Today's daily news update.

No Republicans voted for the American Rescue Plan Act when it passed in Congress, but the Republicans who run the Greene County Legislature sure love touting the local benefits of the bill signed by President Joe Biden. Liz Montgomery reports in Porcupine Soup that Greene County is now using funds from the American Rescue Plan Act to add broadband service in mountaintop locations in the Towns of Catskill, Durham, Windham, Ashland, and Prattsville. Mid-Hudson Cable, Margaretville Telephone Company, and Charter Communications are getting $2.2 million dollars to provide service in areas they have so far deemed unprofitable. “Greene County is able to make this important infrastructure investment with a portion of the federal funding it received under the American Rescue Plan Act” said Patrick Linger, chair of the Greene County Legislature. Greene County Administrator Shaun Groden said, “The availability of ARPA funds from the federal government makes this the perfect opportunity to invest in our infrastructure.” About 1,400 addresses will get broadband service along 112 miles of roadways sometime in 2023 or 2024. Read the full story in Porcupine Soup.

Mark Weiner at Syracue.com reports that Republican Brandon Williams will win the 22nd Congressional District election in Central New York over Democrat Francis Conole. This is the last Congressional election to be called in New York, and means it is very likely that Republicans will control the House of Representatives when all the national election results are final. New York voters can partially take credit for turning over power to the Republicans with two Hudson Valley-based Congressional seats flipping from Democrats to Republicans. Democrat Josh Riley lost to Marc Molinaro in the 19th Congressional District, flipping a district previously represented by Democrat Antonio Delgado. And Sean Maloney, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chair, lost to Republican Assemblyperson Mike Lawler in the 17th Congressional District. Republican Rep. John Katko retired from his 22nd District seat after voting to impeach former President Donald Trump and having little chance to win a primary election. New York's congressional delegation will now be 15 Democrats and 11 Republicans, the most seats the Republicans have held since 2001-2003. Read more about this story at Syracue.com reports.

The Greene County Department of Health reported another local COVID-19 death on Nov. 14. That makes 140 dead in Greene County from COVID-19 since the pandemic began. A week ago, on Nov. 7, Greene County reported two more COVID-19 deaths. While the Greene County Department of Health social media page reports these deaths, the same page has not had any updates about vaccines, which can prevent COVID-19 deaths, since Oct. 23.

New York's major hunting season begins Nov. 19. In the Southern Zone, which includes the Catskills, deer and bear hunting seasons continues through Dec. 11. After that, late bowhunting and muzzleloading seasons run from Dec. 12 through Dec. 20, and again from Dec. 26 through Jan. 1. "With most public land across New York State open to multiple forms of recreation, from hiking and nature photography to hunting and trapping, visitors should be cautious, courteous, and responsible when sharing the woods to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience," said Commissioner Basil Seggos. "DEC encourages all visitors to review the safety guidelines for hunting and recreating in the woods before going afield and respectfully sharing the outdoors with others." While hunters using a firearm must wear hunter orange or pink, the DEC suggests those colors might be good for family dogs too. See the New York Department of Environmental Conservation website for more information about hunting season in New York.

Today's daily news update.

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Robert Gavin is reporting for the Times Union a former Coeymans police officer has been indicted on felony charges alleging that he submitted false paperwork to a state agency claiming that four police recruits had undergone the proper field training. Kevin Schwebke, 38, of East Greenbush, worked as a part-time officer and served as a field training officer in Coeymans. He pleaded not guilty to the indictment during a court appearance on November 14. Schwebke is charged with four counts of offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree. The felony carries up to four years in prison upon conviction. Schwebke is currently employed as a Menands detective. The indictment said in Coeymans, Schwebke submitted final evaluation paperwork for two trainees in August 2018, and two others in January 2019. All municipal police officers in New York are required to complete a basic course for officers within one year of the date of their original appointment. It includes a minimum standard of 700-plus hours of training, which includes field training. Schwebke was required to physically observe recruits in person to evaluate and document their progress in a daily report. Instead, he submitted allegedly false paperwork to the state Division of Criminal Justice Services claiming the recruits had completed their in-person training when they had not. Many of the recruits had to repeat their field training, officials said. Schwebke's attorney, Michael McDermott, said his client was told to administer a training program developed by his supervisors. He was told the plan was approved by the appropriate authorities at the police academy. "He just administered the program as it was designed. He never intended to defraud, [or] deceive anyone. He's been 100 percent transparent as soon as this matter became an issue," McDermott said. Schwebke was released on his own recognizance and is due back in court on December 16. Read the full story in the Times Union.

