Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128"] Cairo: High 50F; low 35F.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125"] Catskill: High 48F; low 35F.[/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, mainly after 11 a.m. Cloudy. High near 48. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. Tuesday night, rain showers likely before 5 a.m., then a chance of rain and snow showers. Cloudy. Low around 36. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.

Forecast for the next three days:
Wednesday: A chance of rain and snow showers before 8 a.m., then rain showers likely. Cloudy. High near 42. Wednesday night, rain and snow showers likely before 5 a.m., then a chance of snow showers. Cloudy. Low around 32.
Thursday: A chance of snow and snow showers before 11 a.m., then rain showers likely. Cloudy. High near 43. Thursday night, showers likely. Cloudy. Low around 38.
Friday: Showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after 11 a.m. Cloudy. High near 61. Friday night, scattered showers. Mostly cloudy. Low around 47.

Sunset today: 7:28 p.m.
Length of the day: 13:01 hrs.

Public meeting
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).
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).

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 Local news, regional events, weather updates, and more, live from the WGXC Hudson studio. Hosted by Mr. "Peetie Pete" Lievense.
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.: The Music Maestro Hour: Rolling Stones The Rolling Stones in concert for the full hour. Hosted by James White.
6 p.m.: WGXC Evening News
7 p.m.: Leprous Garden: 20150407 The April episode will feature everything you've grown to know and love about this amazing show: Brutal music for a brutal world. Mantas will keep the blood flowing from your ears with two and a half hours of death and extreme metal. And if that doesn't sound appealing check out this month's Metallurgy, which will continue the series on evolutionary bands, this time showcasing Mastodon and Cynic, two outfits that set sail for the greener pastures of rock and roll. Hosted by Mantas.

Some of the stories that made the news Fri., Apr. 3 through Mon., Apr. 6

Jim Planck reported in The Daily Mail school districts in Greene County will see an overall increase in their state aid this year and a substantial repayment of a portion of the funds the state has owed districts statewide since 2010. According to information provided by the state, each of the six Greene County school districts will be given an increase in total aid, ranging from the smallest, to the Cairo-Durham school district, at less than one percent, to the highest, Hunter-Tannersville, at 6.35 percent. That amount includes funds held back by the state in 2010 to eliminate its own budget shortfall.

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="273"] The Lincoln funeral train in
West Philadelphia, Pa., Apr. 22, 1865.
(Source: Abraham Lincoln Research site)[/caption]

John Mason reported in the Register Star plans are moving ahead locally for the commemoration of the Lincoln Funeral Train. Hudson City Historian Pat Fenoff is busy preparing for the three-day exhibition, "Lincoln's Long Journey Home," beginning April 24. It will feature photographs on loan from the New York State Library of the final Emancipation Proclamation. That exhibit will take place at the Robert Jenkins House located at 113 Warren St. in Hudson. Hudson resident Carole Osterink and friends are preparing an elaborate, historically based tableau based on a passage from the journal of Edward Davis Townsend, the commander of the funeral train. That event will take place near the railroad tracks on the evening of April 25. The event now has a Facebook page: LincolnFuneralTrain2015.

Chris Bragg reported at Capitol Confidential Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo Fri., Apr. 3, registered a committee to raise money for a bid for reelection in 2018, according to the state Board of Elections website. Cuomo has been rumored as a possible presidential candidate in 2016, but that now appears unlikely with Hillary Clinton all but certain to run in the Democratic primary. Cuomo’s 2104 Republican challenger, Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, is considering another run in 2018. Attorney General Eric Schneiderman is reportedly giving consideration to challenging Cuomo in the Democratic primary next time around.

