Sara Rizzo reports for News10 that after five years, Murphy’s Law Public House, an Irish pub in Leeds, has closed. The Murphy family told News10, "We are heartbroken about this decision, but it was the best thing to do for our family as we never had intentions on running a bar/restaurant." The bar hosted performances from local bands. The Murphys own the building, which also includes a hotel, laundromat and other commercial spaces that are not closing. The family is hoping to rent the former Murphy’s Law Public House pub space, and said, “We loved every second of running our business and we are so thankful for the lifelong friendship and the support our community has always given us." Read more about this story at News10.

Our playlist system now counts which songs have been played the most on WGXC. Here is what has played most recently in January, 2024:

1. Sky Furrows, "Reflect and Oppose" album
2. Gushy, "Hard Banger Lovers Vol. 1​-​4" album
3. Kurt Vile, "Back to Moon Beach" album
4. Matthew Shipp, "The Intrinsic Nature of Shipp" album (Mahakala Music)
5. Lonnie Holley, "Oh Me, Oh My" album
6. Rodney Alan Greenblat, "Box with Tubes" album
7. Quintron, "Ephemeral Ponds" album
8. P.G. Six, "Murmurs & Whispers" album (Drag City)
9. Matmos, "Return to Archive" album
10. RAGER, "Presence is a Present" album

Today's audio daily news update.

Andrea Macko in Porcupine Soup breaks down how Gov. Kathy Hochul's new budget proposal would effect schools in Greene County. They would see state funding drop by more than $2.8 million next year. Of the six districts in Greene County, only Greenville is in line for an increase in money. Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposed $233 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2024-25 calls for a 2.4 percent increase overall in school aid, with $35.3 billion in all. But New York State Council of School Superintendents Executive Director Charles Dedrick said, “The proposal would reduce by over $400 million the Foundation Aid level called for by the formula now in law," which would reduce funding to most Greene County schools. Cairo-Durham would see a 7.26 percent decrease, Catskill would see a 6.96 percent decrease, Coxsackie-Athens would see a 0.29 percent decrease, Hunter-Tannersville would see a 26.37 percent decrease, and Windham-Ashland-Jewett would see a 20.03 percent decrease. Assemblyperson Chris Tague, a Republican from Schoharie who represents Greene County in the legislature, said, “Gov. Hochul’s prioritization of housing migrants over our children's education is a perfect example of the dysfunction her administration continues to bring to New York.” Other conservatives support the governor. Empire Center President and CEO Tim Hoefer said, “Governor Hochul is telling it like it is... New York’s school aid and Medicaid spending are out of line with national norms and raising income taxes again isn’t the answer.” Read more about this story in Porcupine Soup.

Joshua Solomon reports in the Times Union that Gov. Kathy Hochul and the state Democratic Party in the past six months has received at least $1 million of contributions linked to the real estate and development industries, according to recent campaign filings. Hochul has said she wants to build more housing, but has resisted calls for emboldened tenant protections. Democratic leaders in the state Legislature are trying to pass additional tenant protections as a part of a housing policy plan, while the real estate lobby typically opposes anything that could limit the number of evictions filed by landlords on renters. Hochul's campaign spokesperson Brian Lenzmeier said in a statement, “Consistent with Gov. Hochul’s commitment to maintain high ethical standards, campaign contributions have no influence on government decisions.” State Democratic Party Chair Jay Jacobs said on Jan. 18 that “contributions to the state party have never been a factor in legislation.” Read more about this story in the Times Union.

PLAY OR DOWNLOAD SHORT AUDIO OF FUNERAL PROCESSION HERE. Mid-Hudson News has video of the funeral procession in Hudson Jan. 18 for Police Sergeant Christopher Filli who died while on duty on January 11, 2024. Filli was a Hudson police officer for more than 20 years, and would have turned 52 the day after he died after a medical emergency. He has two brothers in the New York State Police. Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado attended the service at St. Mary’s in Hudson. Police Chief Mishanda Franklin said, “Senior Sergeant Filli’s dedicated service to our department and city will be remembered, and his loss is felt profoundly by our community.... His commitment to duty and selfless service left an indelible mark on those who had the privilege of working alongside him. He was an exceptional officer and will be greatly missed by all.” Read more about this story at Mid-Hudson News.

