Michael DeMasi in the Albany Business Review reports that the Trader Joe's store has purchased the retail plaza on Wolf Road in Colonie where it has leased a storefront for the past 11 years. Representatives of the company could not be reached for comment if they planned to expand the store into the other spaces in the plaza. The California-based grocery chain bought the property for $5.03 million, according to a deed filed March 2 in the Albany County clerk's office. The Benderson Development of Florida bought the 2.3-acre plaza two years ago for $4.82 million. Read the full story in the Albany Business Review.

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Central Hudson hosts an open house in Catskill on March 23, but they have many rules about attending. The utility company has been under fire from citizens and Congressional representatives because of billing practices that have been wildly unpredictable. The company recently replaced their CEO, and are trying to rehabilitate their image. But, they have many rules to attend their open house meeting. Anyone wanting to attend must fill out an online form and provide your name and email address. Anyone registering can only bring one guest, and the guest's full name must also be given to the company. Then, anyone registering must tell the company what topics they are interested in, and anyone over the age of 18 must show a government-issued ID to get in. The meeting with Central Hudson officials is from 6 to 8 p.m. March 23 at the Catskill Elks Lodge. Fill out the online registration form on the WGXC Newsroom page.

Zach Grady reports for WWNY that New York Senator Chuck Schumer was in upstate New York March 7 wondering what hazardous materials are in the trains criss-crossing the state. Schumer said, “The people of upstate New York, our local leaders, and our first responders still have a lot of questions on the trains that run through their backyards every day, and I’m here to get answers.... Our tracks regularly carry trains with hazardous materials. That’s a risk to our communities, and these major rail companies have a responsibility if they are going to carry this stuff, make sure New Yorkers are kept safe.” The CSX train company released a statement after Schumer spoke, saying, “CSX had a productive meeting with Senator Schumer and we are grateful for the opportunity to share with lawmakers how CSX is leading the industry in the area of rail safety, customer service and engaging employees to find solutions that improve their work experience and quality of life." A train derailment in Ohio in February led to a fiery crash and longterm environmental damage, and has heightened scrutiny on the rail industry in recent weeks.

Emily Russell reports for North Country Public Radio that Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik spoke last week at the Conservative Political Action Convention, and attacked law enforcement, making three false claims about the FBI and the Department of Justice. Stefanik said, “America is seeing Joe Biden’s corrupt DOJ and FBI fully weaponized as they label parents domestic terrorists," even though the Justice Department said it’s never used that term to describe parents. In reality, the term ‘domestic terrorists’ was used in a letter written by the nonprofit National School Board Association to the DOJ, but federal officials did not use that term. Stefanik also falsely claimed that the DOJ and FBI, "conducted an unprecedented and illegal raid on President [Donald] Trump’s home." In fact, the search of Trump's Florida resort was legally authorized by a federal judge. Finally, Stefanik also falsely claimed that the FBI, "illegally paid Twitter $3 million to suppress stories, such as the Hunter Biden laptop story, all for the political benefit and purpose of electing Democrats.” USA Today reported that the FBI did pay Twitter $3.4 million, but it was for records requests, not to suppress stories on the social media site. Read the full story at the North Country Public Radio website.

Jammel Cutler reports in Columbia-Greene Media that Republicans in Columbia County have formed the Republican Women of Columbia County group. President of the group Jody Nesbitt said, “We thought it was the best time to launch during Women’s History Month. All the women who have come before us have given us the ability to have groups like this. This is one way to honor them.” Nesbitt also said, “There is a need for a safe place for Republican women to express their ideas, beliefs, thoughts and values. Republican women are often misrepresented." The group holds its first meeting on March 20 at Kozel’s in Ghent. Jammel Cutler reports in Columbia-Greene Media.

