Jim Planck is reporting in The Daily Mail in a unanimous vote Tue., Dec. 1, the Catskill Town Board has decided to formally oppose a request by the New York State Thruway Authority to act as lead agency in the environment review of the Pilgrim Pipeline proposal. Catskill follows the Ulster County towns of Plattekill, Rochester, Saugerties, Marbletown and New Paltz to oppose the Thruway Authority's request. Prior to the vote, the board heard from property owners affected the construction itself, or the potentially lower real estate values resulting from the pipeline's presence. The conversation focused on concerns that the Thruway Authority is not the appropriate agency to conduct an assessment of the plan's environmental factors. It was also noted the Thruway Authority has a financial interest in the project it is seeking to review. The proposed 178-mile pipeline would move Bakken crude from Albany to Linden, N.J., through Albany, Greene, and Ulster counties, and send refined crude back to Albany, largely along the I-87 corridor. In Greene County, the proposed project veers east of Route 9W west of Sleepy Hollow Lake in Athens, and then back near the interstate around Leeds-Athens Road. After Catskill, the pipeline veers west of the interstate briefly around Cauterskill Road. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Rick Karlin is reporting at Capitol Confidential the Empire Justice Center has released a report urging an increase in housing and heating allowances for those on public assistance. A study conducted found that grants for housing and utilities are not adequate for many families. As a result, more families find themselves homeless. The impact does vary based on the region: Upstate residents typically pay for heat and utilities separately while many apartments in New York City include those services. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, between 2013 and 2014, New York experienced the largest increase in homelessness of any state in the nation. Public assistance recipients receive certain amounts to cover the cost of heating fuel, based on the county they live in and according to the type of heat a home requires. These fuel allowances have been in place, unchanged, since 1987. In contrast, the cost of oil heat has more than tripled during that same period of time. Read the full story at Capitol Confidential, a Times Union blog.

Jim Planck is reporting in The Daily Mail the Catskill Town Board has taken action to reduce medical insurance costs in the coming year. The effort was necessary to keep the recently adopted 2016 town budget in line with its targeted yearly expenses. In the week following formal adoption of the spending plan, the board met and changed the terms of medical coverage for full-time employees and elected officials. Under the new guidelines, town employees will now contribute, on an annual sliding scale over four years, up to 20 percent of premium costs. Future elected part-time officials will no longer be eligible for coverage provided by the town. Similar changes were made for coverage of town retirees. The board also selected Blue Shield of Northeastern New York as its news insurance provider, effective January 1. And Medicare-eligible retirees and their spouses will now be covered by Transamerica Affinity Services. Town officials said the changes will result in a savings of approximately $100,000. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Kenneth C. Crowe II reports in the Albany Times-Union that the Rensselaer County legislature approved a $331.5 million 2016 budget by a 13-5 vote on Dec. 1. That means the property tax levy will increase by 1.88 percent in 2016. Commenting on the story, the Republican said the budget protected services, and the Democrat complained about high taxes. County Legislature Chairman Stan Brownell (R-Hoosick) said the budget, “protects taxpayers and needed services, and helps maintain the solid fiscal position earned by the county for accurate budgeting and responsible management.” Peter Grimm (D-Troy), the Minority Leader, says property taxes have risen by about 10 percent over the last five years. Read the full story in the Albany Times Union.

Mid-Hudson News Network and The Daily Freeman report that Democrats continue to support the idea of Ulster County Executive Michael Hein running for the Congressional seat being vacated by Chris Gibson (R-Kinderhook). Members of the College Democrats of New York recently voted to urge Hein to run, the paper reports. Republicans so far have three announced candidates for the 19th Congressional District: state Assemblyman Pete Lopez of Schoharie, former Assemblyman John Faso of Kinderhook and businessman Andrew Heaney. No Democrats have announced they are running yet. Ulster, Greene, Columbia, Delaware, Sullivan, Schoharie and Otsego counties make up the district with most of Dutchess and Rensselaer counties; and parts of Montgomery and Broome counties. Read the full story in The Daily Freeman.

Local weather forecast

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

Today: A slight chance of showers. Partly sunny. High near 46. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent. Thursday night, partly cloudy. Low around 30.

FORECAST FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS:
Friday: Mostly sunny. High near 46. Friday night, partly cloudy. Low around 30.
Saturday: Sunny. High near 49. Friday night, mostly clear. Low around 29.

Sunrise today: 7:07 a.m.
Sunset today: 4:23 p.m.
Length of the day: 9:16

PUBLIC MEETINGS
Today is the first Thursday of the month.
WGXC suggests calling ahead to confirm time and location.
(All numbers are in the 518 area code unless otherwise noted.)

