The Troy Record reports that a long-term analysis of the administration of discipline in the State’s Department of Corrections and Community Supervision shows that Black and Hispanic incarcerated people are more likely than their White counterparts to face additional punishment behind bars. “There is no doubt that the criminal justice system is just one of many systems that have a devastatingly disproportionate impact on New Yorkers of color,” New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang said. “Sadly, as reflected by the six years of data in our Report, although racial disparities may not start at the prison gates, unfortunately they also do not end there." The report found that Black incarcerated individuals are more than 22 percent more likely to be issued Misbehavior Report than a White prisoner, while Hispanic prisoners are 12 percent more likely to get a Misbehavior Report. The report found the racial disparities increased slightly between 2017 and 2019, and then increased significantly in 2020, when Black and Hispanic prisoners were nearly 38 percent and 29 percent more likely than White incarcerated individuals to be issued a Misbehavior Report. The Inspector General recommended to DOCCS requiring annual anti-bias training for all staff, capturing and analyzing additional data about disciplinary processes, publication of data that can be cross-referenced with demographic data, expanding the use of centralized hearing officers, and expanding the use of fixed camera systems within all correctional facilities across the State to improve the problem. Read more about this story in the Troy Record.

The Adirondack Daily Enterprise reports that on Dec. 26 New York Attorney General Letitia James asked the state’s residents to report any price gouging by stores facing shortages of painkillers and fever reducers for children. An increase of cases of the coronavirus, Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection, and the flu, have caused a national shortage of medication for youngsters. James said, “This year’s tripledemic is keeping many kids and babies sick at home, and families trying to care for them are confronting the national shortage of children’s Tylenol and other medication.... The last thing any family needs when a child spikes a fever or is in pain is to be price gouged on the medication they need.” New York does have a law prohibiting merchants from setting unconscionably high prices for anything vital to the safety, health, and welfare of state residents. James also said consumers should not hoard children's medicine, and retailers can limit the amount of medication that they sell to individual consumers when there is a shortage. Read the full story in the Adirondack Daily Enterprise.

Diane Valden reports in The Columbia Paper that opponents of the “glamping” proposal at Ancram's Iron Star Retreat Center are celebrating as the applicants have asked the Planning Board to withdraw their application without prejudice with a Dec. 13 letter. Taylor M. Palmer, an attorney with Cuddy + Feder LLP, representing the applicants, would only say, “Our client does not have any further comment at this time.” The Planning Board had been talking about the project, on 146 acres, since December 2021. The proposal originally included a five guestroom inn, the development of four separate lodging cottages for overnight accommodations, including three separate buildings for associated recreational support uses on the east side of the property. Nearby residents raised concerns about water and electric usage, traffic, loss of community character, loss of affordable housing, financial viability, noise, light pollution, and impacts on wildlife. Some residents event formed Rural Ancram to oppose the project that they claimed, “would permanently change the rural character of Ancram.” The proposal changed to please the opposition, who did not like the smaller version either. Meanwhile in Kinderhook, a similar story played out. The Sun Communities/Sun Uncharted Kinderhook Resort plan for 58 Orinsekwa Road in Niverville, another "glamping" proposal is going away, according to the minutes of the November meeting of the Town of Kinderhook Planning Board. Read more about this story in The Columbia Paper.

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Jeanette Wolfberg reports for The Columbia Paper that Columbia County officials are considering a proposal that would consolidate the county's Meals on Wheels facilities into one location, and moving the Office for the Aging and Healthcare Consortium offices from Hudson to Ghent. “We’re looking at a very large project,” acknowledged County Engineer Raymond Jurkowski at the County Board of Supervisors November meeting. The Meals on Wheels program currently operates out of four sites: the kitchen in Philmont, extra coolers in a Public Works building on Route 23B, extra coolers in the Public Safety Building on Industrial Tract Road in Greenport, and the Office for the Aging at 325 Columbia Street in Hudson. The roof, plumbing, and heating at the Philmont building where the program’s kitchen is housed, have been declared at the end of their useful life. And the storage areas already have “boxes on top of boxes on top of boxes” because of space limitations. What’s more, the number of meals the program produces has risen 25 percent in the past five years, said Office for the Aging Director Kevin McDonald. For those reasons, officials believe it would be useful to combine all Meals on Wheels operations at one location, with structures in good condition, and ample room for storage, coolers, vehicles, and expansion. Officials appear to be leaning toward construction of a new building on a six-acre parcel adjacent to the county Commerce Park to house Meals on Wheels, the Office for the Aging and the Healthcare Consortium, as well. Some elected officials have also raised the possibility of other county departments making the move to Ghent, as well. Hudson 3rd Ward Supervisor Michael Chameides said conversations with the public and the affected departments will be needed to weigh options. “We have to consider how it will impact the public. The ultimate goal is the public good.” Read more in The Columbia Paper. 

