Kenneth C. Crowe II reports for the Times Union that jury selection begins Jan. 23, in the criminal trial of Republican Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin. The case is being prosecuted by the Public Integrity Bureau for the state attorney general's office. McLaughlin's defense attorney is Benjamin W. Hill of Albany, who was part of the defense team for former state Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno, who was acquitted of federal corruption charges. McLaughlin has pleaded not guilty to the state felony charges arising from the alleged misuse of campaign funds. "Despite the constant attacks, we are ready to go — I'm 100 percent innocent," McLaughlin said on January 19. "This is a persecution much more than a prosecution. There is no case here, and a first-year law student could see that. So we're ready, and it's going to be just fine." McLaughlin declined to comment when asked if he was offered a plea deal to resolve the case and if he plans to testify at trial. The charges against the former state assemblymember arose from his use of campaign funds during his first successful campaign for county executive in 2017. He is accused of stealing $5,000 in funds from his campaign account on November 21, 2017, and falsely reporting the expense in campaign documents filed with the state Board of Elections. McLaughlin's trial begins as unrelated state and federal investigations of ballot fraud have already resulted in guilty pleas in U.S. District Court from two Rensselaer County GOP officials. Less than two weeks earlier, former county Republican Elections Commissioner Jason T. Schofield pleaded guilty to federal charges and admitted to fraudulently obtaining and filing absentee ballots using the personal information of at least eight voters without their permission. He pleaded guilty seven months after former Troy Councilmember Kim Ashe-McPherson pleaded guilty to similar federal charges. Read the full story in the Times Union.

Raymond Pignone reports for Columbia-Greene Media that Ryan Carty announced last week that he is running for Columbia County District Attorney, shortly after his current boss, DA Paul Czajka, said he would not pursue a sixth term. Republican Carty, 33, has been with the DA's office since 2015 and was elevated to deputy chief district attorney in 2020. He is looking to secure the GOP and Conservative lines on the ballot. Czajka endorsed Carty as his successor and called him “an outstanding prosecutor.” Carty said on January 20, that he will seek the job pledging to keep public safety his primary focus. “Public safety will be my number one priority, as it has been during the tenure of District Attorney Czajka. The community expects that the district attorney’s office will always be there to protect all of its citizens, including the most vulnerable,” he said. Carty was born and raised in Columbia County and is a graduate of Ichabod Crane High School. He is a graduate of Syracuse University and received a law degree from Albany Law School. In his spare time, he coaches youth volleyball for the Legion Volleyball Club. Columbia County Republican Party Chair Gregory Fingar said last week he expects more people to come forward and announce their candidacies. He said the party caucuses to be held later this year will determine who gets the nomination. Columbia County Democratic Party Chair Sam Hodge said his committee is actively looking for candidates and intends to "vigorously contest this race." Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Mid-Hudson News reports that the regional online news source, Mid-Hudson News, has been purchased by former state senator and lifelong Orange County resident Mike Martucci. He was the founder of Quality Bus Service, a school bus business that became the country’s largest school bus operator. The business was sold in 2018. In addition to his role as owner, Martucci will serve day-to-day as the publisher of Mid-Hudson News. Mid-HudsonNews [dot] com says it has a half a million unique readers monthly. “Of all the investments I have made during my business career, this is the one I am most excited about,” said Martucci. “During my time in Albany, I saw how critical it is to keep the public informed in a fair and honest manner. No other news outlet has done that more consistently or closer to home than Mid-Hudson News.” In 2020, Republican Martucci ran for the 42nd Senate District seat against incumbent Democrat Jen Metzger. Martucci narrowly defeated Metzger in the general election. During the time he served, Martucci put forward in 2022, an amendment to end school mask mandates, but the bill failed. Martucci later announced he would not seek re-election to a second term. Mid-Hudson News was founded by regional journalist Hank Gross, in January 2000. Gross will remain with the site as the publication’s editor. Martucci plans to "modernize and transform the operations." and considering the expansion of its footprint and coverage, and developing new products and features, such as podcasts and live news. Martucci has already established new offices in the city of Poughkeepsie and the village of Maybrook. The amount Martucci paid for the outlet, and when the acquisition was finalized was not disclosed. Read the full story at midhudsonnews [dot] com.

