Daniel Zuckerman is reporting in The Daily Mail animal rights organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has filed a formal complaint with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration over a recent incident at the Bailiwick Ranch, located in Catskill. PETA alleged a Bailiwick employee was nearly attacked June 30, while feeding a bear, and that employees exhibited a basic understanding of animal behavior during the incident. The organization released a video Wed., Aug. 3, in support of its claims. The video was shot by a visitor to the ranch. Bailiwick owner Gary Koschitzki said the bear, a female named Tallulah, was behaving in a frolicsome manner and that no one was ever in any danger from the animal. If OSHA finds Bailiwick is in violation of federal law, it could result in a $7,000 fine. A representative of PETA said Bailiwick should be closed and the animals sent to sanctuaries, like the Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg, Colorado. “Anyone who cares about animals should avoid Bailiwick. PETA has followed Bailiwick for years,” she said. Koschitzki said the video simply shows the bear was being playful and that staff and visitors were not at risk. He said no one was in the compound at the time and described PETA’s tactics as “pretty sad.” Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Katie Kocijanski is reporting in The Daily Mail a group of Nigerian businesswomen made a stop Tue., Aug. 2, at the Athens-based food subscription service Field Goods. The group is traveling the country with the U.S. Department of State's International Visitor Leadership Program. “We were one of six businesses they visited in the Capital Region this week,” Field Goods founder Donna Williams said. The five women came from a variety of professional backgrounds, including filmmaking and food service. During their visit they toured the Field Goods production facility and observed how fruits and vegetables are hand sorted. The women's tour of the Capital Region also included visits to Empire State Development, HerLife Magazine-New York, the Times Union and Tara’s Kitchen, a Moroccan restaurant in Albany. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Victoria Addison is reporting in the Register-Star Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo traveled to Hudson Wed., Aug. 3, and announced plans to expand broadband service statewide within the next two years. During the event held at the Hudson Area Library, Cuomo announced the first round awards under the state's new Complimentary Broadband Grant Program. The list included $8.7 million to State Telephone Company of Coxsackie, $2.5 million to Germantown Telephone Company and $1.01 million to Mid-Hudson Data Corp., which serves Columbia, Greene and southern Albany counties. The selected projects are expected to serve 30,000 homes currently underserved or without high-speed internet access. Cuomo was joined by Michael Tucker, president and chief executive officer of the Columbia Economic Development Corporation, and Audrey Zibelman, chair of the New York State Public Service Commission. In his remarks, Cuomo said, “We are going to go from 99 percent that doesn't have high-speed internet today to 100 percent having it in two years, which is going to be an amazing transformation.” Read the full story in the Register-Star.

DOWNLOAD or PLAY the full audio file (26:31). (Recording from NYGovCuomo YouTube channel.)

Matthew Hamilton is reporting at Capitol Confidential state Senate candidate Democrat Sara Niccoli has written a letter to members of the state Commission on Legislative, Judicial and Executive Compensation urging them not to increase salaries for state lawmakers. Niccoli is challenging incumbent Republican George Amedore in the 46th Senate District. In her letter Niccoli cited legislators' part-time status and their failure to take action on ethics and campaign finance reform in making her argument against the pay hikes. Niccoli wrote, “Community members throughout New York find it offensive that legislators like George Amedore, who have blocked ethics reforms and treat their public service as a hobby rather than a full-time job....” Amedore spokeswoman Eileen Miller said Amedore “has very clearly been on the record: He does not support a pay increase for legislators.” Four other Democrats candidates from Long Island and the Hudson Valley have written similar letters to the commission. The commission said last month it was considering an increase in lawmakers’ base pay to nearly $117,000 per year, up from the present rate of $79,500. The commission must make its decision by mid-November. Lawmakers will have the final say on whether they receive a raise. Read the full story at Capitol Confidential, a Times Union blog.

