[caption id="" align="alignright" width="280"] From The Muslims of America website.[/caption]

Julia Reischel in The Watershed Post reports that Robert R. Doggart, a 63-year-old who was a candidate for U.S. Congress in Tennessee last year, was arrested April 10, just before arriving in Delaware County to surveil Muslims in Islamberg, in the Town of Hancock. Doggart's plan was to kill as many Muslim residents of the town as possible. “You cannot imagine the level of disruption Mr. Doggart’s threat has caused the families of Islamberg,” said Tahirah Amatul-Wadud, a lawyer for Islamberg, during a May 18 press conference in Binghamton. “One of the things that is extremely alarming is that some of the threat has come from so many miles away, and there is much that we are unaware of,” said Tahirah H. Clark, another Islamberg lawyer and resident. “To explain the level of alarm that the community is facing right now — it’s pretty bad.” The town is the headquarters of The Muslims of America, an American religious organization. Doggart pled guilty to one of the charges, and is under house arrest in Tennessee awaiting sentencing. There are about 200 Muslim adults and children in Islamberg, most of them African-American Sunni Muslims. Read the full story in The Watershed Post.

Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128"] Cairo: High 60F; low 41F.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125"] Catskill: High 61F; low 41F.[/caption]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

READ TEMPERATURE IN HUDSON: On thermometer in Studio A.
FAR LEFT: The temperature on the far left is from the Hawthorne Valley Farm Weather Page.
MIDDLE TEMP: Cairo from Weather Underground page.
FAR RIGHT: Catskill from Weather Underground page.

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

The National Weather Service has issued a Special Weather Statement for the Hudson Valley, Central Taconics and the Berkshires. Gusty winds will lead to elevated fire risk Wednesday afternoon across the region. The combination of still fairly dry fuels, low humidity and the gusty wind will make for an elevated fire spread potential all afternoon.

Tonight there is a Frost Advisory in effect for Western Greene, Albany, and Ulster counties from 1 a.m. until 8 a.m. Thu., May 21.

Today: Partly sunny. High near 63. Wednesday night, partly cloudy. Low around 40.

Thursday: Partly sunny. High near 70. Thursday night, mostly cloudy. Low around 46.
Friday: Mostly sunny. High near 69. Friday night, mostly clear. Low around 40.
Saturday: Sunny. High near 67. Saturday night, mostly clear. Low around 44.

Sunrise today: 5:29 a.m.
Sunset today: 8:15 p.m.
Length of the day: 14:45 hrs.

Public meeting
Today is the third Wednesday 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).
COLUMBIA COUNTY Board of Supervisors Human Services Committee meeting, 5 p.m. at County Office Building, 401 State Street, Hudson (828-1527).
GERMANTOWN Board of Education meeting, 6:30 p.m. in the Elementary Music Room, Germantown School, 123 Main St., Germantown (537-6281).
GHENT Planning Board, 7 p.m., at Town Hall, 2306 State Route 66, Ghent (392-4644).
GREENE COUNTY Public hearing, 6:20 p.m.; Legislature meeting, 6:30 p.m. All at County Building, 411 Main St., Catskill (719-3270).
HUDSON Zoning Board of Appeals meeting, 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 520 Warren Street, Hudson (828-1030).
STUYVESANT Zoning Revision Committee meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 5 Sunset Dr., Stuyvesant (758-6248).
TACONIC town meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 909 Rte. 82, Taghkanic (851-7638).
TACONIC HILLS Board of Education meeting, 6:30 p.m. at Central Office boardroom, 73 Co. Rte. 11A, Craryville (325-2800).

The day ahead on WGXC 90.7-FM
1 a.m.: Vital Weekly: Haarvöl Episode 982 of weekly experimental new music show, by folks formerly behind Staalplaat. Click on title for playlist 982.
2 a.m.: Tabs Out: Crank Sturgeon Cassette-only show with some good-natured wise crackin’ and way way out there jams by Fire Death, Mus.Hiba, Macula Dog, Supermoon, Lewis, Macho Alex, RED Trio, Mathias Grassow, Millions, Tether, Xanthocephalus, Juxwal, The Variable Why, Dagir Du, and Crank Sturgeon.
5:05 a.m.: Talk Nation Radio: David Segal David Segal is the Executive Director of Demand Progress. He discusses the current struggles to end mass surveillance by the U.S. government and to keep the internet free and open. Segal is a former Democratic Rhode Island State Representative, and served on the Providence City Council as a member of the Green Party.

