Brendan J. Lyons reports in the Times Union that the executive board of the Police Benevolent Association of the New York State Troopers, the union representing thousands of state troopers, recently told its members to "not cooperate" with a special unit in the attorney general's office investigating fatal encounters in New York involving police officers. The board advised its members to invoke their Fifth Amendment right and decline to answer questions when they are compelled to testify in an attorney general's investigation of law enforcement. The union represents more than 4,000 uniformed State Police members including the ranks of trooper, sergeant, lieutenant, captain, and major. "Members will not cooperate with the (State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation) in relation to the attorney general’s ... investigations," minutes from the board meeting state. "If ordered to appear for an interview members will appear with counsel and invoke their Fifth Amendment rights." The union is currently appealing a state Supreme Court justice's decision earlier this year dismissing the union's lawsuit alleging the attorney general's office is abusing its authority by investigating incidents in which a civilian dies during an encounter with a trooper who is off-duty. Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed an executive order in 2015 empowering the attorney general's office to investigate deaths caused by the police. Six years later, the legislature codified that order into law. Daniel E. Strollo, the police union's general counsel, just about confirms the story. "Our troopers do not answer to the attorney general’s office. Given the current attorney general’s multiple politically motivated attacks on law enforcement, we deeply distrust her office’s motivations and willingness to conduct fair investigations. The PBA will not allow troopers to be subject to a political witch hunt." Read more about this story in the Times Union.

Mid-Hudson News reports that police officers in New York now have their own Blue Alert system to notify law enforcement agencies, the media, and the public about suspects who have killed, seriously injured, or pose an imminent threat to law enforcement. On Dec. 16 Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the legislation creating the Blue Alert system, which is similar to the AMBER Alerts for missing children. “We are taking a comprehensive approach towards protecting the individuals who serve and protect us, taking every measure we can to crack down on violent crime against law enforcement,” Hochul said. “New York is wholly committed to safeguarding our brothers and sisters in law enforcement and this new law will be crucial to creating safer communities and apprehending those who commit violent crimes against police officers.” Read the full story at Mid-Hudson News.

New York State of Politics reports that since 2016 Albany Police have diverted 315 people from arrest through the “Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion" program. Instead of facing arrest because of actions taken due to substance abuse, mental illness, homelessness, or poverty, the program diverts them to help. “These low-level charges where people cycle through systems that are not equipped to actually help them and resolve what’s actually going on — we can’t keep doing that,” said Albany Lead’s co-project manager Jennie Huling. The diversion idea started in Seattle, Washington in 2011. “If an officer assesses that a person needs help, instead of making an arrest on a low-level, non-violent charge, they call up Catholic Charities and see if the person can get some help through a case manager, through Albany LEAD,” Huling said. The program is headed to the cities of Cohoes and Watervliet next year and has already been established in Dutchess, Greene, Niagara, Schenectady, and Schoharie counties. Read more about this story at New York State of Politics.

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MidHudson News is reporting Gov. Kathy Hochul has signed into law legislation restricting the words “Independence” or “Independent” from ballots statewide in an effort to reduce voter confusion. For more than 30 years, the Independence Party in New York had registered more than 400,000 members. Elected officials believed that many voters registered with the Independence Party thinking they were choosing to be unaffiliated but instead joined the Independence Party. The bill was sponsored by Senator James Skoufis, who said, “A party known for preying on independent-minded New York voters to inflate its rolls should have no place in our democratic system.” In addition, the words “American,” “United States,” “National,” “New York State” and “Empire State" have also been banned from appearing on ballot lines. The Independence Party failed to meet new signature requirements in New York and has not appeared on state ballots since 2020. I.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin’s failed gubernatorial campaign attempted to revive the party line this year, with the assistance of Republicans, but was unsuccessful. Read the full story at MidHudsonNews [dot] com.