From WOOC: "If you love exploring and learning about nature, listen up! Hear about the Five Rivers Environmental Education Center in Delmar, NY, just a few miles southwest of Albany. Paulette Doudoukjian, director of Friends of Five Rivers (FFR), describes how the 450-acre center offers feasts for the senses. She also overviews some of the many nature education programs for kids, teens, and adults offered through her "membership-driven" organization. FFR welcomes volunteers to help with everything from leading outdoor programs to monitoring bluebirds and more. FFR's recent award from Parks and Trails of New York will help the group expand their outreach and programs. For details about offerings & volunteer opportunities, visit friendsoffiverivers.org. For a trail map and other info from the NY Department of Environmental Conservation, which owns and operates the facility, see dec.ny.gov/places/five-rivers-center. Produced by Brea Barthel" from WOOC.

Today's audio daily news update.

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

Raga Justin reports for the Times Union that New York may close up to five correctional facilities soon in a cost-cutting measure. Great Meadow Correctional Facility, a maximum-security prison in Washington County that can hold up to 1,611 inmates, is being considered for closure. In her budget proposal, Gov. Kathy Hochul says that leaders of the state Senate and Assembly must be notified at least 90 days before any planned prison closures. State lawmakers must also be told how many inmates and staff are in each facility that will be shuttered. The state’s prison population has been declining for years, down to 48,000 people in New York’s state and local correctional facilities, according to a report from the advocacy research center Prison Policy Initiative. Six prisons were closed in 2022, including the maximum security Downstate Correctional Facility in Dutchess County. That saved taxpayers $142 million. State Sen. Jake Ashby, a Rensselaer County Republican whose district also includes portions of Washington County, said, “Forcing convicts into fewer and fewer facilities without investing in needed staffing has made our state prisons more violent and dangerous for inmates and the dedicated correction officers on the front lines of public safety.... That’s the legacy of the (former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo) administration’s totally misguided closures. It’s one I’m urging Gov. Hochul to reverse.” Read more about this story in the Times Union.

Zachary Basu reports for Axios that former President Donald Trump is considering picking Rep. Elise Stefanik to be his vice-presidential candidate. Stefanik is "at the top," according to former Trump chief strategist Steve Bannon. Stefanik was the first member of Congress to endorse Trump and will campaign with the former president in New Hampshire this weekend before the state's Jan. 23 primary. Trump reportedly told allies in December, "She's a killer," after Stefanik's confrontation with university presidents at a hearing on campus anti-Semitism. Stefanik would not comment on the vice-presidential possibility and said, “I’m not going to get into any of my conversations with President Trump. I’m honored to call him a friend. I’m proud to be the first member of Congress to have endorsed his re-election, and he had a huge win in Iowa. So we’re very excited about that." Zachary Basu reports for Axios.

Andrea Macko reports in Porcupine Soup that the so-called Fountain House in the middle of the Town of Cairo is under contract from an unidentified buyer. The property, a 6,300-square-foot structure at 576 Main St., was condemned by the town recently. Grist Mill Real Estate listed the property at $109,900. In 2022 the building was deemed “unfit for human occupancy,” and has been empty ever since. The building is a few feet from the Soldier’s Fountain that was put there in 1922, with a bronze memorial tablet with the names of 44 WWI veterans. The building dates back to between 1794 and 1800, making it one of the oldest in Cairo. The building has served as a post office, hotel, and a stagecoach stop on the Susquehanna Turnpike, and was called Dexter's Dance Hall in the mid-1800s. Read more about this story in Porcupine Soup.

