Some of the stories that made the news Fri., Apr. 15 through Sun., Apr. 17:

Jeanette Wolfberg reported in the Columbia Paper the Hudson City Board of Education voted last week to reduce board terms from five to three years. Members already serving will remain on the board until the end of their original term. One of the seats to be filled July 1 will also carry a five-year term, but all other seats will require only three years of service, if elected. District residents go the polls May 17 to vote on the 2016-17 school budget, and to fill three board seats. District residents interested in running for school board can obtain a nominating petition by visiting the administrative offices at 215 Harry Howard Ave. in Hudson. To be eligible, a candidate must be able to read and write, be a qualified voter in the district and have been a resident of the school district for at least one year prior to May 17. Completed petitions must be submitted to District Clerk Leslie Coons no later than 5 p.m., Fri., Apr. 26.

Jim Planck reported in The Daily Mail the Albany Diocese is under contract with an unidentified buyer for the former St. Patrick's High School located on Woodland Avenue in Catskill. The pending sale was confirmed at the Catskill Village Board meeting last week, but Village President Heather Bagshaw declined to name the buyer, citing their desire to remain anonymous. Bagshaw said the new owner is a not-for-profit that would use the building for offices, thereby requiring a zoning change to accommodate the sale. Woodland Avenue is currently zoned R-1, which allows for a one-family residential dwelling per lot. Office complexes are not permitted. Residents of Woodland Avenue are not happy about this turn of events. Chris Rappleyea, a member of the Woodland Avenue Homeowners Association, said rumors are flying that Greene County wants to move its mental health offices to the neighborhood. Rappleyea said, “It’s not going to be well-received, I can pretty much say that, if that is the case.” Another rumor circulating is that a second buyer wants to purchase the property to use as a school, a proposal the residents generally support. Neither village or county officials were available for comment. An informational presentation, hosted by the mystery buyer, will be made at 6 p.m., April 27, immediately before the next village board meeting.

Matthew Hamilton reported at Capitol Confidential 19th Congressional District candidate, Kinderhook Republican John Faso raised more than $220,000 during the first quarter of 2016. That gives him more than $600,000 cash on hand, his campaign announced last week. Faso has raised just more than $1 million total since he entered he race last year. In addition to Faso, Andrew Heaney of Dutchess County and Bob Bishop of Delaware County are seeking the Republican line in the November general election. The seat is being vacated by Chris Gibson.

Greg Hudson reported in the Register-Star despite lobbying state lawmakers and the governor, Twin County nonprofit Arc organizations will be required to raise minimum wage for their employees without the benefit of additional state funding to cover the increase. Instead, the nonprofit care providers for children and adults with special needs, will be required to shoulder the majority of the cost from their own budgets. Those budgets are funded almost entirely through state Medicaid reimbursement. Arc of Ulster-Greene Executive Director John McHugh said, “This will be the biggest unfunded mandate on nonprofits in state history...." He said, "We are concerned that our...state...leaders did not fully fund the budget as it relates to the mandated increases in [the] minimum wage." Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said while increasing minimum wage for all employees statewide was his priority, he felt no obligation to fund pay increases throughout the corporate structure of nonprofit organizations. Republican Assembly member Steve McLaughlin said the government's decision to mandate the wage increase while offering little or no support was "unconscionable."

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation announced last week the new campground at Schodack Island State Park in Rensselaer County is now open for visitors. This is the first new tent-trailer accessible campground to be built by in 35 years. The campground has 67 sites and two new bathroom and shower buildings. Forty-three of the sites offer 50-amp electrical hook-ups. The campground will be open through Dec. 5, to cater to hunters and anglers who visit the park. The 1,052-acre Schodack Island State Park sits off the eastern shore of the Hudson River just south of Albany. It includes approximately seven miles of Hudson River and Schodack Creek shoreline.

Local weather forecast

Today: Sunny. High near 76. Monday night, a chance of showers. Mostly cloudy. Low around 48.

FORECAST FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS
TUESDAY: A slight chance of showers before 2 p.m. Mostly sunny. High near 65. Tuesday night, mostly clear. Low around 37.
WEDNESDAY: Sunny. High near 59. Sunday night, mostly clear. Low around 37.

