The Coxsackie Fire Department posted on social media that the Coxsackie-Athens Central School District holds a public hearing on Feb. 27 about the proposal for a property tax exemption for volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers. Recently Greene County, Rensselaer County, and Catskill all passed tax exemptions for first responders to retain and recruit more to the area. The Coxsackie-Athens Central School District public hearing in the Coxsackie-Athens High School Library begins at 5:45 p.m. Feb. 27.

Here is this week's WGXC Congressional Report, tracking the votes, statements, positions, and campaigns of the representatives and candidates for the 18th, 19th, 20th, and 21st Congressional seats in New York. Democrat Pat Ryan is representing the 18th Congressional District, Republican Marc Molinaro represents the 19th Congressional District, Democrat Rep. Paul Tonko represents the 20th District, and Republican Elise Stefanik represents the 21st District. Click here to listen to this report.

Mid-Hudson News reports that Marc Molinaro may now represent the 19th Congressional District, but he keeps getting involved in Dutchess County politics in the 18th Congressional District. Molinaro endorsed Chief Assistant District Attorney Matt Weishaupt for district attorney in the fall election as incumbent William Grady is not seeking reelection. Molinaro lives in Dutchess County, out of his Congressional District, and used to be Dutchess County Executive. Molinaro said of Weishaupt, that he “has always put the safety of our community, needs of his fellow prosecutors, well-being of law enforcement and lives of victims first.” Recently, Molinaro also endorsed Sue Serino to take over his old post as executive in Dutchess County. Read the full story at Mid-Hudson News.

The Troy Record reports that Rep. Paul Tonko recently announced $20,403,104 in new federal funding for transit agencies in the Capital Region. The money comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and by Congressional passage of the FY 2023 omnibus spending bill, which Tonko voted for. Tonko said, “Every day in our Capital Region, public transit connects thousands of hardworking people to their jobs, their schools, their hospitals, and their communities as a whole.” The Democrat represents Albany County and much of the rest of the Capital Region in the 20th Congressional District. Read more about this story in the Troy Record.

Andrea Macko reports in Porcupine Soup that Congressperson Marc Molinaro holds a town hall meeting February 23 at 10 a.m. at the Catskill Firehouse at 1 Central Avenue. The meeting was announced with little notice for the public to attend. Molinaro represents the 19th Congressional District, and this will be his first local chance for citizens to question him. Read the full story in Porcupine Soup.

Tyler A. McNeil in the Daily Gazette reports that Rep. Paul Tonko wants to ban all electronic and online sports gambling advertising. But since a total ban may not pass Congress, Tonko says, “We’re open to any discussion.... You know, I don’t want to reject any kind of thoughts people would have on this, but our intent is to really address that targeting, the tremendous outlay of advertising, the targeting and the potential damage.” In 2018 the U.S. Supreme Court allowed sports betting in most parts of the country, and in 2019 New York voted to allowed bets and online sports betting began in the state last year. Tonko, who represents Albany County and the rest of the 20th Congressional District, is concerned about sports betting websites targeting gambling addicts. In 2021, the National Gambling Helpline Network experienced a 45 percent annual increase in calls. Where will Tonko get support for his measure. Locally, Democrat Assemblyperson Angelo Santabarbara of Rotterdam, said, “Sports gambling regulation is a state issue and decisions should be made here in New York State and not in Washington.... The State Assembly’s Racing and Wagering Committee worked hard to include many safeguards in the enacting legislation.” Republican Congressperson Elise Stefanik didn’t respond to a request for comment on the issue. The American Gaming Association calls Tonko’s bill unconstitutional. New York State took in $909 million in tax- and licensing fee-based revenue from mobile sports betting in 2022. Read the full story in the Daily Gazette.

Nicholas Fandos reports in The New York Times that the Democrats House Majority PAC this week will unveil a $45 million fund for winning back four seats that Republicans flipped in New York last year. One of the districts they are targeting is the 19th, where Republican Marc Molinaro won last fall. Republicans now hold a slim five-seat majority in the House of Representatives, and many observers have said that is because of the losses in New York. “The path to the majority runs through New York,” Mike Smith, who leads the political action committee, said. “It’s not just us seeing it. It is the Republican Party seeing it. It’s every donor around the country seeing it.” The national money will be helpful, as New York Democrats are still bickering about the losses. Progressives blame the conservative chair of the state party, Jay Jacobs, while he said the Republicans won by focusing on crime in many advertisements. The Democratic PAC spent around $13 million in New York last year, while Republicans’ Congressional Leadership Fund spent at least $21 million. In a sign that Republicans are also taking New York Congressional 2024 elections very seriously, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is planning to make an early fund-raising stop in the state in March. Read more about this story in The New York Times.

Today's audio daily news update.

