Bill Williams is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media an employee of Barbato Disposal of Hillsdale was killed the morning of October 24, in an accident involving a trash dumpster in the city of Hudson, Police Chief L. Edward Moore said. Police did not provide the worker’s name, pending notification of family members. At about 11:21 a.m. Hudson police received a report that a dumpster had just fallen on top of a man in the 200 block of Long Alley. All available Hudson police units responded to the scene to assist the Greenport Rescue Squad. Officer Kevin Keyser and the paramedics attempted lifesaving measures, including CPR, without success, Moore said. The man was pronounced dead on the scene. Based on witness accounts, the dumpster fell on the worker while it was being lowered to the ground from a garbage truck. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration was notified of the accident. Investigators spent several hours on the scene and the entire area was closed to the public, Moore said. Barbato Disposal is family-owned and has operated locally for more than 60 years. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Today's daily news update.

The Times Union reports how national political action committees are running misleading local attack advertisements in the 19th Congressional District election. The National Republican Campaign Committee, for instance, is running an attack ad against Josh Riley, the Democrat running to replace Pat Ryan as local Congressperson. The ad quotes Riley saying "help not handcuffs," claiming that he is saying that is what violent criminals deserve. But in the original clip of Riley used in the ad, he is actually talking about people undergoing mental health issues, and the phrase "help, not handcuffs" Riley uses is a quote from the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Riley's campaign website says he is for additional funding for law enforcement, and that the candidate "is adamantly opposed to proposals to 'defund the police.'” The Times Union also looked at an attack ad against Riley's opponent, Republican Marc Molinaro. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has been running an ad locally attacking Molinaro's opposition to abortion, saying "Marc Molinaro supports taking away a woman’s right to choose, turning it over to politicians." Molinaro's campaign attorney wrote a letter to television stations and cable providers demanding they stop running the ad, saying it "falsely represents Marc Molinaro's position regarding abortion." Molinaro has not said he wants abortion to be illegal, but does support a ban after 17 weeks of pregnancy. He has not weighed in on Republican Senator Lindsey Graham's national proposal to ban abortion after 15 weeks. Voting in this year's Congressional election begins Oct. 29 and ends Nov. 8. Read both stories in the Times Union.

Patricia R. Doxsey reports in the Daily Freeman that Rep. Pat Ryan is figuring out what tools and leverage he can marshall at the federal level to get Central Hudson to fix its billing practices. Ryan called Central Hudson’s handling of billing procedures “borderline criminal.” Central Hudson has been sending customers bills that are very high, and also not sending some customers any bills, and then sending them several with a quick deadline for payment while, according to Ryan, making “record-breaking revenues and profits.” Ryan said, “This is a public utility.... They need to be answerable to us.... I’m going to continue to escalate with every tool I have. I did it as county executive and I’m going to escalate ever further now as your member of Congress to put and keep the pressure on.” Ryan, currently the 19th Congressional District representative, is running for the 18th Congressional District seat this fall, after redistricting jumbled the local maps. Read more about this story in the Daily Freeman.

Liz Montgomery reports in Porcupine Soup that Community Action of Greene County is getting a $50,000 grant to fix up a safe house for domestic violence victims. The State and Municipal Facilities Capital Program funding will replace damaged windows and decayed siding and maintain the safety of the building, the location of which is secret to protect those staying there. Florence Ohle, executive director of Community Action of Greene County, said, “Survivors and their children coming to us for residential services deserve to be met in safe, welcoming spaces, and this grant will see that that is a reality now." Community Action’s domestic violence services include the safe house, transitional apartment housing, and assistance with obtaining orders of protection, social and supportive services, accompaniment to court proceedings, and counseling. Community Action's help is free and confidential, and anyone in need of assistance can call the organization’s 24-hour hotline at 518-943-9211. Read more about this story at 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.

