Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128"] Cairo: High 37F; low 15F.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125"] Catskill: High 37F; low 16F.[/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: Sunny. High near 33. Wind chill values as low as zero. Thursday night, mostly clear. Low around 13.

Forecast for the next three days:
Friday: Snow likely, mainly after 3 p.m. Cloudy. High near 34. Friday night, a chance of snow showers, mainly between midnight and 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy. Low around 24.
Saturday: A chance of showers after 2 p.m. Partly sunny. High near 45. Saturday night, a chance of rain and snow showers before 10 p.m., then a chance of snow showers between 10 p.m. and midnight. Mostly cloudy. Low around 23.
Sunday: Mostly sunny. High near 33. Sunday night, mostly clear. Low around 17.

Sunrise today: 6:59 a.m.
Sunset today: 7:06 p.m.
Length of the day: 12:07 hrs.

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

ANCRAM Town Board meeting, 7 p.m. in Town Hall at 1416 County Rte. 7, Ancram (329-6512).
CHATHAM Town Board meeting, 7 p.m. Town Hall, 488 State Route 295, Chatham (392-3262).
COLUMBIA COUNTY Board of Supervisors Public Safety Committee meeting, 5 p.m. at 401 State Street, Hudson (828-1527).
COPAKE Land Use Review Committee meeting, 7 p.m., at Town Hall, 230 Mt. View Road, Copake (329-1234).
COXSACKIE-ATHENS Board of Education meeting, 6:30 p.m. at middle/high school, 24 Sunset Blvd., Coxsackie (731-1800).
DURHAM Town Board meeting, 7:30 p.m. in Town Building, 7309 State Rt. 81, East Durham (239-6122).
GHENT Town Board meeting, 7:30 p.m. at the Ghent Town Hall, 2306 State Route 66, Ghent (392-4644).
HUDSON Economic Development Committee, 6 p.m. at City Hall, 520 Warren Street, Hudson (828-1030).
KINDERHOOK Planning Board meeting, 7 p.m. Town Hall, 4 Church St, Niverville (784-2233).
WINDHAM Town Board meeting, 8 p.m. at Town Hall, 371 State Rt. 296, Hensonville (734-4170).

The day ahead on WGXC 90.7-FM
2 a.m.: Net Neutrality Hearing Oversight of the Federal Communications Commission. U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, leads a hearing on Wednesday, March 18, 2015, entitled, “Oversight of the Federal Communications Commission.” Witnesses: - The Honorable Mignon Clyburn, Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission - The Honorable Michael O’Rielly, Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission - The Honorable Ajit Pai, Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission - The Honorable Jessica Rosenworcel, Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission - The Honorable Tom Wheeler, Chairman, Federal Communications Commission

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, weather, events, music 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.
10 a.m.: We the People: Robert J. Freeman In celebration of Sunshine Week, Robert J. Freeman, Executive Director of the New York Department of State Committee on Open Government will be in the studio for the hour to discuss the Open Meetings Law and Freedom of Information Law. Freeman has worked for the Committee since its creation in 1974 and was appointed executive director in 1976. Sunshine Week is a national initiative to promote a dialogue about the importance of open government and freedom of information. Participants include news media, civic groups, libraries, nonprofits, schools and others interested in the public’s right to know. 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 Tom DePietro.
11 a.m.: One Size Fits All: 20150319 An hour-long investigation into the idea of amplified sound beginning with Wild Flag and concluding with Codona. The full playlist can be found at www.Facebook.com/OneSizeWGXC. Produced by Your Host.
3 p.m.: Radio Theatre: Captain Sharkey An anthology series of dramas and comedies for radio. Each week a program will be made up of one radio play. Produced at KSVR Studios at the radio station KSVR-FM in Mount Vernon, Washington. The actors are from the Skagit Radio Repertory Company. The producer is Joseph C McGuire. This week: "Known mostly for Sherlock Holmes. Arthur Conan Doyle wrote many other stories in his lifetime. Captain Sharkey is the violent tale of a pirate who is more real than most pirate characters in fiction. Warning this is a very violent story. " Edited by Jay Charles. Made with a grant from the Corporation For Public Broadcasting. From Pacifica Radio.
4 p.m.: WGXC Afternoon Show
6 p.m.: WGXC Evening News