ANCRAM Planning Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 1416 County Rte. 7, Ancram (329-6512).
ASHLAND Planning Board meeting, 6 p.m. at Town Hall, 12094 Route 23, Ashland (734-3636).
AUSTERLITZ Planning Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 812 Route 203, Spencertown (392-3260).
COPAKE Planning Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 230 Mt. View Road, Copake (329-1234).
COXSACKIE Planning Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 16 Reed St., Coxsackie (731-2727).
GHENT Town Board informational planning and working session, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 2306 State Route 66, Ghent (392-4644).
HUDSON Planning Board meeting, 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 520 Warren St, Hudson (828-1030).
KINDERHOOK Zoning Board of Appeals meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 4 Church St, Niverville (784-2233).
STUYVESANT Board meeting workshop, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 5 Sunset Dr., Stuyvesant (758-6248).
WINDHAM Town Board meeting, 8 p.m. at Town Hall, 371 State Rt. 296, Hensonville (734-4170).882).

DOWNLOAD or play the audio version of the local headlines and weather for Wed., Dec. 2 (5:50). (Produced by Tom Roe.)

John Mason is reporting in the Register-Star detours on two major Columbia County arteries are planned for 2016. Bridges on Route 66 outside of Hudson and on Route 9H near Bell's Pond in Livingston, will be replaced, according to the New York State Department of Transportation. Route 66 will be closed to northbound traffic at the bridge over Claverack Creek. A detour for northbound cars will be put in place sometime in April and continue until November 2016, at least. Northbound cars will be directed on a six-mile detour, taking Route 23B east to Route 9H, and then Route 9H north to Route 66. Southbound traffic into Hudson will not be affected. At nearly the same time, Route 9H will be closed at the bridge over the Taghkanic Creek, west of Spook Rock Road, near Hildebrandt’s Trucking. The bridges were chosen for repair based on their high susceptibility to scour, their small and inadequate openings, and their foundation types. Scouring refers to the damage done to a bridge’s substructure by floodwater. Widening the opening strengthens a bridge by allowing more water to flow under it without harming the bridge. Read the full story in the Register-Star.

Jimmy Vielkind is reporting at Politico New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Tue., Dec. 1, he will push for more disclosure and transparency in the coming legislative session, but said he is not going to focus his efforts on creating a full-time Legislature because there's “no appetite” for it among current lawmakers. Cuomo's comments came in the wake of former Assembly speaker Sheldon Silver's conviction on corruption charges this week. Cuomo said, “The cleaner solution would be, full-time Legislature, you get one check, no outside income, period,” Cuomo told reporters after delivering a speech in Harlem. The governor also offered a new assessment of his decision to disband the Moreland Commission to Investigate Public Corruption. Cuomo now says the point of the Moreland Commission was not to investigate, but simply to “spur” lawmakers and “educate the public” about ethical blind spots. Cuomo convened the Commission in 2013 after lawmakers failed to do anything in response to the arrests of senators Malcolm Smith and John Sampson on criminal charges. Both men were later convicted. At the time, Cuomo said the Commission would conduct "a real follow-the-money investigation." Read the full story at Politico New York.

Katie Kocijanski, Roger Hannigan Gilson and John Mason of Columbia-Greene Media team up to contact most local politicians for reaction to the latest Albany corruption conviction. Senate leader Dean Skelos, a Republican, was arrested in May, and now Assembly leader Sheldon Silver, a Democrat, has been convicted of corruption charges. With plans for a Museum of Political Corruption in Albany, Assemblyperson Didi Barrett, D-107, said "I also know from first-hand experience, the vast majority of my colleges are in politics for the right reasons [and] care about their constituents.” State Senator George Amedore, a Republican representing the 46th District that includes Greene and Schoharie counties, said, “I’m glad that the jury got it right and justice has prevailed. The residents of New York are better off now that Silver has been removed from office.” “Good government requires complete honesty and transparency,” said Greene County Democratic Committee Chair Doreen Davis, recently elected Catskill Town Supervisor. “Sadly on both sides of the aisle in New York we are showing a distinct lack of that." Read the full story in The Windham Journal.

