[caption id="" align="alignright" width="263"] Ferry St. Bridge, Hudson.
(Courtesy bridgehunter.com)[/caption]

John Mason is reporting in the Register Star the Ferry Street Bridge in Hudson was inspected Thu., Feb. 5, five months after the city Common Council allocated $30,000 for an engineering study. Surveyors from Albany-based Creighton Manning Engineering and inspectors contracted to the New York State Department of Transportation took a close look at the bridge, examining the underside, taking photographs and and inspecting the steel beams. The surveyors from Creighton Manning looked at the area near the bridge to determine what dimensions a replacement bridge would require. The report is expected to be completed in 60 days. Built in 1905, the bridge is one of two access routes to Hudson’s South Bay waterfront area. During the past five years, the DOT has downgraded the bridge's capacity by 80 percent. In October, Mayor William H. Hallenbeck, Jr., suspended use of the road leading to and over the bridge due to safety concerns. Read the full story in the Register Star.

Ryan Anglim is reporting in The Daily Mail the annual village budget season has begun in Catskill. Catskill Village President Vincent Seeley said a few capital purchases are currently under discussion by the board of trustees. The board is weighing the feasibility of purchasing a new fire truck for the village fire department for approximately $520,000. A small expansion of the existing firehouse building is also being discussed. Seeley said the building expansion will provide the space needed due to state requirements. A new vehicle for the Catskill Police Department is another potential acquisition. That would cost the village $30,000. Seeley said the purchase of a new patrol car is, like the fire truck, part the village's vehicle replacement program. Another project headed for discussion is the Leeds sewer expansion, listed at an estimated cost of $25,000. The village will hold a series of budget workshops in the coming months. The annual budget appropriations public meeting will be held April 8. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Public News Service is reporting nearly a half million tons of solid fracking waste from Pennsylvania have been dumped in New York landfills, according to a new report that calls upon the Cuomo administration to take emergency action. Liz Moran, water and natural resources associate with Environmental Advocates of New York, authored the report "License to Dump," which relies on Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection records to document what she called a major toxic and radioactive threat to New Yorkers. "Pennsylvania reporting showed that 460,000 tons of solid fracking waste and 23,000 liquid barrels of fracking waste have gone to New York State landfills," she said. "Fracking wastes are notoriously toxic." Moran said New York currently has no system in place to track the potentially toxic and radioactive waste that has been dumped at seven New York landfills since at least 2010. Her organization is calling on the state Department of Environmental Conservation to issue an emergency rule to classify waste from fracking operations as "hazardous." Moran said it is good that New York is in the process of banning fracking operations in the state, and hopes that when the new regulations are issued, state environmental officials also will protect New Yorkers from the hazards of fracking waste. "Radium 226 can last for 1,600 years in the environment," she said. "It can contaminate our water supplies and, if ingested, it can lead to lymphoma, bone cancer and leukemia." Moran explained how an emergency rule could be issued to protect New Yorkers. "Currently, fracking wastes in New York State are exempt from regulations for hazardous waste," she said. "We feel that that loophole should be closed. That would prevent toxic fracking waste from getting into landfills." Moran said New York lawmakers also can take action. Legislation was proposed in 2011 to classify fracking waste as hazardous, but the measure, A.1046, failed to make it through the Senate in recent years. The report is online at eany [dot] org. PLAY FULL AUDIO VERSION OF THIS REPORT (2:07).

Kate Seckinger in The Daily Mail reports that Durham officials were excited that they could save taxpayers money by putting up solar panels, when they heard that Coxsackie saves 20 percent on electric bills. Then they realized Durham is much smaller then Coxsackie, so that 20 percent only meant $1,500, and the story is unclear what happens next. “It will be modest in terms of savings, but even an amount as meager as $80 is nothing to sneeze at,” Town Supervisor William Carr said. “Given the amount of electricity we use, there probably wouldn’t be many solar panels involved to begin with, but there are a lot of other things we could spend our money on that we might want to make a priority instead of this project.” Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

All counties in the WGXC listening area had sales tax revenues grow in 2014, according to a report released Feb. 3 from New York's comptrollers office. Columbia County had the biggest increases in the state, ahead six percent from 2013, up to $35,690,081. Greene and Ulster counties rose the least, 1.2 percent and .2 percent, respectively. Schoharie (5.4 percent), Delaware (5.5), Albany (4.3) and Dutchess (4.9) also had healthy growth, while Rensselaer (2.8) and Schenectady (3.9) showed more modest growth.