Daniel Zuckerman is reporting in The Daily Mail eight-year-old Rachael Gerber of Cairo was named one of 100 regional semifinalists in the Capital Region Invention Convention. The competition received 1,368 entries from students enrolled in kindergarten through 8th grade. The event is sponsored by GE Global Research. Rachael is in the second grade and is homeschooled. She invented “The Hand Pulley Swing” to avoid pushing her sister Sarah on the swing. Rachael built a model of the swing that was displayed at the Museum of Science and Innovation in Schenectady for two weeks. Rachael is already preparing for competition next year. She has an idea to create a softball helmet with air conditioning and built-in bee spray. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

William J. Kemble is reporting in the Daily Freeman the image of an American Indian has been removed from the Onteora High School gymnasium, even as supporters of the former nickname resist the change. Objections were aired during a board of education meeting Tue., Aug. 2., by two supporters of the use of Indian imagery as the district symbol spoke, contending the issue should have additional public debate. One resident accused the board of "blindsiding" the school community with the decision, and voting June 7 to adopt “Eagles” as the Onteora nickname. Interim Superintendent Victoria McLaren said a painting of a fierce Indian breaking through a brick wall was covered over during recent updates to the gym. Other disputed images remain in the school cafeteria and press box. A speaker at the meeting Tuesday said the intent of adopting the former nickname was to learn the “best characteristics of the Indians — patience, an open work ethic, a practicality, holistic, spiritual, community cooperation...pride and honor.” The Onteora school board voted in early 2000 to retire the Indian name, but the decision was later overturned, and the matter went to a public referendum last spring. The state Department of Education has for the last 15 years urged local school districts to retire Indian symbols as mascots. Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.

Local weather forecast:

Today: Patchy fog before 8 a.m. Otherwise, sunny. High near 82. Thursday night, mostly clear. Low around 59.

FORECAST FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS
FRIDAY: Mostly sunny. High near 85. Friday night, a chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy. Low around 64.
SATURDAY: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy. High near 85. Saturday night, partly cloudy. Low around 62.

Sunrise today: 5:52 a.m.
Sunset today: 8:10 p.m.

LENGTH OF THE DAY: 14:17 hrs.

PUBLIC MEETINGS

Today is the first Thursday of the month.
WGXC suggests calling ahead to confirm time and location.
All numbers are in the 518 area code unless otherwise noted.

ANCRAM Planning Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 1416 County Rte. 7, Ancram (329-6512).
ASHLAND Planning Board meeting, 6 p.m. at Town Hall, 12094 Route 23, Ashland (734-3636).
AUSTERLITZ Planning Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 812 Route 203, Spencertown (392-3260).
CAIRO Town Board meeting, 6 p.m. at Town Hall, 512 Main St., Cairo (622-3120).
COLUMBIA County Board of Supervisors Space Utilization meeting, 5 p.m. at 401 State St., First Floor Committee Room, Hudson (828-1527).
COPAKE Planning Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 230 Mt. View Road, Copake (329-1234).
COXSACKIE Planning Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 16 Reed St., Coxsackie (731-2727).
GHENT Town Board workshop, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 2306 State Route 66, Ghent (392-4644).
KINDERHOOK Zoning Board of Appeals meeting (tentative), 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 4 Church St, Niverville (784-2233).
KINDERHOOK Village Planning Board, 7 p.m. at Village Hall, 6 Chatham St., Kinderhook (758-9882).
STOCKPORT Town Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 2787 Atlantic Ave., Stottville (828-9389).

Safe Tech For Schools uploaded this video of Green Party Presidential candidate Jill Stein saying, "We Should Not Be Subjecting Children's Brains To Wi-Fi Screens In Schools. It's Not OK."

Nick Lindseth and Wally Joe Cook are reporting at Politico that at least one of the Trump University cases is now moving toward trial. A New York Supreme Court judge Tue., Aug. 2, asked attorneys representing Donald Trump and his real estate school to file a motion within 45 days to lay out a framework for the discovery process. The state attorney general's office has alleged that Trump University cheated students out of nearly $40 million. Although the judge and state intend to move forward with the case, it is unlikely a trial could be held before Election Day. Read the full story at Politico.

DOWNLOAD or play the audio version of the local news update for Wed., Aug. 3 (8:26). (Produced by Philip Grant.)