Paying all the bills at any sort of radio station can be difficult in this multi-media age. The studio of Berkeley Liberation Radio was broken into and robbed, March 2, and now the legendary pirate radio station has a Gofundme campaign to get back on the air. As of March 18 the station had raised $1,250 of the $2,000 it says it needs to get back on the air. The station was founded as Free Radio Berekely in the early 1990s by Stephen Dunifer, the Johnny Appleseed of the microradio movement then. Legal stations also have many costs, especially streaming their signals online. Paul Riismandel at Radio Survivor reports SoundExchange, the non-profit organization that collects so-called “mechanical” royalties for recorded music, just reached a settlement with National Public Radio and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting on the rates that affiliated public and community stations will owe from 2016 to 2020. The details of the agreement have not been made public yet, and the settlement must still be approved by the Copyright Royalty Board. Last October, SoundExchange also reached a settlement with College Broadcasters Inc. Riismandel also reports he spoke with another writer who said that a pirate station had received notice from ASCAP and BMI demanding that the station pay up for its internet stream. Last year, East Village Radio, which began as a pirate station in 2003 and then went just online, closed because “licensing fees and internet costs” were too large for the station to cover. Recently, new apps have emerged that make it easier then ever for anyone to start their own streaming online radio station. Mixlr and Fradio (launched this week) both let anyone use their phones as a transmitter, with just a few touches to start broadcasting. The question is now if BMI and ASCAP will be tracking down each user who is playing music for royalty payments. Already, a quick look through Mixlr's streams show many traditional radio stations using the app to stream their signals. Both apps also make it very simple for anyone to broadcast royalty-free events such as town council meetings, and local lectures or political debates, so not all streams must pay these fees. StoryCorps, an American non-profit organization whose mission is to record, preserve, and share the stories of Americans, launched their own app this week, allowing oral historians and other interviewers to share the audio with the U.S. Library of Congress, on the website StoryCorps.me, and on social media sites such as Facebook and SoundCloud.

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="265"] Joanne Ezinga at the conclusion of her first through hike on the Appalachian Trail in 2010.[/caption]

Canaan resident Joanna Ezinga begins her second through hike on the Appalachian Trail, Wed., Mar. 18, at Springer Mountain in Georgia. Ezinga will provide WGXC with updates as she journeys the more than 2,000 miles north to Mt. Katahdin in Maine. She called with a message for listeners Tuesday night: PLAY (:45). Ezinga's online journal can be found at Trail Journals [dot] com.

Katie Kocijanski is reporting in the Register Star the deadline for public comment on Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s proposed New York Energy Highway Plan is approaching. Residents have until April 15 to submit written comments to the state Public Service Commission on the governor's proposal to construct new transmission lines from central New York through the Hudson Valley. The planned lines would cut through Columbia County. Four developers have submitted bids for a project that is planned to deliver at least 1,000 new megawatts of power transmission capacity downstate. As of Tue., Mar. 17, nearly 2,400 comments had been posted to the commission’s website, with many expressing disapproval of the proposal. Groups, such as the Hudson Valley Smart Energy Coalition and the Farmers and Families for Claverack and Livingston, have actively campaigned against the project. “Community input has been and remains a fundamental component of the regulatory review process,” commission spokesman James Denn said. To learn more about the proposal, go to dps [dot] ny [dot] gov and search for case number 13-E-0488. Read the full story in the Register Star.

The Associated Press is reporting the New York State Assembly voted Tue., Mar. 17, to make New York the fourth state in the nation to provide workers with paid time off to care for a new child or sick loved one. The bill would provide up to 12 weeks of paid leave of up to $545 a week.The benefit would be funded through an employee payroll deduction. The Senate has its own family leave proposal which would provide up to six weeks of benefits. Under that plan, the state would initially foot the bill.

Derek Hawkins is reporting for Public News Service if you receive health care in the Northeast, you may be more likely to undergo medical tests that you don't need, according to a new study from New York University. Researchers surveyed patients with low-risk breast and prostate cancer and found that, on average, more than 40 percent of them received imaging tests that were expensive and unnecessary. The figure was higher in the Northeast than elsewhere. Dr. Danil Makarov, the study's lead investigator, said imaging rarely proved useful for patients with those types of cancer. "Not only are you paying for the initial test, not only is the patient wasting his or her time to go to the initial test, but it's almost certain not to yield anything that's going to affect how you're ultimately going to treat the patient," he said. Imaging for breast and prostate cancer involves scanning for other types of cancers that may have spread in the body. Researchers said the practice is widely overused, but difficult to phase out. Makarov, assistant professor of health policy at NYU School of Medicine, said the connection between where you live and what kind of treatment you receive is a strong one. Practice norms and medical culture may account for regional differences in the use of imaging, he said, but the issue needs further investigation. "I don't think it's physicians sitting around and thinking about how they can do something wrong, or how they can do extra imaging," he said. "I think if you talk to a lot of these physicians, they don't know that they're doing anything different from anyone else because they're just doing what they always do." Makarov said focusing on doctor-patient relationships alone won't solve the problem. He said policy makers need to take a deeper look at how regional factors affect health care. The text of the report is online at oncology [dot] jamanetwork [dot] com. PLAY FULL AUDIO VERSION OF THIS REPORT (1:26).