Emilia Teasdale is reporting for The Columbia Paper the Kinderhook Town Board on December 5, accepted the retirement certification of Town Clerk Kimberly Pinkowski after 21 years of service. Pinkowski will retire at the end of the year and the board will appoint current Deputy Clerk April Pinkowski to the position. The deputy clerk is a distant relative of Kimberly Pinkowski by marriage. Clerk Pinkowski must send her request to retire to the state. Town Clerk is an elected position and will be on the ballot in November 2023. Board member Debbie Johnson said she was making the motion on Pinkowski’s retirement “with regret.” Pinkowski has served as town clerk since 2001. Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.

Liz Montgomery reports for Porcupine Soup that Greene County Highway Superintendent Scott Templeton briefed the county Legislature last week on his department's use of alternate materials to keep roads clear in the wintertime. “We are trying some alternate ways to remove the snow,” Templeton said. “We are treating some salt piles with some additives." And, he said, they are using a product that is 20 percent magnesium chloride and molasses. More and more municipalities are turning to natural de-icing solutions such as molasses, beet juice, and cheese brine. And because molasses is sticky, it makes any ice-melt compound more effective by keeping it on the roads even during a storm thereby reducing the need for salt. “The state really wants to get rid of all the salt because they say it’s a negative impact on the environment,” said Templeton. His department is responsible for maintaining approximately 262 miles of roads countywide. Road salt also corrodes bridges and parking structures. It is also harmful and toxic to wildlife and the run-off can become problematic to waterways, according to the Adirondack Council, an environmental group dedicated to ensuring the ecological integrity and wild character of the Adirondack Park. “With what New York State is doing in the Adirondacks, trying to reduce the salt they put on the roads, I’m assuming that those procedures and laws are going to start edging further and further south,” said Templeton. “So, I would like to get ahead of that before we are mandated to do it.” Read the full story at porcupinesoup [dot] com.

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. Current Democrat Rep. Paul Tonko, from the 20th District, votes with the positions of President Joe Biden 100 percent of the time, according to the fivethirtyeight.com website. Republican Elise Stefanik, currently representing the 21st District, votes with Biden's positions 19.3 percent of the time. Democrat Pat Ryan just began representing the 19th District, and has yet to be included in the rankings. Ryan will represent the 18th Congressional District in January, when Republican Marc Molinaro takes over representing the 19th Congressional District. Click here to listen to this report.

Joe Mahoney reports in the Press Republican that Rep. Elise Stefanik was the only member of the House Republican leadership team to vote on Dec. 8 in favor of a final measure giving federal recognition to same sex and interracial unions. Only 39 Republican representatives voted with all 219 Democrats for the Respect for Marriage Act. Stefanik spokesperson Palmer Brigham said the congresswoman’s vote is in line with “her views on how states should respect concealed carry permits and military family spousal licensing.... Just as she believes concealed carry permits should be recognized from state to state, this bill will ensure if a marriage is recognized in one state, it is recognized in another,” Brigham added. “This bill includes important provisions to uphold religious liberty and not encroach on the sincerely-held beliefs of Americans.” Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro, a Republican who begins representing New York’s 19th Congressional District in January, said he would have supported the legislation. Democrats Paul Tonko and Pat Ryan also voted for the bill. Read the full story in the Press Republican.