Closings and delays for Mon, Jan. 23
Updated 5:45 a.m., Jan. 23

Closings and delays in Columbia County
Chatham Central School District | Schools and offices closed.
Chatham Kids Club | Closed. No morning program, after-achoo programs.
Columbia-Greene Community College closed.
Columbia Christian Academy | Closed
Germantown Central School District | Closed.
Hawthorne Valley School | Closed
Hudson City School District | Closed.
Ichabod Crane Central School District | Closed
Little Wonders Early Childhood Education Center | Delayed two hours.
New Lebanon Central School District | Closed
O.K. Kids, Inc. | Closed
Questar III Donald Kline Technical | Delayed two hours. No morning BOCES. Staff report by 10 a.m.
Taconic Hills Central School District | Closed

Closings in Greene County:
Cairo-Durham Central School District | Closed.
Catskill Central School District | Closed.
Circle of Friends (Ravena) | Delayed two hours.
Coxsackie-Athens Central School District | Closed.
The Durham School | Delayed two hours. No morning BOCES.
Grapeville Christian School | Delayed two hours.
Greene County Transit | Delayed two hours. Shuttle running on time; dial-a-ride running on time; all others on a two-hour delay.
Greenville Central School District | Closed.
Hunter-Tannersville Central School District | Closed.
Ulster-Greene ARC (Catskill) | Delayed two hours. Buses on a two-hour delay.
Windham-Ashland-Jewett Centra School District | Closed.

Rensselaer County
Berlin closed
Brunswick

Albany County
Berne, Knox, Westerlo closed
Bethlehem closed

Leading climate groups from Buffalo to Long Island converge in Albany on January 24 to demand that Governor Kathy Hochul and the legislature pass key climate legislation to remove fossil fuels from buildings. Anne Rabe of the New York Public Iinterest Research Group discusses why burning gas, oil, and propane in our homes and workplaces is bad for New Yorker’s wallets, harms our health, and is destroying the climate with WOOC's Mark Dunlea.

The pandemic has resulted in many restaurant workers leaving the industry due to the lack livable wages in this sub-minimum wage industry. The NYS bill "Serve the Servers" focuses on raising wages for tipped workers and fair compensation for essential restaurant workers. On January 23rd, Our Revolution will be joining One Fair Wage for a bill kick off event in Albany at 11:30 AM in the Albany Room. New York leader for One Fair Wage Estefania Galvis and Alÿcia Bacon of Mothers Out Front joined WOOC's Sina Basila Hickey and Andrea Cunliffe to talk about restaurant worker conditions and the bill launch. More information: www.mobilize.us/ourrevolution/event/547291/

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

Melissa Manno reports in the Times Union that Rep Paul Tonko wants to contrast the previous Congress, run by his party, and the new Congress now run by the Republicans. “A powerful statement was made by the 117th Congress and now, following that with the opening of the 118th, which to me, seemed to surround itself with chaos and confusion and crisis ... the stark contrast between the two sessions to date is very powerful,” the Amsterdam Democrat said to reporters at his Albany office on Jan. 14. Tonko boasted that when his party ran things, they passed the American Rescue Plan, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act. And Tonko bemoaned that Republicans are seating, and putting on committees, George Santos, who was elected on Long Island despite a mountain of lies. “The trust between the representative and the representative’s constituents is powerful and essential, and once that trust is eroded, I don’t think you can serve in an effective capacity,” Tonko said. So far, Republicans in the House of Representatives have passed a number of bills with no chance to pass the Senate, still held by Democrats, or be signed by President Joe Biden. Tonko, though, says the Democrats are focused on legislation that probably won't get anywhere in the Republican-controlled House. Tonko said House Democrats are working on a clean energy innovation economy, driving down the cost of health care, and making certain that “the path forward is one of progress for the American public and for the American business community.” Read more about this story in the Times Union.

The Daily Freeman is reporting U.S. Rep. Marc Molinaro has been chosen to sit on the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for the 118th Congress. The Red Hook Republican said the assignments will allow him to work on issues important to residents of the 19th Congressional District, including the next Farm Bill as well as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. “I am excited to get to work,” he said. A spokesperson for U.S. Rep. Pat Ryan said in a statement that although Democrats are still awaiting formal committee assignments, Ryan hopes to remain a member of the House Committee on Armed Services. He has also requested a seat on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, which has jurisdiction over aviation, maritime transportation, highways, bridges, mass transit and railroads, as well as aspects of clean water management, wastewater management, and flood damage reduction. The committee also has broad oversight of various federal agencies including the Department of Transportation, Amtrak, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers. Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.

Geoff Herbert at Syracuse dot com reports how Rep. Elise Stefanik is being tied closer and closer to Rep George Santos, the Long Island Republican who lied about just about everything in his election campaign. Santos is being investigated for many issues, with a $700,000 loan he reportedly gave his campaign the leading mystery. Stefanik endorsed Santos on Aug. 11 and has not addressed the allegations. The New York Times reported that associates of Stefanik were aware of Santos’ lies when she endorsed him in the 2022 election. On Jan. 15 Democratic Reps. Daniel Goldman and Ritchie Torres wrote a letter to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, GOP Conference Chair Stefanik, and Republican fundraiser Daniel Conston, asking them to “proactively and forthrightly” cooperate with an investigation into Santos. Stefanik's 21st Congressional District now includes Rensselaer County. Read the full story at Syracuse dot com.