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C-Span reports that New York Senator Chuck Schumer condemned Fox News host Tucker Carlson on March 7 for downplaying the January 6 attack on the Capitol and accused him of "siding with the enemies of democracy" in propagating the "big lie" that the 2020 election was stolen. On March 6 Carlson played specially edited video of the attempted coup on his Fox News show after House Speaker Kevin McCarthy gave him thousands of hours of footage. Schumer also criticized McCarthy, saying on the House floor, PLAY EXCERPT OF SCHUMER'S SPEECH. Read more about this story at the C-Span website.

On March 7, Gov. Kathy Hochul reported 34 deaths in New York from March 4 to March 6 from COVID-19. On March 6, the Greene County Public Health Department reported two more deaths, bringing the total there to 155. Hochul said, "I urge every New Yorker to remain vigilant and continue to use all available tools to keep themselves, their loved ones and their communities safe and healthy.... Stay up to date on vaccine doses and be sure to test before gatherings or travel. If you test positive, talk to your doctor about potential treatment options." Hochul's government is not doing much, though, to stop the spread of COVID-19, only boasting about, "a 12-week campaign on television, social media and streaming services to encourage New Yorkers with underlying medical conditions to recognize the importance of getting and staying up-to-date with the recommended COVID-19 bivalent booster."

Nancy Kern reports for Columbia-Greene Media that Columbia-Greene Community College's cannabis classes have been a big hit with students since they began last fall. “One of our most popular microcredentials is in cannabis,” said Carlee Drummer, the school’s president. “Cannabis retail sales and cultivation has been an incredibly popular course since the legalization of marijuana.” New York legalized cannabis in April, 2021, and was expected to have many retail stores open by the end of last year. Instead, two stores are currently open in New York City and one in Binghamton. A lawsuit is currently delaying stores opening in five regions of the state, including the Hudson Valley. Even without local cannabis retail locations, the classes are popular. Maureen Sager, the college’s communications director, said, “I think that the cannabis program was a chance for people to see a new career path.... There were so many people during COVID who emerged with a new idea for what to do.” Columbia-Greene Community College reports a 12 percent increase in students this year, and hosts an open house on March 25. Read more about this story at HudsonValley360.com.

Jammel Cutler reports for Columbia-Greene Media the Friends of Hudson Youth group raised over $56,000 for the Hudson Youth Department Waterfront Program and the Hudson Fire Department Rescue and Dive Team March 5 at the annual Oakdale Lake Plunge. The event, delayed one day because of a winter storm, had 120 people jumping in the frigid water to raise money for the charities. Friends of Hudson Youth Board President Peter Frank said, ”So many people contribute and care about the event and the organization it supports. We had over 400 individual donations, and the event just raises more money every year. It’s a wonderful way for the community to come together at a time of year where there aren’t a lot of events or opportunities like this and it represents the real cross-section of Hudson because so many people in the community participate.” Read more about this story at HudsonValley360.com.

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Raymond Pignone reports at Columbia-Greene Media that American Glory Restaurant Corp., which owns now-closed restaurants in Hudson and Tannersville, must pay $65,000 to settle a race harassment and retaliation discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. American Glory’s owner Joe Fierro allegedly “created a racially and sexually hostile work environment and retaliated against an employee who complained about it,” according to a statement from the Commission on March 6. The lawsuit alleges Fierro repeatedly subjected Black employees to racist slurs and comments and assigned Black employees to less desirable job duties. An employee was allegedly told the less desirable duties were “what a Black man should be doing,” and then when one of the employees complained, the restaurant drastically cut his hours, forcing him to resign. Read more about this story at HudsonValley360.com.

Chris Churchill writes in the Times Union how Democrats in the Albany legislature are afraid of democracy. Lawmakers had already approved a new campaign finance system to begin with the 2024 elections. But now that courts ruled that their redistricting was illegal and is being redone, they are having second thoughts. The Democrats believed that in 2024, redistricting would have been four years old, with incumbents entrenched in their new districts. But the court ruled late, and the Assembly redistricting will take place, meaning all candidates will be facing new districts then. And so now Democrats are talking about delaying the public financing of campaigns that was planned to begin in 2024. "It's about the fear that democracy might break out in New York in a real way," said John Kaehny, executive director of the group Reinvent Albany, which advocates for transparency and accountability in state government. "What could be worse for an incumbent than a real election? I mean, my God." State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins would not give a straight answer on the issue. "There are obviously conversations that are being had.... Certainly the Assembly is going through redistricting. It's a part of the things that people are talking about." Read the full story in the Times Union.

