Closings and delays for Mon., Jan. 23:
[Updated 3:40 p.m.]

Greenville Central School District | Open. No afterschool events.
Hunter-Tannersville Central School District | Closing early. Elementary at 2:52 p.m.; high school at 2:32 p.m. No after school events.
Pine Plains Central School District | Closing early. Elementary at 2 p.m.; middle school/high school at 12 p.m. No afternoon or evening activities.
Red Hook Central School District | Open. No afterschool program.
Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk Central School District | Open. No afternoon or evening activities. No late bus. Daycare open.

DOWNLOAD or PLAY the audio version of the local news headlines for Mon., Jan. 23 (9:35). (Produced by Philip Grant.)

Some of the stories that made the news from Fri., Jan. 20 through Sun., Jan. 22:

Millions across the globe turned out for nearly 700 protests held Sat., Jan. 21, to voice opposition to Donald Trump, following his inauguration as the 45th President of the United States. The New York Times reported that crowd scientists say the Women's March in Washington drew three times as many people as the swearing-in ceremony, Friday. Crowd scientists at Manchester Metropolitan University in Britain analyzed photographs and video taken of the National Mall and vicinity and estimated there were approximately 160,000 people in those areas in the hour leading up to Trump’s inaugural address; they estimated at least 470,000 people were for the women’s march, Saturday. Bethany Bump reported in the Times Union a crowd of 7,000 marched in Albany. "It made me feel optimistic and inspired and motivated and proud of all the work that we did to make sure this event happened," said Jamaica Miles, the Capital District organizer for Citizen Action of New York, which organized the event. The march itself stretched several city blocks along Washington Avenue from Lark and Swan streets, before ending at the West Capitol Park for a speakout and rally. Parry Teasdale reported in The Columbia Paper hundreds marched Saturday afternoon from 7th Street Park to Waterfront Park in Hudson. Speakers urged citizen action to prevent the loss of rights for women, and offered a strong repudiation of the Trump administration's plan to dismantle the Affordable Care Act and end critically important healthcare for women. Attendees were urged to contact first-term U.S. Rep. John Faso, who has already voted to repeal the health insurance coverage law. The Kinderhook Republican said during a broadcast on radio station WAMC last week that he was working with other members of the House to craft a new law that provides healthcare to all U.S. citizens. There were other local rallies in Poughkeepsie, Woodstock, and Delhi. Speakers at the Hudson rally included Mayor Tiffany Martin Hamilton, former city Democratic chairman Victor Mendolia, Second Ward Alderwoman Tiffany Garriga, First Ward Supervisor Sarah Sterling and Cyndi Hall, the former chair of the Columbia County Democratic Committee. [NOTE: Mendolia is an active WGXC community programmer.]

Roger Hannigan Wilson reported in the Register-Star Columbia-Greene Community College announced Thu., Jan. 19, an agreement with the College of St. Rose to allow education students to transfer from the two-year college to the four-year institution. The agreement will allow Columbia-Greene students who earn their associate degree in childhood education to transfer all credits to St. Rose’s special education or childhood education programs, and enter St. Rose as juniors. Students who transfer would be eligible for scholarships. “The nice thing about this is it’s a formally articulated agreement … if a student goes to St. Rose, which has an outstanding education program, there’s a 100 percent guaranteed transfer,” Columbia-Greene Office of Counseling Chairman William Mathews said. St. Rose already has 10 articulation agreements with Columbia-Greene, allowing students in computer science, criminal justice, business administration and other programs to transfer to St. Rose as juniors.

Emilia Teasdale reported in The Columbia Paper the Chatham Police Department program that assists people with additions find treatment has helped 57 people, to date, according to a report submitted to the Chatham Village Board. Chief Peter Volkmann reported the Chatham Cares 4U program has received donations totaling $2,300, as well as snacks, candy and a coffee pot. Volkmann also announced the department will hold a training session for program volunteers in February.

Rick Karlin reported at Capitol Confidential on the same day as the Women's March on Washington, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced additional regulations regarding what health insurance carriers in New York are required to cover when it comes to contraception and abortions. The rules ensure that contraceptive drugs and devices are covered by commercial health insurance policies without co-pays or deductibles, regardless of what happens with the Affordable Care Act. , The rules are carried out through the state Department of Financial Services. Additionally, the new requirement mandates that medically necessary abortion services are covered by commercial health insurance policies without co-pays, coinsurance, or deductibles as well.

Daniel Zuckerman reported for Columbia-Greene Media more than 50 people met Sat., Jan. 21, for the first public event of the Columbia County Sanctuary Movement group. One of the group’s goals is to make Hudson a sanctuary city. A sanctuary city is a city that has adopted a policy of protecting undocumented people by not prosecuting them for violating federal immigration laws in the country in which they are living illegally. The group is urging the Hudson Common Council to pass a resolution that would call upon the Hudson Police Department not to racially profile residents or ask for immigration status if they are pulled over. “The cultural effects of a resolution would hopefully quell some of the fears of the people that are living, working and thriving in our community for centuries, but may not have the ‘proper’ immigration paperwork,” event organizer Bryan MacCormack said. The resolution will be discussed at the Common Council Police Committee meeting Mon., Jan. 23.

