The Albany Times-Union reports that former Republican New York State Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and his son Adam were found guilty on all eight federal charges Dec. 11. This is just the latest corruption conviction to come from the capitol, as Assembly Speaker Democrat Sheldon Silver was convicted Nov. 30. Sentencing is set for March 3 for Skelos, and Governor Andrew Cuomo has already set a special election for Silver's seat for April. He may also create a special election for Skelos' seat. On Dec. 11, Cuomo also vetoed a set of bills designed to enhance state Freedom of Information Law. Then on Dec. 12, Cuomo signed an executive order to expedite the appeals process for FOIL requests. Read both stories about both the conviction and vetos in the Albany Times-Union.

Local weather forecast


Today’s forecast is specific to Cairo, in Greene County:


Today: Patchy fog before 9 a.m. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 54. Patchy drizzle is possible Sunday night with a slight chance of showers, and a low around 44.


FORECAST FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS:

Monday: Patchy drizzle with a chance of showers before 9 a.m., then showers likely, mainly after 3 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 56, and a low around 44.


Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 48.


Sunrise today: 7:16 a.m.

Sunset today: 4:23 p.m.



Hunter Mountain says it is opening this weekend despite the warm temperatures all week and the forecast for more above-average days. Hunter opened four trails Dec. 11 with somewhere between four inches and 48” of manufactured snow, since no actual snow has accumulated this fall. Windham Mountain's website says it is not open yet, and defensively announces, "Why not this weekend? The answer is - we are committed to opening with a quality product." Catamount Ski in Columbia County reports that "Snowmaking has begun and will continue as temperatures permit," but has no opening date yet. The current National Weather Service forecast does not predict a temperature in the 30s until the night of Tue., Dec. 15.

William J. Kemble is reporting in the Daily Freeman Saugerties High School sophomore Lula Rappaport has created a smartphone app that she says is easier to use than the school district website for getting district information. School officials said during a board of education meeting Tue., Dec. 9, the district may consider supporting the project. Rappaport’s app won the high school science fair in November. The app includes the lunch menu for the month, the Google map location of the school and the school phone number that can be automatically dialed. Plus, a calendar of sporting events, a list of school clubs, the daily bell schedule, and email links to the high school guidance counselors. Rappaport chose to make an app for the high school after finding the district website was not user-friendly. In 9th grade, Rappaport’s project involved a study of the impact of meditation in the classroom. In a 4th grade class, Rappaport implemented a 10-minute quiet time program twice a day to see if the students' test averages rose. "They did,” she said. Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.

Local weather forecast


Today’s forecast is specific to Cairo, in Greene County:


Today: Partly sunny, with a high near 54. Isolated showers possible after 4 a.m., with a low around 43.


FORECAST FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS:

Sunday: Isolated showers possible before 1 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 58. Patchy drizzle Sunday night with scattered showers after 1 a.m., with a low around 47.


Monday: Showers, mainly after noon. High near 58.


Sunrise today: 7:15 a.m.

Sunset today: 4:23 p.m.



Diane Valden reports in The Columbia Paper that at the Ancram Town Board's Nov. 19 meeting, talk of LED street lights lit up the room. Central Hudson Gas and Electric Company wants the Ancram Town Board to change the town’s 31 street lights from sodium or mercury vapor lights to LEDs, or light emitting diodes. The town could change the street lights individually as they go out over the next 10 years at a cost of $142 for each light or change all the lights now at one time at a cost of $3,500, saving $2,300 in the long run. But some residents cited articles claiming the blue LED lights were too bright, and impair night vision. Ancram Conservation Advisory Council member and resident Kim Tripp told the board that nocturnal animals interpret the LEDs as daylight, interrupting their life cycles. “This is either a really good idea or a really bad idea,” Supervisor Art Bassin said, extending the discussion to the Dec. 17 town meeting. Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.

DOWNLOAD or play the audio version of the local headlines and weather for Fri., Dec. 11 (8:21). (Produced by Phil Grant.)

Larry Rulison in the Albany Times-Union reports that the Finger Lakes region, the Southern Tier area, and Central New York each won one of the $500 million Upstate Revitalization Awards announced Dec. 10. Dubbed by critics as Governor Andrew Cuomo's "Hunger Games," in the contest between regions for tax dollars the Capitol Region and Hudson Valley area lost to the competition. The Capital Region did get a consolation prize of $98.1 million for economic development, and the Mid-Hudson region also got a $90.4 million consolation prize. Among the local winners, in Greene County, the American Dance Institute was awarded $500,000 to convert the old Dunn’s Builders and Supply complex along the Catskill Creek. The institute is relocating its headquarters from Baltimore to Catskill. The Bridge Street Theatre in Catskill will receive $105,000 to assist with renovations and upgrades to its performing arts space. Support also went to the county's Skywalk Project, a new walking-and-exercise trail at the Conine Field Recreation Complex between Windham and Hunter mountains, and a community and waterfront revitalization project in Tannersville. In Columbia County, Redburn Development Companies received funding for the conversation of the former Kaz warehouse, now the Stageworks theater space, into the Hudson Hotel. The Hudson Opera House was awarded $1.3 million for a number of projects related to the ongoing renovation of the historic building. And the city was granted $248,000 to replace catch basins with trees on upper Union St. The green infrastructure project will use stormwater tree planters to intercept rainfall and prevent it from entering the combined sewer system. Approximately 15 catch basins will be replaced with planters as part of this pilot program.