Brian Hubert is reporting for the Daily Freeman plans to restore the circa-1885 Ann Oliver House at 5 Broadhead Avenue in New Paltz to house the Dr. Margaret Wade-Lewis Black History Cultural Center moved forward after the project was awarded more than $250,000 in state grants. Village Mayor Tim Rogers said the $200,000 grant from the New York State Dorm Authority was awarded after state Sen. Michelle Hinchey secured a $61,000 grant for the project  Rogers said the village currently owns the historic home but plans to turn it over to the center. Esi Lewis, a New Paltz Town Board member and attorney, serves as steward of the house. Lewis said the two grants go a long way toward the $600,000 cost of restoring the home that was once set to be demolished. “The floodgates have opened, it appears,” Lewis said. The home was built in 1885 by New Paltz carpenter Jacob Wynkoop for Ann Oliver, the widow of Richard Oliver, a black Civil War veteran who died in 1865 after contracting malaria. Wynkoop was born free in 1829 to Thomas and Jane Deyo Wynkoop, who were formerly enslaved people. Lewis said the restoration must begin with the foundation, a $60,000 project in itself. She said the two grants would allow for this work as well as the gutting of the inside of the home. Rogers said the village has forwarded on a letter of intent to the state’s Restore NY Communities Initiative seeking upward of $585,000 for the projects. Lewis said the center will not only house exhibits on black residents from New Paltz’s past like Jack Wynkoop, Ann Oliver, and Fulton Cox, but it will also host programs. Read more in the Daily Freeman.

The Berkshire Eagle is reporting several New Lebanon families on December 23, were forced out of their homes as the result of a crash caused by icy roads and an out of control tractor-trailer slamming into two buildings near town hall, during a winter storm. According to New Lebanon Town Clerk Marcie Robertson, “There was a horrible accident yesterday across from the town hall where a giant tanker truck lost control on the icy road and hit two buildings.” There were no injuries, but several families were forced to flee without anything but what they had on them. The families were displaced for Christmas, Robertson said in an email. “We have taken care of getting them a place to stay, but they had to leave with the clothes on their back and they have nothing. They basically need everything from clothing to toiletries to food.” She said the displaced have asked for gift cards for groceries and other supplies. Maverick’s sandwich shop on Route 20, has offered to collect donations for the families and asks that people drop them off when the shop is open, between 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. all this week. “We are so grateful to live in such an amazing community where so many people have reached out asking how they can help,” Robertson said. Read the full story in The Berkshire Eagle.

Today's daily news update.

Roger Hannigan Gilson reports in the Times Union that Ulster County's independent committee tasked with drawing new district lines for the county Legislature unveiled a new map Dec. 21 to replace the one thrown out by a judge earlier this month. State Supreme Court Justice Kevin R. Bryant threw out the first map because it did "not comply with mandatory state requirements for redistricting." Member Travis Rask's map was chosen. "Hopefully this is a happy medium for everybody," Rask said. A public hearing will be held at 5:15 p.m. Dec. 27 on the proposed map in the Ulster County Legislative Chambers, and then the committee tentatively plans to meet on Dec. 29 to make modifications. The committee has until Jan. 3 to approve a new map, or a special master will be appointed by the court to choose the new legislative lines for the 2023 legislative elections. Roger Hannigan Gilson reports in the Times Union

Mid-Hudson News reports that Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro has formally submitted his letter of resignation to County Clerk Brad Kendall. Molinaro leaves office at 11:59 a.m. on January 3, 2023 after 11 years as county executive. The Republican will then represent New York’s new 19th District in Congress. Molinaro beat Democrat Josh Riley in November. Molinaro said his tenure as county executive, “has been the opportunity of a lifetime, working alongside some 1,800 dedicated men and women who comprise our county workforce.” Molinaro will be replaced by Deputy County Executive William O’Neil until the general election in 2023 when voters choose who runs Dutchess County. Read the full story at Mid-Hudson News.