Larry Rulison reports in the Times Union that Rep. Elise Stefanik wants the Federal Bureau of Investigation to be transparent, but she herself is not following the same advice. Stefanik blasted the FBI on Dec. 13 over what she calls an ongoing lack of transparency regarding the bureau's internal investigation into its past interactions with the family at the center of the 2018 Schoharie limousine crash. But Stefanik won't share the contents of a letter she received from the FBI last month. The letter she won't share prompted her attack on the FBI. The FBI's inspection division last spring opened a probe to examine its investigation of Shahed Hussain, an FBI informant who owned the Wilton-based limousine company involved in the limo crash, which killed 20 people in Schoharie County. Stefanik, a Republican member of the House intelligence committee that oversees the FBI, said on Dec. 13 that she would follow through on a promise to subpoena the bureau about. the issue when Republicans become the majority party in the House of Representatives in January. “The FBI is completely failing their responsibility to inform Congress, and they can no longer brush off my requests on behalf of New York families,” Stefanik said in a statement on Dec. 13. “These families and the entire Schoharie community were devastated by the deadly limo tragedy that could have been avoided if not for FBI negligence." But Stefanik declined to provide any evidence that the FBI has not been forthcoming. Stefanik's office refused requests for a copy of the FBI's recent letter and would not say why they would not share the letter, although a brief email from her office cited unspecified "sensitivities." An FBI spokesperson declined any comment on the issue. A New York Magazine article on the crash earlier this year prompted Stefanik and Rep. Paul Tonko, a Democrat, to demand the FBI answer questions about whether or not it had protected Hussain from legal trouble during his time as an FBI informant. Testifying before the House intelligence committee earlier this year, FBI Director Christopher Wray told Stefanik that the FBI did not want to publicly speak about its interactions with Hussain because doing so may imperil the bureau's relationships with its undercover informants. Read more about this story in the Times Union.

Republican Marc Molinaro gave his farewell address as Dutchess County Executive on Dec. 16, as he was elected to represent the 19th Congressional District beginning in January. Here is an excerpt of his speech, from Mid-Hudson News (above).

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Diane Pineiro-Zucker is reporting for the Daily Freeman Ulster County Sheriff Juan Figueroa is working toward establishing an FBI field office in the county. Figueroa said a new field office would require legislative approval, but declined to say where the office might be located. He said the FBI does not want any potential location identified. But David Drimer of the Jewish Federation of Ulster County said a field office could be located at the Law Enforcement Center at 380 Boulevard in Kingston. Figueroa said the FBI has not had an Ulster County presence in more than 10 years. The FBI office in New Windsor serves New York's Southern District, which includes Dutchess County, but not Ulster. Figueroa said an FBI presence in Ulster “is going to benefit us for purposes of Safe Streets and in any investigations that we can work together.” Figueroa noted that the Bureau would bring “a lot of assets (and) personnel” and will help bring the county in compliance with Gov. Kathy Hochul’s creation of “threat assessment and management teams” throughout the state. The sheriff said negotiations are “very, very preliminary but we are going to do a resolution (to the county legislature) at some point early next year and the county exec’s office is involved.” The county legislature would only need to approve the office if it were to be located on county property. Janeen DiGuiseppi, special agent in charge of the Albany Field Office, did not address or confirm the ongoing negotiations, but Figueroa said she has been “pretty involved in reaching out” on the project. “We’re very lucky to have her,” he said. County Executive-elect Jen Metzger commented via text, “I fully support Sheriff Figueroa’s efforts to have the FBI create an office in Ulster County.” A field office, she said, “has the potential to bring significant resources to our county to continue to fight against the opioid epidemic and strengthen our partnerships across all levels of government to make our community safe.” Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.