6 a.m.: Background Briefing with Ian Masters Inside breaking international and national news. A radio program featuring international and national news, expert guests, policy makers and critics with analysis and insight on national security, foreign and domestic policy, political, cultural and social issues. This program goes far beyond the headlines and deep under the radar to bring forward truths unheard in the American media.
7 a.m.: WGXC Morning Show The WGXC Morning Show is a radio magazine show featuring local news, interviews with community leaders and personalities, a rundown of public meetings, local and regional events, with weather updates, and more about and for the community. Broadcast live from the WGXC Acra Studio at the Wave Farm Study Center in Greene Co. Hosted by Tom Roe.
8 a.m.: Democracy Now! hosted by Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez. National, daily, independent, award-winning news program providing audiences with access to people and perspectives rarely heard in the U.S. corporate-sponsored media.
9 a.m.: WGXC Morning Show continues.
10 a.m.: @Issue: Carole Osterink, Steve Dunn Discussion focused on Hudson's weighted vote system and ward boundaries with blogger Carole Osterink and attorney Steve Dunn. Hosted by Victor Mendolia and Debby Mayer.
4 p.m.: WGXC Afternoon Show
6 p.m.: WGXC Evening News: Community Power Local news, weather updates, public meeting listings, and national headlines from Public News Service. The local interview of the day is the second installment of "Community Power," a year-long, monthly series of interviews about Governor Andrew M. Cuomo's New York Energy Highway Blueprint, the local response to that initiative, and the Cultural Resources Survey of Livingston. In this interview, Erin Tobin, Director of Preservation for the Preservation League of New York discusses the Preservation League's Community Resource Survey Grants, including the grant made to the town of Livingston. Tobin spoke with Tom Masterson at the WGXC Hudson Studio, April 9, 2015.

David Oxenford at the Broadcast Law Blog reports that the Federal Communications Commission is accepting preliminary comments on a new low-power FM proposal. The idea, from REC Networks, would raise the maximum power for LPFM stations from 100 watts to 250 watts, to put them at equivalent power levels with FM translator stations. If made into policy, low-power FM station signals would have much better building penetration, and some other interference issues would be improved. The FCC has only so far announced they have received the proposal and are taking preliminary comments for 30 days. If there seems to be interest in the proposal, a formal Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, would ge announced, with another round of public comments. REC's proposal would not just expand LPFM coverage, but roll some back. "It also suggests limiting what it calls “Foothills” LPFM stations – those that are located in areas where their coverage in certain directions is helped by terrain factors to go beyond what is normally predicted for such stations," Oxenford writes. Other parts of the proposal:
• Allowing minor moves up to 11.1 km for LP-100 stations and up to 14.1 km for LP-250 stations.
• Removing the contour overlap requirement for LPFM commonly-owned FM translators.
• Add additional protections for LPFM stations in respect to FM translators.
• Relief for the local programming requirement for LPFM stations on time share agreements.
Comments on REC’s proposal RM-11749 can be filed through June 15 at the FCC's website.

Voters statewide go to the polls today (Tue., May 19) to decide the fate of proposed 2015-16 budgets, to elect Board of Education members and, in some cases, vote on other spending proposals. Here is a rundown of voting times and polling locations in Columbia and Greene counties.

Columbia County
Chatham Central School District (392-2400)
Polls open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Mary E. Dardess Elementary School gymnasium.

Germantown Central School District (537-6281)
Polls open 12 p.m. (noon) to 9 p.m. in the Germantown Central School, Main St. Lobby.

Hudson City School District (828-4360)
Polls open 12 p.m. (noon) to 9 p.m. at four locations: John L. Edwards Primary School; Greenport Pumper Company #1; Claverack Fire House; Stockport Town Hall; and, Livingston Town Hall.