The religious equality organization American Atheists condemned New York's Gov. Kathy Hochul veto of the Secular Recovery Bill (A.8163/S.7313). The Secular Recovery Bill would require courts to inform New Yorkers of their constitutional right to object to religious 12-step programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous and instead participate in a nonreligious substance abuse treatment program. “Very often, we hear from people trapped in court-ordered substance abuse programs that force religion on them. It’s already difficult to recover from addiction. But suffering through unwanted religious indoctrination at the same time makes recovery so much more difficult,” said Alison Gill, Vice President for Legal and Policy at American Atheists on Dec. 23. “New Yorkers need to know that it’s their constitutional right to attend a secular program before it’s too late and they’re stuck in a program that violates their freedom of religion.” The Freedom From Religion Foundation also denounced Hochul's veto. "It's disheartening to see secular individuals required to attend a religious recovery program," says Freedom From Religion Foundation Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor. “The separation of church and state must include secular addiction recovery resources in the public realm.”

Today's daily news update.

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Roger Hannigan Gilson is reporting for the Times Union Catskill High School student Owen Valentino, 17, has been suspended for 37 school days after leaving a small pocketknife in his backpack, which he voluntarily surrendered to administrators before he was searched for a vaping device. Valentino said he mistakenly left the knife in his backpack after using it to cut carpet for his part-time job. He was originally suspended for five days beginning October 27, but a 32-day suspension was added after a hearing with administrators. Interim Superintendent Thomas Bongiovi and high school Principal Junait Shah conducted the hearing and asked Valentino to admit that he had brought the knife to school. They reviewed the honors student and Boy Scout's student record and discipline history report, and suspended him for the rest of the semester. His parents unsuccessfully appealed the decision to the school board. Valentino's mother, Colleen Rosenblatt, said the two-month break in her son's education has also taken his focus off of college preparations. Valentino's suspension will end on January 3, when he will then be able to attend class, play sports and attend after-school events. The punishment has prompted an outpouring of support from friends, Scout leaders and educators who believe the penalty is unjust. To help plead his case, Valentino's mother gathered more than 30 letters of support from family members, friends, leaders from his Boy Scout troop, and several school employees. The letters paint the picture of a polite teen who dotes on his younger siblings, helps other high school athletes in the school's fitness center and strives to be an exemplary Boy Scout. In an interview with a reporter, Bongiovi declined to discuss Valentino's case, saying he could not discuss students' disciplinary records. He chose instead to read from a statement he delivered at the December 14 school board meeting. He said, in part, that the discipline imposed was consistent with the school's code of conduct, which was adopted by the board in August 2022, and requires school officials to suspend for at least one year, any student who brings a weapon onto school grounds. "That one-year suspension is mandatory by law. The caveat in the law is a superintendent may modify — meaning, shorten — the mandatory one-year suspension on a case-by-case basis," Bongiovi said. Read more in the Times Union.