Andrea Macko is reporting for Porcupine Soup the fate of an illegal tire dump on State Route 81 in Climax is in the hands of New York State Supreme Court Justice Richard Mott. In August, Mott ordered Green Tire Recycling to stop operating a tire dump business at 1113 and 1131 State Route 81. The dump, which is partially visible from the highway, contains thousands of tires. According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Green Tire does not have a permit to operate despite its ongoing operation of the dump since 2020. Property owners Corey Mergendahl and Sharon Lampman, and Green Tire Recycling owner Shane Foster have ignored orders from Mott and the DEC to shut down operations. More than three months later, tires are still piled up throughout the property. Coxsackie Town Attorney Tal Rappleyea filed a motion in October to hold the trio in contempt of court, and he said this week town officials are awaiting a further ruling by Mott. The judge ruled in favor of the town of Coxsackie in August, ordering Mergendahl, Lampman and Foster to "remove all tires from the premises… and in no event later than September 13, 2022.” That deadline came and went. Coxsackie Code Enforcement Officer Edward Pebler said in an October court filing, “The massive piles of tires dumped on the subject parcels continue to be a public health and safety risk. The tires continue to attract rodents and vermin and allow a breeding ground for mosquitos and other harmful insects. This continues to severely impact the surrounding community despite this court's order to stop.” Pebler also said a fire at the dump in August had potential to “destroy several nearby homes and greatly impact safe breathing for miles ..." A Commissioner’s Order was issued on August 23, which granted DEC’s motion for default judgment against all three respondents, found they violated various environmental regulations relative to an unauthorized waste tire operation ... and found the respondents jointly and severally liable for the lawful removal, transport, and disposal of all the waste tires at the properties.” Rappleyea said, “We are still waiting for the judge to issue an order.” Read more at porcupine soup [dot] com.

Bill Williams is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media two hikers were rescued by New York State Forest Rangers after they got lost while hiking in Greene County. The two men, aged 29 and 30, are residents of the Bronx, Department of Environmental Conservation spokesperson Jeff Wernick said. On December 10, at about 5:15 p.m., Rangers Joseph Bink, Gregory Bowler and Katherine Fox were called to Hurricane Ledge following a report that two people were lost there. The rangers located the two men by 8 p.m. finding them cold, but not injured. Rangers provided food, warm liquids and dry layers of clothing and helped the men return to the trailhead. Both hikers declined medical assistance, Wernick said. Hurricane Ledge, in the Kaaterskill Wild Forest, is located off Platte Clove Road in Elka Park. The hike to Hurricane Ledge is listed as very difficult and dangerous, according to trail experts. Platte Clove Road is closed during the winter months, but the trail is accessible from Steenburgh Road. The hike is approximately 7.3 miles, round trip. The DEC advises hikers to properly prepare and plan before entering the backcountry. More information is available at the DEC’s Hike Smart NY, Adirondack Backcountry Information and Catskill Backcountry Information web pages. In 2021, DEC Forest Rangers conducted 426 search and rescue missions, extinguished wildfires, participated in prescribed fires that served to rejuvenate hundreds of acres of land and worked on cases that resulted in thousands of tickets or arrests. Read the full story at HudsonValey360 [dot] com.

Nick Reisman reports for Spectrum News that Gov. Kathy Hochul said on Dec. 15 that the state budget this year should not include any tax increases or budget cuts. "I don't believe that raising taxes in a time in which we just cut taxes makes sense," Hochul said. "We just did that a year ago. I'm not going to turn around say we're raising your taxes. I don't foresee that." Carolyn Martinez-Class, the campaign coordinator of the Invest in Our NY Campaign, wishes Hochul would change her mind. "New York voters overwhelmingly think the wealthy paying what they should in taxes makes sense — it allows the state to invest in services that benefit everyone," Martinez-Class said. "It's disappointing that the Governor is not centering the needs of the people who elected her to office." Outgoing Budget Director Robert Mujica said the economy has several troubling indicators currently. "The outlook is extraordinarily challenging," Mujica said. "We're seeing most consensus economic forecasters predicting an economic downturn which is driven by the actions of the federal government." Read the full story at Spectrum News.

Liz Montgomery reports for Porcupine Soup that Catskill's Board of Education unanimously voted Dec. 14 to spend up to $238,299.40 for emergency repairs at the middle school after a water main break caused a boiler room flooded earlier this month. Insurance may cover some of the repairs, and the district’s repair reserve fund will pay the balance. A water main broke on December 2, at first cancelling school for middle and high school students on Dec. 5. The next day, high school students returned to classrooms, while Catskill's middle school students studied online until moving into the high school on Dec. 12. “We ask that you please have patience while we transition our middle school students into the CHS building,” Interim Superintendent of Schools Thomas Bongiovi wrote in a message to parents. “We believe that in-person instruction is the best way for our students to learn and we know that there may be kinks along the way. We are hoping to get our students back to their home at CMS as soon as possible.” Read the full story at Porcupine Soup.