Raymond Pignone reports at Columbia-Greene Media that Greene County will receive more than $25,000 in federal funding to support local emergency planning and operational readiness, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced last week. The grant is part of an overall $7.6 million package for county emergency management agencies statewide for disaster response. The funding is made available through the annual federal Emergency Management Performance grant provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which supports training and exercises to acquiring emergency response resources. Hochul said in a statement, “County emergency managers need our support and this funding will support training efforts and allow agencies to access the resources necessary to respond to any type of disaster in their communities.” To receive the funding, Greene County officials may develop projects or initiatives that focus on addressing efforts identified by FEMA as needing improvement, including logistics and management planning, evacuation planning, disaster financial management, catastrophic disaster housing and emergency communications. Jackie Bray, commissioner of the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services said, “The federal funding will help county emergency managers enhance their preparedness efforts and keep New Yorkers safe.” Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Raymond Pignone reports in Columbia-Greene Media that Catskill's Bridge Street Theatre has received five nominations from the Berkshire Theatre Critics Association for the 6th Berkshire Theatre Awards. Nominees in 21 categories were announced by the Association on October 21. The Berkies, as they are known, recognize plays and musicals that open in the greater Berkshire region each year. The 2021-22 season included 131 productions at more than three dozen venues. Bridge Street Theatre’s co-founder John Sowle was nominated for Outstanding Scenic Design of a Play or Musical for “Shelley’s Shadow” and for Outstanding Direction of a Play for “Long Day’s Journey into Night.” Tara Franklin was nominated in the category of Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play for her performance in “Clarkston.” “Long Days Journey into Night” was nominated for Outstanding Production of a Play and “Shelley’s Shadow” picked up a nomination for the Sally and Robert Sugarman Award for World Premiere of a New Play. The nominations are voted on by the critics that cover theatrical productions in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, and New York. In addition to the awards for individual and ensemble achievement, the Association Board annually presents the Larry Murray Award for Community Engagement. “The Berkies are purposely held in the fall when everyone is a little more relaxed,” Association Board President J. Peter Bergman said. “The awards ceremony gives artists and critics a chance to network in a festive environment.” The winners will be announced at a ceremony November 14 at the Zion Lutheran Church in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Mid-Hudson News reports that the season’s first human case of West Nile virus has been reported by Rockland County officials. The patient lives in Ramapo, is over the age of 50, and tested positive for the illness. That human case “reinforces the urgency of the need for people to protect themselves against mosquito bites and to continue to check their property and get rid of standing water around their properties where mosquitoes breed,” said County Health Commissioner Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert. Most mosquitoes do not test positive for the disease-causing virus; however, a bite from a West Nile virus-infected mosquito can cause serious illness, and in some cases, death. Health officials said although a person’s chances of getting sick are small, those 50 and older are at the highest risk for serious complications, including neurological diseases, and can also cause a milder flu-like illness. Anyone experiencing symptoms of West Nile virus is advised to see a physician right away. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the state of New York reported 40 cases of West Nile virus in 2021. Read the full story at Mid-HudsonNews [dot] com.

Joshua Solomon reports for the Times Union that state Supreme Court Justice Dianne L. Freestone on Oct. 21 issued a split ruling finding that New York's absentee ballot laws are partially unconstitutional, a decision that will create some disorder during the upcoming midterm election in which mail-in voting is already underway. Freestone's decision stopped short of overturning a change in Election Law that allows someone to vote by absentee ballot if they fear contracting COVID-19. She highly criticized the measure, but said it could not be undone right now. Democratic officials immediately filed a notice of appeal on Friday night. The case, which may be resolved by the state Court of Appeals, is expected to move quickly because in-person voting begins Oct. 29 and ends Nov. 8. Freestone's ruling struck down a 2021 state law around the canvassing of absentee ballots. For now, the ruling will reinstate some of the laws that were in effect before the recent changes, including allowing someone to vote in person on Election Day to override any absentee ballot they may have submitted. Republican officials argue that provision is important because it allows a voter who learns something damning about a candidate before the election to change their vote. The ruling also gives the clearer ability for poll watchers, candidates and others to contest a ballot in court. The order, for now, directs boards of election to preserve absentee ballots. That may mean absentee ballots will not be counted until after Election Day or until a final court decision is made. "This decision helps uphold the integrity of the electoral process, a major victory for New York voters and the rule of law," state Conservative Party Chairman Gerard Kassar said in a statement. Democratic officials with the governor, attorney general, Board of Elections, state Senate and Assembly did not immediately release statements in response to the ruling. The case could have major consequences for the general election, which features contested races up and down the ballot that could tilt the political balance in Washington, D.C. Read the full story in the Times Union.