Ichabod Crane Central School District (758-7575)
Polls open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Ichabod Crane High School gymnasium.

New Lebanon Central School District (794-7600)
Polls open from 12 p.m. (noon) to 9 p.m. in the Walter B. Howard Elementary School gym.

Taconic Hills Central School District (325-2890)
Polls open from 12 p.m. (noon) to 9 p.m., in the Veterans’ Community Room on the Taconic Hills campus.

Greene County
Cairo-Durham Central School District (622-8534)
Polls open from 12 p.m. (noon) to 9 p.m., in the Cairo-Durham Middle School cafeteria.

Catskill Central School District (943-4696)
Polls open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., in the Catskill High School gymnasium.

Coxsackie-Athens Central School District (731-1710)
Polls open from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m., at Coxsackie Elementary and E.J. Arthur Elementary schools.

Greenville Central School District (966-5070)
Polls open from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m., in the Scott M. Ellis Elementary School cafeteria.

Hunter-Tannersville Central School District (589-5400)
Polls open from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m., in the Hunter Elementary School cafeteria.

Windham-Ashland-Jewett Central School District (734-3400)
Polls open from 1 to 9 p.m. in the Windham-Ashland-Jewett Central School cafetorium.

John Mason is reporting in the Register Star Hudson's Ferry Street Bridge is now closed for good, or until the city can replace it. Based on an inspection of the structure conducted Dec. 30, the New York State Department of Transportation has now downgraded the bridge's capacity and ordered it closed. “This confirms what was expected,” said Public Works Superintendent Robert Perry. The pedestrian bridge, which runs along the north side of the Ferry Street Bridge, remains open. The two-lane, asphalt-paved, 110-year-old bridge is one of two routes to the state boat launch, the Hudson Powerboat Association and Henry Hudson Riverfront Park. The bridge was closed temporarily last August, pending the release of the results of the state’s inspection. Read the full story in the Register Star.

Emilia Teasdale is reporting in the Columbia Paper the Valatie Village Board Tue., May 12, adopted its 2015-16 budget. The $1.6 million spending plan reflects a slight increase in expenses over the current year, and the property tax levy increase fell within the state-mandated cap. At the same meeting, the board also approved a increase in the price of garbage collection tags. Stickers will go up by 50 cents, beginning June 1. The three-month stickers placed on garbage cans will increase from $60 to $70. Also effective next month, the village will no longer offer payment plans for residents late on paying their water bills. Mayor Diane Argyle said the payment plan was a holdover from a previous administration. Read the full story in the Columbia Paper.

Jessica Bakeman is reporting at Capital New York the State Board of Regents plans to meet the demands of the executive and legislative branches by putting in place a new system for evaluating the performance of public-school teachers and principals. However, board members will be doing so under protest. The Regents discussed for hours Mon., May 18, the regulations they must adopt next month to meet the deadlines imposed by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and the state Legislature. The 17-member board also discussed ways the new system might be overhauled immediately after it is implemented. Chancellor Merryl Tisch questioned the wisdom of imposing a new system on districts only to change it. Tisch told reporters districts will inevitably get mixed messages about how to proceed, because many board members simply do not want to implement the law as written. She said, “Districts are having reform fatigue. I don’t find that superintendents don’t want to cooperate. That’s not it. I think they’re getting a lot of mixed messages from the field.” Read the full story at Capital New York.

Scott Waldman is reporting at Capital New York senior Department of Environmental Conservation staff members said in private meetings it may be legally difficult for them to oppose construction of a heating facility at the Port of Albany. That facility would allow tar sands crude to be transported through New York. The crude heating facility needs a state air permit before it can begin construction. The purpose of the meetings between the DEC and Albany-area officials was to build support for the state's decision on the facility. The DEC staff warned that the state may not have the legal authority to reject the air permit application by Massachusetts-based Global Partners to build crude oil-heating boilers at the Albany port. The attendees also said they were told that no final decision had been made. Approval of the port facility could allow Global to turn Albany, and possibly the Hudson River, into a major transportation route for tar sands crude from western Canada. The state has until May 21 to make its decision on the air permit application. Read the full story at Capital New York.

