The New York State Rifle and Pistol Association hopes Governor Andrew Cuomo's proposal to end the Combined Ballistic Identification System (CoBIS) passes the state legislature. The program inventories spent shell casings at an estimated cost of nearly $44 million since March, 2001, and the gun lobby, NYSRPA, says no crimes have been solved because of the information collected. Dick Nelson, in the Register-Star, reports, "records show that it only documented 1,150 matches of ballistic evidence between multiple crime scenes out of nearly 168,000 bullets and casings which were entered nationwide." The state legislature is currently considering A-1131/S-459 bills.

There's another major rally against high-impact hydraulic fracturing for natural gas in Albany Mon., Jan. 23 at 11 a.m. at The Well at the Legislative Office Building. Actress Debra Winger is the celebrity du jour, and Josh Fox, the director of the Oscar-nominated "Gasland" film about the subject, will be there too, as will as all sorts of regional and national organizartons such as Catskill Mountainkeeper, Riverkeeper, New York Public Interest Research Group, the Sierra Club, and others.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo proposed an amendment to the state constitution to legalize casino gambling "regulated by the state." The Times-Union posted a copy of the bill on its Capitol Confidential blog. Read about the proposed law at Capitol Confidential.

New York's Senator Kirsten Gillibrand backed away from the Protect Intellectual Property Act legislation she co-sponsored in what Rebecca Melnitsky called "an especially appropriate manner" in her article in the Times-Union. The Senator used Facebook to acknowledge that her office had been deluged with concerns about the bill and wrote, "I agree there are real concerns with the current legislation and I'm working to make important changes to the bill." The measure would prosecute websites that "engage in, enable, or facilitate" copyright infringement. Several tech companies shut down their websites last week to protest PIPA and its House counterpart, the Stop Online Piracy Act, out of concern they would stymie the growth and development of online businesses. The Senator acknowledged the, "outpouring of democracy in action," around the law. In a statement released by her office she said, "It is time for Congress to take a step back and start over with both sides bringing their solutions to the table to find common ground towards solving this problem." Locally, New York Sens. Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer initially supported the bill while Republican Congressman Chris Gibson opposed the measures. Read Melnitsky's article in the Times-Union.

Kenneth C. Crowe II reports in The Albany Times-Union that, faced with a federal lawsuit later this week with the New York Civil Liberties Union, the city of Troy settled with The Sanctuary for Independent Media in their lawsuit accusing the city of shutting them down for code violations for free speech reasons. Then Troy Public Works Commissioner Robert Mirch, now a Rensselear County Legislator, got upset about the political content of an art show and led pickets outside the media center March 10, 2008. The next day, as Public Works Commisssioner, he closed the center for a few code violations. The Sanctuary for Independent Media had agreed to host an art installation by Iraqi-American artist Wafaa Bilal, after Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute cancelled the show there due to complaints. While Mirch delayed the show temporarily, now his actions are causing the city to establish a fund for programming there involving the city and the media group. "We're looking forward to moving forward in a positive way with the (city's) new administration," said Steve Pierce, executive director of the Sanctuary for Independent Media. Read the full story in The Albany Times-Union.

The Mid-Hudson News Network reports in The Daily Freeman that employment rose 1.4 percent in Columbia County in 2011, and fell 3.9 percent in Greene County. Ulster County gained 2.6 percent in employment last year. Statewide employment grew 1.3 percent, with 90,100 new jobs. Read the full story in The Daily Freeman.

The New York Giants beat the San Francisco 49ers 20-17 in overtime Sun., Jan. 22. The play the New England Patriots in two weeks in Indianapolis. In 2007, the two teams played in the Super Bowl, and the Giants defeated the the Patriots to win the title that year.

The National Weather Service issued a Freezing Rain Advisory for all counties in the WGXC listening area from midnight until noon Mon., Jan. 23. Temperatures in the upper 20s overnight will turn to the mid-30s in the morning, and roads could be icy or very slick. Watch for possible opening delays Monday morning.

Weather right now

READ TEMPERATURE IN HUDSON: On thermometer in studio.
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 Climax, in Greene County.
The National Weather Service predicts a general warming trend this week. Monday in Climax there is an 80 percent chance of rain or freezing rain before 1 p.m., then rain. High near 42. Monday night rain is likely, mainly before 10 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32. The forecast for the rest of the week:
• Tuesday: A slight chance of rain and snow showers before 1 p.m., then a slight chance of rain showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 43, low around 24.
• Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 38, low around 22.
• Thursday: A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 39, low around 25.
• Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 38.