Clarence Fanto reports in The Berkshire Eagle that the Tanglewood concert venue in Massachusetts is getting around Ticketmaster's monopoly a bit by starting to sell their summer series concert tickets between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. March 9, 10, and 11. “We really wanted to give people in the Berkshires a fair chance and nice opportunity to buy tickets without going online if they don’t want to,” said the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s Director of Patron Experiences Amy Aldrich. “There’s something kind of fun to come down to Tanglewood when there’s still snow on the ground and you’re already thinking about summer!” A show with Robert Plant and Alison Krauss are among the concerts there this summer. The local box office won't be selling tickets again until June 10. Read more about this story in The Berkshire Eagle.

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Patricia R. Doxsey reports for the Daily Freeman that the the head of Ulster County’s payroll department, Wendy Trojak, has resigned. That resignation comes days after Ulster County Finance Commissioner Burt Gulnick quit amid allegations that he stole thousands of dollars from the not-for-profit Hurley Recreation Association, where he served as treasurer. Assistant County Executive Evan Menist did not say when Trojak resigned, while her LinkedIn page says she has been the payroll manager for the county since 2006. State police Troop F Spokesperson Steven Nevel said March 6 that there is an investigation into the accusations against Gulnick. New Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger wants the state Comptroller’s Office to conduct a forensic audit of the county’s books. Metzger said, “They have a whole investigative team so we hope that we’ll get the final word soon and they’ll agree to come in.” Jennifer Freeman, a spokesperson for the Comptroller’s Office, said on March 6 that there is an investigation into Finance Department, although she declined to provide details of that investigation. Read more about this story the Daily Freeman.

Less than two weeks before Hunter Mayor Michael Papa faces four challengers in the village election Nancy Kern writes a story in Columbia-Greene Media with the headline "Mayor abuses power, bullies." Hunter Building Inspector Carl Giangrande says, “It’s a heated political environment now before the election,.... There’s no shortage of people who have opinions. It’s a lot going on.” Village resident Susan Holm said of Papa, “He verbally abuses,.... He’s not a nice person. He’s a bully. I call him Mussolini.” Current highway superintendent Alan W. Higgins is running against Papa, and said he witnessed an incident where Papa verbally abused Holm after she got back results from a Freedom of Information Law request to Village Clerk Kathleen Hilbert. “He called her liar,” Higgins said. “He was mad she got the information.” Then, after the meeting, Papa moved FOIL responsibilities to Trustee Dorothy Grasso instead of the village clerk. Papa denies the allegations. “There is a small group of village residents who disagree with any type of progress I’m trying to make in this village,” he said. “I don’t see it the way they see it. I see it as an assertive form of leadership.” Read more about this story at HudsonValley360.com.

Rick Karlin reports in the Times Union that New York Attorney General Letitia James has joined with 13 of her counterparts in other states to oppose a proposal by a Texas-based company to ship frozen ethane by rail. The trains with ethane might traverse part of New York. The attorneys general wrote in a letter that the recent train disaster in Ohio, “illustrates the inherent danger of transporting hazardous materials by rail.” In recent years local activists protested train loads of crude oil coming to the Port of Albany, calling them "bomb trains" that posed a fire or explosion hazard. The oil shipments have stopped, but ethanol trains still come to the port. Cryogenic liquefied ethane, the proposed freight now, is less-flammable. Still, James and other attorneys general told the federal Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration they are against the proposal. The application is more than a year old, but the letter of opposition came only after the Ohio train disaster. Read the full story in the Times Union.