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="252"] The 2009 Athens Street Festival
(Source: athensstreetfestival.com)[/caption]

Melanie Lekocevic is reporting in The Daily Mail the Athens Street Festival is a go and organizers are planning a series of new activities for the 40-year-old event. The future of the annual July celebration was recently called into question when it became known there was a shortage of volunteers to organize and stage the event. Athens Mayor Chris Pfister said Sat., Apr. 4, “The festival is back on. We are still recruiting for the Athens Street Festival Committee, but we are ready to go.” The event draws more than 10,000 people to the village of Athens. The festival this year will feature more events for children and youth. Activities under consideration include a strolling magician, circus performances, a rock-climbing wall and pony rides. The festival will take place July 11.

Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128"] Cairo: High 62F; low 42F.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125"] Catskill: High 61F; low 42F.[/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: A slight chance of rain showers, snow showers and sleet before 8 a.m., then a slight chance of rain showers after 4 p.m. Partly sunny. High near 58. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent. Monday night, a chance of showers, mainly after 10 p.m. Increasing clouds. Low around 42. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Forecast for the next three days:
Tuesday: Periods of rain, mainly after 11 a.m. High near 53. Tuesday night, periods of rain. Low around 38.
Wednesday: A chance of rain. Cloudy. High near 47. Wednesday night, a chance of rain. Cloudy. Low around 35.
Thursday: A chance of snow and sleet before 8 a.m., then a chance of rain showers after 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy. High near 49. Thursday night, showers likely. Cloudy. Low around 36.

Sunset today: 7:27 p.m.
Length of the day: 12:58 hrs.

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

ANCRAM Conservation Advisory Council, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 1416 County Rte. 7, Ancram (329-6512).
ATHENS Town Board meeting, 7 p.m. at 2 First Street, Athens (734-3636).
CAIRO Town Board meeting, 6:30 p.m.; both at Cairo Town Hall, 512 Main St., Cairo (622-3120).
CATSKILL Recreation Committee meeting, 7 p.m. at Catskill Town Hall,
439 Main St., Catskill (943-2141).
CLAVERACK Planning Board meeting, 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall, Church Street, Mellenville (672-7911).
CLERMONT Town Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 1795 Route 9, Clermont (537-6868).
TAGHKANIC Zoning Commission meeting, 6:30 p.m. at Town Hall, 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 Local news, regional events, weather updates, and more, live from the WGXC Hudson studio. Hosted by Mr. "Peetie Pete" Lievense.
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: Misti Duvall, Elizabeth Moran Fracking waste: Should we be concerned? A look at the use of low-volume fracking waste as a de-icer on roads, and the dumping of out-of-state high-volume fracking waste in New York landfills. Misti Duvall, Staff Attorney with the Watershed Program for Riverkeeper and Elizabeth Moran, Water and Natural Resources Associate of Environmental Advocates of New York will be in the studio to discuss the issue. Moran is the author of “License to Dump,” a report that details how, despite a state ban that does not allow high-volume hydrofracking, New York permits Pennsylvania to dump radioactive fracking waste inside our borders. 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 Hosted by Tyson Hauf.
6 p.m.: WGXC Evening News

[caption id="attachment_41175" align="alignleft" width="225"] A new law takes effect this month that places New York in the forefront for protecting thousands of consumers each year from surprise medical bills that often total tens of thousands of dollars. Courtesy: CIDNY.[/caption]Mike Clifford from New York News Connection via Public News Service reports that New Yorkers can breathe a sigh of relief this month because they now have new protections from so-called surprise medical bills. Many New Yorkers ended up with big bills for out-of-network care because of visits to the emergency room. Chuck Bell, programs director for Consumers Union, said a new law that took effect this month provides much-needed protections. "Through this new law, our consumers in New York state will be able to avoid getting most surprise medical bills in the first place," he said, "and when they do get a surprise bill, this law will help them prevent protracted financial disputes." On average, Bell said, about 2,000 New York consumers per year filed complaints about surprise medical bills. Heidi Siegfried, project director for New Yorkers for Accessible Health Coverage, said the new law puts the responsibility on doctors and health networks to ensure that their network information is up to date, and protects consumers who may have relied on outdated information. "The plan and the provider have to work out what the payment is going to be," she said, "and the patient does not have to pay anything other than the normal in-network charges if they are seeing an out-of-network provider and it wasn't their fault." Bell said the law also protects New Yorkers from so-called drive-by doctors who were not in the initial game plan when patients underwent a procedure. "A physician that you didn't expect sometimes shows up during the procedure, and afterwards you find you have a bill for visiting an out-of-network doctor," Bell said. "So the law provides for greatly expanded disclosure to consumers when out-of-network doctors are going to be involved in your care." The new law also calls for an examination of health networks to make sure they actually provide all of the suitable care that New Yorkers need. If any network is found not to have a provider, New Yorkers will be able to go out of network without paying extra. Consumers still need to do their homework and see an in-network provider when they are available. See the full story at Public News Service. Hear an audio version of this report here. PLAY AUDIO (2:03)