UPDATED: 1:55 p.m.
Wed., Mar. 18 is village election day in the state of New York. The elections were moved from the traditional Tuesday (March 17) to Wednesday this year because New York State Municipal Law prohibits villages from holding elections on St. Patrick’s Day.

Greene County
Athens
Contested mayoral race: Chris Pfister (Dem; incumbent), Rick Surrano (Rep).
Contested village board races: Anthony Patsky (Dem; incumbent), Bob June (Dem; incumbent), Maria Butler (Rep.), Rickie Gabrielle (Rep)
Polling location: Village Hall, 2 1st St.; 12 p.m. (noon) to 9 p.m.

Catskill
Contested board of trustees race: James Chewens (incumbent), Patrick McCulloch (Dem, incumbent), Heather Bagshaw (Rep)
Uncontested village justice race: Katherine M. Izzo
Polling Location: Village Hall, 422 Main St. Catskill Fire Co., Central Ave.; 12 p.m. (noon) to 9 p.m.

Coxsackie
Contested mayoral race: Mark Evans (Rep; incumbent), Greg Backus (Dem).
Contested village board races: Stephen Hanse (Rep; incumbent); Paul Sutton (Rep; incumbent); Donald Daoust (Dem).
Polling location: Village Hall, 119 Mansion St.; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Hunter
Uncontested trustee race: Michael Tancredi
Polling location: Village Hall, 7955 Main St.; 12 p.m. (noon) to 9 p.m.

Tannersville
Uncontested mayor race: Lee McGunnigle
Uncontested trustee race: Gregory Landers, Christopher J. Hack
Uncontested village justice race: Noreen Valcich
Polling location: Village Hall, 1 Park Lane; 12 p.m. (noon) to 9 p.m.

For additional information contact the Greene County Board of Elections at 719-3550.

Columbia County
Chatham
Uncontested mayoral race: Tom Curran
Uncontested trustee race: Jay Rippel, Michael Wollowitz
Polling location: Village Hall, 77 Main St.; 12 p.m. (noon to 9 p.m.)

Kinderhook
Uncontested trustee race: Dale Leiser, Robert Puckett
Polling location: Village Hall, 6 Chatham Street; 12 p.m. (noon) to 9 p.m.

Philmont
Uncontested mayoral race: Clarence “Skip” Speed
Uncontested trustee race:  Douglas Cropper, Larry Ostrander
Polling location: Village Hall, 124 Main St.; 12 p.m. (noon) to 9 p.m.

Valatie
Uncontested mayoral race: Diane Argyle
Uncontested trustee race: Philip Bickerton, Frank Bevens
Polling location: Martin H. Glynn Municipal Building, Church St.; 12 p.m. (noon) to 9 p.m. Voting is on paper ballots.

For additional information contact the Columbia County Board of Elections at 828-3115.

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced another round of targeted crude oil tank car and rail inspections March 17. These inspections found 93 defects, including seven critical safety problems that required immediate corrective action, and two hazardous materials violations. Cuomo's inspections are a response to a series of oil train accidents around the U.S. and Canada, as shipments of crude oil have increased in recent years. “Our administration is continuing to hold crude oil transporters to the highest standard of safety, and this latest round of inspections shows that our efforts are making a significant difference when it comes to protecting New Yorkers,” Cuomo said, in a statement. “The importance of these inspections is underscored both by the recent rash of derailments and explosions involving crude oil trains in other states, as well as the current lack of tough regulations, which only Washington has the authority to impose. In the meantime, we will continue to remain vigilant and work with all partners to make sure that crude oil is transported safely across the state.” Locally, oil trains run daily on the west side of the Hudson River, with many sitting at a yard in Albany between I-787 and the river.

Read the rest of the press release below, at newsroom.wgxc.org.





On Wednesday, March 11, and Thursday, March 12, inspection teams from the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) carried out track and crude oil tanker inspections at the CSX Corporation-owned Frontier Rail Yard in Buffalo, and the Canadian Pacific (CP) Railway-owned Kenwood Rail Yard in Albany. In addition, the inspectors examined mainline track along the following sections:
- Newburgh in Dutchess County to Haverstraw in Rockland County;
- Macedon to Lyons in Wayne County;
- Ripley to Dunkirk in Chautauqua County;
- Fort Edward in Washington County to Burnt Hills in Saratoga County; and
- Track at both the Kenwood and Frontier Rail Yards.