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="325"] A federal lawsuit alleges the latest federal safety standards proposed for oil tank cars are too weak to adequately protect public safety, especially in light of the large amount of crude oil now traveling by rail. Photo credit: Chris Jordan-Bloch.[/caption]

Mike Clifford is reporting for Public News Service environmental groups are taking the Obama administration to court over what they call "weak" safety rules for oil shipped by rail. It's a timely issue given last week's fatal Amtrak derailment. Sean Dixon, an attorney with Hudson Riverkeeper, says the rules issued this month don't contain enough specifics, and don't address the broader issue of crude oil safety on the railways. For example, he says, the Amtrak crash happened within several hundred feet of a line of tank cars. "There's nothing in this rule that even attempts to address human error, with respect to early reports out of Philadelphia on the Amtrak derailment that high speed may have been a player," says Dixon. "So, there's a lot of ancillary issues with respect to crude safety that aren't anywhere in this rule." Dixon says the lawsuit filed last week by Earthjustice charges the administration with not doing enough to protect public safety. The American Petroleum Institute also has taken issue with the new rules and filed suit in the D.C. Circuit. Some in the petroleum and railroad industries are voluntarily taking steps to improve tank car safety. Larissa Liebmann, staff attorney with the Waterkeeper Alliance, says the oil industry relies on so-called unit trains, which often link as many as 120 tank cars carrying more than three-million tons of crude oil. "Even beyond the fact that we have explosions and fires that can happen in communities, a single spill of one tank car can mess up the water for swimming for a good amount of time, for fishing," says Liebmann. "It can cause drinking water sources to be contaminated." Nationwide, Dixon says there has been a 4,000 percent increase in the amount of crude oil shipped by rail in the past six years and a significant share rolls through New York. "Recent numbers have shown that about a quarter of all of the oil produced in the Bakken fields comes through Albany," says Dixon. "This last winter, that number got a little bit higher. So, we are a pretty significant player, in terms of regions through which these trains are being shipped." PThe suit was filed in the 9th Circuit on behalf of the Sierra Club, the Waterkeeper Alliance and several other conservation groups. PLAY AUDIO VERSION OF THIS REPORT (2:02).

Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128"] Cairo: High 82F; low 49F.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125"] Catskill: High 80F; low 48F.[/caption]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

READ TEMPERATURE IN HUDSON: On thermometer in Studio A.
FAR LEFT: The temperature on the far left is from the Hawthorne Valley Farm Weather Page.
MIDDLE TEMP: Cairo from Weather Underground page.
FAR RIGHT: Catskill from Weather Underground page.

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

Today: Showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after 1 p.m. Some of the storms could produce small hail and gusty winds. Mostly cloudy. High near 80. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. Tuesday night, a chance of showers, mainly before 10 p.m. Partly cloudy. Low around 49. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny. High near 63. Wednesday night, partly cloudy. Low around 38.
Thursday: Mostly sunny. High near 69. Thursday night, partly cloudy. Low around 46.
Friday: Mostly sunny. High near 70. Friday night, mostly clear. Low around 40.

Sunrise today: 5:29 a.m.
Sunset today: 8:14 p.m.
Length of the day: 14:44 hrs.

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

COLUMBIA COUNTY Board of Supervisors Health and Medical Committee meeting, 4 p.m. at 401 State St., Hudson (828-1527).
DURHAM Town Board meeting, 7:30 p.m. at Town Building, 7309 State Rt. 81, East Durham (239-8260).
GREENE COUNTY Legislature Economic Development and Tourism, Government Operations and Finance committees, plus party caucuses, 6 p.m. at County Building, 411 Main St., Catskill (719-3270).
HILLSDALE Town Board meeting, 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall on Main Street, Hillsdale (325-5073).
HUDSON Common Council Finance Committee meeting, 5:30 p.m.; Formal Common Council meeting, 7 p.m. at City Hall, 520 Warren Street, Hudson (828-1030).
HUNTER Town Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 5748 Route 23A, Tannersville (589-6150).
LEXINGTON Town Board meeting, 7 p.m., at Municipal Building, 3542 Route 42, Lexington, (986-6303).
PHILMONT Planning Board meeting, 7 p.m., Philmont Village Hall, 124 Main St., Philmont (672-7032).
TAGHKANIC Planning Board workshop meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, Route 82, West Taghkanic (851-7638).