Patricia R. Doxsey reports for the Daily Freeman that freshman U.S. Rep. Pat Ryan said that despite a recent coup attempt and a sharp partisan divide in the House of Representatives, he is optimistic that lawmakers can pass legislation. “If we don’t stay optimistic, if we don’t stay optimistic in the face of all these challenges, then we’ve given up,” said Ryan to the more than 200 business leaders who gathered Jan. 18 for the Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce breakfast meeting. In the last Congress, under Democratic control, the Invest and Protect Act, the National Defense Authorization Act, the Chips and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act all passed. Ryan participated in the final weeks of that Congress, representing the 19th Congressional District, but this year is in the 18th Congressional District. And now Republicans run the chamber. “If folks come there with the broader sense of being American, being someone who believes in the promise and potential of our country and coming to actually accomplish some mission greater than their personal ambition, if we all come with that mindset of patriotism as a way to govern and bring us come together, I do think we can do it,” Ryan said. So far, though, the House of Representatives has been a divisive body. “It was extremely disappointing to see a small group of extreme ideologues on either side of the political spectrum take hostage an institution that needs to work,” Ryan said about the long process to choose a Speaker of the House. “I try to be optimistic, that was really disappointing to me, but I hope we can get our act together.” Read more about this story in the Daily Freeman.

Today's audio daily news update.

Andrea Macko reports for Porcupine Soup that the Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation admits they have issues with their billing procedures but does not believe they should get civil penalties from the state’s Public Service Commission. A report from the Public Service Commission released in December found its “customer information and billing system was riddled with defects at launch (go-live), resulting in overcharges and delayed bills for thousands of customers as well as automatic withdrawals from the bank accounts of many customers for multiple months’ worth of charges.” That report came after thousands of complaints from Central Hudson customers that led to pressure on state and local officials to do something. Paul A. Colbert, associate general counsel of regulatory affairs for Central Hudson, admits in a submission to the Public Service Commission, that the utility made mistakes. He wrote, “These issues resulted in impacts to a portion of Central Hudson’s customers, including delayed and inaccurate invoices, confusion, and anxiety. Central Hudson has been humbled by the identification of these issues and the resulting impact on customer satisfaction.” But he minimized the problem, writing, “Central Hudson asks that the Commission consider that although customers have been unfortunately inconvenienced and justifiably confused by receiving estimated bills, multiple back bills and delayed bills, customers have not been financially harmed.” State senator Michelle Hinchey, a Democrat from Saugerties, was not impressed with the utlity's statement. “Central Hudson’s response is glaringly insufficient for the extensive wrongdoing and economic hardships they’ve caused customers across the Hudson Valley. I stand firmly behind the PSC’s investigation, the findings of their damning report, and urge the Commission to move quickly toward a penalty process that delivers justice in support of ratepayers and a path forward that ensures the full correction of all past billing errors.” Central Hudson has about 309,000 electric customers and 84,000 natural gas customers in the Hudson Valley. Read more about this story in Porcupine Soup.

Patricia R. Doxsey reports in the Daily Freeman that both Democrat Pat Ryan and Republican Marc Molinaro agree that there should be an independent investigation after the discovery of classified information stored in the home and former office of President Joe Biden. Ryan said, “Our last two presidents have issues with this,” referring to Biden and former President Donald Trump, who stored hundreds of documents with classified markings at various locations in his Mar-a-Lago resort. Biden has cooperated with investigators, while Trump has not. “I don’t think we can give equivalency when one individual not only refuses to cooperate but is suing to stop the National Archives from taking possession of the documents; and Biden, who has been cooperative, has taken responsibility and proactively disclosed what’s happened,” Ryan said. Molinaro agreed with Ryan that Biden needs to be investigated. Molinaro said in a prepared statement, “We need to conduct an honest and independent review to understand what went wrong in both of these cases and ensure our nation’s secrets are better protected going forward.” Ryan represents the 18th Congressional District, while Molinaro lives in that district, but represents the 19th Congressional District. Read more about this story in the Daily Freeman.

Kate Lisa reports for New York State of Politics that some New York legislators are calling for free breakfast and lunches for all public school students to be included in this year's state budget. New York State PTA Executive Director Kyle McCauley Belokopitsky said on Jan. 19. "When children are fed and they are not hungry, they learn better, they engage more, they are happier, they are healthier." A federal pandemic program recently ended, removing access to free school meals for 726,000 students in New York. State senator Michelle Hinchey, a Democrat from Saugerties, is sponsoring a bill with $200 million in funding for free school meals for all students in the next state budget. Hinchey said, "That's money that can go to rent — that's money that can go to mortgage,.... It's money that can go to groceries for dinner or for the weekends. That's really important money that we can put back into a family's pocket." Right now, a family of four in New York must make less than $51,000 annually for students to qualify for federal free or reduced lunch program. Read the full story at New York State of Politics.