The inspections focused on track, track hardware and tank car mechanical safety equipment, including wheels and brakes. The teams also performed hazardous materials inspections to ensure that equipment is in line with regulations, including valves, valve closures, and placards that describe the cargo being shipped. They also checked tank car inspection and pressure test dates.

Critical defects identify important maintenance issues that must be addressed immediately, but do not necessarily indicate safety lapses. Non-critical rail defects must be repaired within 30 days, while all tank car defects must be fixed before the train departs the yard. If that is not possible, the affected car will be pulled from the train to await repair.

NYSDOT Commissioner Joan McDonald said, “Once again, our inspectors found numerous track and rail car maintenance issues that were quickly addressed. I’m proud to work with Governor Cuomo and the Federal Rail Administration to increase public safety with respect to transporting hazardous materials through New York State.”

Track Inspections

CSX Mainline Track Inspection – Newburgh to Haverstraw
NYSDOT and FRA track inspectors examined approximately 22 miles of track and two switches along the CSX mainline from Newburgh to Haverstraw. The inspectors found one critical defect – deteriorated cross ties along a short section of track – which has since been repaired. The inspectors also found four non-critical defects, including loose switch bolts and insufficient ballast.

CSX Mainline Track Inspection – Macedon to Lyons
An FRA track inspector examined 22 miles of track between Macedon and Lyons. The inspector found two critical defects: improper clearance at a switch transition device, and another switch transition device was chipped in excess of allowable limits. Both have been repaired. The inspector also found seven non-critical safety defects, including loose switch bolts, missing and loose bolts at a switch transition device, and loose switch clip bolts.

CSX Siding Track Inspection – Syracuse & Oneida
A NYSDOT track inspector examined approximately five miles of track and five switches on CSX controlled rail sidings in Syracuse and Oneida. The inspector discovered five non-critical defects, including loose joint bars, loose joints on a switch component, missing cotter pins, and loose bolts on a switch transition device.

CSX Frontier Yard Mainline & Yard Track Inspection – Buffalo
An FRA track inspector examined two miles of mainline track and four miles of yard track, including 21 switches, at the Frontier Yard in Buffalo. One critical defect was found, a switch transition device in the yard was found to be chipped in excess of allowable limits, resulting in the speed limit being lowered from 15 miles per hour to 10 miles per hour. The inspection also found 17 non-critical defects, including loose switch bolts, loose joint bars, loose switch point heel blocks and missing cotter pins in switch bolts.

CSX Mainline Track Inspection – Ripley to Dunkirk
A NYSDOT track inspector examined 58 miles of track and 11 switches between Ripley and Dunkirk. The inspector found five non-critical defects including fouled ballast, insufficient fasteners, and loose bolts at a switch transition device.

CP Mainline Track Inspection – Fort Edward to Burnt Hills
An FRA track inspector examined 35 miles of track and five switches between Fort Edward and Burnt Hills. The inspector found three critical defects – missing bolts in rail joints – which were immediately repaired by a CP crew. Eleven non-critical defects were also found, including loose and missing switch bolts, and fouled ballast.

CP Kenwood Yard Track and Switch Inspection – Albany
A NYSDOT track inspector examined one mile of yard track and 26 switches at CP’s Kenwood Yard in Albany. The inspector discovered 10 non-critical defects, including loose and missing bolts on switch components and missing cotter pins on switch bolts.

Tank Car Inspections

Albany
At the Kenwood Rail Yard in Albany, rail equipment inspectors examined 200 crude oil tank cars and found 24 non-critical defects, including thin brake shoes, shelled wheels, and a missing knuckle pin. An FRA hazardous materials inspector examined 120 crude oil tank cars and issued two violations to the oil shipping company Global Partners, for a missing sample line plug and for failing to apply a vapor line cap lock. These violations required immediate corrective action before the train was allowed out of the yard, and the FRA may fine the shipping company. The inspector also found two non-critical defects, including loose packing nuts.

Buffalo
At the Frontier Rail Yard in Buffalo, 109 tank cars were examined by a NYSDOT rail equipment inspector, who found three non-critical defects including thin brake shoes and a missing brake shoe retainer key. In addition, NYSDOT and FRA hazardous materials inspectors examined 24 crude oil tank cars and found one non-critical defect, which was a loose safety railing.​

Since this targeted inspection campaign began in February 2014, NYSDOT and its federal partners have inspected 8,504 rail cars (including 6,496 crude oil tank cars) and 2,988 miles of track, uncovered 1,048 defects, and issued 18 hazardous materials violations.

Increased inspections of railroad tracks and tank cars are one of the aggressive actions New York State has taken following a series of out-of-state disasters involving the transport of crude oil from the Bakken oil fields centered in North Dakota.

