Collins later released a statement identifying permissible activities at Crellin Park including tennis, walking, fishing and working in the community garden. The specified activities are “permitted as long as social distancing is maintained, with masks being worn when distancing measures cannot be met,” according to the statement. The board has also decided that the skateboard park, playing fields, basketball court, playground equipment, swimming area and any other area not specifically listed as open, will remain closed for the time being. The board decided to prohibit swimming in the Crellin Park pond since the pond does not usually open until late June. Officials are still waiting to decide if the town will hire lifeguards this year. The board previously decided to cancel the summer day camp recreation program for children. Collins said he is forming a general reopening committee that would look at the park, town hall and town court, and he is looking for input from the community. Collins said the committee would be looking at every part of town life. Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.

Amanda Fries is reporting for Capitol Confidential Assembly Republicans are looking to limit a governor's sweeping authority and shift that power to local leaders when responding to future emergencies. The Assembly Minority May 27, announced a measure that would restore legislative checks and balances for emergency declarations lasting longer than 45 day. The legislation would also insure there is a judicial process available for any action taken that affect the constitutional rights of New Yorkers. “Undoubtedly, there will be times when immediate, direct action is needed from the executive,” said Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay in a news release. “However, ‘state of emergency’ doesn’t equate to ‘authoritarian rule.’ In any situation, a balanced, measured approach is necessary and the full complement of government must be levied. This bill ensures just that, and that every voice in New York is heard during times of crisis.” Legislators on both sides of the aisle have called for a reconvening session amid the public health crisis to ensure a check on Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s authority. Lawmakers will convene this week to take up various bills focused on responding to the COVID-19 crisis, which could mean movement on the Assembly Minority’s legislation. If it were to pass both houses, the legislation would take effect in 30 days. Read the full story at Capitol Confidential, a Times Union blog.

MidHudsonNews [dot] com is reporting Amtrak has submitted a request to Congress for $1.475 billion in supplemental funding for fiscal year 2021. Amtrak officials said the additional funding is necessary to operate minimum service levels across the passenger rail network and to continue capital improvements. The funds would also support Amtrak’s 17 state partners on the National Network and nine commuter and state partners on the Northeast Corridor. “As the severity and duration of this pandemic and its economic fallout become clearer, we are seeking supplemental federal funding for the next fiscal year,” said Amtrak President and CEO Bill Flynn in the letter recently sent to Congress. To help offset the loss of revenue, Amtrak is reducing its operating costs by approximately $500 million, including temporarily reducing train capacity across the system to match demand, restructuring its workforce and controlling discretionary expenses. Amtrak has experienced a dramatic decline in demand for service since the pandemic, and it is expecting ridership to return to approximately 50 percent in 2021. Flynn said without the requested additional support, Amtrak will be unable to minimize the impacts to service and its employees. Read the full story at MidHudsonNews [dot] com.

Today's daily news.

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

While there are many reopening announcements these days after over two months of shutdowns, there are also a lot of not-reopening announcements. Columbia-Greene Community College officials, for instance, said most classes will likely stay online during the fall semester. School President Carlee Drummer said May 26 that a few types of classes may meet in-person, such as nursing, construction, science labs, and art, but everything else will be taught online. “This is still in flux, but that seems to be the direction we are heading in, as are all of the other SUNY colleges in the state,” Drummer said. Greenport Town Park will also remain closed to visitors until September due to the COVID-19 outbreak, town officials said May 26. Meanwhile, Columbia County continues to receive donations from citizens to pay for COVID-19 testing. Previously, the county received $32,275, and they just got $1,500 more: $500 from Camp Scatica in Elizaville, and $1,000 from Dr. Michael and Mary Brabeck. “The outpouring of support from the community to assist the county in the fight against the coronavirus has been heartwarming—we thank everyone,” Columbia County Board of Supervisors Chair Matt Murell said. There were four more COVID-19 cases announced by Greene County on May 26. Columbia County did not announce any coronavirus positive cases on May 26.

Sarah Trafton is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media the Athens Village Board May 13 approved a pricing schedule through the Community Choice Aggregation Program. Athens joins Cairo, New Baltimore and the village of Coxsackie in the program, which matches up municipalities and aggregators that lobby for lower rates with electric companies. “We are delighted to be able to catch this sweet spot in the market when electricity rates are quite low, to lock in a low electricity rate for our residents for 24 months starting in August,” Mayor Stephan Bradicich said. The village has entered an agreement with Good Energy, of Allendale, New Jersey. Good Energy secured a two-year agreement with Constellation at a rate of 5.34 cents per kilowatt hour, a savings of 11 percent based on current market pricing. The program is optional for residents. The village will use its website, social media, radio and the local newspaper to get the word out, according to village board member Joshua Lipsman. Depending on social-distancing rules, there could also be in-person meetings before the program starts. The village of Athens will hold a public hearing Wed., May 27, on a plan to create a Conservation Advisory Council. Under the law, the CAC would be made up of six residents appointed by the village board as well as three village officials. More than 300 communities statewide, including municipalities in Columbia and Greene cos., have registered for the program, but none have yet been certified. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

The Columbia Land Conservancy, Tue., May 26, announced Peter Paden, its executive director since 2007, will retire at the end of 2020. In a press release the Conservancy wrote, "Peter has been an extraordinary leader and the legacy of his work will endure for years to come." Under Paden's leadership, CLC has "Conserved an additional 10,000 acres of land in Columbia County, including the permanent protection of more than 30 Columbia County family farms; Began one of the country’s first Farmer-Landowner Match Programs, connecting more than 75 farmers and landowners and keeping more than 3,600 acres of farmland in production; opened the...Harris Conservation Area in Austerlitz, the...1,700-acre Overmountain Conservation Area in Ancram and facilitated creation of the Hand Hollow State Forest in New Lebanon." The Board of Trustees' search for a new leader is underway. CLC has contracted with Kittleman and Associates to manage the search process. Read the full press release at clctrust [dot] org.

Abby Hoover is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media Greenport Town Park will remain closed to visitors until September due to the COVID-19 outbreak, town officials said on May 26. Seasonal programs hosted at the park, such as summer camp, ballgames and music at sunset are also suspended. On April 1, a notice on the town website said the park would remain open. The announcement read, “Everyone that utilizes the park needs to adhere to the guidelines for safety that have been imposed upon all of us. Please abide by these safety guidelines so that we don’t have to close the park. Six-foot social distancing is key. Let’s all just work on keeping ourselves and others safe.” Less than a week later, the park was closed. Access was cut off to outdoor basketball courts, the playground and pavilions. Greenport Town Supervisor Kathleen Eldridge declared a town wide state of emergency on March 17. Hudson Little League announced the cancellation of its spring 2020 season May 6. The Greenport Conservation Area, operated by the Columbia Land Conservancy, remains open. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.