Local News
Local news Click here for news from Wave Farm‘s WGXC 90.7-FM in the Hudson Valley, New York for Sun., April 5. PLAY AUDIO (3:41)

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

• Sunday: A slight chance of rain and snow showers before noon, then rain showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 42, and a low around 32.

• Monday: A chance of snow before 3 p.m., then a chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 56, and a low around 39.

• Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of rain,with a high near 49.

Sunrise 6:30 a.m.
Sunset 7:25 p.m.
Other celestial rises/sets
Moon 8:44 P.M. 7:08 A.M.
Mercury 6:29 A.M. 6:58 P.M.
Venus 8:03 A.M. 10:42 P.M.
Mars 7:17 A.M. 8:57 P.M.
Jupiter 1:50 P.M. 4:15 A.M.
Saturn 11:20 P.M. 9:04 A.M.
Uranus 6:39 A.M. 7:26 P.M.
Neptune 5:14 A.M. 4:12 P.M.
Pluto 2:25 A.M. 11:52 A.M.

WGXC Programming

Radia: Anstatt
April 5, 2015: 5:05 a.m. – 5:35 a.m.

This Week in Radio News: Squetti
April 5, 2015: 5:35 a.m. – 6 a.m.

The National Weather Service has issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook for the entire WGXC listening area. There is a Wind Advisory in effect from 8 a.m. April 4, through 8 p.m. Saturday; and a Flood Watch in effect from 2 p.m. April 3 until 8 p.m. April 4.

Will Brunelle in Capital New York reports that six months after Governor Andrew Cuomo announced a $500 million broadband plan, there are, "no defined guidelines, rules, or even a clear sense of how it will be implemented and regulated." There have been three announcements of the plan, but not many details. Cuomo says he wants to have the entire state wired for 100 megabits per second internet access by 2018. But the story reports that, "Cuomo’s budget proposal devotes just 31 words to the program, saying it will, 'support the development of infrastructure to bring high-speed internet access to underserved regions throughout the state, and to support the development of other telecommunications infrastructure.'" Other critics of what little there is of a proposal, say it is a give-away to internet service providers. “The only clear beneficiaries of this program will be cable and internet providers, who will have a new state subsidy to expand their footprints into areas in which their competitors have demonstrated an inability to operate profitably,” said Ken Girardin of the conservative Empire Center for Public Policy. Christopher Mitchell, the director of the Community Broadband Networks Initiative for the Institute for Local Self Reliance, said the state should, “prioritize funds that are going to providers that are accountable to the public … because that’s how we electrified the country.” Read the full story in Capital New York.

• John Eggerton at Multichannel.com reports that a new Pew Research Center study found that 64 percent of Americans have a smart phone and of those, 19 percent are "smartphone dependent" either because they did not have other broadband access at home, or because they said they had "few" options for broadband access other than their phones. See the full story at multichannel.com.

• Residents of the Town of Lexington are encouraged to fill out a survey on broadband Internet access before Sat., April 18. Copies of the survey are available at the Lexington Town Clerk’s office, the Lexington and West Kill post offices, and online at LexingtonBroadband.org

• WGXC's feedback line is now up and running 24 hours a day, taking your calls with any comment you have about WGXC or local radio. Call 518-291-WGXC (518-291-9492) and record any message for three minutes. You can also record a question or comment ahead of time for upcoming broadcasts of local community affairs shows on WGXC such as "The Albany Report," "We the People," "@Issue," and "The Right Opinion." Call in at (518) 291-WGXC (9492) and leave an audio question or comment for WGXC.