Andrea Macko reports for Porcupine Soup that the 2023 Cairo town budget is expected to stay well below the state’s tax cap. Supervisor Jason Watts distributed copies of a proposed spending plan to town board members during a special meeting October 19. “In this proposed budget, I want to give the highway department exactly what he asked for ― so he can continue doing and start putting stuff back together with the highway department,” Watts said. “We kept the police department exactly what they asked for, and it was actually less. I gave the library exactly what they asked for because they took the major cut last year. We gave raises out in the amount of $2,000 to almost every single person,” he said. Watts said the tax rate will increase by a little over a quarter of percent, based on the proposed plan totaling just over $3.94 million in spending. The highway department's proposed budget will total $2.42 million. Watts noted there are also a number of potential projects pending: town hall needs a new roof, sidewalks are crumbling, and the renovation of a building the town recently purchased on Route 32 to create a new community/senior center..One of the four residents at the meeting questioned whether now was the right time to spend on projects when residents are faced with increasing utility costs and inflation. “You said you are able to give raises across the board. And you also said that things are going to be very bleak next year,” board member Tim Powers said to Watts, questioning $25,000 to reopen the recycling center and a $14,000 increase for the library. “If we are forecasting that next year is going to be worse than this year, is there any cutting that was done in this budget at all?” Powers asked. The tentative Cairo 2023 town budget is expected to be presented to residents at the November 7 town board meeting. Under state law, a public hearing must be held and the town board has until November 20 to adopt the budget. Read the full story at porcupinesoup [dot] com.

Mike Davis is reporting for the Asbury Park Press daylight saving time ends for most of the United States at 2 a.m. on November 6, which means another year of turning the clocks back and another four months of early sunsets as the weather starts to get colder. But this year may be the last time the clocks have to be turned back. In March, the U.S. Senate passed the Sunshine Protection Act, which would permanently keep the country in daylight saving time and end the biannual clock-turning. The measure passed by unanimous consent, but some senators did not realize until afterward what the bill actually entailed. The measure has yet to be voted on in the House. Under standard time, the sun will rise in the Hudson Valley at, roughly, 7:18 a.m. and set at 4:30 p.m. on December 21, the shortest day of the year. With daylight saving time, the sun would rise at roughly 8:18 a.m. and set at 5:30 p.m. According to a Monmouth University poll, 61 percent of Americans support a measure to end the practice of turning back the clocks. Proponents of daylight saving time say making it the new norm would mean less darkness, which means less crime, fewer car crashes and less energy used. More sunlight means more recreation and commerce. Daylight saving time opponents argue that our bodies are intrinsically linked to the sun and the seasons. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine believes permanent daylight saving time "disrupts the natural seasonal adjustment of the human clock due to the effect of late-evening light on the circadian rhythm." Read more at poughkeepsiejournal [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. Click here to listen to this report.

Vaughn Golden reports for WSKG that Democrat Josh Riley began October with just over $1.3 million while his Republican opponent, Marc Molinaro, began the month with $404,000. Riley raised just over $1.3 million in the third quarter of 2022, while Molinaro only raised around $46,000 during the same time period in their election for the new 19th Congressional District. Outside groups, and political action committees, have spent $1.6 million opposing Riley, and $2.2 million against Molinaro. The website fivethirtyeight.com predicts that Riley would beat Molinaro 58 out of 100 times. A Spectrum News/Siena College poll released October 6 gave Riley a five point advantage over Molinaro in the 19th Congressional District race, within the poll's margin of error. Voting begins Oct. 29 and ends Nov. 8. Read more about this story at the WSKG website.

Nancy Vu reports for Politico that while Republican North Country Congressperson Elise Stefanik voted against President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package last year, she is touting the benefits the bill she voted against is bringing to her district. “This significant investment will help bolster rural hospitals in Upstate New York and the North Country after lost revenues due to the coronavirus pandemic, help address the physician shortage, and ensure these hospitals can continue to meet our community’s healthcare needs," Stefanik said in a press release last week. At the time she voted against the American Rescue Plan, she called it a "far-left wish list." In August Stefanik crowed about the $1 million coming to her district from Rural Development Grant, which she also voted against. A Stefanik spokesperson admitted the 21st Congressional District representative voted against the bills, but then still trys to claim credit for the bill's Stefanik voted against. "She voted no against Pelosi’s radical spending bills because of far left provisions. But she will always effectively deliver solutions and funds for her constituents and then she will announce and promote them when they are delivered," the spokesperson said. White House assistant press secretary Robyn Patterson pushed back. “After trying to sell middle class families out to big pharma and fighting to raise insurance premiums for working families, it’s no surprise that Rep. Stefanik and House Republicans are trying to take credit for President Biden and Congressional Democrats’ work to protect rural hospitals," said Patterson. Read more about this story at Politico.