Local numbers in 2013, 2014, and percentage growth:
Albany 240,696,427 251,043,069 4.3%
Columbia 33,657,153 35,690,081 6.0%
Delaware 20,533,333 21,656,372 5.5%
Dutchess 165,945,207 174,154,357 4.9%
Greene 28,604,034 28,941,513 1.2%
Rensselaer 76,815,961 78,940,487 2.8%
Schenectady 90,715,706 94,275,742 3.9%
Schoharie 14,209,992 14,974,531 5.4%
Ulster 103,274,569 103,489,188 0.2%

Some days the news about corruption in Albany comes faster then usual. Today was one of those days:

• New York State Senator John Sampson's trial on federal corruption charges, which was scheduled to begin this week, has been delayed until June 22, Capitol Confidential reports. Sampson is serving in the senate in the meantime.

• Former New York State Senator Malcolm Smith was found guilty Thu. Feb. 5 of all charges related to a bribery scheme in which the Queens Democrat tried to score the Republican line in the 2013 New York City mayoral race, according to Captital Confidential.

• New York taxpayers will fork over $545,000 to victims of sexual harrassment from former Brooklyn assemblyman Vito Lopez, according to Capitol Confidential. Lopez will be required to pay an additional $35,000.

Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128"] Cairo: High 22F; low 7F.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125"] Catskill: High 23F; low 6F.[/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 snow showers between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Partly sunny. High near 19. Wind chill values as low as -6. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent. Friday night, a slight chance of snow after 3 a.m. Mostly cloudy. Low around 13. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Forecast for the next three days:
Saturday: A chance of snow. Cloudy. High near 29. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible. Saturday night, a chance of snow. Cloudy. Low around 23.
Sunday: Snow likely. Cloudy. High near 31. Sunday night, snow likely. Cloudy. Low around 20.
Monday: Snow likely. Cloudy. High near 23. Monday night, a chance of snow. Cloudy. Low around 20.

Sunrise today: 7:02 a.m.
Sunset today: 5:16 p.m.
Length of the day: 10:14 hrs.

Public meetings
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
1 a.m.: Taran's Free Jazz Hour: Sandrine Robiliard Episode 03 of 2015 of two-hour free jazz show that airs on eight European radio stations and Wave Farm Radio and WGXC 90.7-FM in the Hudson Valley, in New York, in the United States. Click on title to access the playlist.

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 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.: ¿Qué cocinaré hoy?: Carli Bruno, Melanie Forstrom Discussion of the recent findings by the New York state attorney general that only 21 percent of herbal supplements sold by major retailers contain the ingredients listed in the label. Interview with Argentine designer Carli Bruno about the upcoming exhibit and music event at Cornell St. Studio, "A Trip to Latin America." Plus, part one of an interview with Melanie Forstrom about 4H and Cornell Cooperative Extension programs for youth development. Produced by Mariel Fiori and Antonio Flores-Lobos.
4 p.m.: WGXC Afternoon Show Live from the WGXC Acra studio at the Wave Farm Study Center in Greene Co. Hosted by Mark Bailey and Gregor Trieste.
6 p.m.: WGXC Evening News
7 p.m.: Guest DJ: Rob Van Erve The return of Rob Van Erve, playing "things to listen to on a brand-new Friday night," a show with brand-new old stuff, including David Bowie, Wendy Rene, Bobby Darin, John Lennon, Harry Nilsson and more. 

Katie Kocijanski is reporting in the Register Star worries have subsided at Bard College since the report surfaced last week of a student contracting measles. Mark Primoff, Bard’s director of communications, confirmed the student is recovering while being quarantined to an unidentified building. Primoff said the student’s case of measles was not serious enough for him to be admitted to a local hospital. Dutchess County Department of Health Assistant Commissioner Sabrina Jaar Marzouka confirmed the department has immunized more 130 students, faculty and staff since the measles case was disclosed. She said no other cases have been reported. Officials at both the college and the Health Department said they will continue to monitor the situation. Read the full story in the Register Star.