Local News
Local news from Wave Farm‘s WGXC 90.7-FM in the Hudson Valley, New York for Sat., April 4. PLAY AUDIO (3:48)

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

• Saturday: Rain likely, mainly before noon. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 38. Breezy, with a northwest wind 17 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph, with a low around 23.

• Sunday: A slight chance of snow showers before 11 a.m., then a slight chance of rain and snow showers between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., then a chance of rain showers after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 46, and a low around 31.

• Monday: A chance of rain and snow showers before 11 a.m., then a chance of rain showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 55.

Sunrise 6:31 a.m.
Sunset 7:24 p.m.
Other celestial rises/sets
Moon 7:46 P.M. 6:38 A.M.
Mercury 6:29 A.M. 6:52 P.M.
Venus 8:04 A.M. 10:40 P.M.
Mars 7:19 A.M. 8:57 P.M.
Jupiter 1:54 P.M. 4:19 A.M.
Saturn 11:24 P.M. 9:08 A.M.
Uranus 6:42 A.M. 7:29 P.M.
Neptune 5:18 A.M. 4:16 P.M.
Pluto 2:28 A.M. 11:55 A.M.

WGXC Programming

CounterSpin: Alfredo Lopez, Jeff Biggers
April 4, 2015: 5:05 a.m. – 5:35 a.m.
This Week in Radio News: Squetti
April 4, 2015: 6 a.m. – 6:30 a.m.
The RAIN Report: Warren Elly
April 4, 2015: 6:30 a.m. – 6:45 a.m.
Off The Hook: Cyber-Enabled Activities
April 4, 2015: 7 a.m. – 8 a.m.
Glenn Hauser's World of Radio: Bulgaria
April 4, 2015: 8:30 a.m. – 9 a.m.
WGXC Feedback: 20150404
April 4, 2015: 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Saturday Morning Serial: Wires
April 4, 2015: 11 a.m. – noon
Human Machine: Imperative Of Responsibility
April 4, 2015: 2 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Radia: Anstatt
April 4, 2015: 3 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Saturday Afternoon Show: 2015 Wave Farm Residents Preview
April 4, 2015: 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.
This Week in Radio News: Squetti
April 4, 2015: 6 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Framework: Keith De Mendonca
April 4, 2015: 7 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Saturday Night Special: Home
8 p.m.: Live performances from Brooklyn.

It must be Spring now, as Coxsackie's Hiway Drive-In reopens this weekend. "Furious 7" and "American Sniper," are playing this weekend, at a two-for-one double feature price at the outdoor theater on Route 9.

Ryan Anglim is reporting in The Daily Mail a 16-acre brush fire nearly consumed the woods surrounding Oak Hill Road in Kiskatom, Thu., Apr. 2. Officials said the fire was caused by a homeowner burning brush piles on his property. Kiskatom Fire Chief Andrew Lubera reported no damage to any homes along the road and no injuries of any sort. The fire broke out at approximately 3 p.m. and was declared under control by 7 p.m. The annual New York State Burn Ban went into effect last month and continues through May 14. The ban makes it illegal to use a burn barrel or an open pit as a means for incinerating trash. Burning leaves is prohibited at all times of the year statewide. Lubera said the homeowner, who has not been identified, was unaware of the ban. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

The Daily Freeman is reporting Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has selected a Columbia County resident to serve in a top position in his administration. Catherine Leahy (LAY-hee) Scott has been appointed Workers’ Compensation Fraud Inspector General, a position she will hold in addition to her role as acting Welfare Inspector General and New York state Inspector General. Scott spent more than 13 years as Columbia County assistant district attorney, including eight as chief assistant district attorney. Scott is also a former Columbia County assistant public defender. She ran unsuccessfully for election as district attorney. Leahy Scott was appointed state inspector general in 2013. Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.