Today's daily news audio update.

Closings and delays for Fri., Jan. 20:

Closings in Greene County:
Coxsackie-Athens Central School District | Delayed two hours. No morning BOCES. No breakfast.
East Greenbush schools are on a two-hour delay.
Windham-Ashland-Jewett Central School District | Delayed two hours.

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

Raymond Pignone is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media Columbia County District Attorney Paul Czajka [CHAI-kah] Thu., Jan. 19, announced he will not seek reelection in 2023. “As this, my fifth, nonconsecutive term as district attorney expires, and as I finish 35 years in elected office, I inform you that I will not be a candidate for district attorney in 2023,” he said. Czajka, 68, then took the opportunity to promote Ryan Carty, the current deputy chief assistant district attorney, as his successor. He said, “Ryan Carty has done an outstanding job working in my office for several years. Having prosecuted more murder cases and other serious felonies than any other prosecutor in recent memory, Ryan has the experience, leadership abilities and prosecutorial skills to keep our county the wonderful place we all call home.” Czajka, a lifelong Republican, has no immediate plans to reenter politics, hinting that he wants to spend more time with his family. Columbia County Democratic Committee Chairman Sam Hodge recognized Czajka’s years of public service. “I wish him the best in this next chapter,” Hodge said. “It is time for change at the District Attorney’s Office, ...” Czajka served as DA from 1988 until 1994, then elected county judge in 2004. He left the bench in 2011 to return to the DA's office. Czajka was born in Hudson and raised on his family’s dairy farm in Livingston. He received his undergraduate degree from SUNY Albany and his law degree from the Western New England University School of Law. He served as an assistant district attorney from 1981-85 and as a county public defender from 1986-87. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Andrea Macko is reporting for Porcupine Soup the Preservation League of New York State and the New York State Council on the Arts have announced the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse Preservation Society will receive a 2022 Technical Assistance Grant. During this grant cycle, 19 projects representing 14 counties statewide were selected by an independent panel of preservation professionals. A total of $68,130 was awarded. “We are very grateful to the Preservation League for this grant which will help the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse Preservation Society restore and preserve our historic lighthouse for the next century,” said Kristin Gamble, president of the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse Preservation Society. “Aside from the beacon, the Preservation Society is solely responsible for maintaining the lighthouse and seeks additional support to preserve this iconic structure.” An inspection by a certified electrician of the lighthouse electrical system is needed to determine the presence of any safety issues that should be mitigated. The society will also use the analysis to inform a follow-up survey to determine the feasibility of installing solar panels on the main roof. The ultimate goal would be a solar panel installation that generates enough power for normal operations, plus tan electric heating system. The Lighthouse society is responsible for the restoration, preservation, and operation of the lighthouse, while the lighthouse beacon remains the responsibility of the U.S. Coast Guard. Read the full story at porcupinesoup [dot] com.

MidHudson News is reporting Transportation Security Administration officers confiscated 39 handguns at area airport checkpoints in 2022, an increase from 26 guns caught in 2021. The two local airports — New York Stewart International and Westchester County – reported increased gun confiscations last year. Four guns were seized in 2022 at Westchester, up from none in 2021. At Stewart, three guns were seized last year compared with one the year before. Travelers who bring firearms to the checkpoint are subject to criminal charges from law enforcement and civil penalties from TSA. Even if a traveler has a concealed weapon permit, firearms cannot be carried on an airline. Travelers with proper firearm permits can travel legally with their firearms in their checked bags if they follow a few guidelines. Read the full story at MidHudsonNews [dot] com.

After five years of advocacy, New York has become the first state of the nation to enact a law to give consumers the right to repair small electronic devices like smart phones and laptops. Russ Haven of NYPIRG discusses what the law will mean for the average person. From WOOC's Mark Dunlea.

Today's audio daily news update.

Mike Ryan reports for the Mountain Eagle that the Town of Windham is getting a $72,000 grant from the New York State Department of State to work on their zoning. The town board previously set aside the $35,000 toward the matching grant for the Smart Growth Community Planning and Zoning Grant program. Windham updated their comprehensive plan last year, and adopted a noise law. “Next on our plate is updating our site plan review, cleaning up some gray areas that exist such as the sunset clause,” Town Supervisor Thomas Hoyt said. “We’re one of the last ones up here to consider zoning,” Hoyt said of WIndham. “Zoning has gotten a bad rap. People will still be able to do most anything, but we don’t want it to be a downfall for the community. I’m all for home rule and doing what you want to do on your property but at the same time, common sense tells you one person can’t just do something that impacts thirty other people around them.” Read more about this story in Porcupine Soup.