WGXC Community Programming Advisory Committee meeting, 5:30 p.m., 704 Columbia St., Hudson (697-7400). WGXC Community Programming Advisory Committee reviews incoming program applications, conducts programming evaluations and provides feedback about the community program schedule. Meetings are held monthly. The public is welcome to attend. Information at wgxc.org/volunteer.

The day ahead on WGXC 90.7-FM
6 a.m.: Background Briefing with Ian Masters Inside breaking international and national news. A radio program featuring international and national news, expert guests, policy makers and critics with analysis and insight on national security, foreign and domestic policy, political, cultural and social issues. This program goes far beyond the headlines and deep under the radar to bring forward truths unheard in the American media.
7 a.m.: WGXC Morning Show The WGXC Morning Show is a radio magazine show featuring local news, interviews with community leaders and personalities, a rundown of public meetings, local and regional events, with weather updates, and more about and for the community. Broadcast live from the WGXC Hudson Studio. Hosted by Laura Reed.
8 a.m.: Democracy Now! hosted by Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez. National, daily, independent, award-winning news program providing audiences with access to people and perspectives rarely heard in the U.S. corporate-sponsored media.
9 a.m.: WGXC Morning Show continues.
11 a.m.: Music Maestro Hour: 20150519 Sade live in concert. Hosted by James White.
2 p.m.: The Hudson Valley Tap Show: Kevin Mullen Kevin Mullen, owner of Rare Form Brewing Company, will be the guest for the hour. Rare Form is a five-barrel, craft brewery located in Troy. N.Y.
4 p.m.: WGXC Afternoon Show
6 p.m.: WGXC Evening News

U.S. President Barack Obama apologized April 23 to the families of kidnapped aid workers Warren Weinstein (an American) and Giovanni Lo Porto (from Italy), both kidnapped aid workers, killed by a U.S. radio-controlled drone in attack somewhere along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border against terrorists there. “One of the things that sets America apart from many other nations,” Obama said, “one of the things that makes us exceptional is our willingness to confront squarely our imperfections and to learn from our mistakes.” Most conservative estimates guess that the U.S. has accidentallly killed at least 1,250 other civilians in its “drone war,” and now a coalition of human and civil rights groups are asking the administration honor the families of those victims in a similar way. The ACLU, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the Center for Constitutional Rights, the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights, Columbia Law’s Human Rights Clinic, Human Rights First, and other groups wrote, “We write to urge your administration to adopt the same approach to all other U.S. counterterrorism strikes in which civilians have been injured or killed—regardless of their nationalities. To that end, your administration should establish a systematic and transparent mechanism for post-strike investigations, which are made public, and provide appropriate redress to civilian victims.” South Carolina Republican Lindsey Graham would take a different approach if he were president, he said in a speech May 18. "If I'm president of the United States and you're thinking about joining al-Qaida or ISIL—anybody thinking about that? I'm not gonna call a judge. I'm gonna call a drone and we're gonna kill you," he said. So a warning to journalists, sociologists, political scientists and other who might visit websites of sworn enemies of the United States -- a President Graham administration wants to unleash the drones, just like in Pakistan. In Congressional testimony last year, Pakistani Zubair Rehman described the sound of drones overhead.

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

Chris Bragg reported at Capitol Confidential Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced Fri., May 15, an initiative aimed at ensuring transgender individuals statewide gain equal access to medical care. The AG’s Civil Rights Bureau will begin providing hospitals and medical centers with programming informing them of legal requirements for treating transgender people, as well as best practices for providing that care. A 2011 national survey conducted by the National Center for Transgender Equality and National Gay and Lesbian Task Force found 24 percent of transgender people had been denied equal treatment in a doctor’s office or hospital, the AG’s office said. In response to the announcement, a spokesman for the Greater New York Hospitals Foundation said its member hospitals are committed to promoting the best standards of care and treatment for transgender patients, and proud to work alongside the AG's office on this issue.