MidHudson News is reporting New York Attorney General Letitia James, November 14, took action to stop online ammunition sellers from illegally shipping munitions to New York residents and failing to keep records of the sales. An investigation by the AG's office found that 39 sellers have been shipping ammo directly to state residents in violation of the SAFE Act, which prohibits direct online sales of ammunition. James sent cease and desist orders to the sellers demanding they stop shipping directly into the state to customers and warned them of the serious legal consequences if they continue to violate the law. “Shipping bullets to New Yorkers’ doorsteps is illegal and ammunition sellers that ignore the law will face the full force of my office,” the attorney general said. “Online sales of ammunition are dangerous and could end up in the wrong hands. We are taking action to protect communities and enforce our responsible gun laws. ...” The SAFE Act requires all ammunition sales to be conducted in person between a licensed firearms dealer or registered seller of ammunition and a customer. The law also requires ammunition sellers to create and maintain a record of every transaction that includes the age, occupation, and residence of any person buying the munition. Direct shipments and a failure to keep records of ammunition sales statewide violates the SAFE Act and New York’s consumer protection statutes. James warned that such violations could carry penalties of up to $5,000 for each individual violation and may subject them to disgorgement of all income resulting from the illegal sales. Read the full story at MidHudsonNews [dot] com.

Melissa Hale-Spencer is reporting for The Altamont Enterprise students at Guilderland High School on November 9, staged their second walkout in less than a month. The most recent event involved 35 to 40 students, mostly females, and was held to protest sexual harassment. The first action, on October 17, involved approximately 100 students and followed an incident at a football game. At that game, a few students who were part of a large cheering section and all dressed in black for a “blackout” theme, painted their faces black. The first walkout was more organized, Superintendent Marie Wiles said. After students had their say, they returned to their classes at the end of the period, she said. She described students in the first walkout as “passionate for sure” and called listening to them “a very intense experience,” but she also said those students were respectful. But students protesting on November 9, were disruptive and disrespectful. She said adults in the building that morning were terrified. “They were afraid. I could see it in their eyes,” Wiles said. Students opened the school’s front doors, against security protocols, to let students out and back in again. And when the adults were finished listening to the complaints and asked the students to return to class, the students refused. This created a bottleneck in the school lobby as other students, not involved in the protest, were trying to get to class. Wiles stressed that sexual harassment will not be tolerated nor will racist behaviors, but she also expressed zero tolerance for unsafe and disrespectful behaviors. Wiles communicated with students' parents and guardians, describing the walkout because she wanted to “put everyone on fair notice that we will take disciplinary measures.” Asked what those disciplinary measures would be, Wiles said, starting with “the gentlest,” students who miss class will be marked with an unexcused absence. On the question of safety, Wiles said that Guilderland’s police chief, Daniel McNally, “has said that, if the district was interested in a second School Resource Officer, he would be willing to assign an officer for the balance of this year without additional cost.” Read more in The Altamont Enterprise.

Today's daily news update.

Mid-Hudson News reports that the Hunter-Tannersville Central School District failed the state comptroller’s IT audit. Officials at the mountaintop schools did not adequately manage or monitor non-student network user accounts or develop a written information technology contingency plan, the audit by the state comptroller’s office reported. The audit looked at records between July 1, 2020 and July 27, 2021 and found officials did not disable 31 unneeded network user accounts of the 225 enabled non-student accounts. Some of those accounts were with former employees and substitute teachers that were never employed by the district. Hunter-Tannersville school officials also did not have a written IT contingency plan or store back-up data off site. District officials said they agreed with the audit recommendations and are implementing corrective action. Read more about this story at Mid-Hudson News.