Kristi Gustafson Barlette reports in the Times Union that Randy McCarten retired from WRVE (99.5-FM) after 40 years working in local radio. "I may be doing some part-time on-air work after the first of the year on The River," McCarten said. "I am also continuing my voice-over work and audiobook narration." It isn't the first time he left the local airwaves, as iHeart Media let him go with many others in a re-organization but McCarten returned to "The River" station in May 2020 nearly five months. McCarten had hosted "The River Morning Show with Randy McCarten," which became "The River Morning Show with Randy and Rachel." His co-host Rachel Davis also left the station, and now Kevin Rush, host the station's morning show from Florida until a permanent replacement is named. Read more about this story in the Times Union.

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Andrea Macko is reporting for Porcupine Soup the New York State Public Service Commission has ordered Central Hudson Gas and Electric Corp. to show why they should not face civil penalties for “apparent failures related to the company’s new customer information and billing system.” According to a PSC report released December 15, “Central Hudson’s customer information and billing system were 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. The system transition also led to a drastic decrease in customer satisfaction metrics.” In September 2021, Central Hudson established a new customer information and billing system. Thereafter, Central Hudson customers complained to local officials and the New York State Department of Public Service about excessive and delayed bills, and a lack of customer support. The DPS in April 2022, began an investigation into the complaints and complications related to the system upgrade. That eight-month investigation identified several violations of the Public Service Law, regulations, and Commission orders. The report specifies a variety of missteps by the company including a failure to adequately test the system, a failure to properly resource the project, a failure to properly train staff, a failure to heed the warnings of its own employees, and an overall lack of candor with its customers and the public. Central Hudson now has 30 days to demonstrate why the Commission should not commence a civil penalty action and/or an administrative penalty proceeding. The company must also submit a plan to eliminate bi-monthly estimates and to evaluate the potential impacts of such a change on customers. Read the full story at porcupinesoup [dot] com.

Kathleen Moore is reporting for the Times Union the New York State Board of Regents wants all 4-year-olds to have free preschool by 2030 and then expand the program to all 3-year-olds by 2035. The board has submitted a budget request to the state, asking for $1.1 million for staff to redesign preschool funding. Access issues include trouble with transportation and limited space at existing preschools, as well as difficulty making the preschools accessible to those with disabilities. Most districts do not have space for preschool in their school buildings, so they pay for space at existing private preschools, but many of those buildings are not accessible — some have stairs, no elevators, not enough space for a wheelchair or no accessible playground equipment. The Board of Regents has asked the state for $20 million for a preschool inclusivity grant that would be awarded to districts that provide services to 4-year-olds with disabilities. The state would continue funding for the program so that, by 2035, all children age 3 and older would be in free full-day education. The preschool years have long been understood to be a crucial learning time for children and a way to reduce the achievement gap. In 1965, the federal government launched Head Start for children ages 3 to 5 and research now shows that children who attended Head Start have better educational outcomes than their peers who did not go through the program. Read the full story in the Times Union.

MidHudson News is reporting the number of private sector jobs in the Hudson Valley increased by 27,800, or 3.6 percent, for a total of 799,500 during the month of November. Growth was greatest in the education and health services sector with more than 10,000 jobs added; the leisure and hospitality sector with 6,900 jobs; and the professional and business services sector, which added 6,300 jobs. The losses were greatest in the financial activities and manufacturing sectors. The number of new jobs grew the most in Sullivan County at 6.8 percent. Ulster County saw 2.0 percent job growth; Greene and the Dutchess-Putnam area each reported 1.0 percent growth; and Columbia County saw 0.6 percent growth. Delaware County lost 8.8 percent of its jobs. Read the full story at MidHudsonNews [dot] com.