Last year, at the direction of Governor Cuomo, state agencies conducted a coordinated review of safety procedures and emergency response preparedness related to increased shipments of Bakken crude across nearly 1,000 miles of New York State. The agencies issued a report in April 2014 containing 27 recommendations for state government, federal government and industry to take to reduce risks and increase public safety in the transport of crude oil.

To date, state agencies are working to implement all 12 state government recommendations and have completed five. Specifically, New York State has taken 66 actions to better prepare state and local responders in the event of a crude oil incident as detailed in a progress report released earlier last December.

In his 2015 Opportunity Agenda, Governor Cuomo detailed proposals to protect New York from the boom in crude oil transportation including to:
- Hire eight new employees for DEC and six for the Office of Fire Protection and Control dedicated to oil spill planning, training and response;
- Increase the fees for oil transported through New York to 13.75 cents per barrel. This is an increase from 12.25 cents for oil imported into the state, and 1.5 cents for transshipped oil, irrespective of whether the oil remains in New York or is transferred on to another State;

- Increase the Oil Spill Response and Prevention Fund by 60 percent, from $25 million to $40 million to ensure the solvency of the fund and provide the necessary funding for staff and associated preparedness costs;

- Move administration of the Oil Spill Fund from the Comptroller’s Office to DEC. This will create efficiencies in the operation of the fund and ensure more money goes to cleaning up spills as well as planning and preparedness operations;

- Establish the New York State Foam Task Force. The State will pre-deploy foam, firefighting equipment, and supplies along rail lines statewide. The State will provide standardized training and support to local agencies to deploy and operate the equipment necessary to fight flammable liquid fires. The State will also continue to increase its own foam capabilities to better supplement and support local resources at any major crude oil incident; and

- Coordinate State, local and industry planning and preparedness. The State’s inter-agency working group will further integrate response planning at the local, county, state and federal levels, and improve coordination of the railroads and terminal operators involved in the shipment of crude oil across New York.

John W. Barry in the Poughkeepsie Journal reports that an 86-car CSX freight train derailed south of Beacon March 14. There were no injuries, and no fuel spills, but there were delays with passenger service on Metro-North March 15. The Federal Railroad Administration, Metro-North Railroad and CSX are investigating the accident. CSX freight trains and Metro-North passenger trains use the same Hudson Line tracks, on the east side of the Hudson River. This train was carrying construction debris. Read the full story in the Poughkeepsie Journal.

Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128"] Cairo: High 31F; low 13F.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125"] Catskill: High 31F; low 15F.[/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 30. Wednesday night, partly cloudy. Low around 13.

Forecast for the next three days:
Thursday: Sunny. High near 33. Thursday night, mostly clear. Low around 13.
Friday: A chance of snow before 2 p.m., then rain and snow likely. Partly sunny. High near 36. Friday night, rain and snow showers likely before 8 p.m., then a chance of snow showers. Cloudy. Low around 28.
Saturday: Partly sunny. High near 47. Saturday night, mostly cloudy. Low around 23.

Sunrise today: 7:01 a.m.
Sunset today: 7:05 p.m.
Length of the day: 12:04 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).
GHENT Planning Board, 7 p.m., at Town Hall, 2306 State Route 66, Ghent (392-4644).
GREENE COUNTY 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: Asmus Tietchens Episode 973 of weekly experimental new music show, by folks formerly behind Staalplaat. Click on title for playlist 973.
2 a.m.: Net Neutrality Hearing FCC Chair Tom Wheeler testifying before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee March 17 about net neutrality.

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, weather, events, music 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.
10 a.m.: @Issue: James Campion Guest for the hour is James Campion, President of Columbia-Greene Community College. The Livingston resident has served in that capacity for almost 15 years. Prior to his appointment as president, Campion served as the college's Dean of Community Services and Executive Director of the Columbia-Greene Community Foundation. During his 36-year career in higher education, Campion has held several other administrative and adjunct faculty positions in community colleges. Hosted by Victor Mendolia, Debora Gilbert and Debby Mayer.
11 a.m.: Vinyl Rundown: Sly & the Family Stone In honor of Sly Stone's 72nd birthday on Sunday, March 15. This is the first of two shows featuring the music of Sly & the Family Stone, from the group's early albums before their national hits, some early productions of Sly, and a look at Sly's creative peak between the "Stand!" and "There's A Riot Going On" albums. Hosted by Chris Bishop.
2 p.m.: Catskill Cabin Conversations: Christian Griffin The guest for the hour is Christian Griffin. He was the youngest of five kids, born and raised in Fairbanks, Alaska. He left Alaska at 18, and has lived in Texas, Utah and New York. He currently works at the Krafted Kup Coffee House in Poughkeepsie. Griffin will discuss the items he would choose to take to on a Catskill cabin getaway. Produced by Mike Porter and Andy Reid.
4 p.m.: WGXC Afternoon Show: 20150318 Does the Confederate flag represent racism? After posting this question on social media, hosts Vern Cross, Kamal Johnson, and Ranier Blue take to the air waves to discuss this topic and more. Plus, the 5:30 freestyle, local news, events, music and more. Call in with questions or comments, (518) 828-0290.
6 p.m.: WGXC Evening News