Kate Lisa reports for New York State of Politics that the New York Attorney General's office and the Department of Environmental Conservation asked the state Supreme Court on Nov. 11 to stop operations at the Norlite plant in Cohoes. Last month, the attorney general and DEC filed a lawsuit against Norlite to force the company to curb emitting harmful substances into the air with hazardous waste burning. “Air pollution from the Norlite plant has made it impossible for community members to open a window or walk outside without fearing for their health and safety,” Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement. “Last month, Commissioner Seggos and I filed a lawsuit to protect Cohoes residents and force an end to Norlite’s long history of environmental violations. Today, we are taking action to stop Norlite from continuing to endanger the neighboring community, and we remain committed to restoring safe, clean air for all New Yorkers.” The AG and DEC asked the court to order Norlite to monitor the levels of crystalline silica and particulate matter the facility releases into the air and report the results to the public. The DEC warns that Norlite is "emitting contaminants at levels that increase the risk to the health and well-being of the surrounding community." Residents near the Albany County plant complain of many health issues related to air toxins, including upper respiratory issues, sinus problems, high blood pressure, headaches, eye irritation, sore throats, chest pains, asthma, COPD and cancer, according to the attorney general's office. Read the full story at New York State of Politics.

Noah Zweifel reports for the Altamont Enterprise that the Albany County Sheriff’s Office approves of a trail network for all-terrain vehicles administered by the Hilltown Riders. The Town of Berne will hold a public hearing on the proposal next year. The Hilltown Riders are a private club for all-terrain vehicle riders that leases land from Camp Pinnacle, in New Scotland for riding. Commander Tom Praisner of the sheriff’s office said, “I just want to make sure that everyone out there is having fun, they’re registered, hopefully insured, and they wear their helmet.” Praisner also said officers would carry out more patrols in the town if the ATV trail was approved. The public hearing on the issue will likely be held in January. Read more about this story in the Altamont Enterprise.

Today's daily news update.

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

Jeanette Wolfberg is reporting for The Columbia Paper the Hudson Common Council voted October 18 to delay giving the Galvan Foundation a tax break to restore the former Community Theatre. The Galvan Foundation submitted its application for the tax exemption late, so an assessor turned down the exemption request. It turned out that the late submission was legally insufficient for denial, and Galvan challenged the rejection. While Common Council President Tom DePietro warned on October 18, the council has very little authority to block the exemption, and the full council agreed to delay voting on the tax break until November 15. “They failed to file the application on time. Why should we speed it up?” said Alderperson Dominic Merante. “The attorneys should explain to us why it’s nonprofit,” said Alderperson Margaret Morris. “Galvan has a tendency to sit on non-profits,” said Alderperson Mohammed Rony. “Buy it, take it off the tax rolls, and do nothing for five to ten years.” Galvan plans to restore the theater for stage performances and events. The frame building adjacent to the old theater would lodge traveling performers and contain facilities like dressing rooms, said Richard Scalera, former Hudson mayor and current Fifth Ward Supervisor. He is a member of the Galvan Housing Resources board. “The building is an absolute eyesore for our community and for visitors to it,” said Alderperson Vicky Daskaloudi. “I hope the developer makes good on the promise.” Since Galvan purchased the building, signs of work on it have sporadically appeared and in the past year, the theater underwent asbestos abatement. Note: DePietro is a WGXC on-air volunteer. Read more in The Columbia Paper.

MidHudson News is reporting Bard College is launching a scholarship program to support 60 Ukrainian students who are displaced, under threat or unable to continue their education as the result of the Russian invasion. The program is for students impacted by the war and designed to allow those students to begin or continue their undergraduate education. They will be admitted to Bard College’s main campus in Annandale-on-Hudson and its affiliates in New York City, Berlin, or Great Barrington, Mass. While some students will be considered for the spring 2023 semester, the main start of the program will be with the fall 2023 semester. The terms of the scholarship will vary, but each will cover a minimum of full tuition. Housing and living stipends will be available on a case-by-case basis according to need. Scholarships will be for a minimum of one year, with the possibility of renewal. The program is similar to previous Bard efforts to support refugee scholars and students. In the mid-1930s, the college gave refuge to distinguished writers, artists, intellectuals, and scientists fleeing Nazi Europe. In 1956, the school welcomed more than 300 Hungarian student refugees fleeing the Soviet invasion. In 2004, Bard helped bring more than 50 students from European Humanities University in Belarus. Bard College Berlin has welcomed more than 50 displaced students through its program on International Education for Social Change, most of them from Syria. Read the full story at MidHudsonNews [dot] com.