The Daily Freeman reported Columbia-Greene Community College held its 43rd annual commencement ceremony Sat., May 16. This year 372 candidates were awarded 376 degrees and certificates. Honors Studies Certificate Program awards were presented to Hannah Weinstein-Kastanos of Athens, Jhori Jurgenson of Kinderhook, and Marion Coyne of Round Top. The Life Long Learning Award was presented to Judy B. Grunberg, former director of the Columbia County Council on the Arts. And Cindy D’Esposito of Cairo received the 16th annual Alumni Award. That award is presented to a member of the graduating class who has made significant contributions to either the college or the community.

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="240"] Sgt. Henry Johnson[/caption]

John Mason reported in the Register Star the White House announced Thu., May 14, President Barack Obama will posthumously confer the country's highest military award, the Medal of Honor, on World War I veteran and former Hudson resident, Henry Johnson. The ceremony will take place June 2. According to local historian Joseph D’Onofrio, Johnson’s mother is listed in early directories as living in a house on Columbia St. Although Johnson was born in Virginia, he lived in Hudson with his mother for a time. Johnson served in a segregated Army, as a Harlem Hellfighter. During his tour of duty he single-handedly fought off an enemy patrol. Although Johnson was awarded the war cross by the French government for his bravery, he was snubbed by his own government upon his return home. He died in Illinois in 1929.

Michael Ryan reported in the Windham Journal indicted Windham town supervisor Stacy Post is challenging the constitutionality of the search warrant that led to her arrest in January. Post has been charged with 30 counts of felony eavesdropping and official misconduct. Greene County Judge Charles Tailleur, who recused himself from the case last week, issued the search warrant based on information provided by a state police investigator. Post argues there was no probable cause to issue the warrant. She is accused of paying a part-time computer technician to install surveillance software on a computer in her town hall office, which recorded video and audio recordings of private conversations of Windham officials, town employees and civilians.

Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128"] Cairo: High 79F; low 56F.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125"] Catskill: High 77F; low 56F.[/caption]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

READ TEMPERATURE IN HUDSON: On thermometer in Studio A.
FAR LEFT: The temperature on the far left is from the Hawthorne Valley Farm Weather Page.
MIDDLE TEMP: Cairo from Weather Underground page.
FAR RIGHT: Catskill from Weather Underground page.

Local weather forecast
Today’s forecast is specific to Catskill, in Greene County:
Today: Partly sunny. High near 72. Monday night, a chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1 a.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m., then showers likely after 2 a.m. Patchy fog after 2 a.m. Otherwise, cloudy. Low around 60. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.

Forecast for the next three days:
Tuesday: Showers likely before 11 a.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Patchy fog before 8 a.m. Otherwise, mostly cloudy. High near 75. Tuesday night, a chance of showers, mainly before 8 p.m. Mostly cloudy. Low around 50.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny. High near 64. Wednesday night, partly cloudy. Low around 44.
Thursday: Mostly sunny. High near 71. Thursday night, mostly clear. Low around 47.

Sunrise today: 5:30 a.m.
Sunset today: 8:13 p.m.
Length of the day: 14:42 hrs.

Public meeting
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 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 South, Canaan (781-3144).
COLUMBIA COUNTY Board of Supervisors Economic Development Committee meeting, 5 p.m. at 401 State Street, Hudson (828-1527).
GERMANTOWN Town Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 50 Palatine Park Road, Germantown (537-6687).
GREENE COUNTY Legislature committee meetings: Special County Resources, Special Public Safety, County Services, Public Works, Economic Development and Tourism, Government Operations and Finance, 6 p.m., Caucus Room at the County Building, 411 Main St., Catskill (719-3270).
GREENVILLE Town Board meeting, 7:30 p.m. at Town Offices, corner of routes 32 and 81, Greenville (966-8276).
HUDSON Common Council Arts, Entertainment & Tourism Committee meeting, 6 p.m. at City Hall, 520 Warren Street, Hudson (828-1030).
TAGHKANIC Zoning Commission meeting, 6:30 p.m., at Town Hall, 909 Route 82, Taghkanic (851-7638).

