Techdirt reports that French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve announced Aug. 11 a "global initiative" to "fight" messaging encryption. Ahead of an Aug. 23 meeting with German counterpart Thomas de Maiziere, the French want to limit terrorists use of messaging encryption, but that means limiting everyone's access to secure messages. Techdirt does not believe that is a smart plan. "First of all, encryption is still difficult to use and easy to mess up. In fact, most reports suggest that ISIS is pretty bad about its opsec when it comes to encryption. And, even if they are successfully using encryption, they still leave plenty of other breadcrumbs for law enforcement and the intelligence community to track," the website says. France has been hit with several terrorism-related crimes recently, and wants to do something.

Emilia Teasdale reports in The Columbia Paper that the Kinderhook Planning Board approved a site plan for Maple Hill Creamery that makes dairy products from grass-fed cows to move into 5 Hudson St. Paul Calcagno, the building's owner, said the dairy would employ between seven and 12 employees as an office for the company, moving from Stuyvesant. Village Economic Director Renee Shur said it will be the ninth new business to open in Kinderhook since 2014. Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.

The Village of Philmont Water Department reports it will be turn off the entire village's water supply while it is working on the town's water tower on Tue., Aug. 16. The water will be turned off in Philmont between 10 and 11 p.m., and will be off for four to six hours.

Local weather forecast:


Today: Showers and thunderstorms are likely, mainly after 1 p.m. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall, with a high near 86. Overnight, more showers and thunderstorms could occur before midnight, with a low around 68.

FORECAST FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS
MONDAY: Patchy fog before 8 a.m. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 82, and a low around 64.
TUESDAY: There is a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 8 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81.

Sunrise today: 6:03 a.m.
Sunset today: 7:56 p.m.




John Mason, Greg Hudson and Daniel Zuckerman in the Register-Star poll local Republican officials and cannot find one to say outright that they are supporting presidential candidate Donald Trump. Assemblyman Pete Lopez, who represents the 102nd District including parts of Ulster, Greene, and Schoharie counties, said Aug. 10, “I haven’t endorsed anyone. I’m a registered Republican; Trump is the Republican candidate. What I’m waiting for is for both candidates to focus on the needs and issues of the people first, and put their bantering aside. What are their plans for the country? That’s what the people are interested in.” Congressperson Chris Gibson, from Kinderhook, said July 18 he plans to vote “for a Republican.” John Faso, the Republican running for Gibson’s seat, did refer to Trump as “our candidate,” saying, “if I had any advice for our candidate, he should focus on jobs, the economy, and national security — that’s what voters care about.” State Senators Kathy Marchione and George Amedore, Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin, Columbia County Republican Chairman Greg Fingar, and Board of Supervisors Chairman Matt Murell, all did not return the Register-Star's calls for comment on their endorsements. Read the full story in the Register-Star.

Diane Valden reports in The Columbia Paper that convicted felon and serial scofflaw Salvatore Cascino did not comply with court orders and was given yet another chance. "Cascino, 76, of Larchmont in Westchester County, has been racking up violations of federal, state and town laws for the past 18 years for illegal dumping, building, and excavating on his property along the east side of state Route 22," in Copake, Valden writes. On Aug. 8 before Acting Supreme Court Judge Jonathan Nichols, Cascino was an hour late, was missing required documentation, and his own attorney questioned the validity of his receipts that claimed to show he hauled away the waste in question as ordered. Cascino was found guilty of criminal and civil contempt in February, with the judge ordering 60 days in the Columbia County Jail, that he pay fines, and fix some of the ecological messes on his property. This time, the judge ordered a hearing for 9 a.m. August 26. “I can’t believe there is a question in anyone’s mind that I won’t incarcerate for not complying. Make no mistake that is a large and real possibility,” the judge said, as he was letting Cascino go again. Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.

Timothy Knight in The Watershed Post reports that town of Schoharie board members voted to reject a settlement with Cobleskilll Stone Products at the town’s Aug. 10 meeting. The mining company first sued the town in 2005 after the town adopted zoning laws prohibiting the expansion of the quarry. The settlement would have given the town $500,000 but allowed the expansion of the mining operations. Matt Brisley, Floyd Guernsey III, and Alan Tavenner voted not to settle, and James Schultz voted for the agreement. Read the full story in The Watershed Post.

Zack Fink in NYStateofPolitics.com reports that the New York State Senate will hold a hearing about the poisoned water in Hoosick Falls at 10:30 a.m. Aug. 30 at the twon's high school. Residents there have been calling for an investigation of the water crisis for months, and the Senate scheduled a hearing a few weeks ago after receiving much criticism. The Senate Health and Environmental Conservation committees will run the meeting, and local representative Sen. Kathy Marchione, who originally opposed holding hearings, will attend. Senators will question experts from the Federal Environmental Protection Agency, and New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation, and Department of Health during a day session, and the public will ask questions in the evening. Read the full story at nystateofpolitics.com.

On Aug. 12 Governor Andrew Cuomo directed state agencies turn off lights, turn up air conditioning settings, close window shades, and power down unused computers, printers, and other electrical devices, as New York had another day of hot temperatures and high humidty. "This extreme heat has led to near-record electricity usage and has placed significant demands on our entire grid," Cuomo said in a press statement. "As temperatures remain high, I'm once again directing state agencies to take steps to conserve energy and reduce demands on the system. I encourage all New Yorkers to do the same."

Local weather forecast:

The National Weather Service in Albany has issued a Heat Advisory for the Hudson River Valley for Sat., Aug. 13. The combination of hot temperatures and high humidity levels may produce heat indices reaching or exceeding 100 degrees. The NWS warns heat illnesses are possible in these conditions, and drinking fluids is recommended.

Today: Showers and thunderstorms are likely, mainly after 1 p.m., and some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 90, and a low around 72.

FORECAST FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS
SUNDAY: Showers and thunderstorms are likely again Sunday, mainly after 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 87, and a low around 67.
MONDAY: There is a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms Monday, mainly before 2 p.m. Then, partly sunny, with a high near 80.

Sunrise today: 6:02 a.m.
Sunset today: 7:57 p.m.




DOWNLOAD or play the audio version of the local news update for Fri., Aug. 12 (3:22). (Produced by Alanna Medlock.)