Federal Communications Commission Chair Tom Wheeler testified before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on the FCC's relationship with the Obama administration March 17. The hearing was about the FCC’s 3-2 approval along party lines of “net neutrality,” rules designed to prohibit internet service providers from blocking or discriminating against legal content moving through their networks. Republicans focused their questions on their theory that President Obama ordered or coordinated the Democrats on the Commission to favor the rules that they previously did not all support. Committee chair Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) opened explaining those views.
[audio mp3="http://newsroom.free103point9.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/RepJasonChaffetz_chair_openingqquestioningofFCCchairTomWheeler_20150317.mp3"][/audio]

Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD), countered that the four million comments from the public weighed more than the single comment from President Obama.
[audio mp3="http://newsroom.free103point9.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/RepElijahCummings_Democrat_houseoversight_netneutralityhearings_20150317.mp3"][/audio]

Chaffetz then questioned Wheeler on any coordination with the White House.

[audio mp3="http://newsroom.free103point9.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/RepJasonChaffetz_chair_questioningFCCchairTomWheeler_20150317.mp3"][/audio]

Chaffetz also announced at the hearing that the FCC’s Inspector General has launched an investigation into how the agency’s net neutrality rules were crafted. Amy Schatz at re/code reports, "The FCC’s Inspector General isn’t exactly known for investigating the conduct of commissioners, so this might not amount to much. FCC investigators mostly focus on stopping fraud in the FCC’s multi-billion dollar federal subsidy program for phone and Internet services."

Video from C-Span.

Michael Ryan is reporting in The Daily Mail the plan to create a unified ambulance service for all of Greene County is moving forward. The special task force appointed to study emergency services has now presented its findings to the Greene County Legislature. The plan calls for fielding seven to 10 full-time paid crews, depending upon periods of peak and lowest call volumes. Each crew would have a paramedic and an EMT on board, 24/7, providing consistent response times of three minutes or less throughout the county. Costs have been estimated at $6.5 million. Revenue from third-party billing would bring in $2.8 million. The county and towns would account for the rest. A decision on the plan by the full Legislature is expected later this month. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

John Mason is reporting in the Register Star the Hudson Common Council is scheduled to vote Tue., Mar. 17, on whether to conduct a full-scale environmental review of a proposed sewer-line project. Public Works Superintendent Robert Perry maintains the project does not require a full review under the State Environmental Quality Review Act. Timothy O'Connor, of the South Bay Task Force, asserts the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations require the review. O’Connor is also critical of the lack of required public comment solicited for the project. Perry noted that there were two public participation meetings in 2009 and a public hearing in 2014. The city has been awarded $600,000 to create separate storm water and sanitary waste lines on Front Street between Columbia and State. The project is part of the city’s ongoing response to a mandate from the state Department of Environmental Conservation to have separate storm water and sewer lines throughout the city to prevent contamination of the Hudson River. Read the full story in the Register Star.

Colby Hamilton is reporting at Capital New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has called for an overhaul of the state's ethics laws, including an end to outside income and per diem payments, and an increase in legislative pay. He laid out his ideas in a speech to the good government group Citizens Union, Mon., Mar. 16. He also called for making legislative terms in Albany four years instead of two, as well instituting a system of public matching funds and increased disclosure for state races, similar to the one in place in New York City. Schneiderman also made the case for higher contribution limits and closing the limited liability corporation loophole which he says “allows wealthy interests to funnel limitless amounts to campaigns." Read the full story at Capital New York.

Bob McCarthy in the Buffalo News reports that local Congressman Chris Gibson (R-Kinderhook) was in Buffalo last week, talking state, not national issues. Gibson, after winning his third term last November, said he would retire, and many political analysts believe he is preparing for a 2018 run for governor. “The economy is the number one issue, and it’s not complicated,” Gibson told the paper. “We have to look at spending, and have more broad-based tax cuts, particularly for small business. And we have to change the underlying environment with regard to regulatory relief, health care costs and access to credit.” The Kinderhook Congressman both praised current Gov. Andrew Cuomo (for his Buffalo Billion program), and also criticized Cuomo (“we want common sense, not common core”). Read the full story in the Buffalo News.