The day ahead on WGXC 90.7-FM
6 a.m.: Background Briefing with Ian Masters Inside breaking international and national news. A radio program featuring international and national news, expert guests, policy makers and critics with analysis and insight on national security, foreign and domestic policy, political, cultural and social issues. This program goes far beyond the headlines and deep under the radar to bring forward truths unheard in the American media.
7 a.m.: WGXC Morning Show Broadcast from the WGXC Hudson Studio.
8 a.m.: Democracy Now! hosted by Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez. National, daily, independent, award-winning news program providing audiences with access to people and perspectives rarely heard in the U.S. corporate-sponsored media.
9 a.m.: WGXC Morning Show continues.
10 a.m.: The Albany Report: Susan Lerner, Daniel Squadron  Closing the LLC loophole bill: Will it get to the Senate floor? The Assembly has now passed legislation to treat limited liability corporations like corporations under campaign finance rules. Currently a loophole allows LLCs to be treated as individuals. This allows the funneling of unlimited amounts of cash to political campaigns. The discussion will center around efforts to change the state’s campaign finance laws with Common Cause Executive Director Susan Lerner, and state Senator Daniel Squadron (D-Brooklyn) who is pushing for the loophole legislation to get to the floor of the state Senate. Call (518) 828-0290 to go on air during the show, or send your comments or questions via email to info@wgxc.org. Or take three minutes and record a question or comment ahead of time at (518) 291-WGXC (9492). Hosted by Cecilia Tkaczyk.
11 a.m.: Zoom: Star Power It's all true. Hosted by Tyson Hauf.
4 p.m.: WGXC Afternoon Show
6 p.m.: WGXC Evening News

Whether one considers Facebook a force for good or evil it is everywhere. In the first quarter of 2015, the social media site had 1.44 billion monthly active users. Now the company's "Connectivity Lab" is building infrared lasers, Earth-orbiting satellites, and a fleet of solar-powered, radio-contnrolled drones to deliver the internet to the most remote places on earth, Wired reports. Facebook wants to connect the two-thirds of the world’s population not yet online. “We realized there wasn’t one technology that could connect everyone,” said Yael Maguire, a former MIT quantum computing researcher. “We needed a set of technologies.” The company wants to get more people to use Messenger, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook, so they can see more ads. In Europe, meanwhile, activist Max Schrems is heading up a Europe-wide lawsuit against Facebook, according to Ars Technica. The Belgian Privacy Commission told Reuters, "Facebook tramples on European and Belgian privacy laws. Facebook has shown itself particularly miserly in giving precise answers." The Commission suggests users employ privacy software when using Facebook, to stop it from tracking web site usage, sometimes even on computers where Facebook isn't even open. Facebook, it is said in the lawsuit, is guilty of:
• Invalid privacy policies
• Illegal collection and forwarding of user data
• Surveillance of users via “like buttons” or “apps”
• Participation in the NSA “PRISM” program
Stay tuned for the court ruling.

Michael Ryan in the Windham Journal reports that indicted Windham town supervisor Stacy Post is challenging the constitutional validity of the search warrant that led to her arrest on Jan. 12. Post, charged with 30 felony counts of eavesdropping and official misconduct, said in a four-page affadavit, “I respectfully submit...that my arrest was unlawful, in violation of my constitutional rights, and that the search and seizure which ostensibly occurred pursuant to a search warrant was without probable cause.” Columbia County Supreme Court Judge Richard Mott is reviewing an Omnibus Motion prepared by her attorney Dennis Schlenker, challenging the search warrant. Greene County Judge Charles Tailleur, who recused himself earlier this week during a pre-trial conference, issued the search warrant on March 20, 2014, on information provided by state police investigator Joseph R. Auriemma. Post is accussed of paying a part-time computer technician to install surveillance software on a computer in her office. “The illegal video and audio recordings captured the private conversations of Windham town board members, Windham office employees, a Windham highway department employee, an ambulance employee, a cleaning lady and civilians,” the grand jury papers in the case state. Read the full story in the Windham Journal.

