William J. Kemble reports in the Daily Freeman that there will be a public hearing about a proposed hot mix asphalt plant for Kingston, at the border with the Town of Ulster. at 11 a.m. Jan. 31. The meeting is online, and to join the video conference go to tinyurl.com/edx3dkjs or call (443) 948-6058 with the meeting ID number 969 682 525#. The facility is currently a mining, sorting, and crushing operation but the owners 530 Route 28 LLC need an air permit for asphalt mix equipment because of the “contributing combustion source emissions and process emissions” that would be generated. Ulster Town Supervisor James Quigley warned the proposal would add 30 to 80 trucks per day on and off the site. He said, “Ulster Hose tells me it’s one of the most dangerous portions of the New York state highway system because of traffic coming off the Thruway where people are used to doing 70 miles an hour.... They get onto Route 28 …(where it is 45 mph) and if we looked at the pattern of speeding in our town it’s probably one of the roads with the highest frequency of tickets.” Catskill Mountainkeeper's Kathleen Nolan, the organization’s research director, said, “It raises questions about traffic impacts on the local community,” she said. “All of the permits that were issued … were on the basis that this would be a smaller impact than the mine had been. Since the mining had been a preexisting use, anything smaller would be an improvement.” Read more about this story in the Daily Freeman.

From WOOC: "The Egg welcomes Diane Eber as its new Executive Director. She is a self proclaimed music nerd who comes to the position with 20 years in the arts which includes overseeing BRIC's Celebrate Brooklyn. She spoke with WOOC's Sina Basila Hickey."

From WOOC: "On Thursday, January 18, state lawmakers and advocates held a news conference calling for adoption of the state Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act. The bill will reduce plastic packaging by 50% over 12 years. In Part one of our coverage, we hear from Vanessa Fajans-Turner, Executive Director of Environmental Advocates NY, who served as the moderator. We then hear from the lead sponsors of the bills, the chairs of the respective legislative committees on the environment, Assembly Member Deborah Glick and Senator Pete Harckham. We hear from NYC Council Member Sandy Nurse, who until recently was chair of the council’s committee on sanitation, and Blair Horner, Executive Director of NYPIRG. By WOOC's Mark Dunlea."

Jack Arpey reports for New York State of Politics that crime is again expected to be a major issue that the media discusses during this year's political campaign in the state. Gov. Kathy Hochul last week said, "I will say it again and I will say it again and again.... Keeping New Yorkers safe is my number one priority." Her proposed 2025 state budget includes items addressing retail theft, domestic violence, hate crimes, and mental health. Republicans in the state Senate last week unveiled their legislative agenda including reversing bail and discovery reform, reigning in spending, expanding school choice, and assisting veterans in their reacclimation process. Republican State Sen. Patrick Gallivan even found some common ground with Hochul, saying, “Addressing problems brought on with those who have mental health issues is something we need to address, we’ve seen the proliferation of retail theft over the past few years." Read more about this story at New York State of Politics.

Mid-Hudson News reports that dozens of members of Jewish Federations of Ulster, Dutchess, and Orange counties thanked Rep. Pat Ryan for his continued work to free hostages still being held by Hamas, including Americans and the families of Hudson Valley residents last week. Ryan, a Democrat representing the 18th Congressional District, has seen weekly protests at his Kingston office calling for him to support a ceasefire in the war in Gaza. Nearby Republican Marc Molinaro in the 19th Congressional District has not seen similar protests or letters of support, even though he also does not back a ceasefire. The local members of the Jewish Federations gave Ryan a ‘thank you’ letter with 400 signatures from local constituents. The letter also said, “as the number of anti-Semitic incidents continues to increase at an alarming rate, we applaud your continued efforts to root out hate from the Hudson Valley.” Rondavid Gold, president of the Jewish Federation of Ulster County, called Ryan a, “true champion of the Hudson Valley Jewish community.” Read more about this story in Mid-Hudson News.

Patricia R. Doxsey reports in the Daily Freeman that one of the local temporary retail cannabis stores is staying open in 2024. There were two temporary cannabis stores in Hudson that closed Dec. 31, but the Catskill Mountain High store, located in the Kingston Plaza, is still delivering in the Ulster County city this year. Cannabis has been legal in New York for almost three year, but few places legally sell it. Currently, the only licensed retail walk-in cannabis store in the Mid-Hudson region is the Orange County Cannabis Co., located in the Orange County town of Wawayanda, and there are three dispensaries in the Capital region, in Albany, Schectenday, and Troy. To stay open this year, Catskill Mountain High is calling itself a “delivery fulfillment center,” for Legacy Dispensaries, a delivery-only operation in Albany. Read more about this story in the Daily Freeman.

Porcupine Soup reports that five Greene County hunters were recently ticketed for or hunting with the aid of bait. Two hunters in Cairo were ticketed by Environmental Conservation Officer Lucas Palmateer for using bait and placing salt licks to lure deer for killing. The Department of Environmental Conservation said in a statement that, “Hunting with the aid of bait is unlawful and unethical. It gives the hunter an unfair advantage by luring the targeted game to an unnatural food source. Additionally, multiple deer feeding out of the same bait pile can spread disease amongst the herd." Palmateer also responded to a tip about baiting activity in Prattsville, where he found two hunters in a tree stand on New York State land. with fresh piles of corn on the ground in front of them. A third member of the hunting party was found with bait on a neighboring property. One of those hunters was also charged for maintaining a tree stand on State land without displaying owner information, and another was for failing to wear hunter orange. Read the full story in Porcupine Soup.

Diana Glebova reports for The New York Post that, campaigning for Donald Trump in New Hampshire on Jan. 20, Rep. Elise Stefanik said she would be “honored” to be his vice-president. Stefanik, who currently represents Rensselaer County and the rest of the 21st Congressional District, said, “He’s going to make the right decision. I trust him to make the right decision for him. So he’s going to look for qualities that he thinks are important.... I’d be proud to serve in a Trump administration in any capacity.” Volunteers for Trump chanted "VP" after her remarks at one New Hampshire campaign stop for the former president. Read more about this story in The New York Post.

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.