The Mid-Hudson News Network reports in The Daily Freeman that the average weekly wage in Dutchess County, at $969, ranks highest locally, and 83 in the nation, according to the latest figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Delaware ($781) and Greene ($780) counties ranked next, followed by Ulster County ($763), and Columbia County ($734). In comparison, the average weekly wage in Manhattan is $1,732, third in the nation. Average weekly wages in Hudson Valley counties in the second quarter of last year, according to the federal statistics:
• Westchester: $1,215.
• Rockland: $1,003.
• Dutchess: $969.
• Putnam: $ 963.
• Orange: $825.
• Delaware: $781.
• Greene: $780.
• Ulster: $763.
• Sullivan: $758.
• Columbia: $734.

Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128"] Cairo: High 44F; low 21F.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125"] Catskill: High 46F; low 23F.[/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 before 11 a.m. Mostly cloudy. High near 45. Light and variable wind becoming northwest 13 to 18 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. Tuesday night, a slight chance of rain showers before 7 p.m., then a slight chance of snow showers after 11 p.m. Partly cloudy. Low around 20. Northwest wind 11 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Forecast for the next three days:
Wednesday: Partly sunny. High near 31. Wednesday night, partly cloudy. Low around 14.
Thursday: Sunny. High near 35. Thursday night, mostly clear. Low around 19.
Friday: A chance of snow after 9 a.m., mixing with rain after 3 p.m. Mostly cloudy. High near 40. Friday night, a chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy. Low around 29.

Sunrise today: 7:02 a.m.
Sunset today: 7:04 p.m.
Length of the day: 12:02 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 Services 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 Local news, weather, events, music 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.: Music Maestro Hour: 20150317 Today's country and western music. Hosted by the Music Maestro.
4 p.m.: WGXC Afternoon Show
6 p.m.: WGXC Evening News

[caption width="603" align="aligncenter"] FCC enforcements by year, from DIYmedia.net.[/caption]The American Radio Relay League reports that, according to an internal Federal Communications Commission Enforcement Bureau memorandum, the bureau wants to cut two-thirds of its field offices and eliminate nearly one-half of its field agents, from 63 to 33. The March 10 memo says the bureau would keep offices in New York City; Columbia, Maryland; Chicago; Atlanta; Miami; Dallas; Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Instead, the bureau would create a so-called flexible “Tiger Team” of field agents it could deploy as needed with necessary equipment in other cities, initially to include Kansas City, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Seattle, San Juan, Anchorage, Honolulu, and Billings, Montana. John Anderson, at DIYmedia.net, a site that tracks pirate radio enforcement, writes that less than two weeks ago FCC Managing Director Jon Wilkins was asked about this issue at a Congressional hearing regarding the FCC’s budget. Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY) said she recently received complaints from NYC-area broadcasters about many pirate stations, and asked about funding in the FCC's budget fight pirate radio. “The only way we can manage is to find out where is the highest density of need and how can we deploy the people and the resources that we have against that,” Wilkins said. Rep. Michael Pompeo (R-KS) followed up: “I asked a direct question, you gave a generic response. Is there [a] recommendation to close field offices for the FCC and relocate people to your headquarters?” No final recommendation on that, Wilkins replied. The broadcast industry is not happy about the leaked memo. “The ARRL is concerned that there is already no sense of urgency in the FCC’s enforcement activities targeting spectrum polluters, such as utilities with noisy power lines, or the few violators in our own ranks,” ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, said. “It is troubling to see recommendations for such drastic reductions in the Commission’s geographic footprint and the number of field agents at a time when the Field staff is facing ever-increasing challenges.” Radio Ink, an industry trade magazine, wrote, "Considering... the data showing that the FCC has taken fewer actions against pirates in recent years, and now the confirmation of the FCC considering downsizing of the field office personnel, the worry for licensed broadcasters has to be that this "perfect storm" may lead to even more problems, and fewer actions against pirates." And while the FCC's enforcement efforts may be scaling back, some local police are now using AM radios to find marijuana grow rooms, EDN.com reports. The grow rooms use large 1000W high pressure sodium or metal halide lamps, driven by electronic ballasts. Many of the ballasts are imported from China and the manufacturers are not complying with FCC emission standards. Which means the lights produce radio frequency interference (RFI), which is often heard by local radio amateurs as static. The ARRL's lead RFI investigator, Mike Gruber, says the group made formal complaint to the FCC, dated March, 2014, about the lights. Gruber also conducted tests on three electronic ballasts and found peaks as high as 100+ dBuV (50 dB over the limit) in the range 6 to 8 MHz, with lower peaks at 14, 18, and 21 MHz, and also in the AM broadcast band, where the police are tuning their radios to detect the grow rooms from as far away as 2,500 feet. The FCC's enforcement bureau would usually investigate this sort of interference, but, apparently, the cut backs may affect resolution of this sort of radio interference.

