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Nick Reisman is reporting for State of Politics Democratic congressional candidate Josh Riley holds a 5 point advantage over Republican Marc Molinaro in the 19th Congressional District race, according to a Spectrum News/Siena College poll released October 6. The poll found Riley with 46 percent of the vote compared to Molinaro's 41 percent, within a 5 percentage-point margin of error of a survey of 470 likely district voters from September 25 to 28. The congressional seat includes parts of the Hudson Valley, Southern Tier and Central New York and is among a handful of House districts in New York that could determine control of the chamber in the November midterm elections. The poll showed Riley with more support from independent voters than Molinaro, 46 to 40 percent. A majority of voters have no opinion of or do not know enough about Riley, a first-time candidate. According to the poll, a majority of voters in the district hold an unfavorable view of President Joe Biden and Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat is in a close race against Republican candidate Lee Zeldin. The majority of voters in the district do not like the direction the country is heading. The cost of living and inflation concerns were cited by 52 percent of survey respondents as the top issue in the race, followed by threats to democracy at 31 percent and abortion at 28 percent. “We’re encouraged by today’s poll results, but taking nothing for granted,” said Riley Campaign Manager Coby Eiss. “... Voters are ready for a change from professional politicians like Marc Molinaro, and Josh is running to bring new leadership that puts people over profits.” Molinaro's campaign manager Will Dawson, however, declined to say much other than the campaign was focused on Election Day not polls. Read the full story at nystateofpolitics [dot] com.

Mid-Hudson News reports that President Joe Biden met on Oct. 6, with IBM Chairman and CEO Arvind Krishna at the IBM Poughkeepsie facility to tour the plant. Biden was accompanied by Democratic Congressmen Sean Patrick Maloney, Pat Ryan, and Paul Tonko to celebrate IBM’s announcement of a $20 billion investment in the Hudson Valley region over the next 10 years as well as celebrating the federal CHIPS Act, which Biden recently signed into law. The IBM investment, supported by the CHIPS Act and collaboration with New York State is slated to expand the technology of artificial intelligence, quantum computers, semiconductors, and hybrid cloud development. “As we tackle large-scale technological challenges in climate, energy, transportation, and more, we must continue to invest in innovation and discovery – because advanced technologies are key to solving these problems and driving economic prosperity, including better jobs, for millions of Americans,” Krishna said. Ryan said, “We’ve sent a strong statement that we need to – and we will – create more good-paying, middle-class jobs like the one that my grandfather had. And that those jobs – union jobs – and research dollars need to come straight to the Hudson Valley to build things here at home again.” The Republican who lost to Ryan in the September special election and current candidate in the newly drawn 19th district Marcus Molinaro said he supports the purpose of the CHIPS Act, but denounced the President’s visit. “The jobs of tomorrow are a cruel solace to those who are alone and struggling today. Election year giveaways to encourage high tech giants to do what they should, while perhaps necessary should not be politicized,” he said. The Quantum Computation Center, located at IBM's Poughkeepsie facility, launched in 2019. Read the full story at Mid-HudsonNews [dot] com.

Columbia-Greene Media reports that the Hudson school district has pulled the plug on the remainder of Hudson High School's 2022 varsity football season. According to a statement released by the district on Oct. 5, the choice was made because of a lack of eligible participants as the result of injuries, disciplinary and academic ineligibility, and consideration for the opposing school district so they have ample time to find a replacement game, according to the statement. “We as a district empathize with our courageous scholars who gave their all this season, those who are ready and able to play and their faithful fans, Hudson City School District Superintendent Lisamarie Spindler said. Hudson’s first-year Athletic Director Shawn Briscoe said it was not an easy decision. “This is not something I ever wanted to do or think I was going to have to do as athletic director here. We got to a point where we did not have enough athletes available to us to continue to field a team. The district has released a statement in regards to that so I will not say anymore on that. This has to be the worst day of my Bluehawk life which stems all the way back to my own school days,” Briscoe said. Hudson started the year with low numbers and things got worse because of injuries and illness. The season began with four losses and the team then canceled last week's home game against Taconic Hills because they did not have enough available players. The Bluehawks were scheduled to play Fonda-Fultonville this week, with games against Ichabod Crane and Coxsackie-Athens after that. The decision to shut down the season was not well-received on social media by Bluehawks parents, fans, and alumni. Briscoe has vowed to do all he can to make sure the problem does not repeat next year. Read more at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Today's daily news update.