Sunrise today: 6:07 a.m.
Sunset today: 7:41 p.m.

LENGTH OF THE DAY: 13:33 hrs.

PUBLIC MEETINGS

PUBLIC MEETINGS

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

ATHENS Town Board meeting, 6:45 p.m. at Community Center, 2 First Street, Athens (945-1052).
AUSTERLITZ Comprehensive plan meeting, 7 p.m. at 812 Route 203, Austerlitz (392-3260).
CANAAN Planning Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 1647 Route 5, Canaan (781-3144). COLUMBIA County Board of Supervisors .1 [point one] Committee meeting, 2 p.m. at 401 State St., Hudson (828-1527).
GREENVILLE Town Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Offices, corner of routes 32 and 81, Greenville (966-5055).

Jon Brodkin at Ars Technica reports that Rep. Chris Gibson voted with the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives April 15 to gut the Federal Communications Commission's authority to regulate Internet providers. FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler says the "No Rate Regulation of Broadband Internet Access Act" bill could prevent the FCC from enforcing net neutrality rules against blocking and throttling. Republicans continue to insist, despite all proof, that the FCC's vote last year to reclassify Internet providers as common carriers and enforce net neutrality rules would require traditional rate regulation for broadband. But, Republicans say, we can tell the Democrats want to tax the Internet, even if they say otherwise. U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) told the Associated Press April 15, "We all know that what they'd like to do is regulate the Internet so they can tax the Internet, so they could then come in and set all the rates." Free Press Action Fund Policy Director Matt Wood said April 15, “Don’t believe a word the House Majority leadership says about this bill. It’s really about giving massive broadband providers the ability to gouge Internet users with impunity." The White House says President Obama will veto the bill if it passes the Senate. Read the full story at Ars Technica.

Harley Goodnough reports in The Greenville Pioneer that voters will consider a $29.4 million budget in Greenville next month, with a hearing first May 3. That's a 2.3 percent spending increase, due largely from increased state aid, and staying within the property tax cap. A few after-school clubs and after-school help are being restored in the budget, according to the story. Voters throughout New York consider school budgets with a vote in each district May 17.

Jim Planck in The Daily Mail reports that the Hunter Town Board is considering repealing or changing two of six recent laws that proved controversial at a standing-room-only special meeting April 12. The Small Scale Mining Law and the Timber Harvesting Law may be discussed at repeal hearings next month, while the Mobile Home Law, Site Plan Law, Junkyard Law, and Scrap Metal Law remain under scrutiny for potential revision, according to the story. The lengthy story outlines views on all sides of the issues, from local business owners to weekend residents. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Rick Karlin reports in Capitol Confidential that Governor Andrew Cuomo made $222,035 in 2015, according to his state tax return released April 15. Cuomo paid state taxes of $12,563 and $36,595 in federal taxes. He makes $168,125 annually as governor. Read the full story at Capitol Confidential.

The Poughkeepsie Journal reports that Republican candidate Donald Trump leads a rally at 3 p.m. Sun., April 17 at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center in Poughkeepsie. Tickets are available here. Chelsea Clinton, daughter of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton, speaks from 2 to 3 p.m. April 17 in Kingston at the Senate Garage, 4 North Front St. Tickets are available here. And at 6 p.m. Monday, April 18, John Kasich holds a Town Hall at the Schenectady Armory, 125 Washington Avenue.

The Felice Brothers, "Aerosol Ball" from "Life In The Dark"



Performance by Bard Percussion on November 20, 2015 at the Bard College Conservatory of Music of "Aurél Holló: José / beFORe JOHN 5"



Tim Hecker, "Black Phase" from "Love Streams" (4AD)



Greg Saunier, "Adam+Eve Connection" from "Deerhoof Chamber Variations"



Pyrrhon, "Statistic Singular" from Running Out Of Skin

DOWNLOAD or play the audio version of the local headlines and weather for Sat., Apr. 16 (2:24). (Produced by Tom Roe.)