Patricia R. Doxsey reports in the Daily Freeman that Republican Marc Molinaro reiterated his opposition to abortions after 17 weeks in an interview with the newspaper this week. He also said he was “pro-life” but believes the procedure should be “rare, safe, and legal.” Molinaro, the Dutchess County Executive, is running against Josh Riley, a Democrat from the Ithaca area, to be Congressional representative of the new 19th district, which now stretches from the Hudson Valley and Catskills to Tompkins County in western New York. The abortion issue was credited by many for Molinaro's loss to Democrat Pat Ryan in a special election in August for the old 19th Congressional district. Now Molinaro is saying, “I will not support Congress taking action to ban abortion nationwide." Fellow Republican Lindsey Graham, a Senator from South Carolina, has proposed a nationwide ban on abortion after 15 weeks, and Molinaro has not commented on how he would vote on a 15-week ban. Molinaro claims Riley has been intentionally distorting his position on abortion to, “frighten women into thinking that I don’t care deeply. I do,” Molinaro said. “I want us to have a sensitive conversation about what we think the limits (on abortion) ought to be and what the consequences of those decisions are.” Molinaro says of his possible future votes to limit womens' medical conditions that, “I know that we’re not going to necessarily come to an absolute agreement, but I do believe there’s some commonality.... I think there is some common ground.” Voting begins Oct. 29 and ends Nov. 8. Read more about this story in the Daily Freeman.

Here is a roundup of the biggest environmental stories locally this week from the WGXC Newsroom. Click here to download or play this week's environmental news from WGXC.

Raymond Pignone is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media that the Columbia County communities of Austerlitz, Hudson, and New Lebanon have endorsed the state’s Climate Action Council Scoping Plan. Officials in all three municipalities declared their support for the plan, which calls for (1) the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030; (2) accomplishing net-zero emissions by 2050; (3) meeting 70 percent of electricity needs from renewable resources by 2030; (4) meeting 100 percent of electricity needs from zero-emissions resources by 2040; and (5) ensuring a just and equitable transition that leaves no one behind and dedicating up to 40 percent of the benefits of clean energy investments to disadvantaged communities. The New Lebanon Town Board unanimously adopted a resolution emphasizing a halt to investments in fossil fuel producers. The measure also calls for support of proposed advanced building codes that would improve the energy efficiency of new buildings. The Austerlitz resolution notes that more than half of what New Yorkers now spend on energy leaves the state, mostly to purchase fossil fuels, and local communities would be better served by keeping energy spending primarily within the local economy. The measure was approved by the Austerlitz Town Board on a vote of 3 to 2. In Hudson, Mayor Kamal Johnson signed a unanimously adopted support resolution which, “affirms the critical importance of meeting the emissions and equity goals of the Climate Act, which will help mitigate dangerous warming while delivering the additional benefits of improving public health, economic opportunities, agricultural land and open space protection and quality of life for the people of Hudson.” Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Rick Karlin reports for the Times Union that the Riverkeeper environmental group is getting a $150,000 grant from the state Department of Environmental Conservation to begin to remove the Mill Creek Dam. The group says that will help American eel and river herring travel from the Atlantic Ocean to this stream off the Hudson River in Rensselaer County. “We’re trying to restore the creeks for migratory species,” said George Jackman, senior habitat restoration manager for the Riverkeeper environmental group. “Since colonial times, the creeks one by one got walled off and dammed,” Jackman says. This dam was built in the 19th century for a felt mill. The numbers of both eel and herring have fallen lately, due to overfishing and disease. Riverkeeper estimates there are 1,600 dams on rivers and streams in the Hudson Valley. Riverkeeper is targeting dams that present the first barriers that fish swimming up the Hudson River might encounter after they head upstream. “Those are the ones that are strategically important to us,” Jackman said. Read more about this story in the Times Union.