Town meetings today
Today is the fourth Monday of the month.
CATSKILL Village board meeting at 7 p.m. at Firehouse near Catskill Commons (Wal Mart) (943-3830).
COLUMBIA COUNTY Board of Supervisors’ Economic Development/Planning/Tourism/Agriculture/Transportation Committee Meeting, 5 p.m at 401 State St., Hudson.
GERMANTOWN A public hearing on a new, comprehensive parking law. Regular meeting follows, postponed a week due to the Martin Luther King holiday at 6:30 p.m. at Germantown Town Hall, 50 Palatine Park Road, Germantown, 518-537-6687.
HALCOTT Town meeting at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 813 Route 3, Halcott Center (845-254-9920)
HUDSON Common Council Police Committee Meeting, 6 p.m. at City Hall; Fire Committee Meeting at 6:45 p.m., at City Hall, 520 Warren Street, Hudson (828-1030).
PHILMONT Local Development Corp meeting at 7 p.m., Village Hall, 124 Main St., Philmont (672-7032).
STUYVESANT Planning Board meeting at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 5 Sunset Drive, Stuyvesant (758-6248).

The skies above
SUNRISE/SUNSET 7:14 a.m./ 5:01 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 7:08 a.m. / 5:48 p.m.
New Moon: 2:40 a.m.

Last night/Today's big games
(Hosts: Read scores in the a.m. only, and schedules in the p.m.)
Scores
NFL SUN: Baltimore Ravens 20 at New England Patriots 23. The Ravens missed a last-minute field goal that would have tied the game.
NFL SUN: New York Giants 20 at San Francisco 49ers 17. The Giants play the Patriots in the Super Bowl in two weeks.
Schedules
NBA: New Jersey Nets at Chicago Bulls, 8 p.m. (TV: YES)

WGXC Program Notes
Special Programming Mon. Jan. 23:
• "WGXC Morning Show," 10 a.m.: Philip Grant hosts an hour-long tribute to Etta James.
• "Monday Musical Matinee," Noon-2 p.m.: Lincoln Mayorga's mostly classical, musical tour.

Audio clips for WGXC programmers
This information is not meant to be read on-air.
The information below are options of pre-recorded material hosts can choose to play.

Audio clips to play


New PSAs/STATION IDs
• A_OFF_PSA_20120122 Ghent Playhouse auditions

Audio headlines for top of the hour
• 5 a.m.: WGXC News 9:15 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:00
• 6 a.m.: WGXC News 9:15 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:00
• 7 a.m.: WGXC News 9:15 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:00
• 9 a.m.: WGXC News 9:15 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:00
• 4 p.m.: International Network News (INN), through Audioport
• 5 p.m.: Free Speech Radio News headlines, through fsrn.org
• Midnight: International Network News (INN), through Audioport

Newt Gingrich handily won the Republican presidential primary in South Carolina Sat., Jan. 21. Mitt Romney finished second, Ron Santorum third, Ron Paul fourth, Herman Cain (who dropped out, but who let comedian Stephen Colbert run under his name) fifth, and Rick Perry, who dropped out earlier in the week, sixth. In the only vote that matters, the delegate count it is now a tie according to The New York Times, with Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich both with 19 delegates; Rick Santorum has twelve; Ron Paul, 3; and since-out Jon Huntsman has two. CNN has a different delegate count: Romney 31; Gingrich, 26 Paul, 10; Santorum, 8. They both agree it takes 1144 to win, and many of those come from party insiders, sitting politicians, and others, and not just primary and caucuses results. South Carolina was winner-take-all, but most states this year split delegates proportionally. New York voters go to the polls April 24.

Via Boing Boing, a tribute to Etta James, above. WGXC's Philip Grant hosts a tribute at 10 a.m. on WGXC 90.7-FM. Also Johnny Otis just passed away too. See below.

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for all areas south of Greene and Columbia counties. Delaware, Ulster, Dutchess, and points south may get hit with up to eight inches of snow tonight, while the forecast for Greene and Columbia counties is just an inch or two.

The Daily Mail reports that the Catskill Village Police Department implement their snow emergency plan Friday, January 20, at 8 p.m. "All vehicles should be parked on the odd side of Village streets from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m., vehicles should then be parked on the even side of the street from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Vehicles should continue to switch sides of the street every 12 hours, until the snow emergency has been canceled. Parking enforcement will remain in effect for a period of 72 hours for clean up purposes." The statement says there will be no parking on Main Street from Green Street to Summit Avenue beginning at 7 p.m. on January 20. Read the full announcement in The Daily Mail.

Listen to Jack Ross-Pilkington with an audio ski report here. PLAY CLIP

Meanwhile, Chris Valdez in the Windham Journal reports that at Windham Mountain this weekend, the Adaptive Sports Foundation holds its eighth annual Learn to Ski and Ride Festival for the veterans of the Wounded Warriors Project. The free festival, formerly known as Support the Troops, is a three-day event introducing disabled veterans to skiing, snowboarding, tubing and ice skating on the slope side of Windham Mountain. “It’s one more step for our vets to transition back into civilian life,” volunteer ski instructor and media coordinator Karen Feldman said. “It gives them confidence to try other things, expand their comfort zone and understand their abilities. When they see that they can do this, it empowers them to try other things.” Read the full story in the Windham Journal.