Full disclosure: John Anderson is on Wave Farm's board.

Some of the stories that made the news Fri., Mar. 13 through Mon., Mar. 16:

Jim Planck reported in The Daily Mail Anthony Taibi (Tie-EE-bee) has been named superintendent of the Cairo-Durham school district, effective July 1. The Board of Education made the appointment Thu., Mar. 12. Taibi has been serving as interim superintendent since August. He stepped into the district's top spot following the departure of former superintendent Mary Fassett. The board did not conduct a search; instead, it sought community input on the appointment. Taibi said following the board vote, “I am honored by the support I’ve received from the community, and the Board of Education.” He will sign a three-year contract.

Rick Karlin reported at Capital Confidential a coalition of watchdog organizations has called for the state to adopt a 7-year email retention policy which is also being proposed by the Obama Administration. In a statement released Fri., Mar. 13, the group called on Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo to match proposed federal email transparency standards by issuing an executive order that would require all state emails be saved for a minimum of seven years. The group called on Cuomo to issue the executive order regardless of what the state legislature does or does not do. Members of the coalition calling for the policy included Common Cause NY, the state chapter of the League of Women Voters, the Sunlight Foundation and others.

Kate Seckinger is reporting in The Daily Mail Dr. Pam Agan-Smith was last month named the 2015 School Psychologist of the Year by the National Association of School Psychologists at the organization's annual award ceremony in Orlando, Fla. Agan-Smith has been employed by the Greenville Central School District for more than 30 years. Susan Gorin, Executive Director of the association said, “Pam’s work in Greenville Central School District led the way in developing and improving mental health, literacy and special education services [and] exemplifies the kind of impact one individual can have.”

The Daily Freeman reported the village of Tannersville's St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Celebration, originally scheduled for Sat., Mar. 14, was rescheduled to March 21 due to the weather. The parade will begin at 1 p.m. at Colonial Oil on state Route 23A and end at Village Hall. Lineup is at noon.

Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128"] Cairo: High 52F; low 37F.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125"] Catskill: High 50F; low 37F.[/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 47. Monday night, showers likely, mainly after 4 a.m. Mostly cloudy. Low around 34. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.

Forecast for the next three days:
Tuesday: Showers likely, mainly before 1 p.m. Mostly cloudy. High near 46. Tuesday night, a chance of snow showers after 2 a.m. Partly cloudy. Low around 18.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny. High near 30. Wednesday night, partly cloudy. Low around 17.
Thursday: Sunny. High near 40. Thursday night, mostly clear. Low around 22.

Sunset today: 7:03 p.m.
Length of the day: 11:58 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).
GERMANTOWN Town Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 50 Palatine Park Road, Germantown (537-6687).
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).
GREENVILLE Town Board meeting, 7:30 p.m. at Town Offices, corner of routes 32 and 81, Greenville (966-8276).
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
12:05 a.m.: Radio Stew: Embers Samuel Beckett's radio play "Embers" directed by Ira Wall and with performances by Stacy Keach and Sudie Bond. From 1963 WBAI broadcast from ubu.com. Director: Ira Wall; Actor: Stacy Keach; Actor: Sudie Bond; Engineer: Judy Sherman; Engineer: Joey Landau; Sound: Rick Berman; Sound: Steve Barnet; Piano: Jeff Shaw.

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, weather, events, music 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: Ron Deutsch As the April 1 budget deadline looms, more discussion about the 2015-16 executive budget proposal with Ron Deutsch, Executive Director of the Fiscal Policy Institute. Before coming on board with FPI Deutsch led the Statewide Emergency Network for Social and Economic Security, a statewide anti-poverty advocacy organization, for 13 years. He was also the Director of FPI’s sister organization, New Yorkers for Fiscal Fairness. FPI is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit research and education organization committed to improving public policies and private practices to better the economic and social conditions of all New Yorkers. It was founded in 1991. Call (518) 828-0290 to go on air during the show, or send your comments or questions via email to thealbanyreport@gmail.com. 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: Gated Communities Gated communities are a fascinating phenomenon. What motivates humans to voluntarily barricade themselves in? Medieval cities were walled, but their walls enclosed the sum total of their population. Today’s gated communities are a market response to perceived government failure to ensure maintenance of property market value. Let’s ruminate on some twisted sociology and savor the crumbling. -- Host Tyson Hauf.
4 p.m.: WGXC Afternoon Show
6 p.m.: WGXC Evening News