MidHudson News is reporting Greenville Town Justice Alois Kraker has been censured by the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct. The decision was based on three separate complaints filed against the judge. The commission's September decision was announced this week. Kraker, the owner of Lou’s Automotive, was accused of handling two cases that he should have recused himself from. In the first civil case, Kraker did not disclose the plaintiff in the case was a customer of his auto business. He also “made rude and undignified comments to the defendant,” giving the appearance of bias. In another civil matter, Kraker did not disclose his business relationship with one of the named defendants. Greenville Saw Service, a defendant, is owned by a member of the Greenville Town Board, which is responsible for the court’s annual budget.  In addition, the judge uses the business to maintain his equipment and the board member uses the judge’s auto repair business. The third complaint was from the New York State Comptroller’s Office which alleged that Kraker failed to file reports of court monies received for a period of time. The Comptroller's office requested the town supervisor withhold the judge’s salary until the reports were submitted. The court eventually filed the reports and the judge’s salary was reinstated. Kraker participated in remedial training as part of the settlement agreement. Commission Administrator Robert Tembeckjian said, “Judge Kraker’s acceptance of responsibility and remedial efforts warranted a second chance.” Read the full story at MidHudsonNews [dot] com.

Paul Kirby is reporting for the Daily Freeman Democrat Nick Chase is challenging Incumbent GOP state Assemblymember Chris Tague in the upcoming 102nd Assembly District election in November. Tague was first elected to the state legislature in 2018, and his name will appear on the Republican and Conservative lines while Chase will be on the Democratic line. Chase, 21, grew up on a small farm in Delaware County and went on to study political science at Hartwick College. He has now chosen to pause his education and took a job at the Schenevus Central School District as a long-term substitute teacher. He is currently teaching high school English. After two years, he said his time in the schools inspired him to run for office. Chase puts education, agriculture, the economy, energy, and gun control, among other issues, at the top of his priorities. “Energy, particularly methods of energy production, will be a rising issue in the coming years in state government,” Chase said on his campaign website. “If we want to adapt, our state needs to go green.” On guns, he said, better control is needed. “Gun violence is at an all time high in our country. A majority of gun owners would never even think of doing harm to innocent people. This is why we need to focus more on promising these regulations are not punitive to gun owners, while ensuring ill-minded people who wish to do us harm are not able to have access to guns.” Tague, 53, was first elected to the Assembly in April 2018, and then reelected to serve a full term that November. He was most recently re-elected in 2020. He resides in Schoharie where he has lived his entire life. He attended Schoharie Central School, graduating in 1987. After graduation, Tague started his own dairy farm before moving on to Cobleskill Stone Products. Tague’s government web page said he has focused on expanding access to broadband internet, COVID-19 recovery, reducing taxes, providing support for local farmers, and fixing upstate’s failing infrastructure. Tague is also “invested in many social issues like combating the heroin epidemic, which he has addressed during his time as Town Supervisor and Assemblyman, and the protection and support of our firefighters, EMS, and first responders.” Other important issues to Tague are taxes, agriculture, dealing with developmental disability issues, and economic development. Voting begins Oct. 29 and ends Nov. 8. The new 102nd Assembly District encompasses the town of Shandaken in Ulster County, all of Greene and Schoharie counties, and parts of Delaware, Albany, and Otsego counties. Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.

Nick Reisman is reporting for State of Politics overdose deaths in New York increased 14 percent in 2021 compared to the previous year, according to a report released October 17, by the state Department of Health. The data released as part of a quarterly update from public health officials on opioid usage and deaths statewide comes as the state continues to grapple with a sharp rise in overdose fatalities. The increase coincided with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The report also found a 2 percent rise in hospitalizations due to opioid overdoses and a 7 percent rise in opioid overdoses that do not involve heroin. Overdose deaths are also on the rise across the country as fentanyl usage has spread. Emergency room visits have also sharply increased by 24 percent, health data show. All told, 2,630 overdoses of heroin, opioids and other drugs were recorded outside of New York City in the state last year. In August, state Health Commissioner Mary Bassett ordered pharmacies to carry naloxone, for use to counter the effects of an overdose and help a person resume normal breathing. More than 30,000 administrations of naloxone have been made in New York through September 6. Read more at nystateofpolitics [dot] com.