Anne Hayes reports for Syracuse.com that a federal judge in Syracuse struck down several parts of New York’s new concealed carry gun law on Oct. 6. U.S. District Judge Glenn Suddaby ruled against the bans on guns in some public and private spaces, and new background checks for gun permits, including the disclosure of all of an applicant’s social media accounts. “The State of New York is now making a decision for private property owners that they are perfectly able to make for themselves,” Suddaby wrote in his decision. The judge, though, delayed the implementation of his order for three business days, to let New York seek an appeals court’s ruling. Suddaby’s temporary restraining order will be in affect at least through an Oct. 20 motion briefing in his court. New York's new concealed carry gun law went into effect Sept. 1, and was brought on after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the state's previous law. Read more about this story at Syracuse.com.

Andrea Macko reports for Porcupine Soup about Cairo's Oct. 3 public hearing on a proposal to override the state’s tax cap in the 2023 town budget. Towns are required to hold a public hearing if they want to raise taxes more than two percent. “We have to do this, it’s just in case,” Cairo Town Supervisor Jason Watts said. “I can’t even tell you the numbers yet, I can tell you a lot of stuff has increased,” he said. “I do know of one, our worker’s comp insurance went up $130,000. And utility companies are telling us to go up at least 66 percent... I have no numbers though for tonight.” Citizens at the public hearing looked to avoid raising the tax levy too much, asking about salary increases, past spending on real estate, the library budget, and fund balance. The board did not vote on any tax increases, as Watts said the board the tentative budget will likely be presented first at their November 7 meeting. Before then, Cairo residents can attend two special town board meetings on October 12 and October 13, both at 5 p.m., to discuss individual department budgets. Read the full story at Porcupine Soup.

Patricia R Doxsey reports in the Daily Freeman U.S. Rep. Pat Ryan will sit down by himself for the Daily Freeman on Oct. 21, as Republican Colin Schmitt has refused to participate in the candidate forum the new 18th Congressional District seat. Ryan, a Democrat and former Ulster County executive, currently represents the 19th Congressional district, after defeating Republican Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro in an August special election. Ryan agreed to the Daily Freeman's request to participate, while Taylor Weyeneth, Schmitt’s campaign manager, declined several invitations by the Freeman. “Assemblyman Schmitt is committed to making sure that voters in every county in NY-18 have an opportunity to attend a candidate debate this fall,” Weyeneth said in a Sept. 24 email not accepting the invitation for this opportunity to debate. Schmitt did participate in a similar event with Ryan Sept. 27 sponsored by the Ulster County Chamber of Commerce. Anyone who wants to submit questions for Ryan for the event, should send them to pdoxsey@freemanonline.com before Oct. 19. Read more about this story in the Daily Freeman.