Diane Pineiro-Zucker is reporting for the Daily Freeman the town of Ulster and Police Officer Ralph Leiter have been sued in a case alleging “assault and battery” of a passenger during a 2021 traffic stop on state Route 28. The legal action came to light in response to the paper's request for a record of complaints, lawsuits and investigations, and their outcomes, involving town of Ulster police. That information was provided by the department this week and included the allegations against Leiter and others, in records dating from 2019 through October 2022. The pending civil lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District on June 2, 2021, by Colm Martin of Kingston against Leiter and the town of Ulster. The case alleges a “completely unprovoked” assault and battery and “use of excessive force” against Martin by Leiter. Martin is seeking $37.5 million in compensatory and punitive damages from Leiter, along with $5 million from the town. The complaint was filed by Russell Schindler on Martin’s behalf, stating he was a passenger in a vehicle during a traffic stop when one of the officers involved noted that he smelled marijuana. Martin told the officer that he had smoked prior to getting into the car and possessed half of a marijuana cigarette. Martin was asked to toss the unlit joint out the passenger door window. He said he complied with the request, but Leiter then allegedly “opened the passenger-side door, reached inside the vehicle, grabbed [Martin] by his right arm and violently pulled plaintiff out of the vehicle and threw him to the ground.” Martin says he sustained “serious personal injuries, including but not limited to his head, neck, and both shoulders" as well as "..significant emotional distress, anxiety and sleep disturbance.” Berardi and Ulster Town Supervisor Jim Quigley said last week that because the matter remains in litigation they were unable to discuss it. The Freeman is continuing to seek disciplinary records from state police and is not alone in its effort to obtain police records. On July 1, the New York Civil Liberties Union, with pro bono counsel from Latham & Watkins, filed suit against the New York State Police for its alleged refusal to comply with a similar request for disciplinary requests submitted by that organization. Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.

Mary Dempsey reports for Columbia-Greene Media that a Columbiaville couple November 4, filed a civil rights complaint in Columbia County court naming District Attorney Paul Czajka [CHAI-kah], Hudson Police Chief L. Edward Moore and other state and local law enforcement officials as defendants, alleging they were subject to unlawful entry and trespass, false arrest and imprisonment, malicious prosecution, and deprivation of a right to a fair trial in 2021. Attorney Leo Glickman, of Stoll, Glickman and Bellina, in Manhattan, filed the case on behalf of Kevron T. Lee and his wife, Seantavia [Shawn-TAY-veah] Lee. They are demanding punitive damages and attorneys’ fees alleging their Fourth and 14th Amendment rights were violated. “This is not about the money,” Kevron Lee said. “It’s more about protecting peoples’ rights. I understand that they (law enforcement) have a job to do, but I want them to do the job in the right way, not cut corners and stop singling people out. This has been a grave injustice to me and my family and caused a lot of hardship. Now, a lot of people are looking at me differently, like I’m a menace to society and the reality is that I’m a pretty good person. It has also caused a lot of financial hardship for me. Also, my wife was pregnant at the time and she shouldn’t have had to deal with that, especially if they [law enforcement] didn’t have the correct information.” Kevon Lee and 10 other people were picked up and their homes were raided by police in the very early morning hours of August 6, 2021. “The Hudson Police Department arrested and charged Mr. Lee with a violent felony, then trumpeted the arrest to the community,” Glickman said last week. Glickman said the police lacked the required probable cause to arrest and retain his client, but Moore chose to "arrest him and publicize" the arrest and Czajka prosecuted Lee despite lacking evidence that he had committed a crime. The suit asserts that the evidence presented to the grand jury following Lee’s arrest was fraudulent and in bad faith. In September, county Judge Jonathan D. Nichols dismissed the charges against Kevron Lee, as well as Larrell Roberts and Bruce Pigford stemming from the same raids. Lee said.,“I have maintained my innocence throughout. If I agreed [to plead guilty], I would have been an innocent man serving time in prison. I was willing to take this case all the way because I knew I was innocent. They (law enforcement) trump up charges on people with no evidence and there are a lot of innocent people who do not have the financial resources to fight, so they take the plea deal even though they’re innocent.” Lee was indicted in a separate case in 2021, on 14 counts following a four-year investigation by the Hudson Police Department into an August 2017, State Street shooting that wounded three people, including two children. That case is currently pending.Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.