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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.

Chris Churchill reports in the Times Union that for the first time since 1946, New York's governor's election will only list two choices on the ballot. Republican Lee Zeldin and Democrat Kathy Hochul are not the only ones running for governor, however. A few years ago, then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo forced through changes that made it much more difficult for third-party and independent candidates to get on the ballot in New York. This is the first year where those changes are keeping others off the ballot. Howie Hawkins, the Green Party nominee who received 104,000 votes in the 2018 governor's race, is running again, but not on the ballot. "The Democrats and Republicans don’t represent all of us," said Hawkins. "You need more than two choices to have a real debate." Hawkins and Libertarian Larry Sharpe are both not on the ballot, and not invited to the single debate between Hochul and Zeldin even though both candidates received more than 100,000 votes in the last election for governor. A state appeals court turned down Libertarian efforts to get their candidate back on the ballot. Gov. Kathy Hochul has ignored all pleas to switch back to the old rules where other candidates, not just Democrats and Republicans, appear on the ballot. Read more about this story in the Times Union.

Bill Williams is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media the Greenport Rescue Squad is looking for someone to run its day-to-day operations. Greenport Rescue is the largest medical services agency in Columbia County and is now accepting applications for the full-time position, said Tony Merante, Greenport Rescue's president. The position was eliminated seven years ago, but has been restored because of the large volume of calls the squad has been receiving, Merante said. Greenport Rescue responds to more than 6,000 calls every year and has a fleet of nine ambulances. The successful candidate will run the squad's day-to-day operations and report to the executive team, Merante said. Applicants must hold a New York State paramedic certification, online status in the REMO Region, experience in advanced cardiovascular life support, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, pediatric advanced life support, with specialty care transports and medically facilitated intubations, five or more years of EMS experience and three or more years of managerial/supervisory experience, preferably in EMS, and more. The position will be 40 hours per week, with a five-day work week. The Greenport Rescue Squad Serves 25,000 people in the greater Hudson Area. The squad was founded in 1936 as a non-profit community service organization. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

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Rachel Silberstein is reporting for the Times Union more than half of New York elementary school students are ineligible for the bivalent COVID-19 vaccine. That vaccine is designed to target both the original strains of coronavirus and the newer omicron variants, according to data compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The U.S. Federal Drug Administration approved the Pfizer-BioNTech bivalent shot for children ages 5 to 11 and a Moderna version for ages 6 and up last week. However, the eligibility requirements exclude anyone who has not completed the initial vaccine series at least two months ago and only 42.5 percent of children ages 5 to 11 in New York have completed the initial vaccine series, according to CDC figures. And New York's COVID-19 immunization rates are higher than in the rest of the country, with an average immunization rate of 31.4 percent for the same age group. Completion of the initial COVID-19 series is higher for middle and high school students, at 76.4 percent for youth ages 12 to 17, making most middle and high school kids eligible for the new booster. For adults, more than 93 percent of people over the age of 50 have completed the series, according to the CDC. COVID-19 case numbers do remain relatively low statewide. The CDC is reporting the community levels in Greene and Columbia Counties are now at medium. But hospitalizations are again starting to spike in much of upstate New York, state Department of Health data shows. State data shows that hospitalizations and confirmed cases are primarily climbing among people over 65, suggesting that the vast majority of infections are going unreported. Local health officials expressed concern about rising COVID-19 levels last week. State officials are encouraging all New Yorkers to get the COVID-19 and flu vaccines as soon as possible. Residents are urged to contact their local pharmacy, county health department, or health care provider to get a booster; visit vaccines.gov; text their ZIP code to 438829, or call 1-800-232-0233 to find nearby locations. Read the full story in the Times Union.

