Closings and delays for Fri., Dec. 16
[Updated 8 a.m., Dec. 16]

Closings and delays in Columbia County
Chatham Central School District | Closed
Columbia-Greene Community College | Closed
Germantown Central School District | Delayed two hours.
Hudson City School District | Delayed two hours. No breakfast. No morning BOCES. No tutoring center.
Ichabod Crane Central School District | Open. No morning BOCES. No private school transportation. No out-of-district transportation.
New Lebanon Central School District | Closed
Questar III Donald Kline Technical | Open Delayed two hours. No morning BOCES.

Closings and delays in Greene County:
Cairo-Durham Central School District | Closed.
Catskill Central School District | Closed.
Circle of Friends (Ravena) | Closed.
Coxsackie-Athens Central School District | Closed. Offices closed.
The Durham School | Closed.
Early Childhood Learning Cairo | Closed.
Grapeville Christian School | Closed.
Greene County Transit | Closed. No transportation. No public buses running.
Greenville Central School District | Closed. District office closed.
Hunter-Tannersville Central School District | Closed.
Ulster-Greene ARC (Catskill) | Open. No transportation. No buses running.
UMC Daycare Norton Hill | Closed.
Windham-Ashland-Jewett Central School District | Closed.

Today's daily news update.

Andrea Macko reports in Porcupine Soup that Governor Kathy Hochul on Dec. 14 announced that the Village of Tannersville is one of 11 communities getting a $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative Award. Tannersville will use $2.5 million to help build affordable housing, one of the region's largest needs. The Country K Grocery, Orpheum Performing Arts Center, and the Mountain Top Library will all make improvements with part of the funding. Plus, the village of Tannersville will convert to solar power, with panels in four locations. And part of the $10 million will turn the Colonial Golf Park into festival grounds, and create more parking spots in the village. “These public and private investments will address the senior and workforce housing crisis while creating a stronger economy with a healthy walkable community and cleaner environment with renewable energy. These projects will have a positive impact for generations," Tannersville Mayor Dr. Lee McGunnigle said. Read the full story in Porcupine Soup.

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.

Zack Fink reports at New York State of Politics that on Dec. 15 Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation that will eventually ban the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits from pet stores in New York state, starting in 2024. Instead of selling animals, pet stores will be allowed to charge rent to shelters who want to display pets in those stores for adoption. “They can go to a shelter and adopt one of the hundreds of thousands of animals that are sitting there waiting for adoption who are in need,” said State Sen. Michael Gianaris of Queens, the bill's sponsor. “These are great animals that are in need of help. If someone wants a particular breed, they have an allergy, they have some desire to have a particular breed, they can still deal directly with breeders.” Read more about this story at New York State of Politics.

Today's daily news update.

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

Roger Hannigan Gilson is reporting for the Times Union an Ulster County judge threw out the county's legislative district map December 13, after determining that it violated state requirements for redistricting. An independent committee appointed by the county Legislature was responsible for redrawing the district lines after the 2020 census to ensure the population was fairly represented. However, the committee misinterpreted a 2021 change in state law and drew the districts incorrectly. The lawsuit was filed by four members of various Democratic committees, citing the misinterpretation, as well as the splitting up of the town of Gardiner into separate districts, as grounds for the suit. In his order, state Supreme Court Justice Kevin R. Bryant said the map is unlawful and it "...does not comply with mandatory state requirements for redistricting." Bryant ordered the commission to reconvene no later than December 17, and to produce a final map by January 3. The commission must prepare a draft map by December 27, so a public hearing can be held. If the commission fails to finalize a new map by January 3, a special master will be appointed to draw it and Ulster County will have to pay the bill. Though the redistricting commission has been aware of its error for more than two months, county officials said they refused to reconvene until a lawsuit compelled them to do so. Ulster County Republican Board of Elections Commissioner John Quigley agreed the map was incorrectly drawn, but said last month he would not approve a new map unless it was court-ordered. Democrats were incensed that the map split the town of Gardiner into two separate districts, which diluted Democratic power in the county, according to Gardiner Democratic Committee Chairman Tom Kruglinski. The new district lines will not be applied until legislative elections in 2023. Read the full story in the Times Union.