Bethany Bump is reporting at Capitol Confidential the governor's task force reviewing Common Core has recommended the state implement its own set of standards. The group issued its report, Thu., Dec. 10. The study also calls for an overhaul of the state testing system to reduce tests and the anxiety linked to them. It also suggests a four-year moratorium on the use of student test scores to evaluate teachers. Gov. Andrew Cuomo launched the task force in September to review and reform the state Common Core program. This was the second review of the standards, since the curriculum and tests were implemented statewide four years ago. Cuomo blamed the state Education Department for a "deeply flawed" roll out, and said that while he agreed with the goal of the higher standards the system was in need of a "total reboot." The task force is recommending New York use Common Core as a foundation, but is calling upon teachers, parents and students to help identify which standards to revise, cut or develop. The recommendations represent a retreat from the higher learning standards used in most of the country. Read the full story at Capitol Confidential, a Times Union blog.

Click here for an audio version of this report.

Andrea Sears from New York News Connection reports for Public News Service that non-profit organizations are calling on New York State to raise the minimum wage for human-services workers to $15 an hour. More than 200,000 people work in day-care centers, senior centers, homeless shelters and other service providers in the state. More than two-thirds have some college education. But according to Allison Sesso, director of the Human Services Council, half are paid less than $15 an hour and almost a third make less than $10.50. "And that's primarily stemming from the fact government drives the salary levels," says Sesso. "Because 90 percent plus of the nonprofits' budgets come from contracts and fees with government." The groups are calling for a $15 minimum wage for all workers in the state, including employees at nonprofits, and for state and local government to amend contracts to fund the wage increase. A new report, called "A Fair Wage for Human Services Workers," finds despite being a highly-skilled workforce, human services have one of the highest prevalence of low wages in the private sector, behind food service and retail. Sesso believes that is due in part to the fact more than 80 percent of the workers are women. "The work is not valued the same as work in a financial institution, which has traditionally been male-led work," says Sesso. "I think that is part of the reason why this work doesn't pay as well." Last summer Gov. Andrew Cuomo ordered that the minimum wage for fast-food workers be raised to $15 an hour, and on Wednesday the Industrial Board of Appeals upheld that order. In November, the governor said the minimum wage for all state workers will be going up as well. Sesso sees a sea change taking place as more and more low-wage workers demand a living wage. "I do hope that there is a tide turning and there's more conversation about this and more of a recognition of a need to increase the floor," she says. "The fast-food workers really led the way, and we're following straight behind them." Read the full story at Public News Service.

The Albany Times-Union reports that the first JetBlue Airways flight landed at Albany International Airport Dec. 10, with the airline adding service to the airport. JetBlue, a discount airline, is starting with just flights to Fort Lauderdale and Orlando, but it is expected to add local flights elsewhere to and from Albany. Read the full story in the Albany Times-Union.

Michael Ryan in The Windham Journal reports that the the State Office of Mental Health and its Columbia-Greene county branches have added a Mobile Crisis Assessment Team of Columbia-Greene counties. Anyone can call 518-943-5555 to access the mental heath service. “We provide three levels of specialty care related to pre-crisis, crisis and post-crisis situations,” MCAT director Aimee Richards said. “If someone is heading down a road that seems bad, even if you aren’t sure what it is, we can check on them. We will do a mental assessment and we can then connect to a variety of service providers.” The phone line is available from noon to 8 p.m., seven days a week, and hopes to expand to round-the-clock service soon. Read the full story in The Windham Journal.

Local weather forecast


Today’s forecast is specific to Cairo, in Greene County:


Today: Patchy fog before 7 a.m. Otherwise, cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny. High near 57. Friday night, partly cloudy. Low around 39.


FORECAST FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS:

Saturday: Partly sunny. High near 56. Saturday night, patchy fog after 1 a.m. Otherwise, mostly cloudy. Low around 46.

Sunday: A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy. High near 60. Sunday night, a chance of showers. Mostly cloudy. Low around 49.


Sunrise today: 7:14 a.m.
Sunset today: 4:23 p.m.