Heather Bellow reports in The Berkshire Eagle that bird feeders are not illegal in Great Barrington. The Western Massachusett town did recently pass a new wildlife feeding bylaw. The new rule allows bird feeders, but says all food sources such as bird feeders or unsecured garbage should be removed within 48 hours if it is drawing a bear or other wildlife into a yard or neighborhood. Birds, though, are allowed to keep eating. But if a homeowner disregards a warning about unwanted wildlife outside dining then fines kick in, with a first at $50; a second and beyond at $200. “This regulations shall not be interpreted so as to prohibit bird feeders or bird feeding,” the new bylaws reads. “If a bird feeder or bird feed is determined to be the feeding source for nuisance wildlife, causing an attractant issue, or a public safety threat the bird feeder and seed debris shall be removed within 48 hours.” Great Barrington Board Chair Michael Lanoue said the law is for repeat offenders. “The whole thing is kind of unfortunate,” he said. “It’s usually one or two people.” Read more about this story in The Berkshire Eagle.

Scott Stafford reports for The Berkshire Eagle that beginning November 1, in Massachusetts it will be a state code violation to put textiles and mattresses in the trash. By adding textiles and mattresses to its disposal ban, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection is prohibiting those items from being deposited in landfills. The ultimate goal is to reduce the amount of waste buried in the still available space in landfills, according to DEP officials. John Fischer, DEP deputy division director for solid waste, said that “95 percent of textiles recovered can be reused.” The DEP’s final 2030 Solid Waste Master Plan establishes goals to reduce disposal statewide by 30 percent — from 5.7 million tons in 2018 to 4 million tons in 2030. Massachusetts residents and businesses dispose of roughly 230,000 tons of textiles every year, even though nearly 95 percent of it could be reused or recycled instead of thrown away. About six percent of the waste delivered to combustion facilities for disposal is made up of clothing, curtains, towels, and other fabrics. Massachusetts has five landfills left and three will be closed by 2030. Textiles that should now be recycled include pants, shirts, skirts, dresses tops jackets, pajamas, doggie beds, hats, gloves, shoes, blankets, sheets, pillowcases, and mattresses. A list of places in Massachusetts that will accept textile goods for repurposing or recycling is available at the DEP website. Read the full story in The Berkshire Eagle.

Today's daily news update.

Liz Montgomery reports for Porcupine Soup that Greene County will hold a public hearing, listening to comments from citizens, at 6 p.m. October 26 in the Catskill High School auditorium over the proposed $122,224,210 budget for the 2023 fiscal year. This year's county budget is the fourth year in a row without an increase in the overall property tax levy. Republicans statewide called for a gasoline sales tax holiday this year, but Greene County did not join in on the tax cut. "The increase in projected receipts for the current year directly ties to our decision to forego the gasoline sales tax holiday,” said Greene County Administrator Shaun Groden. The proposed Greene County budget sees increases from the county’s health care program, up $920,000, and $2.6 million more for solid waste operations faced with higher landfill tipping fees and fuel prices. There is a link to the county's proposed budget on the WGXC Newsroom and county website. Read the full story at Porcupine Soup.

Voters statewide need to flip their ballots over and decide on an environmental bond act this year, and in the Town of Catskill there is also a permissive referendum on the back of the ballot. Voters can overturn the town board's decision last year not to allow cannabis consumption establishments in the Town of Catskill. The Town of Catskill Board voted 3-1 to opt-out of cannabis lounges on Dec. 29 last year. The question on the ballot for all voters there this year is worded so a "Yes" vote is against cannabis consumption sites, and a "No" vote is in favor of allowing the equivalent of bars for marijuana use. "Should Town of Catskill Local Law 3 of 2021 prohibiting on-site cannabis consumption establishments in the Town of Catskill be approved?" is what the ballot reads, with voting beginning Oct. 29 and ending Nov. 8. The village of Catskill board earlier approved both cannabis sales and lounges, which will not change with the results of this vote. "We just want the other parts of the town of Catskill to have the ability to benefit from the revenue, to be able to benefit from having another option for tourism," said Sara Pickens Verdon, one of the folks who gathered enough signatures to get the measure on the ballot.

Pete DeMola reports in the Times Union that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s winter outlook forecast predicts a warmer winter for the northeastern United States with a third straight year of a La Niña weather pattern. "The atmospheric and oceanic weather phenomenon typically means drier winters through the southern tier of the nation and wetter, snowier conditions in northern areas." But forecasters said this winter, their are equal chances for below-, near- or above-average precipitation totals locally. Read the full story in the Times Union.

Today's daily news update.