Raymond Pignone is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media Greene County prosecutors have received a report on the state police analysis of videotapes recorded by cameras in the West Bridge Street apartment where a man was stabbed to death in November 2021, District Attorney Joseph Stanzione said December 12. The details found on the tapes by investigators will not be released by the DA's office anytime soon, however. “The report can’t be divulged before the time of the trial,” Stanzione said. “The reason is we don’t want to prejudice any jury pool one way or another.” Carrie Weiser, 32, of Catskill, was indicted by a grand jury a month after 68-year-old Scott Myers of 39 West Bridge Street in Catskill was stabbed to death. Weiser has been charged with second-degree murder, a felony, and one misdemeanor count of criminal possession of a weapon. Myers installed video cameras in his apartment and state police seized a hard drive containing recordings made inside the apartment. The content of the surveillance footage has been a long-time coming. State police worked for months to crack the password on the drive and unlock the potential evidence. The discovery process in the case is continuing, Stanzione said. “We’ll go over the discovery materials and another court hearing will be scheduled,” Stanzione said. “We’re probably going to discuss probable-cause issues and find out what will be permitted and what will not be permitted at trial.” Weiser pleaded not guilty to all charges at her arraignment on December 17, 2021, in Greene County Court. She was denied bail and ordered held pending trial. No trial date has been set. Read more at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Greta Jochem is reporting for The Berkshire Eagle the union that represents employees at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art in North Adams has a contract. “After 14 months of bargaining, our members voted overwhelmingly in favor of ratifying our first contract! We’re proud of having secured a strong agreement that we can build on,” the union wrote on its social media page on December 12. “We are so grateful for everyone who helped get us here.” Employees voted In April 2021 to form a union with UAW Local 2110, AFL-CIO. The union has about 100 people employed in a variety of jobs at the museum, including curators, box office staff, office workers and custodians. The contract was ratified by union members in late November. The pact includes “meaningful wage increases for the majority of the membership,” said Maro Elliott, a member of the union’s bargaining committee who works as a manager of institutional giving at the museum. “We are looking forward to supporting a stronger and more equitable Mass MoCA because of our efforts,” Elliott said. Kristy Edmunds, director of the museum, said in a statement, “This contract is a result of the willingness of each party to listen and genuinely consider the other’s objectives and concerns....” The agreement provides substantive pay increases, among other benefits, the museum said in a statement. As a result of frustration with the state of contract negotiations, the union staged a one-day strike in mid-August. That brief strike helped advance the union’s goals, Elliott said. The union has also filed unfair labor practice complaints with the National Labor Relations Board, and one resulted in a retroactive pay bump after not receiving an expected raise. Read full story in The Berkshire Eagle.

Today's daily news update.

Kenneth C. Crowe II reports in the Times Union that Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. “My doctors are mapping out a course for treatment and recovery, which we will be pursuing. Fortunately, my doctors believe they detected the prostate cancer early and believe there is a very good chance of beating back the cancer,” the 59-year-old McLaughlin said in a statement. McLaughlin said he will work through the cancer treatment. “My diagnosis is a reminder of how prevalent prostate cancer is, and that so many are at risk for diseases of this type. Early detection can save lives and beat cancer. I urge everyone to get a preventative check-up with their doctor to stay healthy and detect early,” McLaughlin said in his statement. McLaughlin's trial on felony charges of allegedly misusing campaign funds and falsifying campaign financial reports is scheduled to begin on Jan. 23, 2023. Read the full story in the Times Union.

The Berkshire Eagle reports that Troy Sargent, 38, of Pittsfield, was sentenced to 14 months in prison on Dec. 12 for his role in the January 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Sargent pleaded guilty to felony charges of assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers during the Jan. 6 attempted coup, and also civil disorder and four related misdemeanor offenses. Around 2:30 p.m. during the melee, Sargent swung his open hand toward a U.S. Capitol Police officer, striking him. The officer then told Sargent and others around him, “Do not start attacking people.” Soon after Sargent swung at the same officer but instead hit someone else in the crowd. “I got two hits in on the same rookie cop …” he later wrote on social media. In addition to the prison time, Sargent must complete two years of supervised release and pay $500 restitution and a $285 special assessment. Read more about this story in the Berkshire Eagle.

The Daily Freeman reports that Gov. Kathy Hochul has signed a bill from state senator Michelle Hinchey from Saugerties promoting greater use of New York-grown industrial hemp. The bill, S8496, instructs the Commissioner of Agriculture & Markets, in collaboration with the Urban Development Corporation, the state Hemp Workgroup and industry representatives, “to develop a plan to expand market opportunities for industrial hemp that would increase its use in manufacturing and construction materials, including packaging, textiles, and hempcrete,” according to Hinchey’s office. New York legalized cannabis last year, but hemp lacks the tetrahydrocannabinol that gets people high. Hemp can be made into rope, textiles, clothing, shoes, food, paper, bioplastics, insulation, and biofuel. “Hemp is the material of the future, and positioning New York as a leading producer of the world’s industrial hemp supply is a winning strategy for fighting the Climate Crisis, bringing large-scale economic development to New York’s rural communities, and unlocking new revenue sources to put our farmers in a better financial position,” Hinchey said in a statement. “I’m proud that my hemp bill has been signed into law, directing our state to seek strategic collaborations to help us usher in a new era of manufacturing power, product creation, and rural economic development around an industry that is nearly untapped around the world.” Read more about this story in the Daily Freeman.

