Nancy Kern reports at Columbia-Greene Media that dozens of Athens residents spoke out against a tax break for Athens Generating Plant, at a March 29 public hearing held by the Greene County Industrial Development Agency. The IDA wants to renew a Payment in Lieu of Taxes, or PILOT, for the power facility located on Route 9W, but many residents disagreed. Athens resident John Cameron said, “Athens, unlike Coxsackie, does not have a lot of commercial tax brought into it, and we are being robbed of the commercial taxes which our town desperately needs." Former Athens Mayor Chris Pfister said, “Look at the businesses around here, little businesses, restaurants, mom-and-pop stores, whatever, none of them get a tax break.” Former Athens Town Supervisor Lee Palamateer said, “It is a sweetheart relationship between Athens Gen and the IDA.... The plant’s not going anywhere.” Others complained about natural gas-fired plant hastening climate change. If the tax break is approved, Athens Gen would only pay $5,250,000 from 2024-2028; $5,512,500 from 2029-2033; $5,788,125 from 2034-2038; and $6,077,531 from 2038-2043. Read more about this story at HudsonValley360.com.

Fishing seasons for trout and striped bass begin in New York April 1. Brook Trout, trout in inland streams, and Lake Trout fishing seasons run from April 1 to Oct. 15. For inland trout, only two fish longer than 12 inches are allowed, while Lake Trout must be at least 21 inches long. Striped Bass season runs from April 1 to Nov. 30, limited to fish not less than 18 inches and no greater than 28 inches.

Today's daily news audio update.

Local Congressional representatives Pat Ryan and Elise Stefanik responded on Twitter March 30 to the news that former President Donald Trump has been indicted by a Manhattan grand jury, while Paul Tonko and Marc Molinaro stayed silent in the first hours after the story broke. Stefanik, a Republican representing the 21st Congressional District including Rensselaer County, wrote, "This is unprecedented election interference from corrupt Socialist District Attorney Alvin Bragg. The radical Far Left will stop at nothing to persecute Joe Biden’s chief political opponent President Trump ahead of the election." Democrat Pat Ryan, who represents Dutchess County and the rest of the 18th Congressional District, wrote, "No one is above the law, even a former President. The Manhattan District Attorney's Office now has an obligation to lay out the facts and present its case. I urge all Americans to reject any calls for violence and respect the rule of law."

Brendan J. Lyons reports in the Times Union that Democrats in a New York appellate court have a lawsuit that would redraw the Congressional district maps. The lawsuit seeks to compel the state Independent Redistricting Commission to create yet another map of New York's congressional boundaries. The Independent Redistricting Commission deadlocked along partisan lines and failed to create a map originally, so the Democrat-led Legislature stepped in and created a map that was thrown out of court because it was considered gerrymandered to favor Democrats. Then a special master created the district lines that are currently in place. Democrats have hired the Elias Law Group in Washington, D.C., which touts itself as "the nation’s largest law firm focused on representing the Democratic Party, Democratic campaigns, nonprofit organizations and individuals committed to securing a progressive future." The case is scheduled in May before the Appellate Division of state Supreme Court in Albany. It is possible that Congressional elections in 2020, 2022, and 2024 could have three different district maps if the Democrats prevail. Read more about this story in the Times Union.

Nick Reisman reports at New York State of Politics that while some schools in the Capital Region were under lockdown March 30 because of phoned-in fake threats against local schools, State Assembly Republicans unveiled their proposals to make schools safer. Their proposals included adding more school resource officers and addressing mental health concerns, but not reducing the availability of guns. Assemblyperson Josh Jensen, spoke about how to make schools safer from shooters, saying, "Communication is key.... Communication between school administration with staff and parents, communication with law enforcement." The message was a bit mixed, though, as Captain Tracey Quinn of the Greene County Sheriff's Office said the school resource officers the Republicans want do more in other areas than provide safety for students. "I would have to say our SROs act more as counselors to students than they do police officers," Quinn said. Republicans also backed increased mental health help, something most agree is needed throughout society after the COVID-19 pandemic. "A lot of our kids came back after the pandemic and had really lost ground not just academically, but socially," said Assemblyperson Mary Beth Walsh. "I think that needs to be addressed in our schools. Mental health was a concern during the pandemic; it's even greater now." Democrat Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins wants to encourage more retired officers in schools by lifting a cap on retirement income. "I hope our colleagues on the other side of the aisle understand there are sensible things they can vote for that would help bolster security," Stewart-Cousins said. Read more about this story at New York State of Politics.