Police will be checking seatbelt usage extra during a "crackdown" May 18 through May 31, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced May 15. New York was the first state in the nation to pass legislation requiring drivers and front-seat passengers to use seat belts, in 1984. “The evidence is inarguable – seatbelts save lives,” Cuomo said. “Dramatically increasing road safety for drivers and passengers can be accomplished with just the click of a seatbelt and this campaign encourages all New Yorkers to buckle up in order to prevent avoidable tragedies.” The New York State Police, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies in marked and unmarked vehicles will aggressively ticket unbelted drivers traveling the state’s roadways through border-to-border checkpoints and roving details to look for seat belt violations. The state estimates that 91 percent of New York motorists currently buckle up, which is four percent higher than the national average.

Local News
Local news Click here for news from Wave Farm‘s WGXC 90.7-FM in the Hudson Valley, New York for Sun., May 17. PLAY AUDIO (3:09)

Local weather forecast
Today's forecast is specific to Acra, in Greene County.

• Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 81, and a low around 55.

• Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 69. Monday night there is a 70 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a low around 55.

• Tuesday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a high near 70.

Sunrise 5:31 a.m.
Sunset 8:12 p.m.
Other celestial rises/sets
Moon 5:23 A.M. 7:42 P.M.
Mercury 6:24 A.M. 9:37 P.M.
Venus 8:15 A.M. 11:50 P.M.
Mars 5:57 A.M. 8:49 P.M.
Jupiter 11:17 A.M. 1:36 A.M.
Saturn 8:22 P.M. 6:11 A.M.
Uranus 3:59 A.M. 4:52 P.M.
Neptune 2:31 A.M. 1:32 P.M.
Pluto 11:35 P.M. 9:05 A.M.

WGXC Programming

Radia: Gabi Schaffner
May 17, 2015: 5:05 a.m. – 5:35 a.m.

• WLPP-LP STUDIO ALMOST COMPLETE The Palenville low-power FM station WLPP-LP is almost ready to go on the air. An online post says the pagan group Maetreum of Cybele has all its studio equipment except the a $3000 Emergency Alert System rebroadcaster required by the FCC. They have a gofundme campaign with four donations so far, as of May 15.

• WGXC is still looking for additional hosts for the "WGXC Morning Show" and "WGXC Afternoon Show," as well as youth programming, community affairs programs, and music shows on the full-power station. Send an email to info@wgxc.org or call 518-697-7400 during business hours.

Local News
Local news from Wave Farm‘s WGXC 90.7-FM in the Hudson Valley, New York for Sat., May 16. PLAY AUDIO (2:49)

Local weather forecast
Today's forecast is specific to Acra, in Greene County.

• Saturday: Mostly cloudy, with a 40 percent chance of showers and a high near 74, and a low around 57.

• Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 78, and a low around 53.

• Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 71, and a slight chance of rain possible.

Sunrise 5:32 a.m.
Sunset 8:11 p.m.
Other celestial rises/sets
Moon 4:42 A.M. 6:34 P.M.
Mercury 6:26 A.M. 9:41 P.M.
Venus 8:13 A.M. 11:50 P.M.
Mars 5:58 A.M. 8:49 P.M.
Jupiter 11:20 A.M. 1:40 A.M.
Saturn 8:27 P.M. 6:15 A.M.
Uranus 4:03 A.M. 4:56 P.M.
Neptune 2:35 A.M. 1:36 P.M.
Pluto 11:39 P.M. 9:09 A.M.

WGXC Programming

The RAIN Report: Mitch Stern
May 16, 2015: 6:30 a.m. – 6:45 a.m.
Off The Hook: Andy Bichlbaum
May 16, 2015: 7 a.m. – 8 a.m.
WGXC Feedback: Dayton Hamvention
May 16, 2015: 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Human Machine: May 2015
May 16, 2015: 11 a.m. – noon
Radia: Gabi Schaffner
May 16, 2015: 3 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Saturday Afternoon Show: Maria Papadomanolaki
May 16, 2015: 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.

The Town of Lexington reports that County Route 13A will be closed to all but emergency and local traffic due to the sewer construction. "This will be full time - days, nights and weekends. Access to the Methodist church and church activities will be allowed," the report says, until construction is complete.