Jammel Cutler is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media a proposal to change how the repair and maintenance of city sidewalks are paid for was rejected by the Hudson Common Council at its meeting on December 20. The resolution was presented at the council meeting and it proposed that all residents, businesses, organizations and individual property owners beyond those that own the properties that abut a city sidewalk, would be assessed an annual fee to fund the repair, replacement and construction of sidewalks throughout the city. The measure did not carry enough votes to pass. “If we bond for this, which would be beyond $5 million, everyone will have to pay,” Common Council President Tom DePietro said. First Ward Alderperson Margaret Morris said that if the city issued a bond, only property owners subject to property tax would be paying it off, but with the proposed resolution, tax-exempt properties owned by nonprofits would also be subject to the annual sidewalk fees. Some council members rejected the idea that everyone should be paying for sidewalks, including the people who don’t have sidewalks, such as renters. “The government needs to address our streets,” Hudson resident Martina Colon said. “The sidewalks in Hudson are in need of repair. ,,.” Mark Anderson of Hudson agreed with Colon. “It seems like every year our streets are getting worse and worse. What are they waiting on?.” The Common Council will pursue the sidewalk law issue at a special meeting Wed., Dec. 28. Note: DePietro is a WGXC volunteer on-air host. Read more at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Because Christmas Day falls on a Sunday this year, the holiday will be observed on Mon., Dec. 26. The Daily Freeman has a rundown of how various services and offices will be affected.
• Amtrak: Sunday schedule
• Banks: Closed
• County and city offices: Closed
• Federal offices: Closed
• Financial markets: Closed
• Greene County Transit: Will not operate.
• Metro-North: Enhanced Saturday service
• Mail delivery: None
• Schools: Closed
• State offices: Closed
• Trailways: Call (845) 339-4230
Read more in the Daily Freeman.

Democrats end the year in Congress again without confirming President Joe Biden's nominee for the Federal Communications Commission. Biden nominated Gigi Sohn in October, 2021, but since the U.S. Senate has yet to vote on the nomination, the FCC is deadlocked with two Democrats and two Republicans, and nothing much gets done. CEO Chris Lewis of consumer advocacy group Public Knowledge said in October, "It has been a year since President Biden nominated Gigi Sohn to the FCC, which itself was ten months into the first term of the Biden administration. It is long past time to vote on Ms. Sohn's nomination and confirm her to the FCC, where she can put her decades of experience to work for American consumers." Sohn co-founded the Public Knowledge activist group in 2001 and was chief there until taking a position as counselor for then-FCC Chair Tom Wheeler in 2013. Corporations such as Comcast have lobbied against Sohn in fear of facing more regulations, and Republican Texas Senator Ted Cruz claims Sohn would censor conservatives even if executives at radical right-wing news networks Newsmax and One America News Network support Sohn's nomination and praise her longtime commitment to free speech. Nothing has been reported about any Biden administration efforts to get a vote on the Sohn nomination in many months.

Kate Lisa reports in New York State of Politics that Gov. Kathy Hochul on Dec. 23 defended her nomination of Justice Hector LaSalle to lead the state Court of Appeals as many state senators who will vote on his confirmation have come out against her decision. LaSalle, currently the presiding justice over the Appellate Division's Second Department would be the first Latino and person of color to lead the state's highest court if confirmed. But that is a big if, as at least ten senators have released statements that they will not vote to approve LaSalle to lead the state court system. Not many more 'no' votes are needed to block the nomination. Critics point out decisions from LaSalle that seem to have an anti-abortion, or anti-union, bent. Hochul disagreed saying, "When you actually read those cases that are in question, they have nothing to do with the woman's right to choose, and the labor issue was a procedural decision to send it down to the trial courts," Hochul said Dec. 23. "So I think there's many mobilized effort from the beginning because certain individuals wanted individuals who were, who are sent to me. But I'm looking for someone who you can't tell what their political disposition is. I want someone who's going to be looking at every single case, applying the law to the facts, and doing what's right." Locally, State senator Michelle Hinchey said she would refuse to vote for LaSalle's confirmation. Hinchey wrote on social media that, "While I expressed my support for the many other accomplished & experienced Chief Judge candidates, I had also made it clear that I cannot support a nominee who has delivered anti-choice, anti-union rulings. If Hon. LaSalle’s nomination comes to the floor, I will vote no." Confirmation hearings and proceedings take place in January. Read more about this story in New York State of Politics.

Rachel Silberstein reports in the Olean Times Herald that Gov. Kathy Hochul has named Dr. James McDonald as acting commissioner to lead the state Department of Health after current Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett resigns at year's end. Now McDonald is medical director of the health department’s Office of Public Health and interim director of the Center for Community Health. But he just started there in July after working for 10 years at the Rhode Island Department of Health, most recently as interim director of the agency. Read the full story in the Olean Times Herald.