Liz Montgomery is reporting for Porcupine Soup the regular HEAP benefit for 2022-23 will open on November 1. Known as the Home Energy Assistance Program, HEAP can help eligible New Yorkers heat and cool their homes. According to the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, those eligible may receive one regular HEAP benefit per program year and also be eligible for emergency HEAP benefits if they are in danger of running out of fuel or having their utility service shut off. Eligibility and benefits are based on income, household size, the primary heating source, and the presence of a household member who is under age six, age 60 or older, or permanently disabled. For a household of one, the maximum gross monthly income to qualify is $2,852. The amount increases based on the number of people in a home. For example, a family of four can earn up to $5,485 each month. For eligible homeowners, the Heating Equipment Repair and Replacement benefit can help with repairs or replacement of a furnace, boiler, and other direct heating equipment necessary to keep the primary heating source working. This benefit is available now. Eligible households can also receive energy efficiency services, including the cleaning of primary heating equipment. There is also chimney cleaning, minor repairs, and installation of carbon monoxide detectors or programmable thermostats if needed. Information is available at the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance website. Read the full story at pocupinesoup [dot] com.

MidHudson News is reporting the U.S. Department of Justice has awarded $20 million dollars in grants to police departments nationwide to purchase new body armor. Through the department’s Bureau of Justice Assistance, 189 police jurisdictions in New York are sharing $1.2 million. In the Hudson Valley, several departments have been awarded grants ranging from $1,000 to nearly $50,000 for the purchase of new body armor, commonly referred to as bulletproof vests. Putnam County was awarded $49,764 for body armor while Columbia County is getting $12,381 and Sullivan County has been awarded $7,425 and Greene County will receive $4,800 for the vests. The city of Hudson will receive $7,981 and the town of Hunter was awarded $2,985. Among the largest awards given: the city of Kingston Police Department $20,000 and Schoharie County $10,275. The grant requires the municipality to match the grant amount, dollar for dollar. The price of a ballistic vest ranges from $300 to $1,000 depending on the features and level of safety. Read the full story at MidHudsonNews [dot] com.

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Mark Moore reports in the New York Post that former President Donald Trump announced Oct. 16 that he is endorsing Republican Lee Zeldin for governor in New York. Zeldin endorsed Trump on the night of Jan. 6, 2021, voting against certifying election results even though there was no widespread voter fraud discovered. "He will be a great Governor of New York, and has my complete and total endorsement," Trump wrote on social media on Oct. 16. Trump raised $1.5 million for Zeldin in New Jersey last month. Trump told donors that Zeldin helped him overcome “impeachment hoax number one and impeachment hoax number two and a lot of scams.” Zeldin is running against Democrat Kathy Hochul for governor, and voting begins Oct. 29 and ends Nov. 8. Read more about this story in the New York Post.

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.

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.

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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.

Mid-Hudson News reports Ulster County has launched its Task Force for Preventing and Responding to Domestic Terrorism. The group is made up of law enforcement, mental health professionals, school officials, faith leaders, and other stakeholders. The group was formed after Gov. Kathy Hochul called for each county to develop a plan to confront threats of domestic terrorism that include racially or ethically motivated violent extremists that came after the May Buffalo supermarket killing of 10 people by a young man motivated by racist conspiracy theories. Acting Ulster County Executive Johanna Contreras said that in the face of growing domestic extremism the county must do everything in its power to protect its residents. The county task force, “will complete a comprehensive review of our ability to respond to threats and make recommendations to keep our residents safe,” Contreras said. Sheriff Juan Figueroa said his department is prepared to work with county leadership, community partners and others to prevent the rise of domestic terrorism. Read the full story at MidHudsonNews [dot] com.