Assemblymember Steve McLaughlin, who represents Rensselaer County and parts of Columbia County, taking questions July 7 in Albany, about the Hoosick Falls water poisoning.

Kate Seckinger and John Mason are reporting in the Register-Star the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce has announced the appointment of Jeffrey Hunt as its new president and CEO, effective Aug. 1. Hunt replaces David Colby who stepped down as chamber president April 29, after nearly 13 years on the job. “I am honored and excited to be the next president and CEO of the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce. I look forward to meeting with and listening to hundreds of member businesses, the community at-large, civic and elected leaders throughout the county,” Hunt said Thu., Jul. 7. Hunt most recently served as the president and CEO of the Spring Lake, North Carolina Chamber of Commerce. Hunt has also worked on Capitol Hill where he was a Lyndon Baines Johnson Fellow and legislative assistant in the 102nd Congress. He currently serves on the national board of directors with the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives. Read the full story in the Register-Star.

Diane Valden is reporting in the Columbia Paper Salvatore Cascino [kah-SHEE-no] was back in Columbia County Supreme Court last week so he could provide proof and an update on his compliance with a court order to Acting Supreme Court Judge Jonathan Nichols. Cascino offered documents that indicated he had removed waste from his property, but the town of Copake's attorney told the court that local officials suspect Cascino may have moved the illegal waste from one part of his property to another. The latest round in the Cascino saga began with a May 4 order from Nichols that suspended Cascino’s incarceration on civil contempt contingent upon his removal of a specific amount of illegally dumped material from his 300-acre property, known as Copake Valley Farm. Cascino, 76, of Larchmont, Westchester County, has been racking up violations of federal, state and town laws for illegal dumping, building and excavating on his property along the east side of Route 22 for the past 18 years. Nichols said Cascino had not disposed of as much illegally dumped solid waste as he had hoped, but Cascino has done enough to stay out of jail. Nichols warned that Cascino will be subject to a heavy penalty if the information presented is untrue. Read the full story in the Columbia Paper.

Keshia Clukey (CLUE-kee) is reporting at Politico New York the state Board of Regents violated the Freedom of Information Law when it voted to elect its new chancellor and vice chancellor in April. At the April meeting, each Regent was asked to record his or her vote on a piece of paper. The papers were collected and tallied, and the results were announced publicly. However, a breakdown of how each Regent voted was not released, nor were those votes entered into the record. Regents Chancellor Betty Rosa, the beneficiary of the flawed vote, said Thu., Jul. 7, “I think the people have a right to know how people vote and that’s a public obligation. We should always feel comfortable and courageous enough with whatever our vote is that we should take it in a public space.” The violation came to light when a member of the news media submitted a FOIL request asking for the vote breakdown. Under the law, the board was obligated to maintain a record of how each member voted. The violation does not impact the outcome or validity of the vote. Following the board's June meeting, the members were asked to affirm how they voted, and those results were posted in the minutes. Rosa received 15 of the 17 votes cast. Read the full story at Politico New York.

Karrie Allen in The Chatham Courier reports that the Chatham Police Department has started the Chatham Cares 4 U Outreach Initiative Program to deal with local drug addiction. Chatham Police Chief Peter Volkmann spoke about the program at the June 29 Nar-Anon Family Group meeting at Christ our Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Chatham. “The stigma associated with heroin and opiate addiction is over,” the chief said in a department press release. “Police officers are here to help you, not judge you.” The program is modeled after the new Gloucester ANGEL Initiative, and is the first in Columbia County to partner with the Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative. Under the program, anyone can come to the Chatham Police station in the Village Hall and request help with an addiction to opiates and will be immediately screened into the program. "If that person has drugs or drug paraphernalia on them, an officer will seize and mark it for destruction, no questions asked, and the participant will not be charged," the story says. Read the full story in The Chatham Courier.

The Hudson Valley is in the midst of a heatwave with temperatures in the 90s. On July 6 Governor Andrew Cuomo directed the New York State Department of Public Service to closely monitor statewide energy usage due to those high temperatures and extra fans and air conditioners plugged in this week. Cuomo also directed the department to investigate the cause of an unexpected shut down of the Indian Point 2 nuclear plant on July 6, which was not heat-related. The governor's press statement said, "residential and business consumers are encouraged to seek ways to reduce their energy usage, where possible. To help lower demand, Governor Cuomo has directed that all state agencies immediately lower their energy usage by turning off lights, raising air conditioning temperatures, closing window shades, and powering down unused computers, printers, and other electrical devices."

The water in Hoosick Falls is under more scrutiny today, as Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie announced plans on July 6 for public hearings on New York water quality in September. The same day, the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform sent letters to Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency asking for documents for a congressional probe into the handling of the Hoosick Falls' water crisis. "I thank the Oversight Committee joining with me to demand accountability, and look forward to the prompt responses by Governor Cuomo and the EPA to this investigation,” said Congressman Chris Gibson in a statement about the federal investigation. And Politico reported that the former town dumps in both Hoosick Falls and Petersburgh in Rensselaer County are leaking high levels of a PFOA, the chemical poisoning the water. Residents, and the Assemblymember who represents the towns affected in Rensselaer County, Steve McLaughlin (R-Troy), have long called for hearings, and cheered the announcement of general hearings on New York water issues. But residents also want the senate to hold hearings specific to Rensselaer County, and so far State Senator Kathy Marchione (R-Halfmoon) has resisted that idea. On July 8, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand hosts a public forum on the issue in Hoosick Falls.

Local weather forecast:

The National Weather Service in Albany has issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook for the WGXC listening area, Fri., Jul. 8. Scattered thunderstorms are possible Friday afternoon and evening. The thunderstorms may have heavy rainfall capable of producing isolated flash flooding, especially south and west of the Capital Region. Gusty winds are also possible with any thunderstorms.

Today: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 4 p.m. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds and heavy rain. Patchy fog before 8 a.m. Otherwise, increasing clouds. High new 87. Friday night, shower and thunderstorms likely before midnight, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between midnight and 4 a.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4 a.m. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds and heavy rain. Cloudy. Low around 64.

FORECAST FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS
SATURDAY: A chance of rain and thunderstorms, then rain and possibly a thunderstorm after 9 a.m. High near 72. Saturday night, showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 11 p.m., then showers likely. Low around 59.
SUNDAY: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible ager 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy. High near 78.
Sunrise today: 5:28 a.m.
Sunset today: 8:33 p.m.

LENGTH OF THE DAY: 15:05 hrs.

PUBLIC MEETINGS

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

HUDSON Historic Preservation Commission meeting, 10 a.m. at City Hall, 520 Warren Street, Hudson (828-1030).

Dutchess and Ulster County are under an "Air Quality Alert" from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Thu., July 7. The air quality should be diminished by high ozone levels, and strenuous activity is not recommended outdoors.

DOWNLOAD or play the audio version of the local news update for Thu., Jul. 7 (8:34). (Produced by Philip Grant.)

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