Will Brunelle is reporting at Capital New York companies participating the state's Start-Up NY program created a total of 76 jobs last year in exchange for $56,650 in tax benefits, according to a report on the program's inaugural year of operation. The program creates tax-free zones rooted in university campuses. The report issued this week by Empire State Development is the first time Start Up-NY's actual numbers have been documented. The 54 companies approved for the program last year have thus far created 76 of the 2,085 jobs they promised. The companies also promised $91.3 million in investment, and have so far delivered on $1.7 million of that, according to the report. Empire State Development chairman Howard Zemsky called the work achieved in the first year significant. Critics say the low number of new jobs created is a sign of the program's failure. Western New York boasts the lion’s share of the companies participating in the program, with 37 located in the region, mainly in Buffalo. Long Island has 15 member companies. The Capital Region has 3 member companies. Read the full story at Capital New York.

Julia Reischel in The Watershed Post reports that the first day of fishing season in New York state was Wed., April 1. “It's going to be a late season since many of rivers still have ice,” said Tony Ritter, of Gone Fishing Guide Service in Narrowsburg, in an email to the Watershed Post earlier this week. The Department of Environmental Conservation has complete information about fishing regulations at: http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/fishing.html

Parry Teasdale in The Columbia Paper reports industrial-scale fish farming is back in Greenport. After Local Ocean closed in 2013, now the Hudson Valley Fish Farms has tanks of fish in the same building as Local Ocean, in the industrial park on Route 9 just south of Hudson. John Ng, the owner of the fish farm's parent compant Fortune Group, spoke at the annual meeting of the Columbia Economic Development Corporation at Kozel’s restaurant in Ghent, March 31. Ng said his company will produce 1,000 metric tons of steelhead trout, and smaller amounts of yellowtail amberjack, and Pacific white shrimp, with the first fish eggs in two months. The company's brochure promises a $15 million investment and 75 jobs. Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.

Fri., April 3 is Good Friday, which also marks the beginning of Passover at sundown. The Daily Freeman has a breakdown of how various services and offices will be affected:

• Amtrak: Normal schedule


• Columbia County: Normal hours


• Dutchess County: Normal hours


• Greene County: Normal hours


• Greene Co. Transit: Normal schedule

Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128"] Cairo: High 66F; low 23F.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125"] Catskill: High 66F; low 45F.[/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 in Albany has issued a Flood Watch for all of eastern New York and adjacent western New England from 2 p.m. Fri., Apr. 3 through Sat., Apr. 4. The combination of rainfall and snow will be enough to produce some flooding across the region through Saturday afternoon.

Today: A chance of showers, mainly after 3 p.m. Mostly cloudy. High near 66. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. Friday night, showers. Cloudy. Low around 39. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent.

Forecast for the next three days:
Saturday: A chance of showers, mainly before 11 a.m. Cloudy through mid-morning, then gradual clearing. High near 44. Windy, with a northwest wind 21 to 28 mph, with gusts as high as 55 mph. Saturday night, mostly clear. Low around 24. West wind 12 to 17 mph becoming southwest 6 to 11 mph after midnight.
Sunday: A chance of showers, mainly after 2 p.m. Partly sunny. High near 52. Sunday night, a chance of rain showers before 11 p.m., then a chance of rain and snow showers between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m., then a chance of snow showers after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy. Low around 34.
Monday: A chance of rain showers after 8 a.m. Mostly cloudy. High near 58. Monday night, a chance of rain and snow showers. Mostly cloudy. Low around 39.

Sunset today: 7:23 p.m.
Length of the day: 12:50 hrs.

Public meeting
Today is the first Friday of the month.
WGXC is unaware of any recurring public meetings scheduled for today.