The New York foliage report for Oct. 5-11 finds near-peak conditions in parts of the area. "In the Catskills, Greene County foliage spotters at higher elevations in the towns of Hunter and Windham predict near-peak foliage this weekend with 75 percent change and red, green, orange, and yellow leaves of average brilliance. Catskill spotters report foliage at midpoint of change with at least 50 percent transition," the report says. "In Ulster County, Belleayre Mountain Ski Area reports that fall colors are popping and predict near-peak conditions with 80 percent color change highlighted by bright orange leaves and some shades of red. Observers from Kingston expect about 50 percent transition with bright yellow, green, and orange leaves.... In Albany County, reports from John Boyd Thacher State Park in Voorheesville predict 40 percent change with a mix of fall colors of average brilliance continuing to emerge from the green backdrop. Spotters at Cohoes Falls expect foliage to be at midpoint of change with about 40 percent transition and orange, yellow, green-yellow, red, and green leaves of average brilliance.... In the Hudson Valley, Columbia County spotters in Hudson expect 35 percent foliage change this weekend with emerging yellow and orange leaves, along with some hints of red. Dutchess County reports from Beacon and Fishkill expect 30 percent color change with an increasing amount of average to bright yellow and red leaves, while spotters in Poughkeepsie predict more than 10 percent foliage change with some emerging red leaves. Color change will be greater in the northern portion of the county." See New York state's foliage report for more information.

Today's daily news update.

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Andrea Macko is reporting for Porcupine Soup the Cairo Town Board on October 3, voted, three to two, to adopt a local law allowing retail cannabis dispensaries, reversing its previous decision to opt-out. The vote followed a standing-room-only public hearing where residents spoke to both sides of the issue. Potential tax revenue was cited as one of the benefits, while a current lack of state regulations governing the industry was voiced as a concern. “A big percentage of this town is going to Massachusetts to buy pot. Why are we losing the money here,” said one man. “Why should we lose the revenue?” Another resident said, “The state of New York has yet to give you the rules, regulations and everything that is involved,” noting that all of the new industry’s guidelines have not been set by state regulators. New York legalized recreational cannabis in March 2021 for adults aged 21 and older and gave municipalities until the end of 2021 to opt out of permitting dispensaries and/or on-site consumption lounges within their borders. Last December, the Cairo town board opted out of both. But last year's local election changed the make-up of the town board. This time Town Supervisor Jason Watts, and Councilpersons Michael Flaherty, and Debra Bogins voted to allow retail cannabis sales, while Councilpersons Mary-Jo Cords and Tim Powers voted a second time for prohibition. The decision this week was to allow dispensaries only, lounges are still not permitted. Consumption is not permitted at retail shops or dispensaries. Municipalities that opted out before the end of 2021 can reconsider at any time and rejoin the marijuana retail market. Under current law, once a town, village or city is in, they are in permanently. According to the New York State Association of Towns, “There will be a 13 percent tax on cannabis sales: 9 percent is an excise tax that will go to the state. There is also a 4 percent sales tax [of which] 25 percent of that will go to counties, and 75 percent will be distributed to cities, towns, and villages in proportion to the number of sales that take place within their jurisdiction.” Read the full story at porcupinesoup [dot] com.