Andrea Macko reports for Porcupine Soup that the Bank of Greene County announced on Feb. 23 a commitment for up to $5 million in low interest loans for business investments on Cairo’s Main Street. Several new businesses have opened there recently. Bank of Greene County President and CEO Don Gibson said, "We have designed a unique loan program to keep the momentum moving forward. The program will support existing and new business entrepreneurs, which we believe will spur more investments." There are not too many locations for businesses to move into on Main Street, and Cairo is already working on infrastructure expansion aimed at bringing manufacturing and distribution companies across from the McDonald's on State Route 23. Read more about this story at Porcupine Soup.

Roger Hannigan Gilson reports in the Times Union that the newspaper obtained ten video recordings showing recent fights between students at Hudson's schools. All but one are from the junior high, which shares a campus with the high school which is the location of the other recording. The Times Union did not publish the video because they contain minors. Last week a student threatened a school shooting on the campus. "The teachers are afraid, the students are afraid," one parent told the newspaper. "It's a volatile environment where no learning can go on." The fights have been going on with a Hudson Police Department police officer on campus. One parent blamed the COVID-19 pandemic for so much violence on campus. "The primary issue is kids readjusting to 'normal' society after learning during COVID that it's OK to say whatever one wants as a keyboard warrior," the parent said. Read more about this story in the Times Union.

The Columbia County Democratic Committee announced on social media that on February 23 they backed Chris Liberati-Conant to run for district attorney. Liberati-Conant is currently an Assistant Solicitor General for New York State’s Office of the Attorney General He said, “I am running for District Attorney because every person in Columbia County deserves to know that justice will be done no matter if they’re red or blue, black or white, or rich or poor. The people of Columbia County deserve a professional, apolitical prosecutor that will do what is right, not what is politically advantageous. Longtime Columbia County District Attorney Paul Czajka, a Republican, is not running for reelection this year, giving Democrats hope that they could win the seat. Czajka and Columbia County Republicans have endorsed current Assistant DA Ryan Carty to run for district attorney.

Today's daily news audio update.

Click above to download or play the "Better Weather." Produced by Joe Demanso of the Catskill Makers Syndicate.

WNYT in Albany reports that, despite all the social media speculation, experts say there is no sign that the air quality locally has been affected by the derailment of a train three weeks ago in Ohio. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation says it has not observed any human impact from the disaster locally, but said they are monitoring the air and water here. DEC meteorologists are watching air flow patterns, and DEC scientists are also analyzing samples being taken from ambient air monitoring stations. Dr. Max Zhang, Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Cornell University, said there was no indication of an impact on New York’s air, saying, “What’s happening in Ohio, those are isolated, a short duration event, not as a big power plant, running 24/7, continuously, right.... So that’s why, even though locally residents have been affected […] based on what I understand so far, there’s no concern for accumulations.” The New York State Mesonet monitoring system said Feb. 21 has not picked up any ‘abnormalities’ in the air, according to a spokesperson for UAlbany. But all those experts did not reassure Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin, who has made it clear for several years that he reads conspiracy theories on social media. He asked the EPA on Feb. 21 to set up air quality monitoring in the county to test for any residue of the Feb. 3 train accident in Ohio. Read the full story at WNYT.

Nick Reisman at New York State of Politics reports that on Feb. 23 several good-government groups including Reinvent Albany called for legislators to pass several bills to expand government transparency in New York. They want to increase access to public records and government meetings. "We believe that aligning your efforts to pass the same bills will help increase transparency and send a strong message that the Legislature is working together to bring more sunlight to New York," the groups wrote in the letter. "The legislation will also help the Legislature to better conduct oversight of state government." Currently, there is no law mandating local governments webcast their town meetings, even though they all did during the pandemic. Read more about this story at New York State of Politics.

Patricia R. Doxsey reports in the Daily Freeman that Democrats are conceding four elections for the Ulster County Legislature later this year, only fielding 19 candidates for 23 seats. Democrats are running three candidates of color and seven women this fall. Six Democratic incumbents are not running for re-election: Brian Cahill, Phil Erner, Laura Petit, Tracey Bartels, Eve Walter, and Jonathan Heppner. Democrats held a convention to nominate the candidates, with just two contested elections: Gregory McCollough took the party's endorsement over Suzanne Timbrouck, and Limina Grace Harmon got more support than William Murray. The Ulster County Republican Committee convention is Feb. 25, so they will announce their candidates then. Read more about this story in the Daily Freeman.

William J. Kemble reports in the Daily Freeman that the school board in Saugerties has appointed Deputy Superintendent Daniel Erceg to take over for outgoing Superintendent Kirk Reinhardt on an interim basis beginning March 31. He will get an extra $150 per day during his tenure as interim superintendent. Next month school officials will begin to figure out the process that will be used to fill the position on a long-term basis. Reinhardt, meanwhile, is becoming Kingston High School’s principal from April 1 through May 31, and then will then become the district’s superintendent for teaching and learning. Read more about this story in the Daily Freeman.

Today's audio daily news update.