Ryan Anglim is reporting in The Daily Mail Greene County has been awarded grants from the New York State Division of Homeland Security and FEMA totaling more than $700,000. Greene County Department Emergency Services Director John Farrell said the funds will be used to upgrade security and emergency communications systems and bolster training for emergency dispatchers. Farrell said some of the funds will also be used for mandated revisions to the county's Multi-Jurisdictional All Hazards Mitigation Plan, for the towns of Prattsville, Cairo, Ashland, Windham, Hunter, Lexington, Jewett, Durham and Catskill. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

The Daily Freeman is reporting there appear to have been no injuries Wed., Feb. 5, when a home in Valatie exploded and caught fire, according to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office. Columbia County 911 sent the Valatie Fire Department to 4102 Elm St. in the village about 11:20 a.m. Sheriff's deputies were dispatched shortly after the call and found “some type of explosion” and fire and significant structural damage to the residence. Sheriff’s Office investigators, the Columbia County Fire Coordinators Office and investigators from the state Office of Fire Prevention and Control were working to determine the cause of the explosion.

Closings and delays for Thu., Feb. 5


Cairo-Durham Central School District | Delayed two hours. No morning pre-K.
Catskill Central School District | Delayed two hours. No morning pre-K.
Chatham Central School District | Delayed two hours.
Chatham Kids Club | Delayed two hours. Open 8:30 a.m.
Columbia Christian Academy | Delayed two hours.
Early Childhood Learning Center | Delayed two hours.
Germantown Central School District | Delayed two hours.
Hawthorne Valley School | Delayed two hours.
Hudson City School District | Delayed two hours. No morning pre-K. No morning BOCES. No breakfast. Tutoring center closed.
Hunter-Tannersville Central School District | Delayed two hours.
KidZone preschool | Delayed one hour. Preschool will open at 10 a.m.
Mountain Road School | Delayed two hours.
New Lebanon Central School District | Delayed two hours.
Questar III Catskill Academy | Delayed two hours.
Questar III Columbia-Greene Education Center | Delayed two hours. No morning BOCES. No New Visions classes.
Taconic Hill Central School District | Delayed two hours.
Windham-Ashland-Jewett Central School District | Delayed two hours.

Source: Times Union

Scott Waldman in Capital New York reports that the state's Public Service Commission (PSC) is delaying a telecommunications study that, "could be used to launch a more aggressive state oversight of the Internet industry." The Connect New York Coalition -- dozens of activist groups, state legislators, and local elected officials -- pressured the commission to explore the effectiveness of the state's telecommunications industry, which they say has not been adequately overseen since the federal government deregulated the industry in 1996. Since then cell phones have gotten smaller, then bigger again, and the internet is on all sorts of devices. Low-income residents do not have access to much of the industry. The study would quantify those subjects, and in October chairwoman Audrey Zibelman said the study would be set by April 1, according to documents filed with the PSC. On Feb. 2, PSC spokesman James Denn said it is underway, but that the state has not put a timeline on its release. “It is inarguable that such a promise was made and equally inarguable that the commission has not kept it,” Connect New York Coalition wrote in response. “An additional seven months of a broken promise undercuts the public interest and public confidence in the commission.” Read the full story in Capital New York.

Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128"] Cairo: High 25F; low -4F.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125"] Catskill: High 26F; low -7F.[/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 Hazardous Weather Outlook for the Capital Region, eastern Catskills and Mid-Hudson Valley for Thu., Feb. 5. Another frigid air mass will move into the region Thursday. Very cold temperatures combined with some wind may produce dangerously low wind chills Thursday night through early Friday morning.

Today: Snow likely, mainly before 11 a.m. Cloudy through mid-morning, then gradual clearing, with a temperature falling to about 14 by 5 p.m. Wind chill values as low as zero. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than one inch possible. Thursday night, mostly clear. Low around -6.

Forecast for the next three days:
Friday: Partly sunny. High near 20. Wind chill values as low as -13. Friday night, a slight chance of snow after 3 a.m. Mostly cloudy. Low around 17.
Saturday: A chance of snow showers. Cloudy. High near 30. Saturday night, a chance of snow. Cloudy. Low around 18.
Sunday: Snow likely. Cloudy. High near 20. Sunday night, snow likely. Cloudy. Low around 15.