Paul Kirby reports in the Daily Freeman that local Democrats and Republicans in Congress voted on opposite sides on a bill March 30 that would lower energy costs and hasten global warming, leading to more costs later. But it was all just Congressional theatre, as the bill is unlikely to pass the Democratically-controlled Senate, or be signed by President Joe Biden. The Lower Energy Costs Act would increase domestic production of oil, natural gas and coal, and ease permitting restrictions that delay pipelines, refineries and other projects, and hasten global warming by increasing pollutants. Local Democrats Paul Tonko and Pat Ryan voted against the bill, and Republicans Marc Molinaro and Elise Stefanik voted against the measure, which passed 225-to-204 in the House of Representatives. New York Senator Chuck Schumer called it “dead on arrival.” Ryan said, “My community has a long and well-documented history of big corporations dumping toxic pollutants, particularly PFAS, in our waterways.... And while there are many reasons I oppose this bill, I rise today to speak on this aspect in particular.“ Molinaro said, “The historic legislation, which passed with bipartisan support, lowers energy costs for Upstate New York families by increasing domestic energy production, reforming the United States’ broken permitting process, and streamlining new energy projects, including renewable energy projects.” Read more about this story in the Daily Freeman.

Today's audio daily news update.

Jammel Cutler at Columbia-Greene Media reports that three Columbia County town superviisors want a shuttle system to boost public transportation in outlying portions of Columbia County. New Lebanon Town Supervisor Tistrya Houghtling, Canaan Town Supervisor Brenda Adams and Chatham Town Supervisor Donal Collins wrote the letter to the Columbia County Board of Supervisors. The letter says, "“We’re proposing a bus-van route that goes through New Lebanon to Canaan to Chatham and ends in Hudson.... Residents can then go shopping, go to doctor’s appointments, etc., and then get back on the shuttle to go back on the return route and drop off those residents.... Our county residents pay the same amount of taxes as all the residents, and yet there is a service that’s being paid for through county taxes that isn’t accessible.” Currently, Columbia County has a bus that stops in Philmont, Claverack, Greenport, Hudson, Germantown, Ancramdale, and Copake, and a shuttle that runs from Hudson, Greenport, Stottville, Kinderhook, Valatie, Schodack to Albany. Plus there is after-school transportation in Hudson, Greenport, Stottville, and Claverack, and a shopping shuttle in Hudson and Greenport. More than 30,000 riders used the services in 2022. Columbia County is currently asking for input from the public on transportation needs. Anyone can leave questions or comments by writing to Shari.Franks@columbiacounty.com by April 4. Read more about this story at HudsonValley360.com.

Kathleen Moore and Kenneth C. Crowe II report in the Times Union that there were more threats to schools on March 30, this time at schools in Albany, Troy, East Greenbush, Schodack, and other schools. They come after a school shooting in Tennessee that left seven dead on March 27. Then on March 28 three Berkshire County schools got threats phoned in, but all the threats were hoaxes. The same appears to be the case with these new school threats. "Reports of an active shooter at Albany High School are completely unfounded," Officer Steve Smith, a spokesperson for the Albany Police Department, said in a tweet. "All students and staff at the school are safe. There have been several swatting phone calls made across the Capital Region and state and we’re investigating." Several schools went on lockdown because of the threats, and police were mobilized. Nearly 30 Massachusetts schools received fake threats on March 28, and many Pennsylvania schools got phone threats on March 29.

Steve Hughes reports in the Times Union that Coeymans officials are being accused of interference in a business proposal from Long Energy, a direct competitor to the town planning and zoning board chair's own business. Long Energy wants to put a propane storage terminal in the town along the Hudson River in southern Albany County. Long Energy‘s President Bob Long Jr. and two company attorneys told the newspaper that they see as a pattern of obstruction and interference by Coeymans Supervisor George McHugh and Planning Board Chair Robert Nolan. Previously the newspaper reported that McHugh signed a lease last December for new town offices on a property owned by Nolan. So Coeymans is paying $2,000 a month in rent and paid for upgrades to a property owned by the planning board chair's business, Nolan Propane. Read more about this story in the Times Union.

Today's daily news audio update.

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

Rebekah F. Ward reports in the Times Union that a federal appeals court on March 29 overturned part of an injunction that had temporarily blocked New York cannabis regulators from issuing retail licenses for the Hudson Valley and three other regions in the state. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit will now allow the state to resume licensing cannabis stores in central and western New York, the Mid-Hudson Valley and Brooklyn, while the injunction remains in place in the Finger Lakes. A federal lawsuit filed in November in Albany challenged the state's decision declaring the proposed Variscite NY One store was ineligible for a retail license because one of the owners — a Michigan resident — lacked "a significant New York state presence." The company with the Michigan owner had picked the Finger Lakes as its first choice to open a shop, followed by the other regions. "It's just this big sigh of relief, like a big exhale," said Venus Rodriguez, a Mid-Hudson applicant from Rockland County who wanted to open a shop last summer. So far only five stores have been opened in the state, even though recreational cannabis has been legal for two years. Read more about this story in the Times Union.