LENGTH OF THE DAY: 9:09


PUBLIC MEETINGS

Today is the second Thursday 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 (tentative), 10 a.m. at City Hall, 520 Warren Street, Hudson (828-1030).

DOWNLOAD or play the audio version of the local headlines and weather for Thu., Dec. 10 (6:17). (Produced by Phil Grant.)

Katie Kocijanski is reporting in The Daily Mail Cairo is the latest municipality in Greene County to seemingly reject the proposed consolidated ambulance system. Town Supervisor Ted Banta said, “While we appreciate the task force’s efforts, the town is fortunate to already have an excellent ambulance service.” Banta made the comment during a meeting of the town board Mon., Dec. 7. At that meeting, Aidan O’Connor, co-chairman of the Greene County Legislature’s task force on ambulance services and Ron Rouse, director of the Greene County Rural Health Network, provided a breakdown of how a consolidated countywide ambulance system could benefit Cairo. Residents present expressed support for the current system, and concern that the 22 employees of the town's existing service would lose their jobs if the town opts into the consolidated plan. The lone voice in support of Cairo adopting the service was Legislator Bill Lawrence. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Debby Mayer is reporting in the Columbia Paper Germantown Central School Districts residents must now be registered in the district to vote on school budgets, board elections and other referenda. The Board of Education approved the change at its November meeting. Residents now must either be registered to vote in Columbia County, for general and primary elections, or, if not, they must register with the district. This change applies to all residents of the district, which includes Germantown, and all or parts of Ancram, Clermont, Gallatin, Livingston and Taghkanic. Previously, district voters had to be at least 18 years of age, U.S. citizens and living in a primary residence within the district for at least 30 days. Voters presented themselves at the polls and unless challenged, were allowed to vote. The district began enrolling voters November 19. Deadline for registration is Tue., May 17, the date of the annual budget vote and school board election. Read the full story in the Columbia Paper.

The New York Times is reporting the U.S. Senate Wed., Dec. 9, approved a major revision of the No Child Left Behind legislation. The measure will end an era of federal control in education policy after 14 years. The law would restore authority for school performance and accountability to local districts and to states. While it keeps the existing annual testing requirements in reading and math and requires that states act to improve the lowest performing schools, it permits more local control to set goals, determine school ratings and decide remedial measures. “It will unleash a flood of excitement and innovation and student achievement that we haven’t seen in a long time,” said Senator Lamar Alexander, the Tennessee Republican who leads the Senate Education Committee. A similar bill passed the House of Representatives last week. President Obama is expected to sign the bill today (Thu., Dec. 10). Read the full story in The New York Times.

Katie Kocijanski is reporting in The Daily Mail on the public nuisance law proposed for the town of Cairo. Local Law No. 11 of 2015 was discussed at a public hearing held during the town board meeting, Mon., Dec. 7. Town Supervisor Ted Banta said the law was designed after complaints of trash and discarded mattresses on or near Main St., were received by town officials. Enforcement will fall to local police and the town Code Enforcement Officer. The measure spells out 12 specific examples of what is considered a public nuisance. Banta said the law would improve the quality of life. He said, “This law gives the town jurisdiction to deal with the problems that have been brought to our attention.” Problems mentioned during the public hearing included a growing heroin problem, various health hazards and neglected homes. The public hearing will continue during the January town board meeting. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

The Greene County Sheriff’s Office, Columbia County Sheriff's Office, and Hudson police department won a $100,000 Tactical Team Grant, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Dec. 9. The Tactical Team Grant Program gives money for tactical teams to respond to active-shooter events and other counter-terrorism missions and funds certain equipment, training, exercise, and planning costs, according to Cuomo's press release. Columbia County and the Village of Tannersville each also receive $150,000 for "Rope Rescue." "As we continue to fight terrorism abroad and at home, local law enforcement should have every resource available to keep our communities safe," said Senator Kirsten Gillibrand in a press release with Cuomo. The money comes from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security through the State Homeland Security Program.

Jordan Carleo-Evangelist reports in the Albany Times-Union that the Albany County Legislature voted Dec. 8 for a $610 million budget, breaking the open meetings law by holding a voice vote. Because the County Legislature adopted the budget by a voice vote, the public cannot look up which legislators voted for and against the budget. Robert Freeman, executive director of the state’s Committee on Open Government, cited Section 83(3)(a) of state Freedom of Information Law, when asked about the vote, saying it requires, “a record of the final vote of each member in every agency proceeding in which the member votes.” He further explained, “Unless it’s unanimous, it fails to comply with law.... There must be a record that indicates how each member voted.” Legislature Chairman Shawn Morse said, "Last night you had 70 resolutions. We would have been there for five-six hours.” Albany County lawmakers have held roll call votes on every budget since at least 2006. Read the full story in the Albany Times-Union.