Bryan Rowzee in the Ravena News-Herald reports that Ravena town officials discussed the proposed Pilgrim Pipeline at their November meeting, with Village Trustee Keith Mahler reporting that one pipe will run along the northbound lane of Interstate 87 and another along the southbound lane. "We are also concerned about drainage. The pipelines will be a 20-inch diameter. We want residents to be compensated for changes when the construction requires work access," said Village Trustee Bill Bailey. The proposed 116-mile pipeline route in New York largely follows the Thruway corridor on a 178-mile path to Linden, N.J. The pipeline would handle an estimated 200,000 barrels per day of Bakken crude oil going south and the same amount of refined petroleum products going north. Read the full story in the Ravena News-Herald.

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

The National Weather Service in Albany has issued a special weather statement for Wed., Dec. 2. Fog may be locally dense with visibilities less than a half mile at times across east central New York and adjacent western New England this morning.

Today: Rain. High near 47. Chance of precipitation 100 percent. Wednesday night, showers, mainly before midnight. Low around 38. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent.

Forecast for the next two days:
Thursday: A slight chance of showers before 1 p.m. Partly sunny. High near 45. Thursday night, partly cloudy. Low around 33.
Friday: Mostly sunny. High near 45. Friday night, partly cloudy. Low around 31.

Sunrise today: 7:06 a.m.
Sunset today: 4:24 p.m.
Length of the day: 9:17

Public meetings
Today is the first Tuesday of the month.
WGXC suggests calling ahead to confirm time and location.
(All numbers are in the 518 area code unless otherwise noted.)

ATHENS Village Board meeting, 6:30 p.m at the Athens Community Center, 2 First St., Athens (945-1551).
CATSKILL Zoning Board of Appeals, 6 p.m. at Town Hall, 439 Main St., Catskill (943-2141).
CLERMONT Planning Board meeting at Town Hall, 7 p.m. at 1795 Route 9, Clermont (537-6868).
COPAKE Hamlet Revitalization Task Force, 7 p.m.; Environmental Committee meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 230 Mt. View Road, Copake (329-1234).
GHENT Planning Board Application meeting and Zoning Board of Appeals meeting, 7 p.m. both at Town Hall, 2306 State Route 66, Ghent (392-4644).
GREENE COUNTY Legislature committee meetings: Health Services, County Resources and Public Safety, 6 p.m. at County Building, 411 Main St., Catskill (719-3270).
HUDSON Industrial Development Agency meeting cancelled; Common Council Youth and Aging Committee meeting, 6 p.m.; Arts, Entertainment and Tourism Committee meeting, 6:45 p.m., all at City Hall, 520 Warren Street, Hudson (828-1030).
JEWETT Town Board meeting, 7 p.m., at Municipal Bldg. 3547 Co. Rt. 23C (263-4626).
KINDERHOOK Town’s 9 & 9H Corridor Committee meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 4 Church St, Niverville (784-2233).
KINDERHOOK Village Board meeting and budget hearing, 7 p.m. at 6 Chatham Street, Kinderhook (758-9882).

Local weather forecast
Today’s forecast is specific to Cairo, in Greene County:
Today: Rain likely, mainly after 7 a.m. High near 41. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. Tuesday night, rain. Low around 39. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent.

Forecast for the next two days:
Wednesday: Rain. High near 48. Wednesday night, showers likely, mainly before midnight. Mostly cloudy. Low around 37.

Thursday: A slight chance of showers before 1 p.m. Partly sunny. High near 45. Thursday night, mostly cloudy. Low around 31.


Sunrise today: 7:05 a.m.
Sunset today: 4:24 p.m.
Length of the day: 9:19

Public meetings
Today is the first Tuesday of the month.
WGXC suggests calling ahead to confirm time and location.
(All numbers are in the 518 area code unless otherwise noted.)


CATSKILL Town Board meeting, 6:30 p.m. at Town Hall, 439 Main St., Catskill (943-2141).
COPAKE Park Commission meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 230 Mt. View Road, Copake (329-1234).
DURHAM Town Board meeting, 7:30 p.m. at Town Building, 7309 State Rt. 81, East Durham (239-8260).
HUDSON Conservation Advisory Council meeting, 6 p.m. at City Hall, 520 Warren Street, Hudson (828-1030).
HUNTER Planning Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 5748 Route 23A, Tannersville (263-4020).
ICHABOD CRANE Central School District Board of Education meeting, 7 p.m. at Ichabod Crane High School, 2910 Route 9, Valatie (758-7577).
LEXINGTON Town Board meeting, 6:30 p.m., at Municipal building, 3542 Route 42, Lexington, (986-6303).
LIVINGSTON Zoning Board of Appeals meeting, 7 p.m., at Town Hall, County Rte. 19, Livingston (851-9441).
TAGHKANIC Planning Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 909 Route 82, Taghkanic (851-7638).