Nicholas Fandos reports in The New York Times that the Democrats House Majority PAC this week will unveil a $45 million fund for winning back four seats that Republicans flipped in New York last year. One of the districts they are targeting is the 19th, where Republican Marc Molinaro won last fall. Republicans now hold a slim five-seat majority in the House of Representatives, and many observers have said that is because of the losses in New York. “The path to the majority runs through New York,” Mike Smith, who leads the political action committee, said. “It’s not just us seeing it. It is the Republican Party seeing it. It’s every donor around the country seeing it.” The national money will be helpful, as New York Democrats are still bickering about the losses. Progressives blame the conservative chair of the state party, Jay Jacobs, while he said the Republicans won by focusing on crime in many advertisements. The Democratic PAC spent around $13 million in New York last year, while Republicans’ Congressional Leadership Fund spent at least $21 million. In a sign that Republicans are also taking New York Congressional 2024 elections very seriously, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is planning to make an early fund-raising stop in the state in March. Read more about this story in The New York Times.

Tyler A. McNeil in the Daily Gazette reports that Rep. Paul Tonko wants to ban all electronic and online sports gambling advertising. But since a total ban may not pass Congress, Tonko says, “We’re open to any discussion.... You know, I don’t want to reject any kind of thoughts people would have on this, but our intent is to really address that targeting, the tremendous outlay of advertising, the targeting and the potential damage.” In 2018 the U.S. Supreme Court allowed sports betting in most parts of the country, and in 2019 New York voted to allowed bets and online sports betting began in the state last year. Tonko, who represents Albany County and the rest of the 20th Congressional District, is concerned about sports betting websites targeting gambling addicts. In 2021, the National Gambling Helpline Network experienced a 45 percent annual increase in calls. Where will Tonko get support for his measure. Locally, Democrat Assemblyperson Angelo Santabarbara of Rotterdam, said, “Sports gambling regulation is a state issue and decisions should be made here in New York State and not in Washington.... The State Assembly’s Racing and Wagering Committee worked hard to include many safeguards in the enacting legislation.” Republican Congressperson Elise Stefanik didn’t respond to a request for comment on the issue. The American Gaming Association calls Tonko’s bill unconstitutional. New York State took in $909 million in tax- and licensing fee-based revenue from mobile sports betting in 2022. Read the full story in the Daily Gazette.

Rick Karlin reports for the Times Union that the Bank of Greene County is planning a two-for-one stock split, for the close of business on March 8. Each stockholder in parent company Greene County Bancorp will receive an additional share of stock for each share they own on March 23. Greene County Bancorp President and CEO Donald Gibson said of the move, “It lowers the cost so more people can buy it." This is the fourth stock split in 25. years for the 135-year-old local bank. Two years ago, the Bank of Greene County surpassed $2 billion in assets. And last June, the bank began being listed in the Russell 2000 Index, a leading list of small cap stocks. On Feb. 22 the bank’s stock on the NASDAQ exchange was trading at $54.21 a share. Read more about this story in the Times Union.

Click above to download or play the "Better Weather." Produced by Joe Demanso of the Catskill Makers Syndicate.

Andrea Macko reports in Porcupine Soup that Congressperson Marc Molinaro holds a town hall meeting February 23 at 10 a.m. at the Catskill Firehouse at 1 Central Avenue. The meeting was announced with little notice for the public to attend. Molinaro represents the 19th Congressional District, and this will be his first local chance for citizens to question him. Read the full story in Porcupine Soup.

Nick Reisman reports in New York State of Politics that after the Democratic-led state Senate last week voted down her nominee, Justice Hector LaSalle, to lead New York's sprawling court system, she has to pick someone else. On Feb. 22, Gov. Kathy Hochul said she won't change her approach to picking her second choice. Hochul said, "I will always do what I did before and do in the future, and that is select the person I think is the best individual and the best person to lead an extraordinary court." The governor also said she doesn't expect to announce another nominee for chief judge until after the state budget is passed. Hochul said, "It’s going to take the time required, so the budget is going to be done before then, I suspect." Read more about this story in New York State of Politics.

Brendan J. Lyons reports for the Times Union that Dr. David O. Carpenter, head of the Institute for Health and Environment at the University at Albany "is no longer on an alternate assignment and may now teach and conduct research on campus." Nine months ago he was directed to not to visit any campuses and to perform his duties from home as the school investigated his extensive work testifying as an expert witness in toxic pollution cases. University officials made Carpenter the subject of a disciplinary investigation last year after a Freedom of Information Law request was filed by an attorney with Shook Hardy & Bacon, a Missouri law firm that represents Monsanto Company in toxic pollution cases it has faced across the nation. "UAlbany’s investigation regarding Dr. Carpenter has concluded, and no discipline will be imposed based on such investigation," a university spokesman said in a statement. "As is standard, UAlbany and Dr. Carpenter also entered into a Conflict Management Plan to ensure future activities are carried out in compliance with all applicable laws and policies. UAlbany reiterates in the strongest possible terms our full commitment to unfettered academic freedom." Carpenter says he donates the money he receives from testifying in pollution cases to Ph.D. students and the university's research program. He has testified against Monsanto in numerous "toxic tort" cases. Carpenter said Feb. 22 that he is, "very happy that the university has concluded its investigation and announced that my work as an expert witness did not merit discipline." Read the full story in the Times Union.