The day ahead on WGXC 90.7-FM
5:05 a.m.: The Shortwave Report This week's show features stories from Radio Deutsche-Welle, Radio Havana Cuba, NHK World Radio Japan, and Sputnik Radio.

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 Local news, regional events, weather updates, and more, live from the WGXC Hudson studio. Hosted by Michelle Lewis.
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.
6 p.m.: WGXC Evening News
7 p.m.: Guest DJ: DJ Yesenia "Yeshua" Ganan A solid night of hip-hop, rock, alternative, indie, foreign (clean), Latin hip-hop/rap and maybe a dash of country.

Randy J. Stine in Radio World noted last week that two TV antennas were installed atop One World Trade Center in New York City, with test broadcasts now for the UHF and VHF trial arrays. The Durst Organization, owners of the now-tallest building in New York City, will test transmissions on Channel 12 for VHF and Channel 32 for UHF. Many of the antennae for radio and television stations were on top of the former World Trade Center towers, before the Sept. 11 2001 attacks brought down those towers. Since then, many antennae have moved to the Empire State Building, at 1,254 feet, with a 200-foot steel tower on top. The new skyscraper stands at 1,776 feet, and will generate larger signal patterns with the additional height. The Associated Press reports that anohter tower, this one in Crimea, is coming down, as Russian officials turned off Crimea's independent television station ATR March 31, by repeatedly refused to give it a broadcasting license. ATR broadcast to the Crimean Tatars, a native ethnic group of about 300,000 that was deported from the region by the Soviet authorities in 1944, and was a lone voice against the Russians after they took over the area from Ukraine last year. Lenur Islyamov, ATR's founder, said at a news conference March 31 that four of its filings have been rejected on technicalities. "They don't give us a license because not a single official can guarantee that at some point we won't go on air calling on people to do something," Islyamov said. Crimea's new leader, Sergei Aksyonov, said last month that ATR has filed the documents "with errors on purpose in order flare up a conflict involving the TV station." Finally, another station will never get to hang a tower, even after the WKMJ Radio Live the People Station filed to get a new low-power FM license through the Federal Communications Commission. Paul Riismandel at Radio Survivor reports Kervenson Joseph from the Pinellas Park, Florida group applying for a station, was arrested for unlicensed broadcasting while waiting for the LPFM application to be processed. Florida, New Jersey, and New York have unconstitutional state laws against unlicensed broadcasting, even though the states have no authority to regulate the public airwaves. And the FCC has a rule against awarding LPFM licenses to former pirate radio enthusiasts. So because Johnson couldn't wait for the FCC's application process to play out, he won't be broadcasting any more, at least not legally.

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="328"] The PS21 saddlespan tent. (Courtesy ps21chatham.org)[/caption]

Vince Pecoraro is reporting in the Chatham Courier PS21, the Chatham-based performing arts venue, was before that town's Zoning Board of Appeals Mon., Mar. 30, with plans to create a new permanent facility. The non-profit intends to construct a 14,500-square-foot black box theater with removable walls and doors that will transform the structure into a pavilion for use during the summer months. The black box would hold 100 patrons, and an additional 200 people could be accommodated when it is open. The building would be located north of the saddlespan tent, which has been in use since 2006. The tent will no longer be used once the building has been completed. With a newly designed sound system, the new structure would reduce the amount of noise neighbors hear while the venue is in use, according to Nicholas Vamvas of Crawford Engineering. Some neighbors of PS21 were present at the meeting and said noise was still a concern, especially because the new structure will be open air during the summertime. Supporters were also in attendance and expressed their approval of the facility. The board has 62 days to render a decision on the request for a special use permit. Read the full story in the Chatham Courier.

The Times Union is reporting the state Department of Taxation and Finance announced it is extending the hours of the Income Tax Call Center through April 15. The call center, (518) 457-5181, will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays. Representatives handled more than 1 million calls during last year's tax season. One of the most common questions Call Center representatives answer is: "When will I receive my refund?" Taxpayers can save time by checking their refund status on the department website, www [dot] tax [dot] ny [dot] gov.