Chris McKenna reported at The Fray Two longtime GOP state senators from the Mid-Hudson region last week voiced strong misgivings about Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s plan for free college tuition for qualifying students at New York’s public colleges. Mount Hope Republican Sen. John Bonacic dismissed the proposal as an ill-conceived “press release” meant purely for political gain, noting that Cuomo announced the idea with Bernie Sanders standing beside him. “It’s not a well thought-out plan. ... I want to do more to help middle-class families, and we will, the Senate Republican conference. But I don’t think this is the way to go,” Bonacic said. Cuomo has proposed waiving tuition at all two-year and four-year public colleges and universities for New York resident students whose families earn less than $125,000 a year. Sen. James Seward, whose district includes part of Ulster County, argued that waiving tuition only at public schools is unfair to private colleges and the families whose students attend them. “I am pleased the governor is concentrating on college affordability,” Seward said in a statement this week. “However, his free tuition plan for SUNY schools is fraught with challenges and censors student choice. ... I believe we can come to an agreement on a better plan to lower college costs and help students graduate without a mountain of debt.”

Emilia Teasdale reported in The Columbia Paper building permit fees are going up in the village of Chatham. The Village Board approved the new rates that will double the amount of money generated by the village building department. At the same time, Village Clerk and Treasurer Barbara Henry said, the increases would not completely cover the costs of the building inspector and the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals. Henry said the board will revise zoning fines as well, but not until the Town Board adopts a local law to revise the fine schedule. The wording for the local law may be reviewed by the village attorney and be ready for the board vote at a special meeting later this month. The board will also discuss water and sewer rates at the special workshop meeting scheduled for 7 p.m, January 26.

Local weather forecast:

Today : The National Weather Service in Albany has issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook for the WGXC listening area. A coastal storm is expected to impact the region Monday into Tuesday night. There is still uncertainty regarding the strength and track of the storm. Rain and snow likely before 3 p.m., turning to rain between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m., then rain and sleet after 4 p.m. High near 37. Monday night, rain, snow and sleet before 7 p.m., then rain and snow between 7 p.m. and 4 a.m., then likely turning to snow after 4 a.m. Low around 32.

FORECAST FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS
TUESDAY: Sleet, possibly mixed with snow before 7 a.m., then rain and sleet between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m., turning to rain after 10 a.m. High near 39. Tuesday night, rain likely, possibly mixed with snow before 11 p.m., then a chance of snow. Mostly cloudy. Low around 29.
WEDNESDAY: Mostly sunny. High near 43. Wednesday night, a chance of rain before 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy. Low around 33.

Sunrise today: 7:15 a.m.
Sunset today: 4:59 p.m.
LENGTH OF THE DAY: 9:43 hrs.

PUBLIC MEETINGS
Today is the fourth Monday of the month.

WGXC suggests calling ahead to confirm time and location.
All numbers are in the 518 area code unless otherwise noted.

COLUMBIA COUNTY Board of Supervisors Broadband Sub-committee meeting, 4 p.m.; Economic Development Committee meeting, 5 p.m., all at 401 State St., Hudson (828-1527).
GHENT Zoning Review Committee meeting, 6:30 p.m., at Town Hall, 2306 State Route 66, Ghent (392-4644).
HUDSON Board of Education meeting, 7 p.m. in high school library, 215 Harry Howard Avenue, Hudson (828-4360).
HUDSON Industrial Development Agency meeting, 1 p.m. (828-0212); Common Council Fire Committee meeting, 5:30 p.m., Police Committee meeting, 6 p.m. (828-1030). All at City Hall, 520 Warren St., Hudson.
NEW BALTIMORE Town Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 3809 Co. Route. 51, Hannacroix (756-6671).
STUYVESANT Planning Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 5 Sunset Drive, Stuyvesant (758-6248).
TAGHKANIC Zoning Board of Appeals meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 909 Route 82, Taghkanic (851-7638).

Casey Seiler reports in Capitol Confidential about bomb threats around the nation Jan. 18, including at the Albany Jewish Community Center and two other New York locations. Gov. Andrew Cuomo released a statement saying his administration, “has been in direct contact with all three facilities and have pledged our full cooperation to ensure their safety.” The state Division of Human Right’s toll-free hotline to report any incidents is (888) 392-3644 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.

Several sympathy marches and protests with the Women's March on Washington are happening locally Saturday in Poughkeepsie, Delhi, and Albany. In Poughkeepsie the Women's March Across the Hudson is from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., leaving from the Hudson Poughkeepsie Entrance. The Women's March Delhi is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Delhi County Courthouse Square. There's also the Inaugurate Resistance event from noon to 5 p.m. at the SEIU Building, 155 Washington Ave. in Albany with workshops and a 4 p.m. march going to the West Capitol Park in front of the State Capitol Building.

Heather Kovar at CBS6 Albany TV that President Donald Trump owes the Albany Police Department $56,405 in unpaid invoices for 742 hours for supervisors, officers, detectives, and other personnel at an April campaign stop. The campaigns of Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders also have much smaller unpaid debts, while Ohio John Kasich is all square with the Albany police. A Trump spokesperson told CBS6 that an outside independent accounting department Trump uses will be told of the bill. Albany City Treasurer Darius Shahinfar says they have sent the campaigns several reminders. "Follow up bills were sent to the campaigns as well. They still have not responded to my knowledge," said Shahifar. He says anyone who does not pay their bills in Albany, can get locked out of city services. Read the full story at CBS6 Albany TV.