Andrea Macko reports for Porcupine Soup that residents from Greenville, Westerlo, Cairo, and Durham heard some kind of loud noise on Dec. 10, that is so far unexplained. “We took one call from a resident in the area of Route 67 and Route 41 stating they heard a loud explosion from the southwest that shook his house,” said Greene County Emergency Services Director John P. Farrell, Jr. “A patrol was sent and cleared with no disposition, which usually means it was unfounded." On social media, many theories circulated about the boom. A woman in Durham said it rattled her windows, a woman in Cairo said it startled her dog so it fell off the sofa, while a Westerlo man speculated about an earthquake. But the U.S. Geological Survey did not report any earthquakes in the area. A Greenville man suggested it was a rare "skyquake," but the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration spokesperson John Moore said that the National Weather Service in Albany did not receive any reports of the boom. Without any answers, a man from Cairo speculated a literary source. “We have heard these before,” he said. “I always just figure its old Rip Van Winkle playing some nine-pins.” Read more about this story in Porcupine Soup.

Today's daily news update.

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

The Siena College Research Institute is reporting its recent poll signaled that voters believe Gov. Kathy Hochul failed to make progress on six of the goals she laid out for 2022, including making communities safer, enhancing trust in state government, transforming SUNY into the envy of the nation and making the state a place where people want to live, not leave. Crime and the cost of living are at the top of respondents' priority list for state officials to address in 2023. Hochul’s favorability rating and job approval rating have both declined slightly since October, but remain in positive territory, while 2022 Republican gubernatorial candidate U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin's favorability rating has increased. Siena College pollster Steven Greenberg said voters believe that Hochul will make progress on her efforts to increase the availability of quality medical care and creating conditions for businesses to succeed, but on the four other goals voters said there was no progress. “Hochul’s job approval and favorability ratings are above water, barely, although they edged down slightly since before Election Day, and her 43 percent unfavorable rating is a new high. ...,” Greenberg said. Read more at scri [dot] siena [dot] edu.

Patricia Doxsey is reporting for the Daily Freeman the chairperson of the Dutchess County Legislature defended an amendment to the 2023 county budget to draw $25 million from the fund balance to cover upgrades at Dutchess Stadium was the most fiscally prudent way to meet the county's contractual obligations to the minor league ball club that calls “The Dutch” home. Democrats, however, denounced the amendment, which was introduced on the night lawmakers were set to adopt the 2023 spending plan. The GOP-led Legislature last week approved the amendment in a 17 to 6 vote. Democrat Randy Johnson of Poughkeepsie voted with Republicans to use the fund balance to pay for repairs and renovations at the stadium. Comptroller Robin Lois joined with Democratic legislators, calling the amendment an “outrageous grab of taxpayer dollars,” noting that the Republicans avoided the established process for funding so large a project. Lois said the amendment vote gave the administration “a blank check” to spend the money on whatever they want at the stadium. “They don’t even have to do what we’ve been talking about for the past four years,” Lois said in an interview on Monday. “They could do a totally different thing. It’s a blank check to the administration and [Department of Public Works] to spend it on the stadium however they want with no legislative oversight and no public comment,” she said. Legislature Chair Gregg Pulver said the county has a contractual obligation to the Hudson Valley Renegades to make specific improvements to the stadium. “Major League Baseball makes all of their minor league parks adhere to a certain standard,” said Pulver. “If we don’t do these things, Major League Baseball can and will pull the franchise.” Pulver denied that funding the project was a last-minute effort without any opportunity for legislative or public comment. “It has gone through the committee process twice,” Pulver said. “We’ve discussed this for two solid years. ..." Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.

Harrison Grubb is reporting for News10 [dot] com a small number of people, including representatives from a local union, gathered in Schenectady on December 13, in a rally against the recent rail agreement that averted a national strike. The protesters were standing in solidarity with workers who do not support the deal. “It’s the ultimate expression of having someone’s back,” said Greg Giorgio, delegate with the Upstate NY Chapter of the Industrial Workers of the World. President Joe Biden signed a bill implementing the labor agreement that included a 24 percent raise over five years, but did not expand paid sick leave for the union's workers. “I think there’s a pretty strong agreement among a majority of rail workers that the contract that the Congress and the President imposed on them is really very unfair,” Giorgio said. The President urged Congress to pass the agreement, fearing the economic impact of shutdown on the rails would have across the country. For the Schenectady protesters, it was unfair for the government to intervene in that way, “Workers have objective rights, if you trample on those rights, you’re endangering the public from a safety viewpoint and you’re going to lose the trained people in your workforce,” said Martin Manley. Local rail worker supporters hope to see negotiations reopened in the future, to address expanded sick time and other concerns. The rally in Schenectady was one of several held nationwide in support of members of Railroad Workers United. Read the full story at News10 [dot] com.