Andrea Macko reports at Porcupine Soup that 74-year-old Harry Braker died in a house fire on Main Street in Catskill on March 29. Home oxygen tanks exploded during the fire, but no firefighters were injured. Investigators believe the cause of the fire was accidental. Catskill, Athens, West Athens, Hudson, Greenport, Malden, Saugerties, and Kiskatom fire crews, and Catskill Ambulance, Catskill Police Department, State Police, Greene County Sheriff’s Office, Catskill DPW, and Greene County Fire Investigation Team responded to the blaze. Read more about this story in Porcupine Soup.

Zack Fink reports at New York State of Politics that New York's next budget is due April 1, and budget negotiations in Albany are entirely out of public view. Gov. Kathy Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, are the negotiators, but have not spoken publicly in more than a week. Republican State Senator Jim Tedisco said, “As we talk about transparency as it relates to this particular budget coming up. We are going down now the same old slippery slope that history has shown us has not worked very well in New York State.” The budget could be late, as the story says there is already discussion about passing extenders early next week to keep the government running and make payroll. But no one really knows what is going on behind closed doors in Albany. Read more about this story at New York State of Politics.

Jammel Cutler reports in Columbia-Greene Media that the Historic Preservation Commission on March 24 issued a certificate of appropriateness to the Galvan Foundation to convert the 402-406 Warren St. property into a 30-room hotel with a restaurant and a retail space. Architect Walter Chatham explained the plans, saying, “These buildings are quite old, much closer to the original Hudson buildings, and they wouldn’t be fancy like the Victorian buildings. We’ve all agreed to simplify the designs and get portions and materials right.” The story did not say when the hotel, at the corner of Warren and N. 4th Sts., will open. Read more about this story at HudsonValley360.com.

Today's audio daily news update.

Nancy Kern reports in Columbia-Greene Media that there are two complaints in the Tannersville election, with claims of harassment, discrimination, and fraud against inspectors working the March 21 vote. The complaints allege excessive questioning faced by longtime village residents about their residency and discrimination against minorities. One of the complaints says that election inspector and Village Republican Party Chair Gina Guarino filled in the ballot of an elderly resident. Guarino said of the complaints, “This is a Hail Mary from the mayor to try to hold on to an election he already lost. This man is an albatross to our village using smoke and mirrors and triangulation tactics to keep up appearances and spew false allegations where nothing exists.” A Greene County Board of Elections staff member said on March 27 that, “We received complaints. We will review them and respond after they’re reviewed." Village resident George Kelly said March 27 that he experienced similar harassment about his residency despite living in the village for the last 24 years. Kelly said, “There’s a very subtle intimidation, especially when you know who people are going to vote for.... Anyone that voted for the current mayor was questioned excessively. Once you’re playing games like that you’re trying to get police involved. When you make it such a hassle to vote that they walk off the line.” Current election results have David Schneider ahead by two votes, but there are two ballots that need to be cured. On March 26, McGunnigle said he would challenge the results if Schneider is the winner. “I’m not going to pull a Donald Trump,” McGunnigle said. Read more about this story at HudsonValley360.com.

Raga Justin reports in the Times Union that cannabis farmers warned state legislators March 28 that if they don't get more retail stores open soon, they may not have as many cannabis farmers. Many farms have started growing cannabis in anticipation of retail sales across the state after New York legalized recreational cannabis two years ago. But only five retail stores have opened so far, mostly in New York City. Brittany Carbone, a Tioga County hemp farmer, said, "Time is not on our side. ... The season is short and unforgiving.... We will not be able to survive these conditions much longer and will be out of business before the regulations are even finalized." A small mountain of cannabis has been harvested so far in the state, more than the five stores open can sell, and if another harvest comes in, the farmers warn, there will be a collapse in the market. The Office of Cannabis Management recently announced it would double the number of initial retail licenses in the state from 150 to 300, but the pace of new stores opening has not quickened. The slow rollout of cannabis retail stores has been blamed on former Gov. Andrew Cuomo's slow-rolling of initial regulations for sales, a lawsuit which has blocked stores from opening in five regions of the state including the Hudson Valley, and Gov. Kathy Hochul's administration. Read more about this story in the Times Union.