Sunrise today: 7:03 a.m.
Sunset today: 5:15 p.m.
Length of the day: 10:12 hrs.

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

ANCRAM Planning Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 1416 County Rte. 7, Ancram (329-6512).
ASHLAND Planning Board meeting, 6 p.m. at Town Hall, 12094 Route 23, Ashland (734-3636).
AUSTERLITZ Planning Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 812 Route 203, Spencertown (392-3260).
COPAKE Planning Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 230 Mt. View Road, Copake (329-1234).
COXSACKIE Planning Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 16 Reed St., Coxsackie (731-2727).
GHENT Town Board informational planning and working session, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 2306 State Route 66, Ghent (392-4644).
KINDERHOOK Zoning Board of Appeals meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 4 Church St, Niverville (784-2233).
STUYVESANT Board meeting workshop, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 5 Sunset Dr., Stuyvesant (758-6248).
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
1 a.m.: Cutty Strange: Robert Lopez, Shanna Sordahl ZE BIB! is a collaborative effort between cellist/electronic musician Shanna Sordahl and percussionist Robert Lopez. Debuted in the warm Oakland summer of 2013, Ze Bib!'s music grapples with the spastic intensity arising from explorations into sound worlds developed both collectively and independently. As active musicians for a variety of projects in the Bay Area, Lopez and Sordahl's extreme musical interests converge with explosive force. A desire to continuously expand and reinterpret their relationships with their instruments leads to an ever exciting dynamic that will intrigue and entrance. Their music is tinged with influences ranging between noise, free improvisation, art rock, and heavy drone.

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. “Petee 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 Michael Slate Show: The Hidden History of Slavery Edward Baptist discusses his latest book, "The Half Has Never Been Told: Slavery and the Making of American Capitalism." From Pacifica.
11 a.m.: One Size Fits All: 20150205 An hour-long investigation into the idea of amplified sound beginning with The Trammps and concluding with Camille Yarbrough. Produced by Your Host. Full playlist at www.Facebook.com/OneSizeWGXC.
3 p.m.: Radio Theatre: Section G Section G: The Search for Tommy Paine. "Radio Theater Project" is an anthology series of dramas and comedies for radio, 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: "Section G-The Search for Tommy Paine." Written by Mack Reynolds; Adapted for radio by Joseph McGuire. This FuturePast story presents a future where there a lots of colonized planets. Many settled by various crackpot and oddball groups from Earth. Section G is the glue attempting to keep them from going crazy. But there is a secret only known to the agents of Section G. A story for everyone. From Pacifica Radio.
4 p.m.: WGXC Afternoon Show Live from the WGXC Hudson studio. Hosted by Ellen Thurston and Tom DePietro, with Jake "The Intern" Ebel.
6 p.m.: WGXC Evening News

Marc Santora and Matt Flegenheimer are reporting in The New York Times on the aftermath of the crash Tue., Feb. 3, of a Metro-North commuter train with an S.U.V. in Valhalla, Westchester Co. Officials still cannot explain how or why a sport-utility vehicle became stranded on the northbound train tracks, causing the deadliest accident in the railroad's history. The collision set off an explosion and fire that killed six people. Fifteen people were being treated at local hospitals, state officials said. While the investigation was in its early stages, one person briefed on the matter said it appeared the driver of the car was outside of the vehicle frantically waving at the train to stop at the time of crash. The train pushed the S.U.V. about 400 feet. Metro-North has been under intense scrutiny after a series of crashes that killed six people in less than a year, including a derailment in 2013 on the Hudson line that left four commuters dead in the Bronx. A federal report released last year was highly critical of railroad. The National Transportation Safety Board is sending a team from Washington to investigate the crash. Read the full story in The New York Times.