From WOOC: "Liz Moran of Earth Justice discusses Governor Hochul's proposed budget for environmental issues with Mark Dunlea of WGXC partner station WOOC in Troy. Keep topics include the NY Heat Act and funding for water infrastructure."

Today's audio daily news update.

Tiffany Greenwaldt-Simon reports in Columbia-Greene Media that a flyer for the hate group White Lives Matter was found on a utility pole at Dutchman’s Landing in Catskill on Jan. 12. Elliot Matos, director of operations for the Hudson-Catskill Housing Coalition, said, “It’s sad.... People justhave a lot of hate in their heart.” The flyer had two QR codes and the words “CALLING ON NEW YORK WHITES! JOIN OTHER EUROPEAN DESCENDANTS IN ACTIVISM!” The Southern Poverty Law Center, a nonprofit legal advocacy organization, deemed the "White Lives Matter" organization as a hate group in 2016. Matos said. “This is what happens when there isn’t Black representation on Main Street.... This is a very conservative county and people feel comfortable to do something like this.” Michael Richardson, a community activist and producer of local Hate-Watch Report, said he believes the flyer came from the same group responsible for similar activities in Columbia County. Richardson said, “We have every reason to believe this group is local.... They keep showing up with their stuff in the area and it’s indicating that they’re not a pass-through group.” In 2021, White Lives Matter stickers were spotted in Hudson, Stockport, and Valatie, and the next year the group put up a White Lives Matter banner at the village gazebo in Chatham. Richardson said this is the first report of the group in Greene County. He said, “For the last six or seven months, there have been no reports of white supremacy, and I don’t recall there being anything in Catskill or Greene County before this.” Read more about this story at HudsonValley360.com.

Luke Parsnow reports in New York State of Politics that Rep. Marc Molinaro raised $447,701 in the fourth quarter of 2023, for nearly $2.2 million throughout the year, for the Republican's reelection campaign his office said on Jan. 18. So fare Democrat Josh Riley, who lost to Molinaro in 2022, and Democrat Dan Buttermann, are also running for the 19th Congressional District seat. Riley, a former congressional aide and law clerk for the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, last by two points to Molinaro, and is begind on fundraising this year. Riley said recently that he raised $696,556 in the fourth quarter of 2023, and has more than $1.45 million cash on hand. Republicans took control of the House of Representatives in 2022 by flipping several seats including the 19th Congressional District. The New York elections are again expected to tilt control of the House to the winners. Read more about this story in New York State of Politics.

The Daily Freeman reports that this weekend the southbound lanes of the New York State Thruway Authority between New Paltz (exit 18) and Newburgh (exit 17) will be closed to traffic from at 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, to at least 8 a.m. the next morning. Last weekend northbround lanes were closed to remove the damaged Brookside Road overpass in New Paltz. Motorists “should seek alternate routes while this work takes place or avoid travel in the area during these times, if possible,” according to a press release. A detour will take vehicles off the interstate, and around the construction on on Routes 299 and 9W. On Sunday morning, Jan. 21, “the detour at southbound exit 18 will be lifted and two travel lanes will be available except in the construction zone where there will only be one travel lane available.” Read more about this story in the Daily Freeman.

Today's audio daily news update.

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

CBS News reports that the U.S. Senate passed a continuing resolution 68-to-13 on Jan. 16, with Democrats leading efforts to avoid a government shutdown. The House, led by Republicans, has not made as much progress on passing continuing resolutions extending government funding deadlines to March 1 and March 8 to give both chambers time to approve longer-term funding. The U.S. government will run out of money at the end of the week. New York Senator Chuck Schumer, the leading Democrat, said they want funds for Ukraine and Israel to fight wars, while House Speaker Mike Johnson spoke about funding for border security. PLAY OR DOWNLOAD SHORT EXCERPT OF SCHUMER AND JOHNSON. Read more about this story at CBS News.