Brendan J. Lyons reports in Capitol Confidential blood samples from more than 2,000 Rensselaer County residents showed 11 times higher than the national average of a toxic chemical that has polluted water supplies in the county. The state health department took the samples in February in the eastern Rensselaer County towns of Hoosick Falls and Petersburgh where traces of the chemical, perfluorooctanoic acid or PFOA, have bee detected in water supplies at levels far above those recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The state Department of Environmental Conservation also announced June 3 it had reached consent orders with Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics and Honeywell International that will require them to pay for cleanup of several manufacturing sites in and around Hoosick Falls that may be sources of the contamination. Meanwhile, Republican Assemblymember Steve McLaughlin has written to U.S. Attorneys for the state’s Northern and Southern districts asking for an inquiry into the state’s handling of the Rensselaer County water crisis. Read the full story in Capitol Confidential.

Diane Valden reports in The Columbia Paper that Columbia Memorial Health’s new, soon-to-open Rapid Care Center is bringing high speed internet service to Copake. X-rays need to be sent over broadband Columbia Memorial Health, according to CMH Vice President of Marketing and External Affairs Bill Van Slyke, so the facility needed to install a 100-foot-tall tower with a microwave relay system from Mid Hudson Data Corporation. The Rapid Care Center should open later this month. Mid Hudson Data has “hundreds of customers in Columbia County,” including the hospital's main Hudson location. Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.

that 65 percent of the fire hydrants in Greenville have some type of problem, according to a report from the Greenville Volunteer Fire Company. Only 15 of the town's 43 hydrants work properly, with eight completely useless and 20 in need of repair. The Town Board, at a meeting May 16, seemed more upset that the matter leaked on Facebook before town officials found out, according to the story. Several town council members are quoted complaining about the Facebook leak in the story. Eventually they discussed the public safety issue, mostly pointing fingers between the town and the volunteer fire fighters over who should have fixed the hydrants. Eventually, the town agreed to fix the hydrants with the fire fighters help.

Today is Day 3 of the WGXC All Together Now! 2016 Summer Pledge Drive. During the next two weeks, WGXC programmers, volunteers and staff must raise $20,000 to keep WGXC Hands-on Radio on the air, live and local during the coming months. Your support will make all the difference. Call 518-697-7400 or go online to wgxc.org [slash] donate. Thank you for supporting creative community radio in New York's Greene and Columbia counties.

Local weather forecast

Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. There is a 60 percent chance of showers Saturday night, mainly after 5 a.m., with a low around 60.

FORECAST FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS
SUNDAY: Showers likely, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 9 a.m. High near 70. Sunday night showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 2 a.m., then a chance of showers. Low around 59.
MONDAY: There is a 30 percent chance of showers. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 74.

Sunrise today: 5:19 a.m.
Sunset today: 8:28 p.m.



Elizabeth LoGiudice from Cornell Cooperative Extension and Jonathan Lerner from Hudson's Conservation Advisory Council discuss the Cornell University student project related to the Hudson waterfront and exhibition at Hudson Opera House opening June 4, interviewed by Ellen Thurston and Tom DePietro from the June 2 "WGXC Afternoon Show."

Click here to download or play this interview.

Click here to play or download an audio version of this report.

Andrea Sears reports that groups that oppose fracking for gas and oil are asking Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., to help stop a U.S. Senate energy bill. More than 370 groups nationally have signed a letter opposing S. 2012, the Senate Energy Policy Modernization Act.

Pramilla Malick, co-founder and chair of Protect Orange County in southern New York, said the bill would fast-track the permit process for gas infrastructure projects by expanding the authority of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, "which is widely known as a rubber-stamp agency because it has virtually never rejected a gas infrastructure project."

Supporters of the measure have said it will modernize outdated energy laws, keep energy affordable and create jobs. However, Malick said putting pipelines and other gas infrastructure projects on a fast track for approval would deprive communities of the opportunity to challenge those projects.

"By the time a community even learns the basic, fundamental rules and regulations on how to engage the process," she said, "the whole process would be over."

Malick said she believes the bill is intended to overcome community opposition and legal challenges to controversial projects.

Different versions of the Energy Policy Modernization Act have passed both the House and Senate. Next, Malick said, lawmakers will be asked to approve a compromise bill.

"So, we are asking all of our legislators to reject the Energy Modernization Act in its entirety and to engage in meaningful climate-change legislation," she said.

President Obama has indicated he will sign the bill if it reaches his desk.

The letter is online at foodandwaterwatch.org. The text of S. 2012 is at govtrack.us.

The Register-Star reports that Ichabod Crane won again in the state softball tournament, while Greenville lost June 2. Section II champion Ichabod Crane beat Ogdensburg 10-0 in the New York State Class B Regionals. ICC plays in SUNY Plattsburgh on at 2 p.m. June 4 against Section VII champion Saranac. Meanwhile, Section II champ Greenville lost 10-1 to Ticonderoga on June 2. Read the full story in the Register-Star.

The New York Public Interest Research Group reports at least 167 expensive-ticket political fundraisers in the first quarter in Albany, including many with local lawmakers:
• Sen. George Amedore, Jan. 12, at Angelo’s 677 Prime, Albany, $500 admission
• Assemblymember Steve McLaughlin, March 1, at the Fort Orange Club, $200 admission
• Assemblymember Didi Barrett, March 7, at Albany Room, Empire State Plaza, $250 admission
• Sen. Kathy Marchione, March 14, at Fort Orange Club, $500 admission
• Assemblymember Pete Lopez, March 21, at Fort Orange Club, $300 admission
• Assemblymember Steve McLaughlin, May 5, at Ama Cocina, Albany, $250 admission

2016 Fundraisers by cseiler8597

DOWNLOAD or play the audio version of the local headlines for Fri., Jun. 3 (7:24). (Produced by Philip Grant.)