Jim Planck is reporting in The Daily Mail the names of incumbents running for re-election in the village of Tannersville elections March 18 will appear on the "Watchful Eye Party" ballot line, only, despite being endorsed by the town Democratic committee. Incumbent mayor Lee McGunnigle, trustees Gregory Landers and Christopher J. Hack and village justice Noreen Valcich were all nominated as the Democratic candidates by the caucus Jan. 27. However, Greene County Board of Elections Democratic Deputy Commissioner Marie Metzler said Tue., Feb. 3, the results of the caucus were invalid because the paperwork submitted by the town of Hunter Democratic Committee was missing a mandatory form. “As far as the Board of Elections is concerned,” said Metzler, “the paperwork they filed was incomplete.” Metzler said the ability to correct that error has passed. The only option available to the candidates was to file independent nominating petitions. Those petitions are expected to submitted to the Board of Elections Wed., Feb. 4. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Siobhan (shiv-ON) Barton is reporting in the Register Star the Ichabod Crane Board of Education Tue., Feb. 3, approved basic level veterans tax exemptions for qualified residents of the school district. The close 5-0-3 vote was met with applause. Some board members said the decision should have been made by district voters not the board. “This has nothing to do with education and should not be on the table, but it is,” said Board President Anthony Welcome. Welcome was one of three board members to abstain from the vote. The impact on non-veteran property owners would roughly equate to a $29 monthly raise in property taxes for a household with a $150,000 assessed home value. The exemption will also allow Gold Star Parents to be defined as qualified owners. Last year, 652 out of 6,500 property tax bills in the district were eligible for exemption. The majority of veterans are located in the town of Kinderhook. Read the full story in the Register Star.

Matthew Hamilton in Capitol Confidential reports Bronx Democrat Carl Heastie was elected speaker of the state Assembly Tue., Feb. 3. Heastie replaces Sheldon Silver, who served as speaker for 21 years. Silver resigned Mon., Feb. 2, following his arrest last month for taking $4 million in bribes and kickbacks. Heastie becomes the first African-American speaker in the history of the New York State Assembly. “We gather here today during a turbulent time for this institution,” he said in a speech after the election. “The resignation of the previous speaker has brought about change in the leadership of this house. And this change in leadership will bring about much needed reform.” Steve McLaughlin of Rensselaer County and Claudia Tenney of the Mohawk Valley voted for U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara, whose investigated Silver. Silver, like most Democrats, voted for Heastie, still holding office, though now in the back row in the Assembly. Read the full story in Capitol Confidential.

PLAY Heastie's first news conference as speaker. It comes in two parts: a two-minute press conference that abruptly ends when it is shut down by Heastie's press aide, prompting loud grousing by members of the media, followed by the press aide's promise to bring the speaker back. The video ends with Heastie's six-minute Q&A (11:04).

Courtesy Kyle Hughes of NYSNYS.com.

Audrey Matott reports in The Daily Mail that Acting Cairo-Durham District Superintendent Anthony Taibi the YMCA is interested in developing programming in the Durham Elementary building that the C-D board closed last summer. “The Y is interested in putting programming in there as soon as possible. They have proposed three initial offerings and then the survey will gauge if there is more for other offerings as well. So we are making some pretty good progress there,” Taibi said, noting a survey had been sent to parents in the school district about the proposal. Currently, a local little league is using space at the former school to practice, and the other local groups interested in using the Durham building for activities, can make a request with the district’s Director of Facilities, Kevin Lawton at 518-622-8534 ext. 29100 or klawton@cairodurham.org. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128"] Cairo: High 36F; low 24F.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125"] Catskill: High 35F; low 25F.[/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 Hazardous Weather Outlook for east central New York, western Massachusetts, northwest Connecticut and southern Vermont for Wed., Feb. 4. Low pressure and a strong cold front will track through the region late Wednesday into Thursday morning. Two to four inches of snow will be possible over much of the area.

Today: A chance of snow showers, mainly before 5 p.m. Cloudy. High near 33. Wind chill values as low as -5. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than a half one inch possible. Wednesday night, snow. Cloudy. Low around 21. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

Forecast for the next three days:
Thursday: Snow likely, mainly before 10 a.m. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a temperature rising to near 22 by 8 a.m., then falling to around 14 during the remainder of the day. High near 22. Thursday night, mostly clear. Low around -3.
Friday: Mostly sunny. High near 19. Friday night, partly cloudy. Low around 8.
Saturday: A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy. High near 30. Saturday night, a chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy. Low around 14.