Mary Dempsey is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media two staff members were charged October 4, in connection with the death of a 14-year-old resident of Devereux Advanced Behavioral in Red Hook. Romelo Cruze, who lived at the Devereux facility, died September 23, from injuries he sustained after being hit by a truck at around 4:50 a.m. on Route 9 in Clermont. Cruze was walking on the road, according to New York State Police. The two staff members, Churchill Orodi, 39, and Beryl Orech, 36, both of Poughkeepsie, were arrested and charged with first-degree endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person and first-degree falsifying business records, both class E felonies; and making a punishable false written statement, a class A misdemeanor. The two staff members were responsible for Cruze at the time of the accident. Both were charged following a state police investigation into the fatal accident. As part of the investigation, Orodi and Orech told police that Cruze was in good condition at their facility at 5:30 a.m. The accident that caused his death happened approximately 40 minutes earlier, roughly 4 1/2 miles north of the Devereux facility, according to state police. Orodi and Orech are scheduled to appear in Red Hook Court the afternoon of October 26. Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health is one of the nation’s largest nonprofit organizations providing behavioral healthcare services. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Brendan J. Lyons is reporting for the Times Union State Police Superintendent Kevin P. Bruen, who was appointed by former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo 15 months ago, is under scrutiny from Gov. Kathy Hochul's office over allegations that he shielded a former human resources official from internal complaints because of their close working relationship, according to two people with knowledge of the matter. Hochul, on October 4, confirmed that she had directed her counsel's office to look into numerous allegations that have been swirling around Bruen for several weeks, including in posts made on private social media websites that are reserved for current and former State Police members. A State Police spokesman said Bruen, 59, remains on the job and has been working from his office at division headquarters in Albany. "This is an individual I inherited," Hochul said. "I will gather all the facts and I will make a determination. ... I think everybody's owed the investigation, which is ongoing at this time." MaryEllen Tedesco, the former human resources director in question, resigned from the agency last month. Her resignation followed an investigation into her handling of a job application by a person who uses a wheelchair. According to a person with knowledge of the allegations, several high-ranking members of the State Police brought complaints to Bruen about Tedesco, but the superintendent took no action and allegedly asked that the matter not be documented. The governor's investigation of Bruen follows a series of internal shakeups at the State Police, including the recent departure of two other members of the agency's human resources office. Bruen is a Glens Falls resident and former Warren County assistant district attorney who previously was a general counsel for the State Police. He is not a sworn member of the agency, although he commands more than 5,000 troopers, investigators, and civilian support staff. Read the full story in the Times Union.

Today's daily news update.

Rachel Silberstein reports in the Times Union about the high levels of COVID-19 in Albany, Rensselaer, Greene, and Columbia counties. New York is seeing high levels of the virus, "at a time when pandemic-era safety measures have all but disappeared, with masking gone by the wayside, mass vaccination sites closed and some data tracking — such as cases in schools — eliminated," Silberstein writes. Albany County Health Commissioner Dr. Elizabeth Whalen said wastewater surveillance also shows high levels of COVID-19, with the state's waste monitoring system showing high levels of the virus in 99 percent of counties. "We remain concerned about COVID-19 transmission especially as we enter the viral respiratory season, and encourage all residents to ensure they are up to date with vaccine prevention for COVID including the bivalent booster dose, which offers protection against the highly contagious omicron variants," Whalen said. "We also encourage flu vaccination at this time of year." New York Department of Health spokesperson Monica Pomeroy said, "There continues to be a correlation between lack of vaccinations or boosters and negative health outcomes related to COVID-19, which is why the New York state Department of Health continues to encourage all eligible New Yorkers to get the latest bivalent booster or to complete their initial vaccine series as soon as possible." Read the full story in the Times Union.

Jeanette Wolfberg reports for the Columbia Paper that the Hudson Community Development and Planning Agency is offering the Hudson Housing Authority three land parcels for a possible redevelopment project. The Hudson Housing Authority is considering demolishing its existing buildings and rebuilding, which might require more land. Sarah Black, an administrative assistant for the HCDPA, said they would sell the land to the Hudson Housing Authority at one-half its appraised value. The three parcels of land are all near existing Hudson Housing Authority property. The redevelopment being discussed would not create new affordable housing in Hudson, but would upgrade existing housing. Read the full story in the Columbia Paper.

Raymond Pignone reports for Columbia-Greene Media that Ichabod Crane School District Superintendent Suzanne Guntlow is leaving at the end of the school year, school district communications specialist Mackenzie Rigg announced on Oct. 3. “This is one of the hardest decisions I have made in my life,” Guntlow said in a statement. “I care deeply for all of our students and staff and the district as a whole. It is, however, time for a change — to seek more balance in my life — to start the next chapter.” Guntlow became the Ichabod Crane Central School District's Primary School principal in 2013, then became the district’s principal of Curriculum and Instruction and Professional Development four years later. In 2019, she was appointed Ichabod Crane’s assistant superintendent, and became superintendent on July 1. 2020. The Ichabod Crane Board of Education now begins a search for a new superintendent. Read more about this story at HudsonValley360.com.

Today's daily news update.

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