Mountain conditions
All three mountains got a few inches of snow this week. Catamount Ski in Columbia County reports 25 of 33 trails are open, with four of six lifts running, and 16-32" of snow. Windham Mountain has a snow base between 16" and 44" on 41 trails with six lifts open. Hunter Mountain has up to 12" to 50" of snow on 41 trails with six lifts.

A staff report in The Daily Mail says a third bullet was found at a local school in recent weeks on Thursday, this one at the Cairo-Durham Middle and High School. Superintendent Sally Sharkey told the newspaper there is information leading officials to believe it is a copycat of the incidents at both Catskill and Coxsackie-Athens Central School. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Hilary Hawke in the Ravena News-Herald reports that in Coeymans in Albany County, "a group of local business owners had asked for reconsideration of several issues, among them rezoning parts of [Route] 144 to industrial use." Hawke does not say what the possible industrial use might be, but does report that Town Supervisor Steve Flach is going to ask attorneys and the planning board how to proceed. Flach is also asking business owners in Coeymans to contact his office about any laws that find unfair. Flach hopes to hold a public hearing on any proposed changes in local laws in February. Read the entire story in the Ravena News-Herald.

Patricia Doxsey in The Daily Freeman reports that U.S. Rep. Maurice Hinchey, a Democrat who represents an area just south of Greene County, will not seek re-election this fall. Hinchey, 73, was elected to a 10th two-year term in November 2010. Hours after his announcement, his wife, Allison Lee Hinchey, was charged with drunken driving for the second time in eight months in Albany. That story is also in The Daily Freeman.

Tom Casey in the Register-Star reports that the Columbia County Republican Committee backs Richard Wager of Millbrook, while Columbia County Democrats favor Didi Barrett of Millbrook to replace Marcus Molinaro for the 103rd Assembly district seat, up for special election March 20. In 2008, Wager lost a primary to Sandy Treadwell (R-Westport) for the U.S. House of Representative 20th District seat. Barrett failed to unseat New York State Senator Steve Saland in 2010. The seat in the Assembly in Albany represents Ancram, Copake, Hillsdale, Hudson, Greenport, Claverack, Stockport, Ghent, Austerlitz and Canaan in Columbia County, plus Dutchess County to the south.

W. T. Eckert in The Daily Mail reports that 41-year-old Brian Mattice of Gilboa, a Hunter Mountain Ski Resort staff member, died Wednesday, falling 200 feet from a ski trail. Working with snow-making equipment in the morning, Mattice slipped on ice, slid down an embankment near the Milky Way ski trail, state police said. striking a tree and rock. "Mattice was wearing a helmet and 'crampon' style foot gear attached to his boots," Eckert wrote. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Weather right now

READ TEMPERATURE IN HUDSON: On thermometer in studio.
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 Cairo, in Greene County.
The National Weather Service predicts for Friday in Cairo it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 24. Friday night there is a chance of snow, mainly after 3 a.m. Increasing clouds, with a low around 13. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible. The weekend forecast:
• Saturday: Snow likely, mainly before 3 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 28, low around 14.
• Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 32, low near 30, chance of freezing rain overnight.
• Monday: A chance of rain or freezing rain. Cloudy, with a high near 48, a low around 34.

Town meetings today
Today is the third Friday of the month, and we do not know of any town meetings today.

The skies above
SUNRISE/SUNSET 7:16 a.m./ 4:57 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 4:52 a.m. / 2:28 p.m.

Last night/Today's big games
(Hosts: Read scores in the a.m. only, and schedules in the p.m.)
Scores
NBA: Los Angeles Lakers 87 at Miami Heat 98, Lebron James 31 points.
Schedules
NBA FRI: Milwaukee Bucks at New York Knicks, 7:30 p.m. (TV: MSG)
NCAABB SAT: Syracuse (1) at Notre Dame, 6 p.m. (TV: ESPN)
NFL SUN: New York Giants at San Francisco 49ers, 6 p.m. (TV: FOX)

WGXC Program Notes
Special Programming Fri. Jan. 20:
• "Imprint," 10 a.m.: Host Terry Doyle takes listeners on a tour of Hudson Valley music.
• "WGXC Afternoon Show," 4-6 p.m.: Ron Diamondstein interviews Teddy Thompson, Jack Ross-Pilkington with the Ski Report and This Day in History, music, and more.

Audio clips for WGXC programmers
This information is not meant to be read on-air.
The information below are options of pre-recorded material hosts can choose to play.

Audio clips to play


New PSAs/STATION IDs
• A_OFF_PSA_20120122 Ghent Playhouse auditions

Audio headlines for top of the hour
• 5 a.m.: WGXC News 9:15 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:00
• 6 a.m.: WGXC News 9:15 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:00
• 7 a.m.: WGXC News 9:15 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:00
• 9 a.m.: WGXC News 9:15 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:00
• 4 p.m.: International Network News (INN), through Audioport
• 5 p.m.: Free Speech Radio News headlines, through fsrn.org
• Midnight: International Network News (INN), through Audioport