Sunrise today: 7:04 a.m.
Sunset today: 5:14 p.m.
Length of the day: 10:09 hrs.

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

CAIRO Planning Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 512 Main St., Cairo (622-3120).
GHENT Planning Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 2306 State Route 66, Ghent (392-4644).
GREENE COUNTY Legislature Health Services, County Resources and Public Safety committees, 6 p.m. at County Building, 411 Main St., Catskill (719-3270).
GREENPORT Town Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Greenport Town Hall, 600 Town Hall Drive, Hudson (828-4656).
HALCOTT Planning Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Halcott Grange, 254 Co. Rte. 3, Halcott Center (845-254-9920).
LEXINGTON Town Board meeting, 6:30 p.m., at Municipal building, 3542 Route 42, Lexington, (986-6303).
LIVINGSTON Planning Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, County Rte. 19, Livingston (851-9441).
NEW BALTIMORE Zoning Board of Appeals meeting, 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall, 3809 Co. Rte. 51, Hannacroix (756-6671).
PHILMONT Library Board of Trustees meeting, 7 p.m. at Library, 101 Main St., Philmont (672-5010).

WGXC Outreach Advisory Committee meeting, 6 p.m. at the Taghkanic Diner, 1016 State Rte. 82, Ancram (697-7400). The WGXC Outreach Advisory Committee helps support the station’s outreach efforts, including station events, participation in community events, dissemination of outreach materials, and more. All are welcome to get involved. To learn more, email Cheryl [at] wgxc [dot] org.

The day ahead on WGXC 90.7-FM
1 a.m.: Vital Weekly: Asmus Tietchens Episode 967 of weekly experimental new music show, by folks formerly behind Staalplaat. Click on title for playlist 967.
2 a.m.: Tabs Out: DJ Selector Faux-Pas Major goofs, on the cassette show "Tabs Out" #59, such as a phone call to Mike from Worn Habit, and cassette cuts by Future Ape Tapes, Fungal Abyss, DJ Selector Faux-Pas, Digital Natives, Asix:Sova, Mr Kastle, Rangga On Keys, Dusty Greens, Jenny Haniver, Moss Harvest, Looks Realistic, Virusse, Anatol Locker & Black Thread, Dmitri Zherbin, and The Spykes.

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. “Petee 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.: @Issue: Parry Teasdale Parry Teasdale, editor and publisher of "The Columbia Paper," spoke about the arrest of now former New York State Assembly speaker Sheldon Silver, Albany corruption and newly elected speaker Carl Heastie. Teasdale also discussed his involvement with Videofreex, a collective of artists, storytellers, and activists who produced and disseminated alternative media across New York and other U.S. communities during the 1970s. They lived in Greene County in the early 1970s and produced Lanesville TV, perhaps the first pirate television station in the United States. Produced by Victor Mendolia, Deborah Gilbert and Debby Mayer.
11 a.m.: Zoom: Lowbrow Mutant Jukebox A mutant, lowbrow juke edition of Zoom! Featuring songs by Harry Pussy, Barry Manilow, Iron Maiden, Plasmatics, Jandek, and all the unintellectual Zoom nonsense you have come to expect! Mix up a cup of store brand instant coffee, toast a few slices of stale Wonder Bread and slather on the red dye #40 strawberry jam! Let's go! Hosted by Tyson Hauf.
4 p.m.: WGXC Afternoon Show Live from the WGXC Hudson studio. Hosted by Vern Cross, Kamal Johnson and Rainer Blue.
6 p.m.: WGXC Evening News

Casey Seiler is reporting in the Times Union Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said Mon., Feb. 2, he would not sign the upcoming state budget unless it includes a five-point package of public ethics reforms. Those reforms would include increased disclosure of outside income, restrictions on the personal use of campaign funds and a constitutional amendment to strip public pensions from corrupt politicians. Cuomo delivered the message during a speech at New York University Law School. He said his proposed system for disclosure could be summed up as "Explain the money." State officials would be required to explain who paid, how much and for what services. The governor said he would use the leverage he wields in the budget process, even if it meant an interruption in on-time budgets. Read the full story in the Times Union.

PLAY (30:30) Governor Cuomo delivers remarks regarding state government ethics reform at the New York University School of Law.